ANONYMOUS - OUR VOICE

CDC approval of Covid booster shot offers help for some Americans

U.S. health agencies gave the go-ahead for immunocompromised people to receive a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine late Thursday night, a high note amidst increasingly alarming news about the delta variant. The decision is a big deal since those who have weakened immune systems are still vulnerable to becoming severely ill from the coronavirus, even if they are fully vaccinated. However, there is still one hitch: immunocompromised people who received their previous shot from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/cdc-says-authorization-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-not-applicable-jj-shot-2021-08-13/">not be eligible</a> for a booster shot.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both approved third booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines for people with weakened immune systems. The CDC’s green light came within 24 hours of the FDA’s recommendation.
“The FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner, in a statement related to the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-additional-vaccine-dose-certain-immunocompromised">announcement</a>. “After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccines.”
The decision was applauded by health officials and healthcare workers. “We are immediately pulling in those people, getting them the doses,” Dr. Marc Boom, who runs Houston Methodist Hospital which includes a large organ transplant program, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/08/14/1027597108/6-things-to-know-if-youre-immunocompromised-and-considering-a-3rd-shot">told</a> NPR. Even those on the right, where skepticism over the severity of the pandemic and dissenting voices against vaccinations have thrived, have softened their tune in light of the development regarding booster shots.
“This move is a big step in the right direction especially given the increasing number of vaccine breakthrough infections from the delta variant,” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/covid-boosters-marc-siegel">wrote</a> Dr. Marc Siegel, a frequent Fox News guest who has been criticized for spreading misinformation about the pandemic. Siegel applauded the booster shot approval but argued the policy should be expanded to other groups like essential workers and the elderly.
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
my dad is a cancer survivor and just got his first covid vaccine *booster shot*—very relieved and hoping more can get the booster soon.
— justin block (@JBlock49) <a href="https://twitter.com/JBlock49/status/1426549516145102852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
</div>
The Covid-19 booster shot approved by U.S. health agencies is not a new vaccine. It is simply a third dose of the vaccine that is given to a person who has already been fully vaccinated. As NPR reported, the CDC recommends that a person get the same vaccine they received for their first two doses. So, for example, if you received the Pfizer vaccine for your first two shots, then you should also get the Pfizer vaccine for your booster shot. If it is not possible to get the same vaccine for your booster shot, an additional dose of the other mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) is allowed.
Covid-19 booster shots work in conjunction with how our bodies build protection against threats. Biologically, our bodies contain helper T-cells that stimulate other cells called B-cells, which are crucial in producing antibodies. Certain types of B-cells act as memory cells that store the instructions needed for our bodies to produce a particular antibody. However, these memory cells aren’t activated; they’re waiting for a signal that triggers them to produce antibodies. As Sigal Samuel <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22555898/covid-19-booster-shots">previously explained</a> for Vox:
<blockquote>
When you get a booster shot, it gives your memory B-cells that crucial signal to reengage. This can be useful whether the booster contains the original vaccine recipe or something different. If it contains the original recipe, it’ll amplify the signal, increasing the number of antibodies produced. If it contains a tweaked recipe, it’ll retrain the cells to recognize new features of the virus and produce antibodies, should you be exposed to the variant.
</blockquote>
Studies have shown the initial two-dose regimen for the Covid-19 vaccination has lower efficacy in those with weakened immune systems, so another “boost” of the vaccine will likely help immunocompromised people build better protection against the coronavirus.
Currently, the Covid-19 booster shot is only recommended for “moderately to severely immunocompromised people.” While there are many kinds of people who may consider themselves at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19, such as those having a pre-existing health condition, it is important to note that they are not necessarily the same as those who are immunocompromised.
<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html">According to the CDC</a>, this category of people includes organ transplant recipients who are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, those undergoing cancer treatment, and people who are HIV positive, among other criteria. The New York Times reported that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/us/covid-vaccine-booster-pfizer-moderna.html">about 3 percent of Americans are estimated</a> to have weakened immune systems and studies show initial vaccine doses have been less effective for immunocompromised people. The vaccine efficacy rate for people with weakened immune systems is somewhere between 59% to 72%, which is much lower compared to those with a stronger immune system showing 90% to 94% efficacy. Further studies <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-11/third-moderna-shot-boosts-antibody-levels-in-transplant-patients">revealed</a> people who are immunocompromised benefitted immensely from receiving a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which is why it’s so important for them to receive a booster shot.
