RED SHIFT: How Trump's attempt to let COVID-19 destroy Blue America reversed itself, animated

Holy guacamole.

Tokyo coronavirus case count for today is just 6 Previous two Mondays: 7, 18 7-day average: 17.1 Serious cases -1 to 8 Newly reported deaths: 1

COVID-19 vaccines are effective. However, some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it. These are called "vaccine breakthrough cases." We are tracking vaccine breakthrough cases in Minnesota and monitoring trends. Vaccination can make illness less severe in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. Fully vaccinated people are also much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people with similar risk factors who are not vaccinated.

COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Weekly Update

Data shows us that the higher the vaccination rate, the lower the death rate. #COVID19 #VaccinesWork

Amplifying the crisis is no way to rebuild trust

The Left’s Covid failure

10.1038/d41586-021-03470-x

Preprint data show that a three-dose combo of Soberana jabs has 92.4% efficacy in clinical trials.

Cuba’s bet on home-grown COVID vaccines is paying off

Under the licensing agreement, Pfizer will not receive royalties from the manufacturers, making the treatment cheaper

Pfizer strikes deal to allow generic versions of its Covid pill for world’s poor

Covid case rates in England are now highest among children aged five to nine, latest weekly surveillance figures reveal.

Covid cases highest in younger children in England

New resources on #COVID19vaccines & #pregnancy from the fantastic group @CDCofBC Indigenous Knowledge Translation Working Group. @HarlanPruden working to meet knowledge needs of Indigenous communities in ways that are meaningful. @ScienceUpFirst take note! @SFU_FHS @CaulfieldTim

Meyerowitz, Eric and Richterman, Aaron, SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Prevention in the Era of the Delta Variant (November 16, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3964247 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3964247

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmits much more rapidly than prior SARS-CoV-2 viruses. The primary mode of transmission is via short range aerosols that are emitted from the respiratory tract of an index case. There is marked heterogeneity in the spread of this virus, with 10-20% of index cases contributing to 80% of secondary cases while most index cases have no subsequent transmissions. Vaccination, ventilation, masking, eye protection, and rapid case identification with contact tracing and isolation can all reduce transmission of this virus.

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Prevention in the Era of the Delta Variant

Researchers said results highlight the need to continue with face coverings, social distancing and handwashing alongside vaccine programmes

Mask-wearing cuts Covid incidence by 53%, says global study

10.1002/poi3.273

The evolving science around COVID-19 made timely digital communication with policymakers increasingly important for all constituencies. This holds true particularly for the scientific community, where evidence-informed policymaking can influence the effectiveness of public responses. In this context, understanding how to reach policymakers effectively and which policymakers are likely to engage with scientific information delivered through digital mediums is critical. This study provides a novel observational approach to understanding reach with policymakers through science email campaigns. Using a sample of nearly 3000 state policymakers, we assessed data from five digital messaging campaigns. Results indicate four profiles of legislators: those who rarely open and open slowly (Never Openers), those who only opened a couple of emails (Rare Openers), those who open quickly, but do not always open (Intermittent Openers), and those that consistently open quickly (Always Openers). Female legislators and legislators who had served for fewer terms were more likely to be Always Openers or Intermittent Openers, relative to male legislators and legislators who had served more terms. This study reveals patterns of email engagement and indicates science communication efforts may need to adopt more targeted strategies that better reach policymakers who tend to engage less frequently with emailed research content.

Who is listening? Profiles of policymaker engagement with scientific communication Jessica Pugel MA, Corresponding Author jessica_pugel@research2policy.org orcid.org/0000-0002-8037-2984 Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 404 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA Correspondence Jessica Pugel, Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 404 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. Email: jessica_pugel@research2policy.orgSearch for more papers by this authorElizabeth C. Long PhD, Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 404 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, Pennsylvania, USASearch for more papers by this authorMary A. Fernandes MA, Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USASearch for more papers by this authorKatherine Cruz, Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USASearch for more papers by this authorCagla Giray PhD, Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 404 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, Pennsylvania, USASearch for more papers by this authorD. Max Crowley PhD, Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 404 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, Pennsylvania, USASearch for more papers by this authorJ. Taylor Scott PhD, Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 404 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, Pennsylvania, USASearch for more papers by this author

