A coronavirus-focused linkfest is still a weekly feature here at Abnormal Returns. Please stay safe and find a vaccination site near you. You can read last week’s edition here.
Quote of the Day
"Vaccination during pregnancy provides triple protection: to the mother, the developing fetus and the future health of the newborn."
(Gil Mor)
Vaccines
- The CEO of BioNTech ($BTNX) expects new vaccines to cover new variants. (ft.com)
- The holy grail for researchers is a vaccine that covers all coronavirus variants. (wsj.com)
- AstraZeneca ($AZN) has filed for EUA of a preventive antibody cocktail. (reuters.com)
- Did Pfizer ($PFE) shoot too low for the initial dose of the vaccine? (theatlantic.com)
Vaccines and children
- Pfizer ($PFE) has officially asked the FDA for approval of its vaccine for 5-11 year olds. (npr.org)
- To avoid side effects, some countries are recommending a single dose for adolescents. (nytimes.com)
- Plans are being made for the vaccine rollout for children. (washingtonpost.com)
Vaccines and pregnancy
- The messaging around the vaccine for pregnant women has been inconsistent. (washingtonpost.com)
- Covid vaccines protect mothers against severe cases. (scientificamerican.com)
Boosters
- J&J ($JNJ) has filed a EUA for a booster for its vaccine. (cnbc.com)
- Why we need better language around 'booster shots.' (theatlantic.com)
- The reasons people give for wanting a booster shot. (theatlantic.com)
Vaccine manufacturing
- The Novavax ($NVAX) vaccine relies on ingredients derived from Quillay trees from Chile. (nbcnews.com)
- Moderna ($MRNA) is planning to build a vaccine factory in Africa. (news.trust.org)
Vaccine mandates
- Los Angeles is mandating Covid vaccines for entry to movie theaters, concerts and restaurants. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- 96% of NYC teachers have been vaccinated. (nytimes.com)
- A majority of Americans support a Covid vaccine mandate for school children. (politico.com)
Vaccine distribution
- The West is doing a bad job of getting Covid vaccines to poorer nations. (wsj.com)
- COVAX is now acknowledged as a failure. (statnews.com)
Influenza
- Flu is always unpredictable. This year we are in new territory. (npr.org)
- Researchers are hoping to avoid a true 'twindemic.' (theconversation.com)
- Don't hold your breath for a surge in influenza vaccine uptake this year. (axios.com)
- It takes two week for your body to develop antibodies after a flu shot. (slate.com)
Testing
- The FDA has approved another at-home Covid antigen test. (marginalrevolution.com)
- Breakthrough infections are easily mistaken for cold or flu. (wsj.com)
Long Covid
- Some additional studies showing the prevalence of long Covid symptoms. (newatlas.com)
- Even non-severe Covid cases increase the risk of heart issues. (bloomberg.com)
Treatment
- Covid is accelerating the use of 'tele-ICUs' in rural hospitals. (statnews.com)
- Overburdened hospital in many areas are now facing a financial crisis. (washingtonpost.com)
Antivirals
- How Merck’s ($MRK) new antiviral drug molnupiravir works. (vox.com)
- The sooner you take molnupiravir the better. (theatlantic.com)
- Why researchers would like to see multiple antivirals to treat Covid. (fortune.com)
Global
- New Zealand is preparing to ease pandemic restrictions. (wsj.com)
- Why New Zealand is changing its approach to Covid. (newscientist.com)
- Asia's success stories are nervously opening things up. (ft.com)
- Singapore has paused its reopening. (nytimes.com)
Masks
- Why are Americans still wearing cloth masks? (theatlantic.com)
- England has sent kids back to school, sans masks. (nytimes.com)
Ventilation
- It's going to take awhile to upgrade the ventilation in buildings. (theatlantic.com)
- And costs a pretty penny. (telegraph.co.uk)
- Other countries are way ahead of the U.S. when it comes to upgrading ventilation systems. (marginalrevolution.com)
Data
- Comparing how authoritarian regimes and democracies have done during pandemic. (theatlantic.com)
- The optimistic (and pessimistic) cases for Covid this Winter. (vox.com)
- Children are now more likely to get Covid than adults. (washingtonpost.com)
Earlier on Abnormal Returns
- Coronavirus links: pandemic preparedness. (abnormalreturns.com)
- There's only one way through the pandemic tunnel. (abnormalreturns.com)
- Why we are eventually going to need digital health passes, i.e. vaccine passports. (abnormalreturns.com)
- The 'Swiss cheese model' and the importance of avoiding single points of failure in pandemic and life. (abnormalreturns.com)
- On the challenge of holding two competing thoughts on the pandemic in your head a the same time. (abnormalreturns.com)
Podcasts
- Scott Gottlieb on why the U.S. was unprepared for the Covid pandemic. (youtube.com)
- Andy Slavitt talks with Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, about the dangers of treating Covid like a horse race. (podcasts.apple.com)