Despite the good news, the FDA also said they were unable to extend the authorization for a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to insufficient data. It is unclear whether immunocompromised people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be eligible in the near future.
<figure class="e-image"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1628997255_1690_284712" data-cdata='{"asset_id":22782675,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tovGikOcDzcfg0-RfTpZhI2HXOs=/0x0:5561x3707/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hpgpgBpdVWfigZdQkTp0aB7Rnd4=/0x0:5561x3707/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V-uQlauq_4o0CdFk5JeuqmEzQiA=/0x0:5561x3707/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gPaoUqn6GEby-0xI8OkYAs6YCyY=/0x0:5561x3707/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j6yLB_hPq8VX0TqEFSMO3v13iYU=/0x0:5561x3707/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GxZuN00zxbRHB3Yic76GIVDfv_E=/0x0:5561x3707/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KTrPmo2bI7MTQbqyAPezPO8D9ec=/0x0:5561x3707/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bzyshvo6FssUkAv-XfbJ6THHkPs=/0x0:5561x3707/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_l-VACyiNQYCwVimx5xafzBOhU8=/0x0:5561x3707/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="A close-up of the hand of a masked health worker as she inserts a needle into a vial of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to prepare a dose for use." data-upload-width="5561" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CaYtCPKZgbmfDQwNHnS5stM7ta8=/0x0:5561x3707/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DMttvDjuwApEUqUIKtTXOq83FxU=/0x0:5561x3707/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/COQO1VeHd2JjPSYsqdCaB4j79Qg=/0x0:5561x3707/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A2J0THB4lBMOf3RClwRglQLI1Vc=/0x0:5561x3707/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ghVWhvwhtQS9OyaDWTSsHKsrjPE=/0x0:5561x3707/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WZLw4nObqyM0TfVianzEPytSvoM=/0x0:5561x3707/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V1XvFFGDlbmQIzlUJF6m8gCWNw0=/0x0:5561x3707/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X_Zzu3NIA-ZGhwSXGQR0_yVCFHE=/0x0:5561x3707/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CzzvkEPr-w1Y89ugbXUH98MuXxk=/0x0:5561x3707/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/imamjBd8wwSxtYRChCC2AOuNmcU=/0x0:5561x3707/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5561x3707):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782675/1234650437.jpg 1920w" /></picture>
<figcaption>An Israeli health worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine on August 13, 2021, at the Maccabi Health Service in the Israeli town of Rishon Lezion.</figcaption>
<cite>Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images</cite></figure>
In her statement last week, Dr. Woodcock reiterated that people who are not immunocompromised and are fully vaccinated are considered “adequately protected” and, as such, will not need a booster shot at this time. However, she emphasized that her team was continuing to work with agency partners to determine whether an additional dose for the general public is needed in the future.
But FDA and CDC approval on booster shots for immunocompromised people has reasonably spurred questions over whether we will soon get the go-ahead for booster shots to the general public, especially as Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/live-updates/covid-delta-variant-surge/?id=79058271">surge nationwide</a> due to the much more contagious delta variant.
Most concerning are reports that the delta variant may be more successful against the Covid-19 vaccines, causing “breakthrough infections” or infections in people who are fully vaccinated. For these people, getting infected after being vaccinated can be overwhelmingly emotional.
“I was pretty shocked to learn I’d tested positive,” Daniele Selby, a writer based in New York City, <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/8/11/22611272/what-breakthrough-covid-19-feels-like">told</a> Vox. “I am fully vaccinated and have continued to wear masks … so to do all that and still get Covid-19 and feel ill has been pretty upsetting.” Others who have suffered breakthrough infections have had their circumstance politicized, like André Gonzales, who traveled between states for a funeral in early June after being fully vaccinated, and tested positive. “There have definitely been some that have tried to use [my] experience to discount the efficacy of the vaccines or to push unfounded cures on social media,” Gonzales said.
There is still much to be learned about Covid-19 breakthrough infections but preliminary studies suggest there may be varying levels of risk to re-infection based on different vaccines. A <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/12/mayo-clinic-covid-breakthrough-risk-may-be-much-lower-with-moderna-vaccine-than-pfizer.html">recent study</a> by Mayo Clinic suggests people who received the Moderna vaccine may be at a much lower risk of contracting a breakthrough Covid-19 infection than those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The study, however, has yet to go through a full review. It’s important to remember that breakthrough cases among people who are fully vaccinated are still uncommon, and even when they are infected data shows that these infections are at low risk of resulting in severe illness and/or hospitalization, underlining the benefits of getting vaccinated in spite of risks of re-infection.
With upticks in Covid-19 cases across the globe due to the more aggressive delta variant, experts say we may have to learn to live with the virus. The closest comparison is the flu disease, which continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths each year in the U.S. alone. But, over time, our society has largely managed to adapt to a world with the flu, thanks to the existence of an effective flu vaccine.
As German Lopez <a href="https://www.vox.com/22621760/covid-19-risk-delta-vaccines-provincetown-study">wrote</a> for Vox:
<blockquote>
