PLUS: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.
By Eve Sneider | 11.18.21 | A brief programming note: We'll be off next week for the holiday. See you on November 29! Germany tightens restrictions, Biden invests in vaccine manufacturing, and the Philippines clears Novavax's shot. But first, here's this week's big story: |  | The FDA is expected to sign off on boosters of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine for all adults imminently, maybe even by the time you're reading this, which means that anyone who received their second dose more than six months ago could get a third shot as soon as this weekend. Moderna has also asked the FDA to approve third doses of its vaccine for all adults, and a decision on that is expected around the same time. At the moment, people who got two doses of an mRNA vaccine and are 65 and up or are considered at risk because of their health or their jobs are eligible for a booster, as is anyone who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago. So far, over 30 million Americans have received boosters. With the holidays coming up, though, some states have expanded booster eligibility in the hopes of preventing a spike in cases. As more and more Americans get their third shots, some experts have said the US is reframing the purpose of a coronavirus vaccine as an attempt to prevent all infections rather than serious illness or death. And with many countries still struggling to dole out first doses, questions of vaccine equity loom large. | | German lawmakers today signed off on tighter Covid restrictions as infections continue to rise at a shocking rate—over 60 percent in the last two weeks. Officials warn that the virus is once again becoming a national emergency. (The New York Times) The White House announced yesterday that it will invest billions in vaccine manufacturing to produce at least 1 billion mRNA shots a year and increase the number of doses going to poorer nations. (The Washington Post) The Philippines has become the second country, after Indonesia, to approve Novavax's Covid vaccine for adults over 18. The shot had an efficacy rate of just under 90 percent in trials, and the drugmaker has also applied for authorization in Canada and the EU. (Reuters) Two regions in Austria—Upper Austria and Salzburg—have announced that they will go into full lockdown next week as cases soar and hospitals struggle to meet demand. (Politico EU) In the run-up to Thanksgiving, the NFL has tightened its Covid-19 restrictions, saying that all personnel must wear masks inside and be tested after the holiday weekend. Unvaccinated players have to wait until they've received their test results to enter team facilities. (The New York Times) | | The majority of gamers in the US are white and male. For players who don't fit that mold, it can be difficult to find community online. That's why Jay-Ann Lopez started Black Girl Gamers. | | According to internal documents, in the late 2010s Amazon's empire of data "had become so sprawling, fragmented, and promiscuously shared within the company that the security division couldn't even map all of it, much less adequately defend its borders." A new report from Reveal from The Center For Investigative Reporting and WIRED details years of turmoil inside the tech giant's information security department. | | The holidays are fast approaching! Here are some of our favorite gift ideas for making loved ones feel special without breaking the bank. | |
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