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Post by bfoley82 on Aug 18, 2021 0:47:05 GMT -5
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Post by longsuffering on Aug 18, 2021 1:16:52 GMT -5
Iona is requiring vaccination cards to attend their MBB scrimmage this weekend before their foreign tour also. With a vulnerable 69 year old coach I would hope so.
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Post by Crucis#1 on Aug 18, 2021 1:52:27 GMT -5
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 18, 2021 5:30:56 GMT -5
In the COVID information for HC, there is now this: "Fully Vaccinated Visitors, Guests, Vendors, Contractors and Consultants While the College is in Green or Yellow Alert status, fully vaccinated visitors, vendors, contractors, and consultants are permitted on campus with no limitations. All guests must follow the campus mask policy.
Where food and drink is served indoors, visitors and guests must show evidence of being fully vaccinated. This includes sporting events. Departments or individuals holding events with guests are responsible for validating that evidence prior to admission.
Non-Fully Vaccinated Visitors and Guests While the College is in Green or Yellow Alert status, non-fully vaccinated visitors, vendors, contractors and consultants are permitted on campus but must wear a mask at all times while indoors and must maintain six feet of physical distance from others.
Non-fully vaccinated visitors and guests may not attend indoor events where food or drink is served.
Non-Fully Vaccinated Vendors, Contractors and Consultants While the College is in Green or Yellow Alert status, non-fully vaccinated vendors, contractors and consultants are permitted on campus but must wear a mask at all times and must maintain six feet of physical distance from others. ----------------- Masking Due to the Delta variant, conditions in our [Worcester] county, and based on CDC guidance, masking is presently required for everyone indoors until further notice. Masking outdoors is optional.
No specific physical distancing requirements apply at this time. -------------- For the 14 days ending August 11, Worcester County has a positive test rate of 2.72%, so that rate needs to come down. New report by end of today.
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Post by Tom on Aug 18, 2021 7:58:13 GMT -5
Didn't read because of the paywall thing. I consider the pope a good source of information regarding faith and morals. He has already come out and said that the vaccines are not immoral even if stem cells were used during the research and development. (I think that none are used in production). I consider myself a practicing Catholic, but in terms of whether or not I should get vaccinated, I think I'll listen to doctors more than the Pope on medical decisions. Once again, not dealing with paywall, it is possible that in the article he is coming out and saying that it is immoral not to get vaccinated. Barring that, he is just another famous face voicing an opinion on a topic. Not unlike that ad by Bill Clinton and George W Bush together urging people to get the vaccine
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Post by Tom on Aug 18, 2021 8:22:02 GMT -5
In the COVID information for HC, there is now this: "Fully Vaccinated Visitors, Guests, Vendors, Contractors and Consultants While the College is in Green or Yellow Alert status, fully vaccinated visitors, vendors, contractors, and consultants are permitted on campus with no limitations. All guests must follow the campus mask policy. Where food and drink is served indoors, visitors and guests must show evidence of being fully vaccinated. This includes sporting events. Departments or individuals holding events with guests are responsible for validating that evidence prior to admission. Non-Fully Vaccinated Visitors and Guests While the College is in Green or Yellow Alert status, non-fully vaccinated visitors, vendors, contractors and consultants are permitted on campus but must wear a mask at all times while indoors and must maintain six feet of physical distance from others. Non-fully vaccinated visitors and guests may not attend indoor events where food or drink is served.Bringing this back to sports - the primary reason we're all here - As I read this: 1) Football - have to wear a mask and sit by yourself if not vaccinated. No mention of requirement for proof of vaccination so practically speaking, it's a free for all - do whatever you want. I will assume that all home fans are honorable people who will voluntarily follow the policy even if there is no enforcement 2) Basketball and hockey - Must be vaccinated to attend and show proof. Must be masked while watching the game. Hot dog, soda, and other new fare must be consumed in some corner away from others. I'm thinking you can't eat your hot dog while watching the hockey. For basketball, you can probably abandon your seat and find a spot in the upper bleachers to have your hot dog and then return to your seat
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Post by sader1970 on Aug 18, 2021 8:25:48 GMT -5
Normally I would not share these 1970 Class notes on Crossports (hopefully my Classmates here have already seen this) but here's a communication in part, my Class is, once again, postponing our 50th Reunion. I'm sure we'll get it in by our 55th. Anyway, the Class Chairs have been in touch with HC staff on what's going on on campus and the decision was made to pull the plug on our original 6/2020 Reunion that was postponed until this mid-October. Now re-re-scheduled for June, 2022when we can rub elbows with the "hoi polloi" including '71 and '72 who should be celebrating their real 50th.
