Looks like we have some Taylor Swift fans based on the reaction to last evening’s little Easter egg. It also pushed the open rate to nearly 50%. So message received: more Taylor, less COVID. Also, will someone please return her scarf. Onto tonight’s update…
Top Three
Boosters:
The FDA is aiming to authorize booster doses of Pfizer for all adults as early as Thursday. "The FDA. is expected to rule without consulting its own expert panel."
The CDC's AHIP is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss the issue.
Paxlovid:
"The Biden administration is planning to purchase 10 million courses of Pfizer’s covid pill, a $5 billion investment in a treatment that officials think will help change the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic by reducing severe illness and deaths, according to two people with knowledge of the transaction."
Pfizer has agreed to a licensing deal with the U.N.'s Medicines Patent Pool for its COVID-19 pill — roughly a month after Merck said it licensed its COVID pill with the MPP.
Quarantine and Tracing Rules Are All Over the Map for Students: Via KHN
"Unfortunately, we have a natural experiment going on across the country when it comes to schools reopening, particularly regarding quarantining,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University. “Some of it is understandable, but there is a piecemeal approach for certain when it comes to various approaches.”
"Another frequent complaint: Policies differ depending on whether students are there for school or for after-school activities or whether it is a community or sporting event. “What really irritates our community is that you can show up for a community event at the school or spend four hours at a sporting event and no one gets quarantined, but you can sit next to someone for 40 minutes during the school day and be out of school for 10 days,” Law said.
“Kids with means go on vacation or to their grandparents when they’re quarantined,” Kennedy noted. “That’s great for them, but what about kids who don’t have parents at home? They’re sitting at home with no learning, no food, no services. It exacerbates the inequities.”
Federal
Reconciliation: CBO scores are expected Friday.
But Politico reports: “The White House cautioned that CBO’s analysis won’t necessarily show the bill is fully paid for, in part because of the way CBO tallies the savings from a huge IRS policy provision. The White House said that provision would bring in as much as $400 billion, but CBO’s estimate may be closer to $200 billion.”
Meanwhile, we caught a glimpse of the bill today.
DOL: Announces Proposal to Rescind Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program.
COVID-19 Research
The Mercury Project: The Social Science Research Council announced the creation of The Mercury Project, a three-year, $10 million investment to combat the growing threat of mis- and disinformation on public health in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic with $7.5 million in seed funding from The Rockefeller Foundation and an additional $2 million in funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and $500K from Craig Newmark Philanthropies.
Racial Disparities in Kids’ Vaccinations Are Hard to Track: Via the AP. "Only a handful of states have made public data on COVID-19 vaccinations by race and age, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not compile racial breakdowns either."
Long COVID: 50% of people who survive COVID-19 face lingering symptoms (study)
"About 20% have decreased mobility, 25% have trouble thinking or concentrating (called “brain fog”), 30% develop an anxiety disorder, 25% have breathing problems, and 20% have hair loss or skin rashes."
Female Doctors Were 30 Times More Likely to Manage Childcare Amid COVID: Study and story.
Vaccination Rates: A Pandemic Prevention Institute analysis found that while 58% of all residents are fully vaccinated, only 3% of counties have rates above 70% and 9% of counties have rates below 30% of their total population fully vaccinated.
State
DC: Will end its mask mandate next Monday, but masks will still be required for schools.
Georgia: Nearly 2,000 Atlanta students ask to move to virtual classes beginning in January.
Indiana:
Pike Township bus service shortage prompts remote learning day for students
The Mind Institute released a great report and set of recommendations for Improving Indiana School Transportation.
Maryland: Almost 100 children at a school in Montgomery County received an incorrect dose of the coronavirus vaccine at a clinic last week.
New York: 56% of parents with children under the age of 12 NYC said they were very or somewhat likely to have their children vaccinated, according to the poll conducted by the CUNY School of Public Health/NY Vaccine Literacy Campaign.
Ohio: Cincinnati Public Schools board to discuss requiring COVID-19 vaccines for students
Pennsylvania: COVID-19 cases cause several Erie schools to turn to virtual learning.
Virginia: Governor-elect Yougkin says he won't try to block local mask or vaccine mandates.
