FDA：Novavax新冠疫苗有效 但安全性存疑
世界新闻网
6/04/2022
联邦食品药物管理局(FDA)表示，美国制药公司诺瓦瓦克斯(Novavax)的新冠疫苗有效率为90%，然而这个有效率只是在变异病毒Omicron出现之前所得。此外测试研究发现，在4万个接种Novavax疫苗的人里，有6人出现心肌炎，因此其安全性存在疑问。
Novavax疫苗暂时获得紧急使用，FDA的外部顾问将于本周讨论是否建议正式批准这款疫苗。而FDA在会议前夕发出这个研究结果，对Novavax疫苗极为不利，势必在会议上受到专家顾问们的严厉质疑，因为目前仍不知道该款疫苗应对Omicron的有效性，加上潜在的心脏风险，更令外界关注。
Novavax暂时没有回应FDA公布的测试研究结果，公司的运行副总裁泰兹诺(John Trizzino)上月曾表示，公司期望获得FDA的授权。
Novavax疫苗已在40多个国家获得批准使用，但在美国本土，由于制造方面的挑战，仍未获正式批准。
与辉瑞(Pfizer)及莫德纳(Moderna)的疫苗不同，Novavax疫苗是将一种冠状病毒刺突蛋白传递到身体，训练免疫系统对抗病毒。辉瑞与莫德纳的疫苗，是向人体注入遗传物质，用来组装刺突蛋白以刺激免疫系统发挥作用。
FDA 表示，Novavax的疫苗代号为NVX-CoV2373，在预防轻度、中度或重度新冠病毒方面的有效率为90.4%。
在多项研究中，4万多名Novavax疫苗接种者中有6例心肌炎和心包炎，其中有5例更是在接种疫苗后两星期内出现的，需要住院治疗。
FDA解释，辉瑞及莫德纳疫苗也在接种者中出现心肌炎，但都是在正式批准投放市场后才出现，在批准前没有病例报告，情况与Novavax疫苗不同。
此外有关测试研究是在2021年上半年展开，当时仍未出现Omicron病毒，因此不知Novavax疫苗应对Omicron的有效率。
FDA核准 5到11岁童打疫苗补强针 第2剂接种后5个月注射
世界新闻网
5/18/2022
联邦食品暨药物管理局(FDA)17日批准5到11岁儿童，在接种完第二剂新冠疫苗至少五个月后，可以再注射辉瑞药厂(Pfizer)的新冠疫苗补强针，希望在确诊病例再次增加之际，能增强对这个年龄层儿童的保护。
联邦食品与药物局核可的辉瑞与德国生技疫苗，预计可让全美2800万少年加强防疫力。
辉瑞说，第三剂不但安全，还可激发儿童身体强大的免疫力，大幅提升对抗Omicron变种病毒的抗体数量。
食药局疫苗部门主管马克斯(Peter Marks)说，补强剂有助5到11岁和更年长的人获得保护，让他们可以「持续对抗新冠病毒」。
但是，已打完第二剂五个月，这批补强剂接种的对象不见得都会接受，因为儿童接种新冠疫苗的比率原本就低于其他年龄层；民调也显示，许多家长对幼龄子女打疫苗本来就不甚热衷，对打补强剂更兴趣索然。
食药局核准医护人员对这年龄层的小孩施打的剂量是10微克(microgram)，和头两剂一样；12岁以上的剂量是30微克。
开始对儿童施打第三剂之前，疾病防治中心(CDC)的免疫专家顾问小组还要开会，决定是否赞同；小组预定19日开会，CDC通常在开会后很快就会跟进核准。
CDC核准后，各地小儿科诊所、医院、药局等过去儿童接种的地方，就可开始儿童补强剂作业；政府与药厂都称供应量应不虞匮乏。
公卫专家和有关研究发现，大致而言，和成年人比起来，儿童较不容易感染，感染也较不易转为重症，通常只是轻症，甚至无症状。
但Omicron肆虐期间，儿童染疫住院病例增加，主要是没打疫苗或只打一剂的人；公卫当局鼓励民众接种疫苗，包括补强剂，这对正常人可构成保护，较不易变成重症患者，对防疫力较差、容易生重病的人，更能提供保护。
免费新冠快筛又来了 每个家庭可再向政府申领8组
世界新闻网
5/17/2022
白宫17日表示，全美家庭即日起可向政府再申领8个免费的居家检测剂，使每个家庭获得的免费检测剂总数增加到16个；拜登政府也要求国会追加225亿元防疫资金，以用于新冠病毒的检测、治疗与生产疫苗。
免费检测剂是通过政府的新冠病毒检测网站COVIDTests.gov申领，该网站今年1月开通供民众免费申请，3月开放第二次申领，如今政府又通过该网站第三次向民众提供居家检测剂；前两次为每个家庭每次最多领取四个，第三次增加为每个家庭八个，使免费申领的数量达到16个，16日已开放申请，民众可上网 https://www.covid.gov/tests 登记。
联邦政府迄今已向民众免费提供了3亿5000万个检测剂，本轮添加加的检测剂用的是去年纾困金的资金；白宫17日要求追加225亿元资金，表示如果不增加开支，就无力做更多检测。
白宫网站的事实清单上说：「由于国会未能提供额外资金，政府无法保证对国内检测剂生产的投入，因此将影响到政府继续提供免费检测剂的能力。」
白宫多次警告说，如不追加资金，防疫工作将受到严重影响，包括威胁到疫苗的生产。政府本月初预计今年秋冬之交全国可能添加1亿人感染，但这一估计由于缺乏数据支持，被认为是可能出于政治动机。
联邦疾病防治中心(CDC)16日更新了防疫指南，赞成对所有国内游客进行检测，而以前的指南是建议没有接种疫苗的人在旅行前要进行检测。
华府警告：Omicron亚种恐致美今秋染疫人数破亿
中央社／华盛顿
5/07/2022
拜登政府警告，在Omicron新型亚变种肆虐下，美国COVID-19染疫人数今年秋冬可能达到一亿人，死亡人数也恐大幅飙升。这些亚变种已展现出明显的躲避免疫系统能力。
「华盛顿邮报」报导，美国COVID-19（2019冠状病毒疾病）死亡案例突破100万大关之际，美国政府一名高端官员6日在不公开媒体简报会上提出这项警告。白宫正努力说服国会核准更多资金，以购买新的疫苗、筛检试剂、药品等，为秋冬感染潮做好准备。
在简报会中，这名官员并未提供新数据佐证或做出正式预测。他仅根据外部一系列病毒传播模型，推测秋季和冬季感染潮样貌。
这名官员表示，上述预测前提是假设Omicron及其亚变种将继续主导社区传播，而且不会出现截然不同的病毒株。他也坦言，大流行进程可能会因许多因素而改变。
华邮指出，多名专家认为，由于接种疫苗和曾经染疫产生的免疫力下降，加上防疫规范放松，以及出现更擅于躲避免疫系统保护力的变异株，今年秋冬可能会出现新一波COVID-19感染潮。
美国全境7天平均添加确诊人数，已从3月30日的2万9312人上升到本月6日的近7万1000人，仅仅5周多就大幅增加。
美国华盛顿大学医学院（University of Washington School of Medicine）健康计量评估研究中心（Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation）流行病学家莫卡德（Ali Mokdad）6日在一封电邮中表示，冬季可能出现确诊人数激增的状况。
尽管疫情存在许多不确定性，不过莫卡德所属机构仍持续进行长期预测。根据健康计量评估研究中心不久前发布的预测，从现在到5月底，染疫数量会稍微增加，接着下降，直到冬季到来时。
辉瑞：口服药Paxlovid无法有效预防与确诊病患同住者染疫
文 / 陈慧璋
4/29/2022
（早报讯）美国辉瑞公司周五（4月29日）发表声明说，一项大型试验显示，其冠病口服药Paxlovid无法有效预防与冠病确诊者同住的人感染冠病。
路透社报道，辉瑞公司为这项试验招募了3000名成年人，参与试验者都有一名家庭成员近期的冠病检测结果呈阳性并出现症状。
研究人员给参与试验者服用了5天或10天疗程的的Paxlovid或安慰剂。
试验结果显示，服5天Paxlovid的人感染冠病的概率比服安慰剂的人低32%，服10天Paxlovid的人则降低37%。
辉瑞公司说，这项试验所提供的数据可能是偶然因素所致，在统计学上并无显著意义。
辉瑞公司总裁艾伯乐在一份声明中说：“虽然我们对这项特定研究的结果非常失望，但这结果不会影响我们在用于治疗冠病患者的初期试验中所观察到的强大疗效和安全性数据。”
辉瑞公司说，周五发布的试验安全数据与此前的研究一致。辉瑞公司的研究显示，在出现冠病症状后不久服用Paxlovid五天，对预防住院和重症的有效性接近90%。
Omicron亚型变异株BA.4、BA.5 可逃避疫苗及免疫系统
世界新闻网
4/29/2022
南非基因定序研究机构的科学家表示，本月在南非发现的新型Omicron病毒亚型变异株「BA.4」和「BA.5」，很可能能够逃避疫苗，以及已染疫者的自然免疫力。
病毒学家德奥里维拉（Tulio de Oliveira）说，Omicron亚型变异株BA.2的传染力已比Omicron高，BA.4和BA.5的传染力似乎比BA.2更强。
奥里维拉表示，南非所有人几乎都已接种新冠疫苗或曾染疫，但当前染疫人数激增，意味着最新型的变异株不仅传染力更强，或许还能逃避人体的防御系统。
他指出：「变异株的突变，让病毒得以逃避免疫机制。我们预计这足以导致重复感染，并突破一些疫苗（防护力）。这也是南非疫情复炽的唯一原因，因为句我们推算，当地已有逾九成人口具免疫保护水准。」