Our October event never even got the schedule finalized but we were going to Polar Park for a buffet dinner and out of towners were going to have to stay in Worcester hotels as even though the students would be away, their campus rooms would not be vacant. Our Reunion headquarters hotel was the new AC Marriott. Good thing I'm a practicing Catholic or I'd start believing the gods are against my Class.
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Post by efg72 on Aug 18, 2021 8:34:43 GMT -5
The Pope asking people to get vaccinated
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Post by efg72 on Aug 18, 2021 9:43:53 GMT -5
Biden Administration Starts Boosters Next Month Amid Delta Surge By Josh Wingrove and Fiona Rutherford / August 18, 2021 10:30AM ET / Bloomberg Government
The Biden administration will start offering booster shots in late September to all vaccinated Americans as the coronavirus delta variant continues its nationwide spread.
In a joint statement Wednesday, the top U.S. public health officials said a third dose of Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. shots “will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.”
“Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout,” according to the statement citing health officials including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, Food and Drug Administration Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci.
The U.S. will begin issuing more booster shots as soon as Sept. 20 to people who received their second shot at least eight months earlier, according to the statement. The plan is still subject to an independent evaluation and clearance by the FDA.
Health officials are still studying a possible booster for the roughly 14 million Americans who received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, which didn’t use the same mRNA technology as Pfizer and Moderna. But the officials said they anticipate boosters for the J&J shot “likely will be needed.”
The U.S. is facing a new wave of Covid infection, primarily among the unvaccinated and driven by the delta variant, which has fueled concern over breakthrough infections. Deaths have been rising again, too, including 1,002 recorded on Tuesday.
Still, the medical community remains divided over the efficacy of widespread booster shots, though studies continue to roll in on breakthrough infections and whether vaccine efficacy wanes over time, in particular for older or more vulnerable people.
Nearly 170 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated, though only some would become eligible in the next few months for a booster.
Officials said they have enough supply to continue donations and exports to other nations still struggling to procure vaccines. Still they’ve faced criticism for stoking inequities by handing out third shots while vast majorities of people in many countries haven’t had their first.
The World Health Organization has called for a moratorium on booster shots through September to enable poorer countries to catch up on vaccination rates. A spokesperson for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which co-leads the Covax sharing program, said that rich countries giving boosters will only exacerbate inequities and called on countries to share all excess doses with Covax.
The move Wednesday marks a massive expansion of the U.S.’s vaccine plan, which had so far only included boosters for people with compromised immune systems.
--With assistance from Antony Sguazzin and Rebecca Torrence.
To contact the reporters on this story: Josh Wingrove in Washington at jwingrove4@bloomberg.net; Fiona Rutherford in London at frutherford@bloomberg.net
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 18, 2021 9:46:32 GMT -5
My wife was just called back to work again at the Valley Hospital vaccination clinic (weekends only starting in September). It will provide only booster shots.
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Post by WCHC Sports on Aug 18, 2021 9:47:34 GMT -5
It's starting to become untenable that there's a booster given within a year to keep people protected. The vaccine again is no guarantee against illness, but likely protection against hospitalization and death. And yet, you can still get mild symptoms from the shot (I did, after being infected 5 months prior).
So the route is to get the shot, get a little sick, multiple times a year, or get the disease and die. It seems we've had as much success against COVID like we do curing the common cold or influenza, except COVID is more likely to kill people.
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 18, 2021 9:48:54 GMT -5
That is one MAJOR "exception."
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Post by WCHC Sports on Aug 18, 2021 9:52:58 GMT -5
My point is that there was a very small window to kill this thing before it was everywhere, and no one had the clairvoyance, nor would the public have accepted, a unified, global shutdown for 6 months to make it happen. Now, it's as ubiquitous in circulation as nitrogen in the air. It could be years until it's "under control," and if variants continue to propagate, may never truly be under control unless evolution has it morph into something more benign after many, many years.
