With U.S. regulators likely to approve COVID-19 vaccines for kids aged 5-11 in the coming weeks, the White House has unveiled a plan to vaccinate all 28 million children in that age group. "We will be ready to get shots in arms," President Joe Biden's coronavirus response coordinator, Jeff Zients, said during a briefing today.
Within hours of formal approval, the White House will begin shipping specialized pediatric doses to providers across the U.S. The Biden Administration says it has purchased enough doses for the entire age range, and will launch a public education campaign to teach parents about the benefits of vaccination and the risks COVID-19 poses to children.
There are some key differences between the adult vaccination drive and the youth version. For one thing, the doses, vials and needles used to inoculate children will all be smaller than those used for adults. And instead of emphasizing mass vaccination sites, the White House is focusing its efforts on pediatrician's offices, primary care providers and schools. Youth vaccines will be available "at convenient hours that work for kids and their parents—such as after school, evenings, and on weekends," the White House said in a statement.
The Biden Administration appears adamant that it's best to be prepared for regulators to O.K. pediatric vaccination, which most experts view as inevitable. However, its announcement echoes the recent controversy around booster shots, when the White House was criticized for getting ahead of the science—Biden promised that boosters would be available for all Americans, but regulators have so far only authorized them for Pfizer-BioNTech recipients 65 or older, or those at heightened risk. Still, given that many parents say they're in no hurry to get their kids vaccinated, it's perhaps best for the White House to get out ahead of the issue, at least in this case.
About 495.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been shipped to various U.S. states as of this morning, of which nearly 409.4 million doses have been administered thus far, according to TIME's vaccine tracker . About 57.1% of Americans have been completely vaccinated.
More than 241.5 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 1 a.m. E.T. today, and more than 4.9 million people have died. On Oct. 19, there were 421,633 new cases and 7,815 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here's every country that has reported over 4.5 million cases:
The U.S. had recorded more than 45.1 million coronavirus cases as of 1 a.m. E.T. today. More than 728,100 people have died. On Oct. 19, there were 81,238 new cases and 2,357 new deaths confirmed in the U.S.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of Oct. 20, 1 a.m. E.T. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
New York City will require all of its police officers, firefighters and other city workers to be vaccinated, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. City employees must have at least their first shot by Oct. 29, and will receive an extra $500 for meeting that deadline. The mandate affects around 160,500 workers; those who don't comply will be placed on unpaid leave.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro should be charged with "crimes against humanity" for his failed pandemic response, the country's government recommended today. According to a Brazilian Senate report, Bolsonaro intentionally let the virus spread in a misguided attempt to achieve herd immunity. The report also recommends related criminal charges against 69 other people, including former government officials and three of Bolsonaro's sons. Brazil has reported more than 603,000 coronavirus deaths, or 284 per capita, making it one of the world's 10 hardest-hit countries.
The U.S. Supreme Court will not block a requirement that Maine health care workers get vaccinated, marking the first time the Court has touched upon a statewide vaccine mandate. Its decision comes after a group of workers sued the state over the mandate in August, claiming religious exemptions, and later asked the Supreme Court for an emergency injunction. The lawsuit will continue playing out in lower courts, and may find its way back to SCOTUS.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $120 million to help get COVID-19 pills to poor countries, it announced today. The funds will help eight drugmakers produce generic versions of Merck's antiviral molnupiravir. That treatment could be available in the U.S. by the end of the year, but would otherwise take far longer to reach developing countries.
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Today's newsletter was written by Angela Haupt and edited by Alex Fitzpatrick.
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