奥里维拉说，Omicron BA.4和BA.5病例约占南非添加确诊病例的70％；目前这两种新的变异株已导致南非确诊数激增，但住院和病故人数并未大增。
除了南非外，Omicron BA.4和BA.5已在全球20个国家现踪。
中国不放弃清零 专家：Omicron病死率为流感的7到8倍
世界新闻网
4/23/2022
中国当地时间24日通报添加2万1796本土病例。官方专家称Omicron的病死率约为流感的7到8倍，上海这波疫情爆发以来已累计87人死亡。
中国中央卫健委24日通报，4月23日0至24时，中国添加本土病例1566例（上海1401例，吉林60例，黑龙江26例，北京22例等）；添加本土无症状感染者2万0230例（上海19657例，吉林154例，江苏120例等）；添加死亡病例39例，均在上海的本土病例。
中国国家卫健委疫情应对处置工作领导小组专家组组长梁万年23日晚间重申动态清零的重要。他说，Omicron的严重程度从传播速度和病死率来看，都远高于流感，一旦防控放松，将造成大量的重症和死亡。
他指出，Omicron的传播力远大于流感和此前的COVID-19其他变异株。在没有防护措施下，一个人平均可以传播9.5人。全球的流感平均病死率为0.1%，而Omicron的病死率，真实世界数据显示平均病死率是0.75%左右，约为流感的7到8倍；老年人群特别是80岁以上的老人病死率超过10%，是普通流感的近百倍。
他说，如果大量重症出现，就会反过来挤兑医疗系统，势必又会造成正常的医疗服务需求得不到满足，形成恶性循环，最终广泛影响人们正常的生产生活。
上海这波疫情自4月17日出现3名死亡病例后，累计7天死亡人数已达87人，死者年龄偏高，平均约在80岁左右。
CDC：Omicron亚型BA.2 占新冠变异株病例近3/4
中央社／华盛顿
4/05/2022
美国疾病管制暨预防中心（CDC）今天表示，估计在美国每四例COVID-19（2019冠状病毒疾病）变异株病例中，Omicron亚型变异株BA.2就占了近三例。
路透报导，美国添加COVID-19病例数在今年1月创下高峰后，如今已大幅减少。在亚洲和欧洲部分地区疫情再起后，部分人担心美国又掀一波疫情；不过，美国卫生专家认为可能性不高。
根据美国疾管中心数据，美国COVID-19单日添加病例截至4月1日的7天滚动平均值为2万6106例，略低于一周前的2万6309例。
疾管中心估计，截至4月2日，高传染力的亚型变异株BA.2占美国COVID-19变异株病例的72.2%，比前一周近57.3%大幅增加。
世界卫生组织（WHO）数据显示，目前BA.2占全球所有定序病例约86%。已知此一变异株比Omicron亚型变异株BA.1和BA.1.1更具传染力，但目前证据显示，BA.2导致重症的可能性不会比较高。
美国卫生主管机关考量到免疫力逐渐下降及Omicron变异株带来的风险，上周批准50岁以上和免疫系统受损的较年轻群体使用辉瑞（Pfizer）/BioNTech、莫德纳（Moderna）疫苗作为第2剂追加剂。
Healthcare Certification and ESL Programs
BA.2引起新一波疫情 学者：社区确诊超过5%就该戴口罩
世界新闻网
4/04/2022
传染力再度增强的Omicron亚型变异株BA.2，让欧洲确诊案例走高，如今已是美国及全球感染案例罪魁祸首。疫情发展诡谲难测，许多民众对于戴口罩、保持社交距离等防疫措施早就感到弹性疲乏，纽约时报报导，民众应该懂得降低曝露于病毒底下的风险、让家人与亲友的生活尽量不受影响，若自己或亲友陷入重病则要确保可以接受治疗。七项自保之道包括：
一、下一波疫情可能到来，美国部分地区其实已经出现新一波疫情。民众自保之道的第一步，就是注意居住社区的疫情统计追踪。
美国疾病防治中心(CDC)以颜色区分疫情轻重程度的全国统计图表上，虽然现在绝大多数呈现代表添加确诊案例及染疫住院率双双偏低的绿色，但德州及美国东北部等地区，近来有越来越多黄点出现，显示风险已升高为中度。明尼苏达州、北达科他州及南达科他州等地，则有象征社区传播风险较高的橘点出现。
如果民众发现自家社区疫情程度转为黄色或橘色，就应该采取加强防疫措施，包括出入公共场所要戴口罩，对于参加人数众多、不确定他人是否接种新冠疫苗的室内群聚活动也要三思。
居住社区的确诊率也是具有重要参考价值的指针。约翰霍普金斯大学(Johns Hopkins University疫情追踪统计每日更新，也有各州疫情趋势。专家建议，如果发现社区确诊率超过5%，就要提高警觉。
二、某些民众如今出门已不再戴口罩，但专家表示，民众最好检查家里是否有充足的医疗用高品质口罩保存量。联邦政府提供，数量有限的N95口罩可通过各地药局或社区服务中心免费领取，消费者若想自行购买N95、KN95或KF94，要提防买到假货。
维吉尼亚理工学院(Virginia Tech)土木与环境工程教授琳赛‧马尔(Linsey Marr)，社区确诊案例开始上升，就是应该戴口罩的时刻。她说，戴口罩是经证实后确定可以降低染疫风险的保护措施，相对之下只带来些许不便而已。
马尔表示：「我们对于新冠病毒仍有许多未知待解，我不想被传染，我也不希望别人被传染。」确诊案例增加时，越多人戴口罩，新一波疫情就能越快落幕。
三、民众应该备齐居家病毒检测组。联邦政府为每户美国家庭提供两组免费病毒检测，还没有上网登记索取的民众，最好在入夏之前尽快完成索取，否则检测组在邮寄过程中可能因为天候炎热而导致试剂变质。
四、接种新冠疫苗补强针。联邦卫生机关已核准50岁以上民众、12岁以上免疫功能不全患者施打第二剂补强针。
五、准备血氧饱和仪(Pulse oximeter，简称血氧仪) 。血氧指数降到92以下时，应立即就医。
六、拟妥如何取得抗病毒药物的计划。
七、社交活动与旅游计划应备妥替代方案 。
Tel: 571-354-7199
Email: OaktonAcademy@gmail.com
https://www.oaktonacademy.com/
港学者指BA.2变种攻击儿童神经系统 死亡率为流感7倍
世界新闻网
4/01/2022
香港大学儿童及青少年科学系名誉临床副教授、玛嘉烈医院儿童传染病科顾问医生关日华1日表示，儿童感染Omicron亚型变异株BA.2的死亡率，约为流感的七倍。
香港电台报导，关日华表示，在研究中的四名因染疫而离世的儿童，只有一人为长期病患，三人过往健康良好，因而令人担忧。
关日华指出，儿童染疫后，除上呼吸道受感染会引发并发症外， BA.2也会攻击他们的神经系统，导致并发症，包括急性脑炎，造成儿童抽筋超过30分钟、失去知觉，造成脑部缺氧。
关日华表示，儿童感染Omicron也会引发俗称「发烧抽筋」的情况，儿童会发高烧，大脑出现短时间的抽筋，一般持续5分钟后神智可恢复。他提醒家长，如看到小朋友出现类似情况，应立即叫救护车送医。
他还提到，儿童由于年龄小，上呼吸道气管直径窄，感染变种病毒会引致气管肿胀，或会造成「嘶哮症」，较易造成呼吸困难。
关日华指出，由于要12岁以上、体重最少有40公斤的人士才可处方新冠口服药，因此儿童如出现有关并发症，医生会处方瑞德西韦、用类固醇减脑压、供应氧气等。他呼吁家长，尽快为3岁或以上儿童接种新冠疫苗，减少出现并发症。
美国新冠病殁数世界最高 Omicron死亡数超越Delta
世界新闻网
02/06/2022
英国卫报报导，美国新冠肺炎死亡病例逼近90万，是全球所有国家中最多，相当于美国第15大城，比旧金山、华府或波士顿的人口都多。
此外，美国新冠死亡率也是富国中最高，其中半数死亡病例发生在疫苗问世后。
美国从未以全国一致且持久、主动的方式防疫，多数防疫责任落在个人身上。在收入极不平等、公共卫生不健全、政治对立严重的美国，防疫结果可想而知。
美国尤其在疫苗接种方面落后，特别是与其他富国相比。医疗体系在遭遇一波波疫情冲击前就已不稳。
其他在疫情早期死亡数也很多的国家，在新冠病毒变异株Omicron扩散后，死亡数就下降，但美国的Omicron死亡病例已超越去年秋天Delta变异株疫情的死亡病例。
Feb 4, 2022
Nearly two years since the first known COVID-19 death in the U.S., the country reports approximately 15.7% of the world’s virus-related deaths.
同时，美国领袖想模仿其他国家回归正常生活，但住院和死亡数明明与其他国家大相迳庭。美国平均每天新冠死亡数超过2400人，逼近911恐攻死亡数。
布朗大学教务长、急诊医师梅根．兰尼说：「问题主要是疫苗和加强针接种率不高，比多数高收入国家低。疾管署大量数据显示，疫苗和加强针能有效防止新冠死亡，甚至在Omicron流行时也是。」
美国疫苗供应充足，但疫苗接种率约64%，加强针接种率48%。
Omicron太凶 1公尺内无罩交谈100%感染
来源：ETtoday新闻云
02/03/2022
