United States of America eSeries: US shifts strategy as vaccinations slow

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By Eliza Mackintosh, CNN

Wednesday, May 5

America's vaccination pace is slowing, putting President Joe Biden's pledge for normality from July 4 in jeopardy.

To tackle the threat, Biden on Tuesday announced a strategic shift from mass vaccination drives to utilizing more community clinics and pharmacies in an effort to reach younger Americans, people living in rural areas and those reluctant to get the shot.

"We're going to make it easier than ever to get vaccinated," Biden said in a speech at the White House, announcing the launch of a new phase in the fight against the virus, with a goal of vaccinating -- at least partly -- 70% of adults by Independence Day.

So far, about 145 million adults have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An additional 35 million adults will need to receive at least one dose to reach the new 70% goal.

"It's an achievable goal. It's a stretch goal but it's an achievable goal," White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain told CNN's Anderson Cooper on "AC360" on Tuesday, adding that "we vaccinated 57% of the adults in this country -- we're on the back half of this project, and so it's going to go a little more slowly."

To meet the goal, Biden directed tens of thousands of pharmacies participating in the federal pharmacy program to offer walk-in appointments and redirect Federal Emergency Management Agency resources to support more pop-up clinics, smaller community vaccination sites and more mobile clinics, senior administration officials said.

The Biden administration will also ship new allocations of Covid-19 vaccines to rural health clinics across the nation and provide extra funding so communities can conduct outreach to help get more Americans vaccinated.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

Global Cases

154,404,850

Global Deaths

3,229,357

US Cases

32,513,408

US Deaths

578,503

Source: Johns Hopkins University

YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.

Why won't some vaccinated people go maskless -- even outdoors?

Americans who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask in some instances outdoors or when they're with people from their own household, according to guidance from the CDC. But the agency urges vaccinated people to continue to take precautions in indoor public settings.

Even after getting vaccinated, lingering fear and uncertainties about the virus mean that keeping a mask on may make more sense for some people. Especially for those finding it hard to let go of an item they've associated for months with saving lives, Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera, president of the American Psychiatric Association's Hispanic caucus, told CNN.

"It's like suffering from a form of PTSD or trauma that will make some people hyper-vigilant," Colon-Rivera said, adding that those who've lost loved ones to coronavirus may have an especially difficult time.

Send your questions here. Are you a health care worker fighting Covid-19? Message us on WhatsApp about the challenges you're facing: +1 347-322-0415.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT

TODAY

Germany is considering plans to give extra rights and freedoms to people fully vaccinated against Covid-19, sparking debate over the ethics and risks of lifting regulations, Stephanie Halasz writes.

Under the proposed changes to existing pandemic rules, inoculated and recovered people will no longer need a negative test if they want to go shopping, to the hairdresser or to visit a botanical garden, according to examples laid out by the German justice ministry. People who live in Germany would also no longer have to go into quarantine after traveling abroad, if fully inoculated, with a few regional exceptions.

While the possible loosening of restrictions has fanned concerns about unfair privileges, German Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht told CNN affiliate n-tv the state should not infringe on the rights of those who have had their shots. "By getting vaccinated, those people now again have the possibility to live out their basic rights. I think it is solidarity to be happy for them," she said.

Bolsonaro was 'warned' about the consequences of ignoring science, inquiry hears

For months, critics of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have been calling for an investigation into his handling of the country's devastating Covid-19 crisis. On Tuesday, it finally began.

The parliamentary inquiry into the Brazilian government's Covid-19 response kicked off with hours of testimony from former Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta -- one of several who have served in that crucial role during the pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic has left Brazil with the second-highest death toll in the world and a crisis that shows no signs of slowing -- more than 77,000 new Covid-19 cases have been diagnosed in the past 24 hours alone, and one in three deaths nationwide this year have been due to Covid-19. Throughout that time, Brazil has seen a parade of health ministers come and go, none staying more than a year, Rodrigo Pedroso and Caitlin Hu, write.

The world sent India millions in Covid aid. It isn't reaching those who need it

As India's Covid-19 crisis tipped beyond breaking point last month, dozens of countries pledged critical aid. Planeloads of ventilators, oxygen supplies and antiviral drugs began arriving last week, with photos showing massive parcels being unloaded at New Delhi airport.

There's just one problem: for many days, much of the cargo sat in airport hangars as hospitals on the ground pleaded for more provisions. Medical workers and local officials are still reporting the same devastating shortages that have strained the healthcare system for weeks now -- raising questions, even among foreign donors, of where the aid is going, Jessie Yeung and Manveena Suri report.

Meanwhile, financial services firms that have outsourced a huge number of information technology and operations jobs to India in recent decades are rushing assistance to workers and contractors there. In order to keep their operations online, banks are shifting work to other countries, encouraging staff to work from home, and extending project deadlines.

ON OUR RADAR

US will send 60 million stockpiled AstraZeneca doses to other nations by July 4, Biden says.
Pfizer expects to seek emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to administer its Covid-19 vaccine to children between the ages of 2 and 11 in September.
A court in India on Tuesday said deaths of Covid-19 patients due to lack of oxygen is a "criminal act and not less than a genocide," according to a judgement posted on the court's website.
As India continues to grapple with an unrelenting second wave of Covid-19, its neighbors Nepal and the Maldives are seeing a surge in case numbers.

The Seychelles has reported an uptick in Covid-19 cases despite having vaccinated 85% of population.

TODAY'S

TOP TIP

"Be part of the solution, not part of the problem."

That was Dr. Anthony's Fauci's message to adolescents on the fence about the Covid-19 vaccine.

The FDA will likely authorize Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine in American children and teens ages 12 to 15 by early next week, a federal official has told CNN. Fauci said administration of the vaccine to that age group could start almost immediately, and said he hoped they and their parents will not hesitate.

"I would tell the parents to look at the data," he said. "The efficacy of the vaccine in 12 to 15 years old was essentially 100%, and it was really quite safe," added Fauci, who is also a top adviser to Biden. "It has a good safety profile, and it's highly efficacious. That's something that you shouldn't walk away from."

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FDA to authorize Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for 12-to-15-year-olds by early next week, official says

The FDA is poised to authorize Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine in children and teens ages 12 to 15 by early next week, a federal government official tells CNN.