- The CDC updated many of its guidelines including COVID-19 Science Update released: May 21, 2021 Edition 90.
- New research shows that two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine can provide up to 90% protection against symptomatic COVID-19.
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci believes a 70% vaccination rate is needed to avoid a fall surge in cases.
- Twenty-five states plus the District of Columbia have vaccinated at least 50% of their population. Those states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state and Wisconsin.
Congress
- On Tuesday (10:00 am ET), the House Appropriations Committee’s Labor- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-Education Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the White House budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The White House will issue its full budget request to Congress later this week.
- On Wednesday (11:00 am ET), the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on building COVID-19 vaccine confidence.
White House and Federal Agencies
- White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reiterated the Administration’s support for an independent investigation into the origin of COVID-19.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
- The CDC published the following reports and websites updates:
- Overall US COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Mon, 24 May 2021 06:00:00 EST
- COVID Data Tracker Recent Updates – 2021-05-20 – The Cases, Deaths, and Testing tab now displays percent positivity with more granularity
- COVID Data Tracker Recent Updates – 2021-05-20 – Updated Vaccination Demographics and Vaccination Demographic Trends tabs display new age groupings among younger ages
- COVID-19 Science Update released: May 21, 2021 Edition 90
- Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Between Urban and Rural Counties – United States, December 14, 2020-April 10, 2021
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- Twenty-five states plus the District of Columbia have vaccinated at least 50% of their population. Those states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state and Wisconsin.
- The CDC is investigating reports of myocarditis in adolescents and young adults who are fully vaccinated.
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci believes a 70% vaccination rate is needed to avoid a fall surge in cases.
- Dr. Fauci also believes there is a chance that students will not need to wear masks if they return to in-person learning in the fall.
- New research shows that two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine can provide up to 90% protection against symptomatic COVID-19.
- New research shows that about one in four Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth during the summer and fall of 2020. Most of those beneficiaries used audio-only telehealth.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) wants countries to vaccinate at least 10% of their populations by September.