日本理化学研究所（RIKEN）使用超级电脑“富岳”，分析新冠病毒飞沫传播模式。研究团队2日公布结果指出，即使戴上口罩，与Omicron患者近距离接触及交谈，仍会提高染疫风险；如果没戴口罩，在1公尺范围内与患者交谈，不论染上Delta或Omicron的机率都达到100%。也就是说，在聚餐等场合，与他人长时间近距离交谈时，染疫风险极高。
综合外媒报导，“富岳”模拟人们对话时吸入的飞沫量，以及进入人体的病毒量后发现，即使戴上口罩，若与Omicron患者仅保持50公分距离交谈15分钟，感染风险仍高达20-30%。
“富岳”模拟15-16人小餐厅的传染情境后发现，如果妥善使用空调、通风扇等工具改善空气循环，能够有效降低染疫风险；若再搭配使用隔板，感染机率又再降低1/3。但是，由于隔板会阻碍空气流通，因此若与患者距离较近，染疫风险仍会提高。
Feb 1, 2022
研究团队呼吁，即使戴口罩也不能掉以轻心，与他人交谈时，最好保持距离，并且尽可能缩短接触时间。
Omicron单日病殁超Delta高峰 专家：全美死亡将破百万
世界新闻网
01/30/2022
新冠变种病毒Omicron肆虐全美，其传染力强、病症较轻微，但仍造成平均单日病殁人数节节攀升，超越去年Delta变种病毒疫情高峰，可能持续数日至数周。
全美逾99%新冠肺炎确诊病灶为Omicron，尽管大多数患者的症状较不严重，但Omicron传染力强表示会有更多人染疫病殁。
美国目前平均日增58万9222人确诊，同比上周减少20%；染疫病殁数据往往比确诊迟几周反映，死亡人数本月稍早达到约疫情以来累计80万峰值。
去年11月中旬以来，七日滚动平均的每日染疫病殁人数逐渐增加，目前达2280人，两周来增加12.5%，超越去年9月Delta肆虐时的2100人高峰。
约翰霍普金斯大学(JHU)29日统计，美国逾7421万人确诊、已知88万3864人死亡，病殁人数全球最多。
尔湾加州大学公卫教授诺伊(Andrew Noymer)说：「Omicron会让病殁人数突破100万。」
目前每日平均病殁人数与去年2月持平，当时疫情正逐渐迈向单日3300人病殁的高峰。
美联社与NORC公共事务研究中心(AP-NORC)本周民调显示，Omicron疫情爆发前，许多人采取防疫措施，但也有许多人对疫情疲乏，希冀疫苗或染疫产生的自然抗体能让生活回归正常。
研究人员认为，Omicron的症状通常较轻微，部分患者甚至无症状，但就像流感一样仍可能致命，尤其是长者、有宿疾者或未打疫苗的群体。
联邦疾病防治中心(CDC)主任罗谢尔‧瓦伦斯基(Rochelle Walensky)提醒，「重要的是『较』温和，不表示温和」。
堪萨斯大学附设医院本月已有50人病殁、200人住院；太平间影像显示，不少尸体冰在冷藏柜，员工在白色尸袋上注记「新冠」。该院亡者事务协调员席亚拉‧莱特(Ciara Wright)担心停尸空间不足，考虑使用冷藏车。
负责验尸的病理学者凯蒂‧丹尼斯(Katie Dennis)表示，太平间本月几乎天天爆满，「绝不寻常」。
新冠病毒预测中心(COVID-19 Forecast Hub)数据显示，新泽西、宾州、爱阿华、马里兰、阿拉斯加及乔治亚等州的染疫病殁人数虽已达高峰，但未来一周，几乎每州的死亡人数都将快速增长。
亚变种出没「隐形Omicron」速增 世卫警告
世界新闻网
01/26/2022
至少40国现踪 北卡、华州也有
美国新冠住院人数连续四天下降，但添加病殁人数却创下一年来新高；新冠变种病株Omicron引发的疫情尚未消退，世界卫生组织(WHO)又警告，Omicron变种病毒有新的亚变种、被称为「隐形Omicron」的BA.2，已在至少40国现踪，北卡罗来纳和华盛顿州也已出现病例。
虽然BA.2未被列为「高关注变异株」(variant of concern)，但世卫已呼吁各国政府予以监控。
7天平均添加病殁数 创1年新高
根据联邦卫生部数据，美国过去七天因确诊或疑似确诊而住院的平均人数24日降至15万6042人；然而，美国新冠添加病殁人数却攀至去年初以来的新高，根据约翰霍普金斯大学(Johns Hopkins University)统计，截至24日，美国过去七天平均添加2191人病殁，超越去年9月Delta高峰造成平均单日添加2100例的死亡人数。
联邦疾病防治中心(CDC)估计，目前几乎每一个已知病例都是Omicron所致；辉瑞药厂(Pfizer)25日也宣布开始在成人身上测试针对Omicron的改良疫苗，以随时因应政策调整。
白宫首席防疫专家佛奇(Anthony Fauci)表示，此举谨慎但可能用不上。
世卫24日则在官网更新文章警告，Omicron亚变种BA.2的病例迅速增加，截至21日已在美国等至少40个国家出现；世卫呼吁各国政府与科学家，监控疫情并研究BA.2。
「BA.2致死率 似不及Omicron」
BA.2又名「隐形Omicron」，因其PCR检测虽呈现阳性，但科学家当下难以判断是否为Omicron，这可能影响后续治疗；BA.2已在丹麦和英国迅速传播，初步报告显示，BA.2致死率似乎不及Omicron。
美国本土也有BA.2病例，杜克大学传染病学家沃夫(Cameron Wolfe)表示，北卡州已出现BA.2病例；华盛顿州截至24日也测到至少两例。
辉瑞与BioNTech25日宣布将针对Omicron的改良疫苗进行研究，该研究将召集1420名18至55岁的健康成人，测试接种改良疫苗或把它当补强针的效力，并与原疫苗相比较，研究结果可能耗时数月；辉瑞1月初表示，最快3月初可准备好部份Omicron改良疫苗。
辉瑞表示，改良疫苗是为了做好准备，以随时因应全球公卫部门的Omicron政策变动。
辉瑞宣布疫苗实验后，佛奇表示，「我们至少有针对Omicron的专门补强针，这么想也有道理。」
但他也指出：「我们可能用不到…不过如果Omicron变成我们不得不面对的持续性变种病毒，就算传播程度非常低，为此做好准备也是谨慎作法。」
CDC：Omicron变种病毒或首现纽约 早于南非
世界新闻网
01/22/2022
越来越多证据表明，Omicron变种病毒可能早在南非之前，就已经出现于纽约地区。
在联邦疾病防治中心(CDC)最新公布的病毒溯源调查报告中显示，对纽约市废水的一项研究表明，Omicron变种病毒可能在南非科学家发现之前，就已经存在于纽约市，并且比最初的临床测试显示的传播范围更广。
「纽约市环保局(DEP)通过对每周从14个下水道收集的样本进行测序，一直在追踪废水中变体，最近于2021年11月21日收集到的一个样本中，发现了12个与Omicron有关的变异毒株。」联邦疾病防治中心最新出版的研究刊物记载，这代表在南非科学家于去年11月22日首次宣布他们发现该变体以前，Omicron就已经出现在了纽约市。
紧接着，11月28日，研究人员从同一个下水道收集的废水样本中，再次发现Omicron变种病毒，与此同时，纽约市另一个下水道废水中也首次发现了Omicron变异毒株。
2021年12月1日，美国报告了第一位Omicron变种病毒确诊者，联邦疾病防治中心也表示，在12月4日的废水数据研究日期中，也已经在纽约市的一个居民身上发现了Omicron变种病毒。
但也有科学家怀疑，来自废水的变体追踪数据，是否能完全确认特定变体毒株的存在，因为所使用的方法不能确定所有变体定义的突变是否存在于一个基因组上，所以必须在检测多个变体相关的突变后，才可以下定论。
Omicron多轻症不怕？专家曝这后遗症恐致工作能力丧失
世界新闻网
01/20/2022
新变种病毒Omicron肆虐全球，成为新流行病毒株，不少专家认为Omicron不会导致重症，可以将其视为流感或感冒，但是否会留下后遗症仍有待厘清。最新研究指出，约四分之一的Omicron染疫者出现「脑雾」（Brain Fog）症状，严重的话可能会影响工作能力或日常生活的专注度和记忆力等。
Jan 14, 2022
Robin Gandy, 26-year-old woman who is double-vaccinated and an avid runner, talks about the physical toll that Omicron took on her health.
专门记录新冠肺炎症状的英国应用程序「ZOE新型冠状病毒疾病症状研究」（ZOE COVID Symptom Study）整理出Omicron症状除了五大症状流鼻水、头痛、疲劳、打喷嚏等感冒症状外，发现每4个人之中，就有1人出现「脑雾」症状。
脑雾症状包括失忆、思维混乱、注意力无法集中、头晕和遗忘等认知问题，甚至有染疫的康复者表示，脑雾影响到他们平时工作的状况以及日常生活。
该研究陆续受到专家们的注意，纽约一项最新研究指，脑雾症状平均会持续约7个月，警告民众切勿轻视染疫后果，因为有可能出现的脑雾症状不分老少且恐怕影响深远。
What are the top COVID-19 symptoms from the omicron variant?
By Herb Scribner
01/20/2022
The omicron variant has been spreading for more than a month now, which is more than enough time for people to report their omicron variant symptoms.
