Cuba has one of the world's highest COVID vaccination rates, with more than 85% of the nation fully immunized and kids as young as 2 getting inoculated. And it's done so using homegrown vaccines.
It's a sibling of the first omicron variant that swept the world. Is it more contagious? Does it cause severe disease? Will it keep current omicron surges going? Researchers are looking for answers.
On today's show: A Republican leader in the state Senate filed a bill to eliminate drop boxes, which have enabled voters to cast absentee ballots more easily. Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to announce later this week that Rivian, one of the country’s largest manufacturers of electric vehicles, is set to build an assembly plant in Georgia.
The U.S. has pledged to deliver 1.1 billion doses of COVID vaccines to countries in need. Billions more are needed. NPR interviewed the State Department's global vaccine coordinator to learn more.
The White House says the U.S. has enough doses for the country's 28 million kids age 5 to 11 and has laid out a plan to get them inoculated as soon as the vaccine is authorized for the age group.
Johnson & Johnson shared data from its Phase 3 trial of the company's booster shot on Tuesday. The data showed a booster shot at six months provided a 12-fold increase in antibodies.
Pfizer and BioNTech say that early trial results show their vaccine established a strong antibody response against the coronavirus. FDA review is still needed.
Pastor Danny Reeves encouraged some members of his congregation to get the COVID-19 vaccine but thought he didn't need to get vaccinated himself. That changed after COVID-19 almost killed him.
History has shown that it's possible to pause war and conflict to distribute lifesaving vaccines for diseases such as Guinea worm and smallpox. Can the world do the same for the COVID-19 vaccine?
The health ministry said contamination was reported from multiple vaccination sites. The news raises concern of a supply shortage as Japan tries to accelerate vaccinations amid a surge in cases.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is implementing new policies for its employees as the COVID-19 delta variant continues to take a toll on hospital systems across the country, including charging employees $200 per month if they fail to get vaccinated.
Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine has been given full approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Along with that approval process is the companies' new brand name for the vaccine: Comirnaty.