As of 12.11.2021, we have indexed 257,633 publications: *18,674 pre-prints *238,959 peer-reviewed publications Pre-prints: BioRxiv, MedRxiv Peer-reviewed: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO

10.3389/fpubh.2021.715931

Widespread acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination is the next major step in fighting the pandemic. However, significant variations are observed in the willingness to take the vaccination by citizens across different countries. Arguably, differences in vaccination intentions will be influenced by beliefs around vaccines to influence health. Often perceptions of what others are doing and the information available guide individuals' behaviors for vaccination. This is more so in the digital age with the influence of the internet and media. This study aims to determine the factors that impact willingness to vaccinate for COVID-19. We examined factors associated with acceptance of vaccine based on (1) constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM), (2) sources of information, (3) social media usage, (4) knowledge of COVID-19 treatment, and (5) perception of government's efforts for mitigation. Randomly sampled online survey data was collected by a global firm between December 2020 and January 2021 from 372 citizens (with a response rate of 96.6%) from multiple regions, including North America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Ordered probit regression suggests that the health belief model constructs hold. Perceived severity of COVID-19 (P < 0.001) and action cues of others taking the vaccine positively influences a subject's vaccine intent (P < 0.001), perceived benefits and perceived efficacy of the vaccine positively influences a subject's vaccine intent (P < 0.001). Perceived barriers negatively influence vaccine intent (P < 0.001). Interestingly as for media usage, mainstream media (e.g., TV, newspaper) (P = 0.006) and social media (P = 0.013) both negatively influence a subject's vaccine intent. Social media platforms that are more entertainment and social-based, such as Whatsapp, Instagram, and YouTube, have a negative and significant influence on vaccine intent (P = 0.061), compared to other more information-based social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, LinkedIn). Knowledge of COVID-19 treatment positively influences vaccine intent (P = 0.023). Lastly, governmental efforts' perceived reliability in mitigation strategy (P = 0.028) and response efforts (P = 0.004) negatively influence vaccine intent. The study highlights the “wait-and-see” action cue from others and leaders in the community. It also informs the importance of shaping media information for vaccination through informative media and social media outlets to counteract any misinformation.

Does Seeing What Others Do Through Social Media Influence Vaccine Uptake and Help in the Herd Immunity Through Vaccination? A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Everyone keeps talking about covid becoming endemic, but as I listen to the conversation, it’s becoming more & more clear to me that very few of you know what “endemic” means. So here’s a thread on how pandemics end.

Proportion of AY.4.2 (now on http://covid19.sanger.ac.uk) has been steadily increasing in England, which is a pattern that is quite different from other AY lineages. Several of them rose when there was still Alpha to displace, but none has had a consistent advantage vs other Delta.

Are you a Mask Master? Take this quick quiz to find out https://bit.ly/3jbn5iS Wearing a well-fitted mask, along with practicing other prevention measures, is an important part of slowing the spread of #COVID19 High quiz scores = Mask Master badge

In March, as claims about the dangers and ineffectiveness of coronavirus vaccines spun across social media and undermined attempts to stop the spread of the virus, some Facebook employees thought they had found a way to help.

Facebook froze as anti-vaccine comments swarmed users

Good @NatGeo article by @Ecquis on the growing AY.4.2 variant in the UK with lots of great experts explaining it. And a little bit of me too! At its current growth rate, it will probably become dominant in UK by the end of the year.

10.1126/science.acx9605

Last week’s announcement by drug behemoth Pfizer that its 5-day pill regimen powerfully curbs many early SARS-CoV-2 infections opens a new chapter in the battle against the virus. In a clinical trial that an independent monitoring group halted early because the experimental therapy appeared so effective, it slashed hospitalizations by 89% among those treated within 3 days of symptom onset. If Pfizer’s drug candidate passes muster with regulators, it could join molnupiravir, a pill recently developed by Merck & Co. that received approval last week in the United Kingdom, as the first oral medications proved to stop COVID-19 from progressing to severe disease.

Antiviral pills could change pandemic’s course

Using new data from Japan, we do not find any evidence that school closures at the start of the pandemic helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our null results suggest that policies on school closures should be reexamined given the potential negative consequences for children and parents.

No evidence school closures reduce the spread of COVID-19

One of Germany's top virologists has warned that a further 100,000 people will die from Covid if nothing's done to halt an aggressive fourth wave.

Germany coronavirus: Record rise prompts warning of 100,000 deaths

Um, @instagram you got this one wrong! @cochranecollab and @CochraneLibrary continue to be there for those looking to use high-quality information to make #health decisions. Learn more: https://buff.ly/2R3c82O And search our evidence: https://buff.ly/2vbkhIJ #infodemic

10.1056/NEJMoa2116298

BACKGROUNDSafe, effective vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are urgently needed in children younger than 12 years of age.METHODSA phase 1, dose-finding study and an ongoing phase 2–3 randomized trial are being conducted to investigate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine administered 21 days apart in children 6 months to 11 years of age. We present results for 5-to-11-year-old children. In the phase 2–3 trial, participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive two doses of either the BNT162b2 vaccine at the dose level identified during the open-label phase 1 study or placebo. Immune responses 1 month after the second dose of BNT162b2 were immunologically bridged to those in 16-to-25-year-olds from the pivotal trial of two 30-μg doses of BNT162b2. Vaccine efficacy against Covid-19 at 7 days or more after the second dose was assessed.RESULTSDuring the phase 1 study, a total of 48 children 5 to 11 years of age received 10 μg, 20 μg, or 30 μg of the BNT162b2 vaccine (16 children at each dose level). On the basis of reactogenicity and immunogenicity, a dose level of 10 μg was selected for further study. In the phase 2–3 trial, a total of 2268 children were randomly as-signed to receive the BNT162b2 vaccine (1517 children) or placebo (751 children). At data cutoff, the median follow-up was 2.3 months. In the 5-to-11-year-olds, as in other age groups, the BNT162b2 vaccine had a favorable safety profile. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were noted. One month after the second dose, the geometric mean ratio of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) neutralizing titers in 5-to-11-year-olds to those in 16-to-25-year-olds was 1.04 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 to 1.18), a ratio meeting the pre-specified immunogenicity success criterion (lower bound of two-sided 95% CI, >0.67; geometric mean ratio point estimate, ≥0.8). Covid-19 with onset 7 days or more after the second dose was reported in three recipients of the BNT162b2 vac-cine and in 16 placebo recipients (vaccine efficacy, 90.7%; 95% CI, 67.7 to 98.3).CONCLUSIONSA Covid-19 vaccination regimen consisting of two 10-μg doses of BNT162b2 ad-ministered 21 days apart was found to be safe, immunogenic, and efficacious in children 5 to 11 years of age. (Funded by BioNTech and Pfizer; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04816643.)A B S T R A C T Evaluation of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to 11 Years of AgeE.B. Walter, K.R. Talaat, C. Sabharwal, A. Gurtman, S. Lockhart, G.C. Paulsen, E.D. Barnett, F.M. Muñoz, Y. Maldonado, B.A. Pahud, J.B. Domachowske, E.A.F. Simões, U.N. Sarwar, N. Kitchin, L. Cunliffe, P. Rojo, E. Kuchar, M. Rämet, I. Munjal, J.L. Perez, R.W. Frenck, Jr., E. Lagkadinou, K.A. Swanson, H. Ma, X. Xu, K. Koury, S. Mather, T.J. Belanger, D. Cooper, Ö. Türeci, P.R. Dormitzer, U. Şahin, K.U. Jansen, and W.C. Gruber, for the C4591007 Clinical Trial Group*

Evaluation of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to 11 Years of Age

10.1038/d41586-021-02989-3

To respond better to future pandemics, we must understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus dispersed so rapidly. A model of COVID-19 spread sheds light on cryptic transmission, undetected by surveillance efforts, in early 2020.

A reconstruction of early cryptic COVID spread

10.31234/osf.io/wrgce

To reach high vaccination rates against COVID-19, children and adolescents should be also vaccinated. To improve childhood vaccination rates and vaccination readiness, parents need to be addressed since they decide about the vaccination of their children. We adapted the 7C of vaccination readiness scale to measure parents’ readiness to vaccinate their children and evaluated the scale in a long and a short version in two studies. The study was first evaluated with a sample of N = 244 parents from the German COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO) and validated with N = 464 parents from the Danish COSMO. The childhood 7C scale showed acceptable to good psychometric properties in both samples and explained more than 80% of the variance in vaccination intentions. Additionally, differences in parents’ readiness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 were strongly determined by their readiness to vaccinate themselves, explaining 64% of the variance. Vaccination readiness and intentions for children changed as a function of the children’s age explaining 93% of differences between parents in their vaccination intentions for their children. Finally, we found differences in correlations of components with self- versus childhood vaccination, as well as between the children’s age groups in the prediction of vaccination intentions. Thus, parents need to be targeted in specifically tailored ways, based on the age of their child, to reach high vaccination rates in children. The scale is publicly available in several languages (www.vaccination-readiness.com).