What to know: Business Insider used data from the Zoe COVID Symptom Study to create a chart that explained the top 14 symptoms from the omicron variant.
- The chart — which uses data from Jan. 5 — is based on people in the United Kingdom who tested positive during the period when the omicron variant was first spreading.
Top symptoms: According to the chart, here are the top 14 symptoms for the omicron variant. The report included the percent of people who reported having the symptom.
- Runny nose — 73%.
- Headache — 68%.
- Fatigue — 64%.
- Sneezing — 60%.
- Sore throat — 60%.
- Persistent cough — 44%.
- Hoarse voice — 36%.
- Chills or shivers — 30%.
- Fever — 29%.
- Dizziness — 28%.
- Brain fog — 24%.
- Muscle pains — 23%.
- Loss of smell — 19%.
- Chest pain — 19%.
How to stop symptoms: Dr. Robert Quigley, the senior vice president and global medical director for International SOS, a leading medical and security services company, told me in an interview that omicron variant symptoms “may be difficult or impossible to stop.”
- “For those who may experience headaches, a sore throat or a fever you can hydrate and take headache and over-the-counter cold medications to help reduce the symptoms,” he said.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine serves as the best protection from the omicron variant and any COVID-19 infections, too, as I reported for the Deseret News.
史上最大规模 拜登政府下周起免费发放4亿个N95口罩
世界新闻网
01/19/2022
拜登政府预计在几周内免费发放4亿个N95口罩防疫。发放地点包括地区药局和社区健康中心，将是美国史上规模最大的个人防护设备（PPE）发放行动，将从下周稍晚开始。
Biden administration to distribute 400 million N95 masks to the public for free
By Jeremy Diamond and Paul LeBlanc, CNN
01/19/2022
The Biden administration will make 400 million N95 masks available to Americans for free starting next week, a White House official told CNN, the latest federal step aimed at reining in the US’ Covid-19 surge.
Jan 19, 2022
The masks — which are coming from the Strategic National Stockpile — will be made available at a number of local pharmacies and community health centers, the official said, adding that the program will be “fully up and running by early February.”
“This is the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in US history,” the official said.
People looking to pick up the free masks will be limited to three per person, a White House official said.
“To ensure broad access for all Americans, there will be three masks available per person. In addition to this program, thanks to the administration’s efforts, these high-quality masks are in ample supply and widely available to American consumers,” the official said.
The 400 million non-surgical N95 masks amount to more than half of the 750 million stored in the US’ Strategic National Stockpile, a figure that tripled over the last year as the White House sought to boost reserves. The US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recently advised that well-fitting respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health — such as N95 masks — offer “the highest level of protection” against Covid-19.
The administration’s step comes as the US grapples with an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases. An average of more than 750,000 new Covid-19 infections were reported every day over the past week, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
“I know we all wish that we could finally be done with wearing masks. I get it,” Biden said last week in remarks on his administration’s coronavirus response. “But there is a — they’re a really important tool to stop the spread, especially of the highly transmittable Omicron variant. So, please, please wear the mask.”
Earlier this month, the CDC changed its mask guidelines to recommend that people “wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.”
“Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There’s no place for them in light of Omicron,” CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, recently said on “CNN Newsroom.”
Beyond masks, the federal government has also quietly launched its website to sign up for free Covid-19 tests, allowing people to order a maximum of four tests shipped directly to their household.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Tuesday that the government website to order free tests was up and running as part of a “beta phase” ahead of the government website’s formal rollout Wednesday morning.
华人大妈亲述奥米克戎的得病经历
By Wu Zhong
01/18/2022
我是去年三月打的第一针疫苗, Moderna , 四月第二针，然后十一月底打的 Booster, 都是 Moderna 。
第二针和 Booster 都有明显的疫苗反应，不过过了24小时都好了 。 结果去年圣诞节的时候还是被感染上的，没有Loss of taste, 所以估计就是 O 了. PCR和 Rapid test 都测了阳性，所以肯定是确诊的了。
中间几天病得算不轻的，发烧到102.4, 差点准备去 ER, 不过还是凭着身体硬抗过来，吃了很多维生素片，现在20多天了，测了还是阳性，每天会有不间断的咳嗽，有痰。
还有个问题就是每天晚上睡觉起来都会有严重的头疼，之前是没有过的。现在只能祈祷今后没有严重的后遗症了。
我感觉算比较倒霉吧，平时都是 WFH, 一般出门买菜也就 Costco, 而且我都是戴 N95或者 KN95 的，现在是强烈怀疑是在 Costco 被传染的。
俄研究：奥密克戎在陶瓷表面存活时间最短
文 / 林煇智
01/18/2022
（早报讯）俄罗斯一项最新研究显示，冠病变异病毒奥密克戎在陶瓷表面存活时间最短，病毒的传染性在24小时内消失。
新华社报道，为评估奥密克戎毒株的传染性，俄罗斯“矢量”病毒学与生物技术国家科学中心研究人员在同等空气相对湿度（30%至40%）和温度（26至28摄氏度）条件下，在金属、塑料、陶瓷板上和蒸馏水中对奥密克戎毒株存活性进行比对实验。
结果表明，奥密克戎毒株在陶瓷表面失去活性的速度最快，不到24小时就已检测不到。
该机构称，奥密克戎毒株活性下降的动态变化总体上与此前发现的其他冠病变异毒株并无不同，因此使用消毒剂依然是预防感染的有效方法。
以色列初步研究 打第4剂疫苗恐无法预防Omicron
中央社 | 耶路撒冷
01/17/2022
根据以色列初步研究结果，注射第4剂COVID－19（2019冠状病毒疾病）疫苗会使人体抗体数量超出注射第3剂，但恐怕仍不足以预防感染Omicron变异株。
以国希巴医疗中心（Sheba Medical Center）传染病部门负责人芮格夫－尤柴（Gili Regev－Yochay）指出，注射第4剂疫苗会使抗体数量「比注射第3剂再多一些」；并说，这只是初步研究结果，尚未正式发表。
以色列一年前是初步施打疫苗速度最快的国家，上个月已开始为最脆弱的高风险人口施打第4剂疫苗，也就是第2追加剂。
“频繁接种或致免疫力下降，应像流感一样打疫苗”
韩国中央日报
01/13/2022
在以色列等部分国家已开始实施新冠肺炎疫苗第四针接种的情况下，有人指出，过度反复接种新冠疫苗反而会对免疫系统产生负面影响。
据彭博社11日(当地时间)报道，欧盟(EU)下属机构欧洲药品管理局(EMA)当天警告称，如果每4个月追加接种一次新冠疫苗，最终可能会导致免疫力下降。EMA解释说，各国应增加注射间隔，在像流感一样寒冷的季节前接种。
EMA主管疫苗的负责人马尔科·卡瓦列里(Marco Cavaleri)当天在媒体会上说，虽然可以再接种一次新冠病毒疫苗，但我认为不能持续反复接种疫苗”，“我们需要思考如何将目前的疫情转变为本土流行病”。
上述警告也出现在已经实施第4轮接种的以色列。由专家组成的以色列疫苗咨询委员会去年12月底建议60岁以上高龄人群和免疫低下人群等进行第四轮接种，但卫生部以数据不充分为由暂时搁置批准。当时一些科学家担心，如果数次接种疫苗，反而会使免疫系统疲劳，导致身体与冠状病毒抗争的能力受损。
以色列著名传染病专家、舍巴医疗中心教授埃亚尔·莱塞姆(Eyal Leshem)认为，接种2次疫苗及之后再打一次疫苗就能起到充分的预防效果。
莱塞姆教授当天接受CNBC电话采访时说，如果接种三次疫苗，相对长期持续免疫，可以防止陷入新冠病毒引起的重症”，“为了应对变异，可能需要每年更新疫苗，但如果毒性较弱，比如奥密克戎的情况，如果已经完成了2-3次接种，可能不需要再进行接种”。
目前，以色列以高危人群为中心对免疫低下者、高龄人群、医务人员等实施了第4轮接种。智利也在前一天开始了针对免疫低下者的第四轮接种，下个月将把接种对象扩大到第三轮接种满6个月的55岁以上成年人。
最新民调：已完成接种疫苗美国民众逾三分之一仍染疫
世界新闻网
01/12/2022
Axios新闻网站与市场研究调查机构易普索(Ipsos)11日公布最新联合民调显示，已完成接种新冠疫苗的美国民众当中，超过三分之一仍然感染新冠病毒。调查结果显示，高达九成受访者说，认识的亲朋好友之间有人感染病毒；另有57%受访者表示，反对政府发放失业救济金给不遵守雇主疫苗接种规定而丢掉工作的劳工。
调查结果显示，已完成接种(fully vaccinated)的民众当中，有36%表示后来还是照样染疫，接受病毒检测得到阳性结果。相较之下，2021年12月中旬的相同问卷调查里，已完成接种受访者当中有22%表示后来仍然染疫，2021年夏季期间，已完成接种民众当中只有6%表示后来还是感染新冠病毒。
这项调查是在今年1月7日至10日之间进行，访问对象为抽样选出的全美1054名18岁以上成年人，抽样误差在正负3.2%以下。
Axios新闻网站报导，从这项最新调查的结果可以看出，绝大多数美国人为Omicron变种病毒感到忧虑，为了降低曝露于病毒的风险、减少病毒传播，日常生活当中做出了某些相对调整。
On January 11, 2022, the Senate HELP Committee met with federal officials to discuss the response to new COVID-19 variants.
报导指出，调查结果也反映了美国民众对疫情感到忧心的可能原因：新冠疫苗恐怕不足以对抗Omicron变种病毒。
易普索美国事务公关部总监杨格(Cliff Young)指出，美国民众觉得受到疫情再度袭击，纷纷调整生活方式，「如果他们自己并没有调整，关系非常密切的亲人则都做出了调整」。
易普索副总裁纽沃尔(Mallory Newall)说，Omicron疫情升高期间，美国民众生活调整非常广泛，几乎回到2021年4月间居家避疫的状态，而当时绝大多数美国人都还没打疫苗。
统计显示，总计52%受访民众说，若要回归到美国发生新冠疫情之前的正常生活，恐怕还要一年以上；约有75%受访者说，与2020年春季相比，感觉现在染疫风险更高。
Jan 11, 2022
Dr. Anthony Fauci, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and other health officials testified before a Senate committee Tuesday on the federal response to COVID-19 and new variants. The Biden administration announced Monday Americans with private insurance will be able to ask for reimbursement for at-home rapid tests beginning Saturday.
