US announces COVID boosters starting September – National & International News – WED 18Aug2021

US announces COVID boosters starting September. United Airlines asks crews not to duct-tape unruly passengers. Haiti quake toll mounts.

NATIONAL NEWS

US announces COVID boosters starting September

US health officials have announced that, starting in September, booster COVID vaccines will be available to those who received their second vaccine 8 months prior. The decision is based on the current COVID delta surge, as well as data showing that immunity from the vaccines decreases over time. Currently, this applies to people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Officials say there is not enough data yet on Johnson & Johnson recipients to say when boosters will be advisable. Third shots or boosters have already become available for people with weak immune systems.

Other wealthy countries, including Israel, have already made boosters available for some segments of their populations. Despite having a high rate of full vaccination (except among Palestinians), Israel as experience a resurgence of COVID cases due to the delta variant. As in the US, while some vaccinated people do experience breakthrough infections and may even experience mild symptoms, the vast majority do not require hospitalization.

The decision to offer boosters is controversial. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization called on wealthy countries to hold off on offering boosters. This is because there is a worldwide shortfall in vaccine production and many people in poor countries are yet to have access even to their first dose.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

United Airlines asks employees not to duct-tape unruly passengers

United Airlines has warned its flight crews not to resort to duct-taping unruly and violent passengers to their seats. The statement reminded employees that “that there are designated items onboard that may be used in difficult situations, and alternative measures such as tape should never be used”.

The memo came after two viral videos circulated of incidents on. In one instance, Frontier Airline passengers duct-taped an intoxicated passenger to his seat after he groped two female flight attendants and assaulted a male flight attendant. In another, flight crew duct-taped a woman to her seat after she attempted to open a plane door midflight.

This year, FAA has registered 2,500 unruly passenger incidents, 1,900 of which were passengers refusing to wear masks. Compare that to a typical year, where the agency normal records 100 to 150 unruly passenger incidents.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Death toll in Haiti earthquake nears 2000

The devastation from the recent earthquake in Haiti has been largely overshadowed by the chaos in Afghanistan. But each day that goes by reveals the extent of the tragedy and brings new obstacles for the rescue and relief effort. The death toll is now up to 1,941 at last report. The number of injured is at nearly 10,000 and likely to climb higher. It is difficult to count the injured since remaining hospitals and treatment centers are overwhelmed. The earthquake destroyed or damaged many hospitals and clinics in the southwest of Haiti.

In addition, Tropical Storm Grace has been pelting the island with rain and wind since Monday evening. This has hampered rescue and relief efforts and made life that much more difficult for people who have lost their homes.  A UNICEF spokesman says, “Countless Haitian families who have lost everything due to the earthquake are now living literally with their feet in the water due to the flooding”. About 500,000 children in Haiti are without shelter and are suffering shortages of food and clean water.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).