While we still have to get more people vaccinated, at a certain point we’ll have to acknowledge we’ve done what we can. It might not be ideal, but we can learn to live with a vaccine-weakened version of Covid-19 — hopefully not too unlike how we’ve long dealt with the flu.
</blockquote>
<figure class="e-image"><picture class="c-picture" data-cid="site/picture_element-1628997255_7940_284713" data-cdata='{"asset_id":22782684,"ratio":"*"}'><source srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hfeZE4dQ3c8ruAknZQ_BQ1inRxI=/0x0:5526x3684/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xwtQhOCZQzUKLn-8BliggC0tptA=/0x0:5526x3684/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/E42QnQsliygZbl6dW3rvjY3gu9M=/0x0:5526x3684/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1rjO-x0cKBt7lO0VgxrftXCFWWc=/0x0:5526x3684/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kO9JOW-0p2j3-0acMq-r5wCU3jE=/0x0:5526x3684/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T1db4kGvryLzILZMHX7rvLfZgA8=/0x0:5526x3684/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aFYhx6iYpXZ48BSKRMYOpne7qn0=/0x0:5526x3684/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R-nUxjSizMGZgvOFEBC79ZxHJds=/0x0:5526x3684/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AoXj7DDQvmj4myJ9oYGbkE0byC0=/0x0:5526x3684/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1920w" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" type="image/webp" /> <img alt="WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a suit and tie speaking behind a podium desk with his hands in motion." data-upload-width="5526" sizes="(min-width: 1221px) 846px, (min-width: 880px) calc(100vw - 334px), 100vw" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TWssPEEfNlMjL6pxMqbgyDFL6oU=/0x0:5526x3684/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg" srcset="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/icqtE1dVeAceUZEBJMId6j-WDNQ=/0x0:5526x3684/320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kKT4Vo-yVeXSoDjb9nV93VcVNH4=/0x0:5526x3684/520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J5oKUUDKpLWuP7J-JowwghQOa0U=/0x0:5526x3684/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eslsyr3MbvgvtcC_0wN0IimcHQs=/0x0:5526x3684/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 920w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jDCTttIPhXCjRqFeOST2_zSgIME=/0x0:5526x3684/1120x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1120w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z_jV2myYjLMb0x6P1wkwccUX0u8=/0x0:5526x3684/1320x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1320w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IRo5lXO1YsIfuzOq4T5ivq2kMHk=/0x0:5526x3684/1520x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1520w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dJHrSgncIsFwxIEZjPr-zogj66I=/0x0:5526x3684/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1720w, https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/M2DgB5_NFQr5k0_CBcQYcYQjAKw=/0x0:5526x3684/1920x0/filters:focal(0x0:5526x3684):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22782684/1234272551.jpg 1920w" /></picture>
<figcaption>WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a joint press conference in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on July 28, 2021.</figcaption>
<cite>Jaber Abdulkhaleg/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</cite></figure>
Globally, the United States is the latest country to allow booster shots for people with weakened immune systems, following countries like France, Germany, and Hungary. Some countries have already begun announcing plans to expand their booster shot policies beyond those with weakened immune systems. The U.K., France, and Germany have announced they will begin administering third Covid-19 doses to the elderly as soon as next month. Israel, which has also approved booster shots for those above 60 years old, has gone a step further, reportedly <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-80-vaccinated-suffers-another-covid-19-surge-11628769603">making plans</a> to offer it to younger people, too. Israel was among the first to open up after lockdowns thanks to a strong vaccination program early on, but it is now experiencing another wave of Covid-19 infections, despite the country’s high vaccination rates.
The move to expand additional Covid-19 shots to the wider public in some countries has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-president-macron-third-covid-vaccine-doses-likely-elderly-vulnerable-2021-08-05/">sparked criticism</a> from World Health Organization officials since the vast majority of poorer countries are still struggling to get residents vaccinated, even with first shots.
“I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people from the Delta variant. But we cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He urged governments to hold off on expanding booster shot programs until the end of September.
Officials from countries preparing to administer additional Covid-19 shots to the wider public have pushed back at the WHO’s criticism. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett argued that the results of the country’s distribution of booster doses among the elderly could be useful data for future booster programs across the world.
In any case, many countries are still lagging in vaccinations, partly due to a lack of access to vaccine supplies and because of poor infrastructure to distribute them quickly. According to Reuters’s <a href="https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access/">world Covid-19 vaccination tracker</a>, which uses data only from countries that report their vaccination figures, about 40% of people who have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine were from high-income countries. Moreover, at least 34% of these vaccine recipients were from Europe and North America.
As some wealthier countries begin moving toward distributing additional Covid-19 vaccine doses to their populations while other poorer nations still lag behind, and governments struggle to determine the best health protocols to keep people safe, the likelihood of disparities will continue.
 