在没有打疫苗的受访者当中，30%表示Omicron疫情让他们变得较可能愿意接种疫苗。在去年12月的相同调查中，仅19%未打疫苗受访者说，因为Omicron疫情而变得较愿意接种疫苗。
在这项调查中，57%受访者表示，反对政府发放失业救济金给不遵守雇主疫苗接种规定而丢掉工作的劳工。
才打第三剂新冠疫苗, 电视主播节目中突重摔倒地 骇人视频疯传
文章来源: 东森新闻
01/11/2022
巴西一名电视台主持人不久前接种第三剂新冠疫苗，3日在直播节目中看来一切正常，没想到播报到一半身体45度倾斜，下秒重重倒地，工作人员和观众都吓了一跳。这段影片掀起热议，部分网友质疑，这可能是第三剂疫苗副作用。
当地媒体报导，现年36岁的席尔瓦（Rafael Silva）是巴西TV Alterosa电视台节目主持人，3日在节目中突然心脏病发倒地。影片中可见，席尔瓦对着镜头播报到一半，身体开始向后倾斜，平板从手中飞出，接着整个人重重撞上身后的背板，昏倒在地。电视台赶紧切换画面，但他昏倒的过程已经完整播出。
事发后现场工作人员马上将席尔瓦送医，他在前往医院途中5度心脏麻痹，情况相当危急，所幸经过治疗后已经没有生病危险，目前仍在加护病房，但病情稳定，预计11日再度接受检查。
Jan 3, 2022
他昏倒的画面在网路上疯传，令许多网友感到震惊。有人翻出席尔瓦的推特发文，发现他不久前才刚接种第三剂疫苗，当时还开心亮出照片。因此有传言指出，席尔瓦心脏病发是疫苗引发的副作用，不过电视台人员已经出面否认此说法。
席尔瓦的同事洛佩斯（Kadu Lopes）说明，他在去年12月28日接种疫苗，昏倒则是在3日，有人说他是打完疫苗突然不适，但专家已经排除这种可能性，且为席尔瓦治疗的医师表示，他患有先天性心脏病，这次昏倒也和他的遗传性疾病直接相关，并非疫苗副作用。
Covid-19 Vaccine Injuries/Deaths
11/06/2021
Rumble — Roundtable discussion with vaccine injured and medical experts on federal vaccine mandates and the importance of health care freedom.
美国陆军飞行医官特蕾莎中校关于新冠疫苗的证词
By 萧笙客
11/06/2021
11月2日，飞行医官特蕾莎·朗中校在约翰逊参议员主持的关于新冠疫苗的圆桌会议上的作证。
美国德州胡德堡陆军基地负责四千名陆军飞行旅官兵身体健康和飞行安全的军医特蕾莎反对对官兵、特别是飞行员强制性注射疫苗，向法院提出的临时禁令书写的补充材料。
Sen. Johnson hosts panel highlighting people claiming to be harmed by COVID-19 vaccines
By WEAU 13 News
11/06/2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WEAU) – Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson is giving a stage to people who claim they were harmed by COVID-19 vaccinations.
Tuesday, Johnson held a roundtable with several people who say they or a loved one experienced life-altering side-effects from various COVID vaccinations.
One panelist, who says she experienced adverse side effects from the vaccine, called for a federal safety net for others who are also injured.
Another woman at the meeting claimed that those who catch COVID receive medical help, while those who have adverse side effects to vaccines are ignored.
The panel included researches and doctors who generally agreed vaccines have a role in fighting the pandemic, but also cautioned against mandating them.
Johnson said the panel is not about creating fear or increasing vaccine hesitancy, but says federal health officials aren’t being honest when they say the vaccines are safe and effective, and shouldn’t be mandated.
“I had COVID,” Johnson said. “I’ve had my antibodies tested as my doctor told me. I’ve got a whopping level of antibodies.”
Johnson also spoke about his personal vaccination decision.
“Again, natural immunity should be strong, pretty long-lasting, which is the case of very, you know, many, many illnesses, many viruses,” Johnson said. “And so there’s no reason for me to get a vaccine.”
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fact page maintains the vaccines are safe and effective. It also acknowledges the existence of some of the adverse effects discussed at Johnson’s roundtable, and says COVID vaccines are under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
Survey: Majority of Federal Employees Disagree With Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
Comments submitted as part of the survey show a diversity of thought on the requirement.
By COURTNEY BUBLÉ
he majority of federal employees recently surveyed (53%) strongly or somewhat disagreed with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees, while 44% strongly or somewhat agreed with it.
The Government Business Council, the research arm of Government Executive, sent a survey between October 27 and November 2 to Government Executive and Defense One readers, which drew 3,186 respondents. The survey had a 95% confidence level and margin of error of +/- 3%; the vast majority of respondents currently work for a federal agency but the results did include some retirees and congressional and private sector workers. President Biden announced the mandate on September 9 and the deadline is November 22.
“I am not pro or anti-vaccine, I am pro-choice,” wrote one federal employee in the comments section. “It should be a choice not a mandate, last I knew this was a free country.” Anonymous comments submitted as part of the survey show the diversity of thought on the mandate as well as the nuance of arguments on both sides.
Thirty-percent of respondents said they thought the vaccine mandate will be slightly or moderately effective in protecting the federal workforce from the coronavirus; 42% thought it will be very or extremely effective and 29% thought it will not be effective.
“The vaccine mandate is most likely legal. It’s also probably effective,” said a respondent. “It, however, does not mean the federal [government] should have the power to force adults and the civilian workforce to get a shot that they don’t want.”
The mandate requires all federal employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, or claim a religious or medical exemption. Those who decline vaccination and whose agencies deny their exemption requests will face progressive discipline, up to removal from the federal service.
Another respondent said, “the mandate will not be effective if the many false religious exemptions are approved,” because “most are not sincerely held beliefs, but just people that don’t want to get their vaccine.”
A different person said, “A coworker’s choice not to be vaccinated increases my potential exposure to COVID, potentially increases my workload if I have to cover for them if they are out ill and increases the cost of [Federal Employees Health Benefits]/Medicare.”
The survey looked at the difference of views among those on full telework compared to those going into the office at least one day a week. The chart below shows approval and disapproval levels based on that status, with those going into the office at least once a week more likely to strongly disapprove of the mandate.
“If you can do your job, i.e. telework, without contacting others there is no reason to be vaccinated,” said one federal employee in the comments section. “It is the individual’s body and they should have the right to decide what is done to it without fearing economic ruin.”
Another said, “I worked and put the protocols in to keep everyone safe. I worked on the front lines for the last two years and now you want to fire me?”
One respondent who said they work for the Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency said they love their job and customers they serve, “but lately I do not feel the agency has my back or appreciates the work our agency does. After being on the front lines, figuring out telework, changing the way our agency goals are achieved I feel the employees deserve a little more than a ‘do it or get out policy.’ ”
As for the ability to enforce a vaccine mandate, 50% of respondents strongly or somewhat disagreed that the federal government has the authority to enforce the requirement, while 46% somewhat or strongly agreed. There were no major differences in responses from managers and non-managers to this question; however, there were some differences among those in different work environments, as shown below.
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a legal opinion in July that says federal law doesn’t prohibit public and private entities from mandating coronavirus vaccines, even if those vaccines do not yet have full authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Also, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a similar decision in May, which it updated in October.
As for regions, the area with the highest approval rating (54%) of the mandate was the D.C. metro area, which is where federal agency headquarters are concentrated. Respondents living in the Southwest had the highest disapproval rating.
“The D.C. power brokers are using us as pawns,” said a respondent.
While not a question in the survey, many raised concerns in the comments section about loss of employees due to the mandate.
“Is the federal government prepared to lose 20-30% of its workforce to retirements, resignations or terminations?” said one respondent.
“I will retire from federal service if I am threatened with discipline/firing,” said another. “ I am proud of my military service (Vietnam veteran) and federal service (FBI and [Internal Revenue Service]) and continually received ‘outstanding’ performance evals as GS-14. The federal mandate is morally wrong.”
Someone else said, “this is a train wreck, but may provide promotion opportunities for the younger workforce.”
However, there were also several comments encouraging vaccinations. “I sincerely appreciate efforts to get our team vaccinated,” said one person. “I am grateful for the mandate and wish it had come sooner.”
For comparison, a recent survey from Qualtrics, an experience management company, found that the majority of respondents (58%) supported vaccine mandates from either employers or the federal government.