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Post by hcpride on Aug 18, 2021 10:34:53 GMT -5
My point is that there was a very small window to kill this thing before it was everywhere, and no one had the clairvoyance, nor would the public have accepted, a unified, global shutdown for 6 months to make it happen. Now, it's as ubiquitous in circulation as nitrogen in the air. It could be years until it's "under control," and if variants continue to propagate, may never truly be under control unless evolution has it morph into something more benign after many, many years. Not sure there was a window since Covid was apparently spreading well before we knew it existed and (of course) well before China announced its existence. Unless we are talking about magic or some sort of time travel.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 18, 2021 11:41:50 GMT -5
I think there was a widespread expectation that there would be a need for booster shots, perhaps every year or two, until the virus is subdued, and/or there is an anti-viral pill that prevents serious infection. The anti-viral pills may be coming by year's end.
As for the mRNA vaccines, the fervent hope was these would be 70-75 percent effective, and help create herd immunity. Instead, they far exceeded the hope, and are about 95 percent effective against the wild-type (Wuhan) and the early variants, but their effectiveness has dropped against Delta. Thus, the booster, to get the effectiveness back into the mid-90s. This past spring, the Federal government ordered 300 million more doses of Moderna's and Pfizer's vaccines, for this very purpose. __________________________ As for HC, the positive test rate for the past 14 days (through 8/17) is 0.07%, with nearly 1,500 tests.
The student body is 96 percent vaccinated. _________________________
As for the HC mask policy re: indoors, my understanding of the protocol is that vaccinated people can remove their mask to eat and drink. And the indoor mask policy will be examined in September after the college assesses the extent of any infections, and their source. The college will be testing everyone weekly for the first 3-4 weeks of the fall semester, and some more frequently than that.
Unlike last year, the college anticipates the number of infections to be low, and has not leased a downtown hotel as isolation space. I suspect the space is part of Loyola.
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Post by efg72 on Aug 18, 2021 12:02:45 GMT -5
Understanding the Debate Over Covid Booster Shots: QuickTake By Robert Langreth / August 18, 2021 12:29PM ET / Bloomberg Government
With the especially contagious delta variant threatening efforts to end the pandemic, a growing number of wealthy countries are planning or considering administering booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines, at least to particularly vulnerable groups. Officials at the World Health Organization have characterized this course of action as unethical as long as poorer countries still lack supplies to cover significant portions of their populations with initial doses. They argue that the strategy could wind up prolonging the pandemic, as well.
1. What’s a booster shot? The term traditionally has referred to an additional dose of a vaccine given some time after the initial course of inoculation to bolster protection that may have started to wane. While many vaccines produce long-lasting immunity, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults receive boosters of the tetanus vaccine every decade, for example. For Covid-19, a new disease, researchers are working out the optimal schedule and dosage for a wide variety of vaccines on the fly in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. The term booster is being used loosely to refer to additional shots given for a variety of reasons to people who have already received the prescribed course o f a Covid vaccine, meaning one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s formulation or two doses of any of the others.
2. What are the reasons? There’s a small group of people with weakened immune systems, such as transplant recipients, who are likely to need an additional shot sooner rather than later. The extra shot isn’t a traditional booster, as these people likely never get an adequate response to an initial course of Covid vaccine. For the rest of the population, an additional shot (or shots) may prove to be helpful if immunity wanes over time, or alternatively, if new coronavirus variants emerge that evade vaccine protection. In the first scenario, giving another dose of the original vaccine may be sufficient. That’s mostly what is being considered for the immediate future. In the second scenario, shots customized against new variants may be needed.
3. What countries have signed on to extra Covid shots? Countries that have started or have decided to offer them to especially vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or those who are immunocompromised, include Israel, Germany and France. Offering them more broadly to people months after their last dose are Russia, Hungary and the United Arab Emirates. And U.S. officials said they would begin providing boosters as soon as Sept. 20 to people who received their second dose at least eight months earlier, although the plan is still subject to an independent evaluation and clearance by drug regulators. Some countries plan to give extra shots using a vaccine type that’s different from the one people got initially. For example, Chile announced plans to offer booster shots from AstraZeneca Plc to people 55 and older who earlier received the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. This mix-and-match strategy is called a heterologous boost, and there’s some evidence it can provide an advantage over an additional dose of the same formulation.
4. What’s motivated the move to boosters? The rise of the delta strain combined with some preliminary data suggesting that Covid vaccine effectiveness may decline relatively quickly has intensified the focus on booster shots. In Mesa County, Colorado, where delta took off earlier than in other parts of the state, a study by state health officials found that vaccines were 78% effective in a two-week period ending June 5, versus 89% in other counties. And an observational study from Israel, one of the first countries to vaccinate most of its population, suggested that the efficacy of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE shot may fade after about five months; in people over 60, coronavirus infections among the vaccinated were three times more common in those who received shots early on compared with those who got the vaccine more recently, researchers found. A separate analysis of data from the final-stage trial of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine showed that efficacy eased to about 84% at the end of a six-month period compared with 96% early on.