 
source <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/8/14/22624596/cdc-approval-of-covid-19-booster-shot-offers-help-immunocompromised">https://www.vox.com/2021/8/14/22624596/cdc-approval-of-covid-19-booster-shot-offers-help-immunocompromised</a>

vox CDC approval of Covid booster shot offers help for some Americans

U.S. health agencies gave the go-ahead for immunocompromised people to receive a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine late Thursday night, a h...

Joe Biden Increases US Deployment To Afghanistan, Warns Taliban

<div class="ins_instory_dv">
<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Joe Biden Increases US Deployment To Afghanistan, Warns Taliban" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-07/5bbo57m_joe-biden_625x300_26_July_21.jpg" title="Joe Biden Increases US Deployment To Afghanistan, Warns Taliban" /></div>
Joe Biden again defended his decision to withdraw the US military from Afghanistan (File)
</div>
Washington:
President Joe Biden on Saturday doubled down on his decision to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan despite the Taliban's rapid advances, but pledged to send more troops to evacuate civilians and warned the insurgents not to threaten that mission.
After consultations with his national security team, Biden said a total of "approximately 5,000" US soldiers -- up from 3,000 -- will now help organize evacuations and the end of the US mission after 20 years on the ground.
He warned the Taliban that any action "that puts US personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong US military response."
Biden's announcement came after Taliban captured the main northern holdout city of Mazar-i-Sharif and continued their rapid march towards the capital Kabul.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani pledged Saturday not to let the "imposed war on people cause more deaths," and said consultations were taking place to try to help end the war, without offering details.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was part of the team that conferred with Biden, spoke by telephone with Ghani on Saturday, his spokesman said.
"They discussed the urgency of ongoing diplomatic and political efforts to reduce the violence," spokesman Ned Price said.
Blinken was also expected to "engage with key regional stakeholders" on the escalating Taliban march on Kabul, Biden said.
Earlier, US Central Command said more American military personnel had arrived in Kabul to ensure the safe evacuation of American embassy employees and Afghan civilians who worked for US forces.
The Pentagon estimates it will need to evacuate about 30,000 people before it completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan by August 31, a deadline set by Biden.
Biden's decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan has come under increased scrutiny given the implosion of the country's armed forces, but he said he had no other choice -- and laid some of the blame at the feet of Donald Trump.
"When I came to office, I inherited a deal cut by my predecessor... that left the Taliban in the strongest position militarily since 2001 and imposed a May 1, 2021, deadline on US forces," Biden said.
"I faced a choice -- follow through on the deal, with a brief extension to get our forces and our allies' forces out safely, or ramp up our presence and send more American troops to fight once again in another country's civil conflict," he added.
"I was the fourth president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan -- two Republicans, two Democrats. I would not, and will not, pass this war onto a fifth," Biden said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/joe-biden-increases-us-deployment-to-afghanistan-warns-taliban-2510658">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/joe-biden-increases-us-deployment-to-afghanistan-warns-taliban-2510658</a>

