National News

National News

Kurtis Smith gives the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to a resident at Red Hook Neighborhood Senior Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Monday. CREDIT: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Why The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Has Gotten A Bad Rap — And Why That’s Not Fair

In clinical trials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine appears to be 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 — compared to about 95% for Moderna and Pfizer. That has some people wondering if they should avoid the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Absolutely not, says Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. Continue Reading Why The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Has Gotten A Bad Rap — And Why That’s Not Fair

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Jodee Pineau-Chaisson sits in her office in Springfield, Mass. on January 12, 2021. Pineau-Chaisson, a social worker, contracted the coronavirus last May and continues to have symptoms even months after testing negative for the virus. Meredith Nierman/GBH News

When Does COVID-19 Become A Disability? ‘Long-Haulers’ Push For Answers, And Benefits

So-called long-haulers are people who survive COVID-19 but have symptoms – sometimes debilitating symptoms – many months later. As scientists scramble to explain what is going on and figure out how to help, disability advocates are also scrambling: They are trying to figure out whether long-haulers will qualify for disability benefits. Continue Reading When Does COVID-19 Become A Disability? ‘Long-Haulers’ Push For Answers, And Benefits

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, before leaving for a short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and then onto Ohio for rallies. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Supreme Court Paves Way For N.Y. Grand Jury To Get Trump Financial Records

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a one-sentence unsigned order, declined former President Donald Trump’s request to further delay the enforcement of a subpoena from the Manhattan district attorney for Trump’s financial records. Monday’s order paves the way for a New York grand jury to obtain the records and review them. Continue Reading Supreme Court Paves Way For N.Y. Grand Jury To Get Trump Financial Records

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An empty syringe on a table at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a care worker received the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 16, 2020. CREDIT: Brian van der Brug/AP

Why We Can’t Make Vaccine Doses Any Faster

Vaccine supply chains are extremely specialized and sensitive, relying on expensive machinery, highly trained staff and finicky ingredients. Manufacturers have run into intermittent shortages of key materials, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office; the combination of surging demand and workforce disruptions from the pandemic has caused delays of four to 12 weeks for items that used to ship within a week, much like what happened when consumers were sent scrambling for household staples like flour, chicken wings and toilet paper. Continue Reading Why We Can’t Make Vaccine Doses Any Faster

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A first-grade student sits on the bus after a day of classes in Woodland, Wash., on Thursday. Nathan Howard/Getty Images

If Schools Follow CDC Guidance, President Biden’s Reopening Goals Could Be Hard To Reach

President Biden has said many times that he wants most schools to be open by his 100th day in office, April 30. And on Friday, Feb. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines intended to help schools operate in person safely. But some argue these guidelines will do little to promote school openings. Continue Reading If Schools Follow CDC Guidance, President Biden’s Reopening Goals Could Be Hard To Reach

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