Vaccinating Black Americans is essential; key states aren’t doing the work to combat hesitancy Though African Americans are being hospitalized for COVID-19 at more than triple the rate of white Americans, wariness of the new vaccine is higher in the Black population than in most communities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted communities of color as a “critical population” to vaccinate. But ProPublica found little in the way of concrete action to make sure that happens. It will be up to states to make sure residents get the vaccine, but ProPublica reviewed the distribution plans of the nine states with the most Black residents and found that many have barely invested in overcoming historic mistrust of the medical establishment and high levels of vaccine hesitancy in the Black community. Few states could articulate specific measures they are taking to address the vaccine skepticism.
Vaccinating Black Americans is essential; key states aren t doing the work to combat hesitancy | Health
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Postponing surgeries, calling up student nurses, Alabama hospitals enter ‘uncharted territory’
Updated Dec 17, 2020;
Posted Dec 17, 2020
The drive-thru testing site operated by Thrive Alabama in Huntsville reached its testing capacity shortly after opening on June 29, 2020. Demand for COVID-19 tests has increased around the state as Alabama sees record numbers of positive cases and hospitalizations. (Anna Claire Vollers / avollers@AL.com)
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Hospitals around Alabama have been forced to take steps this week to protect patients and staff as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to rise to record numbers across the state.
Southeast Health in Dothan temporarily suspended some elective surgeries. Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden told ambulances it had run out of room in the hospital. And the University of Alabama at Birmingham called some nursing students into service as the hospital struggles with staffing shortages and a high volume of COVID
By Matt Windsor
UAB News
As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham recommends replacing traditional end-of-year, team-building receptions with creative virtual get-togethers and small, distanced gatherings.
For safety, virtual meetings are preferred. Unless a documented exception is approved, in-person gatherings are limited to 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors; social distancing and masking are required in both instances.
UAB President Ray Watts says large, traditional holiday and office parties are not realistic.
“We had hoped to relax restrictions by this time, but the data don’t lie,” Watts said. “As hard as it has been to be apart this year and as much as we would like to gather and celebrate team accomplishments, it simply would be unwise to do so.”
FDA says Pfizer vaccine contains extra doses, expanding nation’s supply Author: Fenit Nirappil, The Washington Post Updated: December 16, 2020
Print article WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that pharmacists can draw additional doses from vials of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, potentially expanding the country’s supply by millions of doses as the Trump administration negotiates with Pfizer to speed up the next round of vaccine deliveries. The government’s existing supply of the first authorized vaccine can be stretched further after pharmacists began to notice that vials contain more than the expected five doses. The FDA is in touch with Pfizer about how to handle this issue, the agency said. In the meantime, regulators say those extra doses from a single vial can be used.
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