| Tennessee fires its top vaccine official, the WHO opposes booster shots, and 92 are killed in a Covid ward fire in Iraq. Here's what you should know: Headlines Tennessee fires its top vaccine official and halts outreach to teens On Monday, Dr. Michelle Fiscus, Tennessee's top vaccination official, was fired by the state government without explanation. Republican lawmakers criticized Fiscus last month for sending a letter to medical providers explaining a legal mechanism that says minors over 14 can be vaccinated without parental consent. Since then, Tennessee's health department has stopped doing vaccine outreach to teens. The state's vaccination rates are lower than most of the country's, and it has recently seen a spike in cases due to the rise of the Delta variant. The WHO calls on drugmakers to send doses to poorer countries instead of pursuing boosters The WHO is urging drugmakers to focus on supplying shots to the many countries still in need rather than developing boosters for rich countries. At a press event Monday, its director general called on Pfizer and Moderna to "go all out to supply Covax," especially because there's still not enough evidence to prove that a third vaccine dose is needed. This week, US officials also told Pfizer they'd need more data before approving a third booster shot. 92 killed and many injured in a fire at a coronavirus ward in Iraq Ninety-two people have been pronounced dead, and many more injured, from a fire in a coronavirus ward at a hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq. It's the country's second hospital fire in less than three months. Iraq is currently in the middle of another Covid-19 surge, with new cases per day rising to 9,000 last week. Mistrust of public health has reportedly kept many from pursuing medical care. Daily Distraction Humans have always wondered about alien life. Now, researchers are asking, What would it look like if aliens searched for us? Something to Read In 2016, Nathan Carman went on a fishing trip with his mother, Linda. A week later, he was found out on the Atlantic—alone. For WIRED, writer Evan Lubofsky chronicled a family saga, an unsolved mystery, and the oceanic data that could help fill in the gaps. Sanity Check Whether you're checking in with family or taking an important work call, it's worth investing in a quality webcam to look your best. Here are a few of WIRED's favorites. One Question How has the pandemic changed the homeschooling community in the US? Last fall, parents across the country who were sick of remote learning but wary of sending their kids back into classrooms opted to take classes into their own hands instead. Now, some plan to stick with it even after the pandemic. Though homeschoolers in America have stereotypically been largely white and isolationist, a diverse swath of families took the opportunity to customize their kids' learning in the past year, often with the help of tech. Virtual communities, especially those based on cultural and racial groups, have been key to attracting and informing a broader set of families about educating their own kids. 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 no longer be mandatory where you live, but it's still a good idea to have a few around. 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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