news world Joe Biden Increases US Deployment To Afghanistan, Warns Taliban

Joe Biden again defended his decision to withdraw the US military from Afghanistan (File) Washington: President Joe Biden on Saturday d...

Haiti Searches For Survivors After Earthquake Kills At Least 304

<div class="ins_instory_dv">
<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Haiti Searches For Survivors After Earthquake Kills At Least 304" src="https://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2017-09/earthquake-generic_650x400_71505899871.jpg" title="Haiti Searches For Survivors After Earthquake Kills At Least 304" /></div>
The quake destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and schools. (Representational)
</div>
Port-au-Prince:
Rescue workers scrambled to find survivors after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti early Saturday, killing at least 304 and toppling buildings in the disaster-plagued Caribbean nation still recovering from a devastating 2010 quake.
The epicenter of the shaking, which rattled homes and sent terrified locals scrambling for safety, was about 100 miles (160 kilometers) by road west of the center of the densely populated capital Port-au-Prince.
"Lots of homes are destroyed, people are dead and some are at the hospital," 21-year-old Christella Saint Hilaire, who lives near the epicenter, told AFP.
"I was in my house when it started to shake, I was near a window and I saw everything falling," she said. "A piece of a wall hit my back but I am not too hurt."
The long, initial quake was felt in much of the Caribbean. It damaged schools as well as homes on Haiti's southwestern peninsula, according to images posted by witnesses.
The country's civil protection agency said hours after the quake that the death count had jumped to 304, ticking upwards throughout the day from an initial report of 29 fatalities.
The agency said that hundreds were "wounded and missing" and specified that 160 were killed in the country's South department alone, in the area of the quake's epicenter.
"Initial responses, by both professional rescuers and members of the public have led to many people being pulled from the rubble. Hospitals continue to receive injured," it added.
With thousands injured, hospitals in the regions hardest hit by the quake were already struggling to provide emergency care and at least three in the municipalities of Pestel, Corailles and Roseaux were completely full, according to Jerry Chandler, head of the civil protection agency.
- State of emergency -
Haiti has declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster, and a White House official said US President Joe Biden has approved "immediate" aid efforts to begin.
"In what is already a challenging time for the people of Haiti, I am saddened by the devastating earthquake," Biden said, adding that his country was ready to "assess the damage and assist efforts to recover those who were injured and those who must now rebuild."
Residents shared images on social media of frantic efforts to pull people from the ruins of caved-in buildings, while screaming bystanders sought safety in the streets outside their homes.
"Houses and their surrounding walls have collapsed. The roof of the cathedral has fallen down," resident Job Joseph told AFP from the hard-hit city of Jeremie on Haiti's far western end.
Heavy damage was reported in the center of the city, which is composed primarily of single-story residences and buildings.
The damage in the city of Les Cayes appeared to be significant, including the collapse of a multi-story hotel.
Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who surveyed the damage via helicopter, declared a state of emergency for one month while calling on the nation to "show solidarity" and not panic.
Shortly after the quake, the US Geological Survey (USGS) issued a tsunami alert, saying waves of up to three meters (nearly 10 feet) were possible along the coastline of Haiti, but lifted the warning soon after.
- 'People are terrified' -
Jeremie resident Tamas Jean Pierre said the possibility of a tsunami nonetheless sent parents "fleeing the city with their children in arms."
"People are terrified," he said.
A 7.0-magnitude quake in January 2010 transformed much of Port-au-Prince and nearby cities into dusty ruins, killing more than 200,000 and injuring some 300,000 others.
More than a million and a half Haitians were made homeless, leaving island authorities and the international humanitarian community with a colossal challenge in a country lacking either a land registry or building codes.
The quake destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, as well as administrative buildings and schools, not to mention 60 percent of Haiti's health care system.
The rebuilding of the country's main hospital remains incomplete, and nongovernmental organizations have struggled to make up for the state's many deficiencies.
The latest quake comes just over a month after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home by a team of gunmen, shaking a country already battling poverty, spiraling gang violence and Covid-19.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/haiti-earthquake-death-count-rises-to-227-official-2510656">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/haiti-earthquake-death-count-rises-to-227-official-2510656</a>