5. Is the news all bad? No. Moderna Inc. said Aug. 5 that data from its final-stage trial showed its vaccine remained 93% effective through six months, just one percentage point less than the initial shorter term results. And a U.K. study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in July found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88% protective against symptomatic cases of the delta variant, while AstraZeneca’s vaccine was 67% effective.
6. How are decisions about boosters made? Since there is no scientific consensus for when booster shots become necessary, deciding when to employ another dose is a judgment call by public health officials. Accordingly, countries may make different decisions. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration official in charge of vaccine regulation, Peter Marks, has said that the U.S. doesn’t have a “predetermined minimum” for how much efficacy must fade before it authorizes booster shots, and will look at the totality of the evidence before making decisions.
7. What are the objections? For the most part, Covid vaccines seem to be holding up well in achieving their key goals -- preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death -- even if they aren’t quite as effective at blocking milder cases of symptomatic infection with delta. In the U.S., for example, as of Aug. 2, only about 7,500 patients with Covid vaccine breakthrough infections had been hospitalized or died, a tiny fraction of the total hospitalizations and deaths, according to the CDC. There’s no scientific consensu s that additional shots are currently needed for most people. Drug companies with a financial interest in selling more doses have been some of the loudest voices talking up the need for boosters. Until there is better data, critics of the rush to employ boosters say that existing doses would be better used for people in poorer countries with limited access to vaccines. “It would be unconscionable to offer people already fully vaccinated another dose before protecting people who haven’t been va ccinated at all,” the global nonprofit Doctors Without Borders said in a July 22 statement. Epidemiologists warn that allowing the coronavirus to continue to run rampant in some parts of the world increases the odds that more dangerous variants will arise. Those new variants may make their way across the globe and prolong the pandemic.
8. Is it possible to expand the vaccine supply? White House spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki has called the WHO’s position that rich countries should put boosters on hold until poor countries vaccinate more of their population a “false choice.” The U.S. can both donate vaccines abroad and provide boosters domestically if regulators recommend them, she said Aug. 4. But in reality, the Covid vaccine supply is limited, and wealthier countries have bought up a hugely disproportionate share of the available shots. The approximately 4.8 billion doses given as of Aug. 17 is only enough to fully vaccinate 31% of the world population, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. Countries and regions with the highest incomes are getting vaccinated more than 20 times faster than those with the lowest. At the current rate of giving shots, it will take six months to cover 75% of the world population, according to the tracker.
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Post by longsuffering on Aug 18, 2021 12:37:21 GMT -5
I followed "Grexit" closely. By the time "Brexit" arrived I was a bit burnt out. I don't read Greek so I kept up online in EU member Ireland's papers before paywalls were as frequent. One thing became clear. Greece was a poor EU country but also riddled with corruption throughout society with a long custom of the populace starving the government treasury to get even for the corruption in government.
So to the extent you can substitute "well managed" for "wealthy" to describe countries the moral case becomes less clear.
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Post by longsuffering on Aug 18, 2021 12:48:00 GMT -5
I followed "Grexit" closely. By the time "Brexit" arrived I was a bit burnt out. I don't read Greek so I kept up online in EU member Ireland's papers before paywalls were as frequent. One thing became clear. Greece was a poor EU country but also riddled with corruption throughout society with a long custom of the populace starving the government treasury to get even for the corruption in government.
So to the extent you can substitute "well managed" for "wealthy" to describe countries the moral case about saving others before you fully save yourself becomes less clear. Perhaps flight attendants have had the right idea all along when they make their announcement about oxygen masks.
