Minnesota’s Northwest Angle has been cut off from the mainland since the start of the pandemic — almost a year. To keep their fishing resort industry open, Angle residents skirted the Canadian border closures by plowing a 30-mile ice road across Lake of the Woods.
The FDA has greenlighted Pfizer’s vaccine for people age 16 and older, and Moderna’s version for those aged 18 and up. Now, trials are underway to test whether those vaccines are safe and effective for younger populations.
In Minnesota, whether people 65 or older have gotten a vaccine for COVID-19 yet depends, in large part, on where they live. In some rural Minnesota counties, older residents are more than twice as likely to have gotten at least a first dose of the vaccine than if they live in most parts of the Twin Cities metro area. But even in rural parts of the state, there are significant differences from county to county.
People were dying of a disease that could be treated — but in poor countries, they did not have access to medicines that could help. That was the story of HIV — and now of COVID-19.
The Biden team wants to swiftly vaccinate people of color and others most vulnerable to COVID-19. But health centers are learning that speed and achieving racial equity don't always go hand in hand.
Officials anticipate this week will be a busy one as weather-delayed shots make their way into the state atop the expected 100,000 doses from the feds. Overall pandemic metrics are still looking good — including only two deaths reported in two days.
The pandemic has prolonged the post-graduation transition amid a tough economy. With the lack of in-person interaction, young professionals are trying to adjust to a diminishing social circle.
By some measures, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may appear to be less effective than Moderna and Pfizer. But Dr. Ashish Jha says when it comes to hospitalizations and deaths, it's just as good.
As the country faces another wrenching milestone, there are signs of hope that we may be beating back the virus. But a brighter future won't bring back precious lives lost.
The legislation is set for a vote on the House floor at the end of the week. The Senate is then expected to modify it to ensure it can pass procedural hurdles.