Coronavirus Update: Pfizer and BioNTech say their vaccine for young kids works

Plus: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.

View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions     By Eve Sneider | 05.23.22 As the news keeps evolving, we're here to bring you the most reliable coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Subscribe to support our journalism. Pfizer and BioNTech say they have an effective vaccine for young kids, North Korea says its surge is subsiding, and Beijing asks more residents to work from home. Here's what you should know:     Headlines Pfizer and BioNTech said their vaccine for young children works (NBC) Pfizer and BioNTech announced this morning that trials indicate three doses of its vaccine for children under five are safe and 80 percent effective at protecting against Omicron. The first two doses of the vaccine are administered three weeks apart, with the third coming at least two months later, and each is a tenth of the level used for adults. The drugmakers said they plan to apply for authorization from the FDA later this week. North Korea claims its Covid surge is improving (New York Times) North Korea's state-run news agency said on Sunday that the country's Covid outbreak was seeing "a positive trend," a sharp reversal from recent weeks, when it took stringent measures to contain the virus's spread. Today North Korea reported fewer than 200,000 new cases for the first time in a week. In neighboring South Korea, there were 9,975 new cases on Monday, the lowest figure in almost four months. Beijing expands its work-from-home requirement (Reuters) In response to rising cases, Beijing told residents in six of its 16 districts to work from home and avoid gatherings or show a negative PCR test from the past 48 hours if they need to go in to work. The government encouraged certain groups in three other districts to do the same as it attempts to curb the spread of the virus. Sixty-one new cases were detected Saturday and 99 on Sunday, the highest count so far during this outbreak. The city has already cut back on public transit and requested that some shopping malls and stores close. Science Spotlight Nuclear Fusion Is Already Facing a Fuel Crisis The whole point of nuclear fusion is to provide cleaner and safer power. But what happens when it relies on fuel from less green sources?   The Wetlands Are Drowning Increasing levels of CO2 are a boon for both sea rise and plant growth. But in America's wetlands, the plants are having a hard time keeping up. Daily Distraction The Matrix Resurrections is now available to stream on HBO Max. But choosing to watch it, WIRED's Jason Kehe writes, is a controversial, even existential, choice. Something to Read For three months, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has posted video dispatches from the front lines of Russia's invasion. Through these harrowing accounts, he has shaped the grand narrative of the war. Sanity Check There's no better way to prepare for a summer of fun than to stock up on outdoor gear. Here are some of the best deals from REI's Anniversary Sale to get you started. GET WIRED Memorial Day Sale. Give yourself the gift of information. Get the print edition of WIRED and Gideon Lichfield's exclusive subscriber-only column for just $29.99 $5. Subscribe now.           Have questions or comments? Reply to this email.   This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or Manage your newsletter subscriptions   Copyright © Condé Nast 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.