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Post by Tom on Aug 18, 2021 14:58:01 GMT -5
_________________________ As for the HC mask policy re: indoors, my understanding of the protocol is that vaccinated people can remove their mask to eat and drink. And the indoor mask policy will be examined in September after the college assesses the extent of any infections, and their source. U The masking policy as I quoted above does say vaccinated people can remove their mask while eating indoors. However, they must be socially distant when doing so. Not sure how that will play in Kimball. Perhaps back to boxed meals eaten in your dorm room
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 18, 2021 15:40:50 GMT -5
_________________________ As for the HC mask policy re: indoors, my understanding of the protocol is that vaccinated people can remove their mask to eat and drink. And the indoor mask policy will be examined in September after the college assesses the extent of any infections, and their source. U The masking policy as I quoted above does say vaccinated people can remove their mask while eating indoors. However, they must be socially distant when doing so. Not sure how that will play in Kimball. Perhaps back to boxed meals eaten in your dorm room Looking at today's lunch menu from Main Kimball, this is not boxed lunch. (And the indoor mask policy is in place). apps.holycross.edu/diningmenus/menu.html?menu=10
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2021 20:24:35 GMT -5
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Post by Crucis#1 on Aug 18, 2021 20:44:26 GMT -5
fordhamsports.com/sports/2021/8/5/visitor-fans-regulations-aug-5-2021.aspxFordham Visiting Team/Guest Policies (as of August 5, 2021) Visiting Teams/Staff All visiting team members, including coaches, student-athletes, and support staff must be vaccinated for all events (both indoor and outdoor competitions). Individuals must show proof of vaccination when they arrive on campus. The University will not allow any unvaccinated visiting team members or coaches to enter campus. Fans at Outdoor Events Fans/guests will be permitted to attend outdoor events All fans/guests at outdoor competitions must show proof of vaccination when they enter campus. Children under 12 will not be allowed to attend outdoor events even if they are masked and have a negative COVID test. Fans at Indoor Events Fans/guests will not be allowed at indoor competitions, regardless of vaccination status. To limit potential COVID spread, only teams and coaches will be allowed at indoor competitions. Note: Policies are subject to change due to local/national COVID policies.
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Post by longsuffering on Aug 18, 2021 20:59:41 GMT -5
fordhamsports.com/sports/2021/8/5/visitor-fans-regulations-aug-5-2021.aspxFordham Visiting Team/Guest Policies (as of August 5, 2021) Visiting Teams/Staff All visiting team members, including coaches, student-athletes, and support staff must be vaccinated for all events (both indoor and outdoor competitions). Individuals must show proof of vaccination when they arrive on campus. The University will not allow any unvaccinated visiting team members or coaches to enter campus. Fans at Outdoor Events Fans/guests will be permitted to attend outdoor events All fans/guests at outdoor competitions must show proof of vaccination when they enter campus. Children under 12 will not be allowed to attend outdoor events even if they are masked and have a negative COVID test. Fans at Indoor Events Fans/guests will not be allowed at indoor competitions, regardless of vaccination status. To limit potential COVID spread, only teams and coaches will be allowed at indoor competitions. Note: Policies are subject to change due to local/national COVID policies. Austere but responsible policy. A few thousand in a large outdoor stadium is manageable but with the increased transmissibility of Delta there is no justifying allowing indoor fans for a recreational event when the games are being streamed.
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Post by bfoley82 on Aug 18, 2021 22:55:10 GMT -5
fordhamsports.com/sports/2021/8/5/visitor-fans-regulations-aug-5-2021.aspxFordham Visiting Team/Guest Policies (as of August 5, 2021) Visiting Teams/Staff All visiting team members, including coaches, student-athletes, and support staff must be vaccinated for all events (both indoor and outdoor competitions). Individuals must show proof of vaccination when they arrive on campus. The University will not allow any unvaccinated visiting team members or coaches to enter campus. Fans at Outdoor Events Fans/guests will be permitted to attend outdoor events All fans/guests at outdoor competitions must show proof of vaccination when they enter campus. Children under 12 will not be allowed to attend outdoor events even if they are masked and have a negative COVID test. Fans at Indoor Events Fans/guests will not be allowed at indoor competitions, regardless of vaccination status. To limit potential COVID spread, only teams and coaches will be allowed at indoor competitions. Note: Policies are subject to change due to local/national COVID policies. Lowell's goriverhawks.com/news/2021/8/18/general-umass-lowell-ready-to-welcome-river-hawk-nation-back-to-events.aspxThe University of Massachusetts Lowell Department of Athletics announced that in preparation for the start of the fall competition schedule, the 2021-22 River Hawk athletics season will begin with no physical distancing or capacity requirements. In accordance with current University policies, face coverings will not be required for outdoor events, though the coverings will be required for all indoor spaces, including restroom facilities at events. Proof of vaccination is not required for attendance at River Hawk Athletic events. "The energy River Hawk Nation brings to our athletic events was greatly missed over the last year and a half," said Director of Athletics Peter Casey. "To say we are excited to bring that energy back into our venues and have our student-athletes feel that support from our fans in blue cannot be overstated. Safety is always our priority and we will work closely with local and state authorities to ensure we are creating that environment and adjusting as necessary." The announcement, which follows current city, state and CDC guidance, comes as the River Hawk Women's Soccer season begins the fall sports slate on Thursday, August 19, when they host Holy Cross at Cushing Field. As we return from the pandemic, admission for all River Hawk men's soccer, women's soccer and field hockey events is complimentary for all. Season Tickets for UMass Lowell Hockey are on sale now at www.GoRiverHawks.com/seasontickets, with single game tickets and tickets for UMass Lowell Men's and Women's Basketball going on sale in the coming weeks. Any changes to attendance policy will be communicated via GoRiverHawks.com and UMass Lowell social media channels.