news world Haiti Searches For Survivors After Earthquake Kills At Least 304

The quake destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and schools. (Representational) Port-au-Prince: Rescue workers scrambled to find sur...

Taliban Capture Major City In Northern Afghanistan, Draw Closer To Kabul

<div class="ins_instory_dv">
<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Taliban Capture Major City In Northern Afghanistan, Draw Closer To Kabul" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-08/b1hj4r1o_taliban-afghanistanreuters650_625x300_04_August_21.jpg" title="Taliban Capture Major City In Northern Afghanistan, Draw Closer To Kabul" /></div>
Many Afghans have fled from the provinces to the capital, driven out by fighting (FILE)
</div>
Kabul:
Taliban forces captured a major city in northern Afghanistan on Saturday, sending Afghan forces fleeing, and drew closer to Kabul, where Western countries scrambled to evacuate their citizens from the capital.
The fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, confirmed by a provincial council official, was another major capture for the hardline militants, who have swept through the country in recent weeks as US-led forces withdrew.
The United States and Britain are now rushing several thousand troops back into the country to evacuate citizens amid concern Kabul could soon be overrun.
Security forces from Mazar-i-Sharif were escaping towards the border, Afzal Hadid, head of the Balkh provincial council, told Reuters.
"The Taliban have taken control of Mazar-I-Sharif," he said. "All security forces have left Mazar city." The city appeared to have fallen largely without a fight, although sporadic clashes were continuing nearby, he said.
Earlier in the day, the rebels seized a town south of Kabul that is one of the gateways to the capital.
Many Afghans have fled from the provinces to the capital, driven out by fighting and fearful of a return to hardline Islamist rule, as resistance from Afghan government forces crumbles.
As night fell on Saturday, hundreds of people were huddled in tents or in the open in the city, by roadsides or in carparks, a resident said. "You can see the fear in their faces," he said.
President Ashraf Ghani held urgent talks with local leaders and international partners but gave no sign of responding to a Taliban demand that he resign as a condition for any ceasefire.
His focus was "on preventing further instability, violence, and displacement of my people", he said in a brief televised address, adding that security and defence forces were being consolidated.
Qatar, which has been hosting so-far inconclusive peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, said it had urged them to cease fire during a meeting with their representatives on Saturday.
Earlier the Taliban, facing little resistance, took Pul-e-Alam, capital of Logar province and 70 km (40 miles) south of Kabul, according to a local provincial council member, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Police officials however denied reports that the Taliban had advanced closer to Kabul from Pul-e-Alam, which is a staging post for a potential assault.
The town's capture came a day after the Taliban took the country's second- and third-biggest cities. The Taliban says it is close to capturing Maidan Shahr, another town close to Kabul.
An Afghan government official confirmed on Friday that Kandahar, the biggest city in the south and the heartland of the Taliban, https://ift.tt/3CMLpQg was under the militants' control as U.S.-led forces complete their withdrawal after 20 years of war.
The U.S.-led invasion, which ousted the Taliban from power, was launched after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States in 2001.
Herat in the west, near the border with Iran, also fell to the group. The Taliban said on Saturday it had overrun the capitals of Kunar, Paktika and Paktia provinces on Afghanistan's eastern border, although this could not be immediately confirmed.
EMBASSY EVACUATIONS
American troops have begun flying in to Kabul to help in the evacuation of embassy personnel and other civilians, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity.
The Pentagon has said two battalions of Marines and an infantry battalion will arrive in Kabul by Sunday evening, involving about 3,000 troops. An infantry brigade combat team will move to Kuwait to act as a quick reaction force for security in Kabul if needed.
The Czech Republic said it was evacuating its two diplomats on Saturday and Germany said it would deploy https://ift.tt/3jYrdSC troops to get its diplomats out as soon as possible.
Some embassies have begun to burn sensitive material ahead of evacuating, diplomats said. Residents said many people in the capital were stocking up on rice, other food and first aid.
Visa applications at embassies were running in the tens of thousands, officials said, and Washington was asking countries to temporarily house Afghans who worked for the US government.
THOUSANDS WOUNDED
Hospitals were struggling to cope with the numbers of people wounded in the fighting, with 17,000 treated in July and the first week of August in facilities supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the aid agency said.
The explosion in fighting has raised fears of a refugee crisis and a rollback of gains in human rights, especially for women. Canada said it would resettle more than 20,000 vulnerable Afghans including women leaders, human rights workers and reporters to protect them from Taliban reprisals.
As well as Kabul, the government now still holds the city of Jalalabad, near the Pakistani border in the east.
The speed of the Taliban's gains has led to recriminations over the U.S. withdrawal, which was negotiated last year under the administration of President Joe Biden's Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.
Biden said this week he did not regret his decision to follow through with the withdrawal. He noted Washington has spent more than $1 trillion and lost thousands of troops over two decades, and called on Afghanistan's army and leaders to step up.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/taliban-capture-major-city-in-northern-afghanistan-draw-closer-to-kabul-2510610">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/taliban-capture-major-city-in-northern-afghanistan-draw-closer-to-kabul-2510610</a>

