Poll Finds Public Health Has A Trust Problem A new Harvard poll shows that only half of Americans trust the CDC — other health agencies were rated even lower. During a pandemic, trust is critical to the success of a public health response. Selena Simmons-Duffin
Drug overdose deaths increased by more than 30% in WA amid pandemic ‘I think one of the reasons we're seeing a higher rate of fatal overdoses is because more often people are alone.’ Kim Malcolm
Citizens Work To Expose COVID's Real Toll In Nicaragua As Leaders Claim Success Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's government insists the country has low numbers of cases and deaths from the pandemic. A grassroots group is working to reveal the true impact is far worse. Carrie Kahn
CDC Advisers Recommend Pfizer Vaccine For Adolescents A CDC vaccine advisory committee has agreed with the FDA that the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective for kids 12 and up, clearing the way for it to be given to teens and preteens this week. Pien Huang
Seattle Children's Hospital is gearing up to vaccinate kids as young as 12. And even younger kids could soon follow The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine be used with children as young as 12. With that, children 12 to 15 years old will soon be receiving their Pfizer shots. Katie Campbell
Will COVID-19 Vaccines Still Work Against The Variant From India? A coronavirus variant is spreading quickly in India, causing a massive surge in cases. Scientists are rushing to see if vaccines will be effective against this variant. So far, the news is hopeful. Michaeleen Doucleff
Man Who Is Paralyzed Communicates By Imagining Handwriting By decoding the brain signals involved in handwriting, researchers have allowed a man who is paralyzed to transform his thoughts into words on a computer screen. Jon Hamilton
CDC Advisers Say Kids As Young As 12 Can Get The Covid-19 Vaccine The recommendation follows the FDA's extension of its emergency use authorization to children 12 to 15 of age earlier this week. The CDC is expected to quickly approve use. Tamara Keith
Opinion: Africans Shouldn't Have To Pull Strings To Get COVID Treatment When Maji Hailemariam and her dad got sick with COVID in Ethiopia, she was frustrated by how difficult it was to get tested and treated. She urges governments that it doesn't have to be that way. Maji Hailemariam
Federal, State Officials Say Creativity Is Needed To Increase Vaccination Rate The Biden administration and state governors are focused on making it as easy as possible for Americans to get vaccinated — offering free rides to the pharmacy and even free gifts. Tamara Keith