| CDC director endorses boosters, New York hospitals prep for mandates, and African leaders condemn vaccine inequity. Here's what you should know: Headlines The CDC's director overrules agency panel recommendations and endorses boosters for frontline workers In an unusual move, Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, overruled her agency's advisory panel recommendation and said that frontline workers who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine should be eligible for a booster. Yesterday the CDC panel recommended boosters for many, including adults over 65 and younger people who are at high risk, but, unlike the FDA, it didn't sign off on third shots for all adults with high occupational risk. Now that both agencies have weighed in, the Biden administration can begin rolling out boosters for people who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as soon as today. Some experts have speculated that Walensky made her decision in part because she was involved in the initial White House announcement. New York hospitals brace for employee vaccine mandates to go into effect next week This weekend marks the last chance for hospital and nursing home employees in New York to get vaccinated before the state vaccine mandate for health care workers goes into effect on Monday. Many still haven't, which means that thousands may be unable to report to work next week. In response, some health care facilities are making contingency plans like cutting back on elective surgeries and, in some cases, pausing maternity services, keeping volunteers on standby, and limiting nursing home admissions. One good sign, though, is that one of the state's largest hospital systems gave workers until last Wednesday to get their shots and reported that fewer than 250 of its 48,000 employees hadn't met the deadline. African leaders speak out about inequitable vaccine distribution at the UN General Assembly At the UN General Assembly yesterday, African leaders spoke out once again about the need for vaccines across the continent. In particular, many urged other UN member states to sign onto a proposal for temporarily waiving some of the World Trade Organization's intellectual property rights, which make it harder for low- and middle-income countries to produce their own shots. Biden has already pledged his support for these waivers, but global leaders haven't reached a consensus yet. As of mid-September, less than 4 percent of Africans have been fully vaccinated. At the General Assembly, the continent's leaders reminded others: "No one is safe unless we are all safe." Daily Distraction In order to prepare for future earthquakes, it's important to know how and when previous major quakes rumbled. Now a group of scientists is patching gaps in the seismic record with a new tool: trees. Something to Read Online, one funny expression has become a go-to caption and comment for memes: "The internet remains undefeated." It may seem like a lighthearted response on first read, but a closer look reveals dark undertones. Sanity Check It can be terrifying to transfer your data to a new iPhone—what if you erase important information? Here are our tips for switching devices without losing a thing. One Question What drugs do we have for treating mild cases of Covid-19? At present, not many. But there may be more definitive answers soon. At an NIH talk last month, researchers presented early data on existing drugs that could keep mild Covid from getting worse, notably an antidepressant called fluvoxamine, which shows some promise for treating mild cases. At the same presentation, scientists shared that ivermectin doesn't help prevent or treat Covid. All of this data hasn't been peer-reviewed or officially published yet, but the trial is well-respected. Covid-19 Care Package 📦 To end this pandemic and prevent future ones, we'll need a good way to track and surveil emerging diseases. Here's a look at the latest efforts. 😷 Masks may not be mandatory where you live, but they're still recommended for many situations. Here are the best masks you can buy, or how to make one at home. 💉 Vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself and others against Covid-19. Here's how to get an appointment in your area. 💻 Whether or not you're a work-from-home pro, here's how to stay productive without losing your mind. 🚗 Itching for a vacation but not quite ready to get on a plane? Hit the road instead. Here's everything you need to plan a post-pandemic road trip. 👋 So you're fully vaccinated! Congrats. Here are some ways you can let others know. 🦠Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. | 
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