Measuring parents’ readiness to vaccinate themselves and their children against COVID-19

NEW: Today, I released a Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation. As Surgeon General, I’ve seen how health misinformation sows confusion and mistrust, harms people’s health, and undermines public health efforts.

The work orders help sway employees on the fence for shot, experts say.

COVID-19 vaccine mandates moving the needle, experts say

What is already known about this topic? In preauthorization trials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, adolescents aged 12–17 years reported local and systemic mild and moderate reactions. Myocarditis has been observed after vaccination with mRNA vaccines in postauthorization monitoring. What is added by this report? Local and systemic reactions after vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were commonly reported by adolescents aged 12–17 years to U.S. vaccine safety monitoring systems, especially after dose 2. A small proportion of these reactions are consistent with myocarditis. What are the implications for public health practice? Mild local and systemic reactions are common among adolescents following Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and serious adverse events are rare. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices conducted a risk-benefit assessment and continues to recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for all persons aged ≥12 years.

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in Adolescents Aged 12–17 Years — United States, December 14, 2020–July 16, 2021

10.1038/s41591-021-01578-1

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is rarely fatal in children and young people (CYP, <18 years old), but quantifying the risk of death is challenging because CYP are often infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibiting no or minimal symptoms. To distinguish between CYP who died as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection and those who died of another cause but were coincidentally infected with the virus, we undertook a clinical review of all CYP deaths with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test from March 2020 to February 2021. The predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants were wild-type and Alpha. Here we show that, of 12,023,568 CYP living in England, 3,105 died, including 61 who were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of these deaths, 25 were due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (mortality rate, two per million), including 22 due to coronavirus disease 2019—the clinical disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection—and 3 were due to pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2. In total, 99.995% of CYP with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test survived. CYP older than 10 years, Asian and Black ethnic backgrounds and comorbidities were over-represented in SARS-CoV-2-related deaths compared with other CYP deaths. These results are important for guiding decisions on shielding and vaccinating children. New variants might have different mortality risks and should be evaluated in a similar way.

Deaths in children and young people in England after SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first pandemic year

Carers share their differing views as the government’s vaccine ultimatum takes effect

‘No jab, no job’: care home workers in England on the Covid vaccine mandate

Its gurus increasingly promote vaccine scepticism, conspiracy theories and the myth that ill people have themselves to blame. How did self-care turn so nasty?

Chakras, crystals and conspiracy theories: how the wellness industry turned its back on Covid science

10.31234/osf.io/czg27

This study aims to investigate how daily activities affect mood in the context of social distancing guidelines enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) administered four times a day during a two-week period, we asked participants (N = 91) about their mood and the activities they engaged in. Seven individuals were selected for a follow-up, open-ended questionnaire. Results show that a stable routine, including physical exercise, hobbies, regular sleep hours, and minimal time spent in front of the computer, helps maintain a good mood. Coping strategies such as planning and scheduling help keep routines and circadian rhythms stable. Face-to-face contact is associated with a more positive mood, while similar interaction through electronic communication has a less positive effect. We observe an effect related to the infodemic phenomenon: daily reports on COVID-19 cases and deaths affect mood fluctuations. This is an important consideration in shaping public information policies.

Rhythms of the day: how electronic media and daily routines influence mood during COVID-19 pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/6724x

This study examines narrative identity among a large, diverse (American) sample of people with disabilities (PWDs) during the “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic (October-December, 2020). The study relied on abductive analyses, combining a purely inductive phase of inquiry followed by two rounds of investigation that filtered inductive insights through three theoretical lenses: social-ecological theory, the theory of narrative identity, and perspectives from the interdisciplinary field of disability studies. The central result was the identification of a particular configuration of self, one that was demonstrably interdependent with both immediate interpersonal contexts and with broader cultural contexts. This interdependent self was interpreted in both positive and negative ways by PWDs. These findings invite future inquiry into commonplace conceptualizations of an independent self at the center of personality research.