news world Taliban Capture Major City In Northern Afghanistan, Draw Closer To Kabul

Many Afghans have fled from the provinces to the capital, driven out by fighting (FILE) Kabul: Taliban forces captured a major city in ...

Canada To Resettle 20,000 ''Vulnerable'' Sikhs, Hindus From Afghanistan

<div class="ins_instory_dv">
<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Canada To Resettle 20,000 ''Vulnerable'' Sikhs, Hindus From Afghanistan" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-08/foekksi_canada-flag_625x300_14_August_21.jpg" title="Canada To Resettle 20,000 ''Vulnerable'' Sikhs, Hindus From Afghanistan" /></div>
Canada is deeply concerned by the situation in Afghanistan, a government statement said.
</div>
Toronto:
The Canadian government has announced that it will permanently re-settle 20,000 "vulnerable" Afghans, including Sikhs and Hindus, who are fleeing the war-torn country amidst a deadly offensive launched by the Taliban militants.
In a blitz assault on Thursday and Friday, the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan's main cities Herat and Kandahar, encircling national capital Kabul. They are believed to control over two-thirds of the country's territory and most of its 34 provincial capitals.
"Canada continues to be deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and the risks it poses for many vulnerable Afghans. As the Taliban continues to take over more of Afghanistan, Afghans' lives are under threat-and many have already fled the country," the Canadian government said in an official statement.
The decision to resettle the 20,000 vulnerable Afghans was taken jointly by Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco E L Mendicino, Minister of National Defence Harjit S Sajjan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau.
Canada will continue to implement the special immigration programme for Afghans who contributed to Canada's efforts in Afghanistan. In addition, the government now introduces a scheme particularly for vulnerable groups.
"Canadians are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. People around the world know they can count on Canada to support them in times of need, and Canada will be there for vulnerable Afghans.
Women leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, religious minorities, LGBTI individuals, and others covered by this program will be safe here in Canada, and I look forward to welcoming them to our country," said the Indian-origin minister Mr Sajjan.
The statement mentioned the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation which has in the past helped resettle hundreds of persecuted Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in the country.
"Offering refuge to the world's most vulnerable speaks to who we are as Canadians, particularly in times of crisis. As more Afghan refugees continue to seek shelter in Canada, we're redoubling our efforts to help 20,000 Afghans refugees-who remain vulnerable wherever they go-find safety here. The situation in Afghanistan is heartbreaking, and Canada will not stand idly by," said Minister Mendicino.
The latest Taliban assault comes in the backdrop of the US and NATO forces withdrawing from Afghanistan. All foreign troops will leave the war-torn country by August 31.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/canada-to-resettle-20-000-vulnerable-sikhs-hindus-from-afghanistan-2510609">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/canada-to-resettle-20-000-vulnerable-sikhs-hindus-from-afghanistan-2510609</a>

