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As of Feb. 13, more than 10 million people were vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
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Johnson & Johnson anticipates submitting to FDA for EUA for its COVID vaccine by March
White House and Federal Agencies
- Tonight, President-elect Biden will unveil a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan that is largely based on previous Democratic proposals such as the HEROES Act.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated version of its CMS Pandemic Plan, which provides details of the agency’s pandemic response – actions the agency is taking to support the healthcare system and beneficiaries.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides updates for health care workers on COVID-19via the Resources for Health Professionals page.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
- CDC updated:
- its guidance for international air travel.
- its travel resource page, where you can find information about traveling internationally, when to delay travel, mask recommendations, and more.
- its frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and traveling.
- its guide on masks. CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people.
- a document with guidance on How to Protect Families Living in Close Quarters.
- FAQs for Administrators, Teachers and Parents, which state and local health officials and educational agencies may use to support their stakeholders, as appropriate.
- CDC released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on COVID-19 Cases in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. The MMWR notes that cases have increased since summer 2020, with weekly incidence higher in each successively increasing age group.
Vaccine, Testing and Treatment
- As of Wednesday, 29.3 million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed. More than 10 million people have received at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of that date.
- Health and Human Services (HHS) will stop holding back second doses of COVID-19 vaccines and will instead make all doses available for immediate distribution.
- HHS announced the launch of a web-based locator for COVID-19 outpatient treatment sites for monoclonal antibody therapeutics. The system helps doctors and patients find locations for COVID-19 outpatient treatment. Use of monoclonal antibody treatments could help reduce need for hospitalization in high-risk patients.
- Johnson & Johnson is preparing to publish preliminary safety and efficacy data on its single dose COVID-19 vaccine. The company anticipates submitting data to the FDA for an emergency use authorization in March.
- Moderna’s CEO expressed worry that COVID-19 will be around forever. It is not yet known how long the current vaccines will provide protection from the disease. Moderna plans to test its vaccine again in a year.
- Moderna is struggling to find enough participants for adolescent trials for its COVID-19 vaccine.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) does not anticipate global herd immunity from COVID-19 until 2022.