“Employees in the [technology and information technology] industry are the most supportive of federal vaccine mandates compared to those who work in health care, retail and government,” said Qualtrics. “Roughly a quarter of government, health care, and private employees oppose mandates that would apply to them.”
Overall, 42% of respondents want their company leaders to enforce the mandate, while 39% do not, the Qualtrics survey found. That survey was done between October 12 and 15. There were 1,309 respondents who were chosen from a randomized panel and deemed eligible if they live in the United States, are an adult and are at least part-time employees.
Government Executive previously reported about reactions to the mandate from NASA, Federal Bureau of Prisons and other federal employees. While some agencies have shared their vaccination levels with reporters, lawmakers or the public, the levels are not known for all. Top House Republicans are seeking those numbers by November 10.
In one example, as of late October, several intelligence agencies had at least 20% of their workforce unvaccinated, with some as high as 40%, said Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, who is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Associated Press reported on Friday. He cited information that the Biden administration gave to the committee, but hasn’t released publicly, and didn’t name the specific agencies since the full results were classified.
Biden admin considering vaccine mandate for businesses with fewer than 100 employees
OSHA rule for big businesses forces employees to be vaccinated or wear masks and get weekly COVID-19 tests
By Tyler Olson | FOX Business
11/05/2021
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says it is “seeking comment” about whether businesses with fewer than 100 employees should be subject to the COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate it is implementing on big businesses.
OSHA’s requirement will force businesses with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccines or else their employees will need to wear masks and be tested for COVID-19 weekly. It will go into effect Jan. 4.
But according to a summary released by OSHA, it appears to be considering implementing the rule for small businesses as well.
“OSHA is confident that employers with 100 or more employees have the administrative capacity to implement the standard’s requirements promptly, but is less confident that smaller employers can do so without undue disruption,” the summary says. “OSHA needs additional time to assess the capacity of smaller employers, and is seeking comment to help the agency make that determination.”
The same language is included in the Federal Register page for the vaccine rule.
A Department of Labor spokesperson told FOX Business Friday that it is indeed considering whether to extend the vaccine or mask and testing mandate to businesses with fewer than 100 workers.
“OSHA chose a 100-employees threshold at this time because the agency is confident that employers with 100 or more employees have the administrative capacity to implement the standard’s requirements promptly,” the spokesperson said. “Because the emergency situation required OSHA to act quickly, the information immediately available to the agency did not allow it to confidently assess the impact on smaller firms.”
The spokesperson added: “OSHA will consider whether to extend the rule to smaller firms in the public rulemaking that begins with the publication of this emergency rule.”
Raytheon CEO warns company could lose ‘several thousand’ employees over vaccine mandate
By Mike Brest
10/27/2021
Raytheon Technologies’s top boss warned that the U.S. aerospace and defense company will lose thousands of employees who have thus far refused to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
“So, we’re going to be faced on Dec. 8 with a choice. We’re going to potentially lose several thousand people who refuse to be vaccinated,” Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes said in a CNBC interview on Tuesday. “Now, this is a tough thing, but we are preparing for it.”
Hayes also said that 83% of the company, which has a total workforce of roughly 125,000 U.S. employees, according to Reuters, is already vaccinated while another 6% are “in the process of being vaccinated.”
Additionally, there is another 3% of employees who are seeking either a religious or medical exemption, while another 3% have said they don’t intend to receive the vaccine, the CEO added, though he did not address the status of the employees who do not fall into those categories.
The company has already begun hiring people to fill the upcoming vacancies, Hayes said.
Raytheon had issued a companywide mandate requiring vaccination by Jan. 1, but that order was usurped when President Joe Biden declared that all federal contractors must receive the vaccine by Dec. 8.
Hayes’s comments came the same day Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville sent a letter to the White House claiming that Biden’s “federal contractor vaccine mandate will have negative effects on our national security” and called on the president “to remove — or, at a minimum, delay and clarify — vaccination requirements on private companies and academic research institutions that are actively supporting the Department of Defense.”
Similarly, nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee petitioned the White House and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reverse the Pentagon’s vaccine mandate for contractors over fears that it could lead to supply chain issues.
Roughly 100 employees at United Launch Alliance, a Lockheed Martin and Boeing joint venture that contracts to both the Pentagon and NASA, walked off the job Monday over the federal government’s vaccine mandates and pledged to continue protesting in the days leading up to the deadline to be vaccinated.
Former WSU football coach Nick Rolovich to sue university over firing after refusing vaccine
According to a press release sent by his attorney, Rolovich is accusing WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun of “discriminatory and vindictive behavior.”
By KREM Staff
10/20/2021
PULLMAN, Wash. — Former Washington State University football coach Nick Rolovich was fired Tuesday, Oct. 19 after refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and now he plans to sue the university.
According to his lawyer, Rolovich will be taking legal action against WSU and all parties responsible for his termination. The decision to terminate Rolovich came after his request for a religious exemption from the vaccine was denied by the WSU. According to his lawyer, WSU “indicated that even if the exemption had been granted, no accommodation would have been made.”
Rolovich is accusing WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun of “discriminatory and vindictive behavior,” according to the statement from his lawyer, Brian Fahling.
“Since at least early April, it became clear that Chun had already determined that Coach Rolovich would be fired,” Fahling says. “Chun’s animus towards Coach Rolovich’s sincerely held religious beliefs, and Chun’s dishonesty at the expense of Coach Rolovich during the past year is damning and will be thoroughly detailed in litigation.”
In the statement, Fahling says, “Chun’s discriminatory and vindictive behavior has caused immeasurable harm to Rolovich and his family. It is a tragic and damning commentary on our culture, and more specifically, on Chun, that Rolovich has been derided, demonized, and ultimately fired from his job, merely for being devout in his Catholic faith.”
Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, has encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Here is the statement from Rolovich’s lawyer in full:
“The termination of Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich on Monday was unjust and unlawful.
It came after Coach Rolovich’s request for a religious exemption from the vaccine was denied by the University. The institution also indicated that even if the exemption had been granted, no accommodation would have been made. As a result, Coach Rolovich will be taking legal action against Washington State University, and all parties responsible for his illegal termination.
Immediately after terminating Coach Rolovich, WSU Athletic Director, Pat Chun, directed campus police to escort the coach to his car, he wasn’t allowed into his office, and he was not even allowed to speak to his team. Since at least early April, it became clear that Chun had already determined that Coach Rolovich would be fired. Chun’s animus towards Coach Rolovich’s sincerely held religious beliefs, and Chun’s dishonesty at the expense of Coach Rolovich during the past year is damning and will be thoroughly detailed in litigation.
Chun’s discriminatory and vindictive behavior has caused immeasurable harm to Coach Rolovich and his family. Furthermore, the University’s deceitfulness about being unable to accommodate Coach Rolovich even if his religious exemption request had been granted, is exemplified by Chun’s actions arranging a “secret” donor trip that he had Coach Rolovich attend at the height of the pandemic in July 2020.
During that excursion, Chun and other attendees contracted the disease, but Coach Rolovich did not. It is a tragic and damning commentary on our culture, and more specifically, on Chun, that Coach Rolovich has been derided, demonized, and ultimately fired from his job, merely for being devout in his Catholic faith.”
KREM has reached out to WSU for a statement but has not yet received a response.
