US death toll 900,000; Pfizer to vaccinate summer Olympians
The true death toll from COVID-19 across the nation is probably over 900,000, more than 50% higher than the most commonly used tallies, according to a new analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Data collected by Johns Hopkins University, based on deaths reported as COVID-related, put the U.S. death toll at about 580,000. The IHME data also puts the global death toll at 6.9 million, more than twice the Johns Hopkins number.
IHME estimated death tolls by comparing anticipated deaths from all causes based on pre-pandemic trends with the actual number of all-cause deaths during the pandemic. This “excess mortality” figure was then adjusted to remove deaths indirectly attributable to the pandemic – such as people with non-COVID conditions avoiding health care facilities – as well as deaths averted by the pandemic – such as fewer traffic deaths..
“As terrible as the COVID-19 pandemic appears, this analysis shows that the actual toll is significantly worse,” said Dr. Chris Murray, IHME’s director.
Murray said the new numbers reflect the “magnitude of this global crisis” and provides information to policymakers developing recovery plans.
Ogbonnaya Omenka, an associate professor and public health specialist at Butler University in Indianapolis who was not involved in the study, said the numbers are “mainly estimates” based on adjustments of raw data. He stressed the difficulty in collecting and analyzing data from multiple nations.
“Using global health data effectively requires awareness of these challenges,” he told USA TODAY.
Also in the news:
►Initial analysis of Phase 2/3 testing of Moderna’s vaccine in adolescents 12 to 17 years showed vaccine effectiveness of 96%, the company says. The vaccine was “generally well tolerated,” and there were no serious safety concerns identified thus far, the company said.
►The coronavirus variant first discovered in New York City does not appear to be leading to more severe infections, according to a study published by the CDC on Wednesday.
►CVS Health announced Wednesday that it is accepting walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacy locations across the country.
►California officials say a bar owner who sold undercover agents fake COVID-19 vaccine cards is now facing charges for multiple crimes.
►New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Broadway shows will resume Sept. 14, and tickets will go on sale starting Thursday.
? Today’s numbers: The U.S. has more than 32.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 579,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: Over 155 million cases and 3.2 million deaths. More than 321.5 million vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S. and 249.5 million have been administered, according to the CDC. More than 107.3 million Americans have been fully vaccinated.
? What we’re reading: Want to know if your family or friends got the COVID-19 vaccine? It’s not rude to ask, etiquette experts say.
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Pfizer to vaccinate Olympic athletes for Tokyo games
Pfizer and BioNTech will provide their COVID-19 vaccine to Olympic athletes participating at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Tokyo games this summer, the two companies announced Thursday. Delivery of initial doses is expected to begin at the end of May to ensure participating athletes and staff receive second doses ahead of arrivals in Tokyo. The Summer Olympics are scheduled to begin July 23. The Paralympics begin about a month later. The Games had been scheduled for last summer but were postponed one year because of the pandemic.
“The return of the Olympic and Paralympic Games represents a monumental moment of world unity and peace after a grueling year of isolation and devastation,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. “We are proud to play a role in providing vaccines to athletes and national Olympic delegations.”
Social climbing: Everest climbers discouraged from visiting other camps
Everest ER in Nepal reports that its doctors have met with Mount Everest expedition leaders in recent days to help combat respiratory illnesses, encouraging all to maintain climb camp “bubbles” and discouraging the common practice of visits between camps. Climber Pawel Michalski posted on Facebook that more than 30 people evacuated to Kathmandu have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Everest ER said climbers are being encouraged to wear masks even within their camps. Expedition leaders are being urged to send any members with respiratory illness to Everest ER for further evaluation to isolate and monitor ill camp members. Michalski said every base is functioning in “closed mode.”
“We live like islands scattered on the ice sea,” he wrote.
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine effective…
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