Narrative identity among people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: The interdependent self

Learning losses due to Covid were (unsurprisingly) far greater in children from more deprived backgrounds.

Look at this quite shameful graph (from Bob Hawkins) on Covid catch up spending per pupil. All four UK nations provide a few hundred pounds per pupil while others provide thousands. But to make things still worse...

Many countries have made inoculation mandatory for at least some of their citizens, with penalties for those who do not get jabbed

At a glance: Covid vaccine mandates around the world

10.1038/d41586-021-03049-6

Earlier generations faced fallout from the global financial crisis and a boost from emerging economies. Today, COVID-19 and concerns about diversity dominate.

COVID is disrupting scientific careers around the world

10.31235/osf.io/mf935

The COVID-19 pandemic brought Zoom explosive growth and a major privacy and security crisis in March 2020. This research advances a producer’s perspective that directs attentions to institutional and organizational actors and draws on theories of privacy management and organizational crisis communication to examine Zoom’s response to its privacy and security crisis. We primarily use data from 14 weekly Ask Eric Anything webinars from April 8 to July 15, 2020 to illustrate the strategies of Zoom’s crisis response, especially organizational representation, the contours of its analytic account acknowledging and reducing responsibility, and patterns of corrective and preventive action for user education and product improvement. Results demonstrate the usefulness of the producer’s perspective and shed light on how Zoom navigated the privacy and security crisis through mobilizing networks of executives, advisors, consultants, and clients for expertise, endorsement, and collaboration. Moreover, its response strategies have built on and contributed to Zoom’s organizational mission and culture, reframing the crisis as a growth opportunity for prioritizing privacy and security rather than mere growing pains. Zoom’s nimble, reasonable, collaborative, interactive and curated organizational response to its privacy and security crisis as an unintended consequence of its sudden rise to prominence amid a global pandemic offers a useful model for tech firms’ crisis response at a crucial moment for the tech industry around the world. Implications are relevant to understanding the socio-technical and economic consequences of this ongoing global pandemic.

Why Zoom Is Not Doomed Yet: Privacy and Security Crisis Response in the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.31222/osf.io/gj4aq

National science systems have become embedded in global science and countries do everything they can to harness global knowledge to national economic needs. However, accessing and using the riches of global knowledge can occur only through scientists. Consequently, the research power of nations relies on the research power of individual scientists. Their capacity to collaborate internationally and to tap into the global networked science is key. The constantly evolving, bottom-up, autonomous, self-regulating, and self-focused nature of global science requires deeper understanding; and the best way to understand its dynamics is to understand what drives academic scientists in their work. We are particularly interested in the contrast between global science as a largely privately governed and normatively self-regulating institution and global science as a contributor to global collective public goods. The idea that science remains a state-driven rather than curiosity-driven is difficult to sustain. In empirical terms, we describe the globalization of science using selected publication, collaboration, and citation data from 2000-2020. The globalization of science implies two different processes in two different system types: the growth of science in the Western world is almost entirely attributable to internationally co-authored publications; its growth in the developing world, in contrast, is driven by both internationally co-authored and domestic publications. Global network science opens incredible opportunities to new arrivals—countries as well as institutions and research teams. The global system is embedded in the rules created by scientists themselves and maintained as a self-organizing system and nation-states have another major level to consider in their science policies: the global level. Globalization of science provides more agency, autonomy, collegiality, and self-regulation to scientists embedded in national science structures and involved in global networks.

The Globalization of Science: The Increasing Power of Individual Scientists

Figures surged over summer as doses expired and vaccinations flagged amid widespread hesitancy

US throws out millions of doses of Covid vaccine as world goes wanting

Misinformation is being spewed, weaponized, and consumed at a deadly rate. Fortunately, there's a way out. Here's how to make sense of what you're seeing.

The Golden Age of Junk Science Is Killing Us

Extreme right-wing views and the wellness community are not an obvious pairing, but ‘conspirituality’ is increasingly pervasive. How did it all become so toxic?

The dark side of wellness: the overlap between spiritual thinking and far-right conspiracies

I simply can't get over this graph @FT