320万年薪傲视全州公务员 华盛顿州立大学教练拒打疫苗遭开除
10/20/2021
华盛顿州立大学(Washington State University，WSU)足球队总教练罗洛维奇(Nick Rolovich)年薪320万元，在领取州政府薪水的公务员收入排行榜称霸。但因罗洛维奇拒绝遵守华州要求公务员必须接种新冠疫苗的规定，本周稍早已被开除。华盛顿邮报报导，罗洛维奇堪称到目前为止，最为引人注目的公职人员拒打疫苗而丢饭碗案例。
华盛顿州立大学18日宣布已经解聘罗洛维奇。华盛顿州立大学美洲狮队(Washington State Cougars)体育主任秦派特(Pat Chun，音译)指出，罗洛维奇拒绝配合疫苗接种规定，已经失去获得校方聘用的资格。
秦派特在声明中说，这起事件让学校足球队感到沮丧。
42岁的罗洛维奇出身于夏威夷大学(University of Hawaii)足球队，2019年曾获西部山区联盟(Mountain West Conference)最佳教练。罗洛维奇年薪320万元，是领取华州州政府薪水的公务员当中排行最高者。
罗洛维奇今年暑假已经表明坚决不打疫苗，太平洋十二校联盟(Pacific-12 Conference)在洛杉矶举办媒体宣传，由于规定全体出席者必须打疫苗，罗洛维奇便因此缺席。
秦派特指出，校方与罗洛维奇协商长达数月，但罗洛维奇态度坚定，「他有权做出选择，他的决定就是不配合规定」。
华盛顿州立大学校长薛尔兹(Kirk Schulz)则在声明中说，虽然少数人士拒打疫苗而引发轩然大波，但学校接近90%雇员及97%学生则都打了疫苗。
薛尔兹说：「人们可以做选择，而且有好几个月的时间可以决定。这并不是突然发生的。」
除了罗洛维奇之外，华盛顿州立大学美洲狮队另外四名助理教练罗戈(Ricky Logo)、理查森(John Richardson)、史特兹曼(Craig Stutzmann)、韦伯(Mark Weber)，同样因为拒打疫苗，一并遭到开除。
美国ESPN知名体育记者拒打疫苗被开除
本文源自: 金融界网
10/20/2021
迪士尼旗下娱乐与体育节目电视网（ESPN）的知名记者艾莉森-威廉姆斯（Allison Williams）周一表示，她因为拒绝接种新冠病毒疫苗而被解雇，下周将是她在这里工作的的最后日子。
这位明星记者最出名的是她对美国大学橄榄球和篮球比赛的报道，她在社交媒体上的一段视频中说，她要求豁免不接种疫苗的请求被拒绝了。
威廉姆斯从2011年3月开始为ESPN工作。上个月，她在推特上发表声明称，在咨询了医生后，她拒绝接种疫苗，因为她和她的丈夫正试图生第二个孩子，接种疫苗“不符合我的最佳利益”。
ESPN的母公司迪士尼是众多要求员工接种疫苗的企业之一。该公司在一份声明中说，不会对威廉姆斯的个案置评。迪士尼表示，公司正在按照其法律义务，处理员工提出的豁免要求。
ESPN’s Allison Williams explains why she’s giving up her job over a vaccine mandate
By ANDREA HSU
10/20/2021
Lance King/Getty Images
ESPN college basketball and football reporter Allison Williams has joined a small minority of workers who have quit or been fired from their jobs over a vaccine mandate.
“I have been denied my request for accommodation by ESPN and the Walt Disney Company, and effective next week, I will be separated from the company,” she said in a video posted to Instagram on Friday.
ESPN’s parent company, Disney, had announced a vaccine mandate over the summer with a deadline of this Friday, Oct. 22.
In early September, Williams shared on Twitter that she’d decided not to get a COVID-19 vaccine while she and her husband were trying to have a second child.
“Taking the vaccine at this time is not in my interest,” she wrote.
The CDC has urged people who are pregnant or might become pregnant to get vaccinated, saying there is currently no evidence showing COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems and no data pointing to an increased risk of miscarriage among people who received an mRNA vaccine during pregnancy.
In the Instagram video, Williams spoke of her medical apprehensions about receiving the vaccine and added, “I am also so morally and ethically not aligned with this.”
“Ultimately, I cannot put a paycheck over principle, and I will not sacrifice something that I believe and hold so strongly to maintain a career,” she said in the video. “I’m going to pray things get better and that I can see you on the television set in some capacity in some stadium, covering some game soon.”
Williams, who had reported for ESPN since 2011, acknowledged she’s not the only one walking away from a career or a profession they love.
Hundreds of hospital workers have quit rather than get vaccinated, but they represent only a tiny fraction of employees overall. For example, Duke Health in North Carolina reported it had fired just 20 people out of a workforce of 23,000.
Meanwhile, United Airlines said it is terminating a couple of hundred of its 67,000 employees who did not comply with the airline’s vaccine mandate. Other employers that have imposed vaccine mandates are also reporting compliance rates topping 90%.
Veteran police officer resigns over vaccine mandate in chronically understaffed department
The department has chronically been understaffed and more officers could resign over the mandate
By Emma Colton | Fox News
9/21/2021
A nearly 30-year police veteran in California resigned over San Jose’s vaccine mandate as the police force continues struggling with chronic understaffing.
“First of all, it’s my religious belief. I also believe I’ve been given a choice about what to do with my body,” Sgt. David Gutierrez said after he resigned from the San Jose Police Department this weekend, KPIX reported.
Gutierrez spent 23 years with the San Jose Police Department working as a homicide detective, internal affairs investigator and patrol supervisor, before retiring in 2019. He then returned to the force as a reserve officer.
Gutierrez worked his last shift at the department on Saturday, and said he sent a letter to the city manager on Monday denouncing the city’s vaccine mandate, which requires city employees to show proof of vaccination or get a medical exemption. Those who don’t comply face disciplinary action, such as termination.
“Disciplinary action is when you have done something wrong,” Gutierrez said, according to NBC Bay Area. “I have done nothing wrong – by making a choice not to be vaccinated why would you be disciplined?”
Gutierrez added that he is not anti-vaccine and would be open to the city testing him on a weekly basis instead of enforcing the vaccine or getting a medical exemption.
“I’m not anti-vaccine. I don’t tell people, ‘You shouldn’t get it.’ But when it comes to my body, it’s my choice about what I want to put in my body,” Gutierrez said.
He sent his resignation letter ahead of the city’s Sept. 30 deadline for employees to get the vaccine, and said more officers could also walk off the job amid the department already facing understaffing issues.
“We are already understaffed and can’t afford to lose more,” Gutierrez said.
“If they let go police officers who’ve been here five years, 10 years, 15 years, you can hire somebody else, but you’re not going to hire that experience though,” he added.
A recent audit examining the last 10 years of the police department found the force has heavily relied on overtime as it struggles with understaffing.
About 200 officers in the department have so far asked for exemptions, many of which are for religious purposes. But the Democratic mayor, Sam Liccardo, says the vaccine mandate is overall working and doesn’t anticipate an exodus from the force.
“This is certainly for the protection of the individual members of our city team. But it’s also, critically, for the safety of our entire community because we know, obviously, first responders are out there interacting [with the public] every day,” Liccardo said, according to KPIX.
Northern NY hospital to stop delivering babies after resignations over Covid-19 vaccine
BY Christine Vendel
9/12/2021
A hospital in New York plans to stop delivering babies later this month because too many maternity workers resigned rather than get the Covid-19 vaccine.
Lewis County Health System Chief Executive Officer Gerald R. Cayer announced at a news conference Friday afternoon that the maternity department would be closed on Sept. 25 until they can find enough vaccinated nurses to safely reopen it.
Cayer told reporters in Lowville, is the North Country of New York state, that seven of the 30 people who have resigned from the hospital worked in the maternity department, according to the news site NNY360.
Seven additional maternity workers have not said whether or not they will get their first vaccine shot by Sept. 27, which is the deadline set by the state for healthcare workers to get at least one shot, according to the news site.
The health system has a higher than average percentage of its staff vaccinated, Cayer told reporters, with 464 employees vaccinated out of 650, or 73 percent.
But there are still 165 employees who have not yet shared their decision with hospital management, WWNY television news reported.
Medical services in five other departments may have to be cut back as well if more staff members resign because they refuse to be vaccinated
“It just is a crazy time,” Mr. Cayer said, according to NNY360, “It’s not just LCHS-centric. Rural hospitals everywhere are really trying to figure out how we’re going to make it work.”
“If you don’t have staff, how do you deliver the service? That’s what I’m going to be talking about,” Cayer said.
The Health System is one of only two county-owned hospitals left in the state and is the largest employer in the county.