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Post by efg72 on Aug 19, 2021 7:20:05 GMT -5
U.S. Drug Authorities Seen Sidelined by Biden’s Booster Push (1) FDA, CDC haven’t fully vetted booster plan and normally would Third shot for 100 million Americans hangs in the balance
By Fiona Rutherford | August 18, 2021 5:26PM ET
(Updates with commentary from former FDA commissioner beginning in 13th paragraph.) The White House’s plan to begin offering booster shots next month to almost all vaccinated U.S. adults is raising concerns among health experts that the administration is rushing ahead without enough data and regulatory oversight.
On Wednesday as expected, officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the U.S. Surgeon General- and White House Covid-19 adviser Anthony Fauci, announced the booster plan. But it came without the FDA and CDC publicly saying they had fully vetted giving a third shot to the 100 million fully-vaccinated Americans by year’s end.
Messenger RNA vaccines made by Moderna Inc. and the partnership of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE will be used in the booster push, according to the announcement. Johnson & Johnson’s is still under review because it came into use later. These vaccines were cleared under an emergency use authorization (EUA) that would have to be amended to allow the booster program to go forward.
It would be very strange for the Biden administration to be the one calling the shots on boosters, according to Dorit Reiss, a professor who studies vaccine policy at the University of California Hastings College of the Law.
“This is not something that’s generally done by the administration or by political actors,” Reiss said. “If they are going to circumvent the process, then I’m very concerned.”
The Biden administration’s move subtly echoes former P
WATCH: Will vaccinated people need a Covid-19 booster shot? WHO’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan weighs in. resident Donald Trump’s voluble efforts to push the FDA to quickly approve vaccines before the November election. However, the current White House hasn’t engaged in publicly attacking the regulator like the former president did.
Push Back
In a White House briefing on Wednesday, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy pushed back on the notion that the administration was front-running regulators, saying it would follow the normal protocols. The early announcement was made to be transparent with the public and ensure that states and localities have enough time to plan, he said.
Health officials are making progress on discussing booster shots. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which includes medical and public health experts, will meet on Aug. 24. The FDA is also working with the CDC and the National Institutes of Health to consider when boosters might be given, according to a FDA spokeswoman.
ACIP members have been discussing the topic for months, and the data are adequate for the Biden administration to make this recommendation, according to Camille Kotton, an ACIP member and clinical director of transplant and immunocompromised host infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Lynn Bahta, also an ACIP member, said the announcement includes the necessary steps to involve the FDA and ACIP in reviewing the data, which is important for transparency of the process.
Delta Variant
“We are still in a pandemic, and there is much broader involvement of top decision-makers,” Bahta said. “The good news is that it gives states and the general public a heads up that allows for planning.”
Stephen Hahn, who served under President Trump as FDA last commissioner, said that data on the vaccine boosters should decide who should get one, and that it’s possible that may not be immediately available for all populations.
“It’s OK to admit that there might be gaps in information, but we’re trying to fill those,” Hahn said. “People get it when a doctor says, ‘There’s a gap in information, but this is the best information we can give you.’”
The push for booster shots comes as new waves of Covid cases fueled by the delta variant have caused a surge in hospitalizations and fatalities across the country. More transmissible than other viral mutations, delta has shown itself to be adept at evading the protection afforded by vaccines. New data published by the CDC Wednesday showed that vaccine effectiveness against infection and the delta variant is decreasing over time.
While the Biden administration could be right to offer boosters widely, there isn’t enough convincing data to suggest that everyone needs one, according Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist and former Biden adviser. The concern of waning immunity is associated with the elderly and immunocompromised, he said.
“This isn’t about yes or no,” Osterholm said. “It’s about whether we need this for everyone.”
--With assistance from Josh Wingrove and Drew Armstrong.
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