International
Norway: This is interesting. They are not offering COVID Vaccines to 12-15 year olds who have already had COVID.
"Since recovery also provides protection against new infection, vaccines are not currently offered to 12-15-year-olds who have had COVID-19."
Economic Recovery
Retail Sales: “Retail sales jumped 1.7 percent in October, marking a significant acceleration in spending from September… And despite new data showing that consumer confidence is at a 10-year low, they seem to be shrugging off the higher prices on gas, groceries and other everyday goods.”
National Student Clearinghouse Launches New Pilot to Map Student Transcripts to Employer-Verified Skill Sets: Details here.
The American Workforce Index: From Todd Rose and Populace
"Nearly 70% of respondents believe most other people’s job priorities have changed either “a lot” (27%) or “somewhat” (42%) since the onset of COVID-19 in February 2020."
"When it comes to work, considerations such as compensation and benefits are mainstays, but flexibility has quickly secured its spot as a fixed priority"
"American workers want a respectful, inclusive workplace."
"Trust matters more than we think."
"Prestige: the biggest collective illusion."
"American workers who have achieved more of their personal priorities in their current jobs rate their lives as being better than those who have achieved fewer of their ideal priorities"
How a Remote Work Incentive is Responding to Local Challenges and Spurring Economic Growth in Tulsa: New analysis from EIG.
"Tulsa Remote, one of the nation’s first and largest remote worker relocation initiatives, has brought more than 1,200 remote workers to the city since 2018 by offering a $10,000 grant and additional support services to eligible workers who move to Tulsa to live and work remotely from there for at least one year."
"Add $62.0 million in new local earnings in 2021—$51.3 million directly attributable to relocated remote workers and $10.7 million from the employment boost generated in the local economy."
Inflation:
New from Larry Summers, "On inflation, it’s past time for team ‘transitory’ to stand down."
Survey Shows Women Want More Flexible Work Schedules: Via FT
Resources
$4.51 Billion Needed Yearly for Homework Gap: Funds for Learning estimates based on ECF data.
Four Principles to Maximize the Impact of Federal Spending on Connectivity in the Heartland: Via Heartland Forward.
Public investments in high-speed internet should lift everyone up.
Communities should drive solutions that meet their own unique needs.
Regulations and standards should maximize today’s investments for long-term impact.
Access to high-speed internet will positively impact our economy.
School Bus Drivers Strike Over Pay and Covid Risk: Via the Guardian, "Strikes, walkouts, protests or sick-outs among school bus drivers have taken place this fall in many states including North Carolina, New Mexico, Maryland, Florida, Indiana, Georgia Pennsylvania and New York among others."
FBI Tracks Threats Against Teachers, School-Board Members: Via WSJ.
"The internal email asks FBI agents to consider the motivation behind any criminal activity and whether it potentially violates federal law. Agents should tag such threats “EDUOFFICIALS” to better track them, according to the memo, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal."
Civil Rights Data Provides a Fuller Picture of COVID-19 Impact: Via DQC.
These 232 Innovative Schools Are Challenging Old Assumptions About Education: CRPE and Transcend
The State of Computer Science: New report from CODE.org
Why Some In Education Are Able To Transform Learning For Kids And Others Are Stuck: Via Jeanne Allen.
School Cannot Go on This Way. Education Leaders Need to Step Up: Nicole Mirra & Antero Garcia in EdWeek.
"Despite the talk of “reimagining” that took place in our field (once educators were able to raise their heads from managing one crisis after another), we are distraught and angered by how quickly our country’s public schools have retreated into familiar routines."
"Faced with the crisis of COVID-19 shutting down school buildings, our profession reacted with heroic grace under pressure. Yet, now, as the long-term consequences of the pandemic start to emerge, it is time to shift from being reactive to being proactive."
"It is time to integrate sustained attention to mental health, empathy, and healing into the fabric of instruction. It is time to support teachers with the creation of new learning opportunities that help students make sense of a changed world, instead of requiring classroom educators to push ahead with prepandemic curriculum."
One of the Best Moments in TV History: I have no idea if this is real or not, but it's hysterical.