- The CDC issued new guidance that says fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks for most indoor and outdoor activities.
- According to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), there is still $24 billion in unallocated funds in the Provider Relief Fund.
- The CDC published guideline updates including Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People; Underlying Medical Conditions Associated with High Risk for Severe COVID-19: Information for Healthcare Providers; and Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine’s approval for persons 12 and older.
- The CDC says it is safe to administer the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) considers a new COVID-19 variant that originated in India a “global concern.”
White House and Federal Agencies
- The government is distributing $7.4 billion in funding to address the pandemic and strengthen local public health authorities.
- According to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), there is still $24 billion in unallocated funds in the Provider Relief Fund.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
- The CDC published the following reports and websites updates:
- Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
- Overall U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Thu, 13 May 2021 06:00:00 EST
- Cases in the U.S.
- CDC’s COVID-19 Weekly Partner Calls
- Demographic and Social Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination Initiation Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years – United States, December 14, 2020-April 10, 2021
- Modeling of Future COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, by Vaccination Rates and Nonpharmaceutical Intervention Scenarios – United States, April-September 2021
- Underlying Medical Conditions Associated with High Risk for Severe COVID-19: Information for Healthcare Providers
- Your COVID-19 Vaccination
- When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
- Pregnant People
- Toolkit for Pregnant People and New Parents
- Resources for Teachers and Staff
- Choosing Safer Activities
- ACIP Presentation Slides: May 12, 2021 Meeting
- Customizable COVID-19 Vaccine Content for Community-Based Organizations
- Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination
- COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Specific Groups
- Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
- Toolkit for People with Disabilities
- Running Essential Errands
- Information About Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- The federal government is partnering with Uber and Lyft to provide free rides to COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
- The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously agreed with the FDA’s decision to approve Pfizer’s vaccine for adolescents ages 12-15.
- The CDC says it is safe to administer the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning to purchase enough vaccines to provide booster doses for free.
- Novavax pushed back its timeline for submitting its COVID-19 vaccine to the FDA for approval until July at the earliest.
- BioNTech does not believe waiving intellectual property (IP) protections are necessary because the manufacturers can meet the vaccine demand.
- President Biden voiced support for waiving some IP protections to increase vaccine production. However, the waivers would not take effect until the World Trade Organization (WTO) reaches an agreement with those companies. The WTO said it will likely take until the end of the year to reach such an agreement.
- The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) published a study of which states are reaching the point where supply of COVID-19 vaccine is greater than demand.
- The CDC has identified a total of 28 blood clot cases related to the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine to date. Over 8.7 million people have received the J&J vaccine.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) considers a new COVID-19 variant that originated in India a “global concern.”
- The American Federation of Teachers supports fully reopening schools in the fall.