news world Canada To Resettle 20,000 ''Vulnerable'' Sikhs, Hindus From Afghanistan

Canada is deeply concerned by the situation in Afghanistan, a government statement said. Toronto: The Canadian government has announced...

At Least 29 Dead In Haiti Earthquake, Emergency Declared

<div class="ins_instory_dv">
<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="At Least 29 Dead In Haiti Earthquake, Emergency Declared" src="https://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2017-09/earthquake-generic_650x400_71505899871.jpg" title="At Least 29 Dead In Haiti Earthquake, Emergency Declared" /></div>
The quake destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and schools. (Representational)
</div>
Port-au-Prince:
A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti early Saturday, killing at least 29 people and toppling buildings in the disaster-plagued Caribbean nation still recovering from a devastating 2010 quake.
The epicentre of the shaking, which rattled homes and sent terrified locals scrambling for safety, was about 100 miles by road west of the center of the densely populated capital Port-au-Prince.
"Lots of homes are destroyed, people are dead and some are at the hospital," 21-year-old Christella Saint Hilaire, who lives near the epicenter, told AFP. "Everyone is in the street now and the shocks keep coming."
The long, initial quake was felt in much of the Caribbean. It damaged schools as well as homes on Haiti's southwestern peninsula, according to images posted by witnesses.
Jerry Chandler, who heads the country's civil protection agency, told reporters that 29 deaths had been reported, and that search efforts were ongoing.
Haiti has declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster, and a White House official said US President Joe Biden has approved "immediate" aid efforts to begin.
Residents shared images on social media of frantic efforts to pull people from the ruins of caved-in buildings, while screaming bystanders sought safety in the streets outside their homes.
"Houses and their surrounding walls have collapsed. The roof of the cathedral has fallen down," resident Job Joseph told AFP from the hard-hit city of Jeremie on Haiti's far western end.
Heavy damage was reported in the centre of the city, which is composed primarily of single-story residences and buildings.
The damage in the city of Les Cayes appeared to be significant, including the collapse of a multi-story hotel.
"I am mobilizing all the resources of my administration in order to come to the aid of victims," Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry wrote on Twitter, as he called on the nation to unite.
Shortly after the quake, the US Geological Survey issued a tsunami alert, saying waves of up to three metres (nearly 10 feet) were possible along the coastline of Haiti, but lifted the warning soon after.
A magnitude-7.0 quake in January 2010 transformed much of Port-au-Prince and nearby cities into dusty ruins, killing more than 200,000 and injuring some 300,000 others.
More than a million and a half Haitians were made homeless, leaving island authorities and the international humanitarian community with a colossal challenge in a country lacking either a land registry or building codes.
The quake destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, as well as administrative buildings and schools, not to mention 60 percent of Haiti's health-care system.
The rebuilding of the country's main hospital remains incomplete, and nongovernmental organisations have struggled to make up for the state's many deficiencies.
The latest quake comes just over a month after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home by a team of gunmen, shaking a country already battling poverty, spiraling gang violence and Covid-19.
Police say they have arrested 44 people in connection with the killing, including 12 Haitian police officers, 18 Colombians who were allegedly part of the commando team, and two Americans of Haitian descent.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/at-least-29-dead-in-haiti-earthquake-emergency-declared-2510603">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/at-least-29-dead-in-haiti-earthquake-emergency-declared-2510603</a>

news world At Least 29 Dead In Haiti Earthquake, Emergency Declared

The quake destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and schools. (Representational) Port-au-Prince: A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake ...