| Vaccinating kids remains a top priority, New York hits a vaccine mandate deadline, and Novavax seeks WHO approval. Here's what you should know: Headlines The 'forever virus' won't go away until kids get vaccinated Last week, some 250,000 children in the US were sick with Covid, just a few weeks after the start of the school year in most parts of the country. This is now predominantly a disease of the unvaccinated, the epidemiologist Larry Brilliant reminds WIRED's Steven Levy. And right now much of the US's unvaccinated population is children. They are capable of spreading the disease and of getting seriously ill; a dozen states currently have no pediatric ICU beds available. All of this means that until vaccines are approved for younger kids, diligent masking and regular testing in schools are critical. New York's governor outlines plans for health care worker shortage as vaccine mandate goes into effect As of today, health care workers in New York state are required to be vaccinated. Over the weekend, governor Kathy Hochul outlined a plan for what will happen in the event that there are staffing shortages in hospitals. She is considering calling on the National Guard and medical workers from other states as well as retired nurses if there is a significant number of workers who have not gotten their shots. People who are fired for refusing to get vaccinated will need a doctor-approved request for medical accommodation to get unemployment insurance. Workers can also apply for a religious exemption. Novavax applies for emergency use authorization from the WHO Late last week, Novavax and the Serum Institute of India applied for emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization for their Covid-19 vaccine. Approval would enable the drugmakers to send doses to a number of low- and middle-income countries, including through the Covax initiative, to which they've committed 1.1 billion doses. In trials, the shot proved to be more than 90 percent effective and appears to protect against the Delta variant. Novavax expects to apply for authorization in the US and the EU later this year but has prioritized seeking regulatory approval in lower-income countries that have yet to vaccinate many of their residents. Daily Distraction With wildfires becoming more frequent and more destructive, there's an urgent need for new approaches to reforestation. A handful of companies think that planting seeds via drone could be the answer. Something to Read When WIRED columnist Paul Ford became obsessed with climate change, he noticed that the world's current fixation with the planet bears a striking resemblance to the early days of the internet. "Scientists and academics told everyone about this thing for decades, and almost everyone ignored them," he writes. "But then enough people got interested, and now there's a market." Sanity Check Ready to hit the trails? Here's a roundup of all of our favorite gear for staying warm and safe the next time you head out on a hike. One Question How has the pandemic changed the role of pharmacies in the US? Community pharmacies in the US have spent decades advocating to have their services enhanced. Then, amid the pandemic, they underwent a major shift almost overnight. Federal actions like the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act made it possible for pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines to children and Covid shots to anyone eligible, with proper training and under the supervision of a pharmacist. And when health care practices closed their doors, pharmacists in some places were able to step in not just to dispense drugs to those in need but to make sure they were being used properly and effectively. Now, some in the industry say, these changes may well prove to be the new normal. 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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