Top Three
KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: The latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor survey finds that awareness of the updated boosters is relatively modest, with about half of adults saying they’ve heard “a lot” (17%) or “some” (33%) about the new shots.
"About one in five (19%) parents of children ages 6 months through 4 years old say their child has gotten vaccinated for COVID-19, up from 7% in July. The September Monitor survey finds about half (53%) of parents of children in this age range say they will “definitely not” get their child vaccinated for COVID-19."
Misinformation About Vaccine Safety and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Adults and 5–11 Year Olds: Axios on a new study:
"Misinformation remains a big reason why only about 30% of American children ages 5-11 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19."
"Only 40% of those who were more prone to believe misinformation received recommended COVID-19 vaccines as of September 2021, compared with 96% of people who "reported the lowest level of belief in misinformation," researchers said."
"Even adults who were vaccinated were still reluctant to get their kids vaccinated, with only a little more than half saying they were "very likely" to vaccinate children between 5 and 11."
"The study also found less support for the jab among parents of Black and Latino children, evangelical Christians, Republicans and women."
Covid-19 School Data Hub: Released three new data briefs on state test score changes over the pandemic (WI, NC and MA).
Emily Oster: "MA is notable here for significant CONTINUED declines in ELA. Down 6 pp in 2021 from 2019, down 11 pp in 2022 relative to 2019."
Massachusetts:
North Carolina:
Wisconsin:
Federal
NTIA: More than 235 applications were submitted totaling more than $5.5 billion in funding requests for the Enabling Middle Mile Infrastructure Grant Program.
Census: Annual Survey of School System Finances First Look.
White House: Released a non-binding Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
The 74:"Though the blueprint lacks enforcement, schools and education technology companies should expect greater federal scrutiny soon. In a fact sheet, the White House announced that the Education Department would release by early 2023 recommendations on schools’ use of artificial intelligence that “define specifications for the safety, fairness and efficacy of AI models used within education” and introduce “guardrails that build on existing education data privacy regulations.”
"The blueprint, which offers a harsh critique of online proctoring tools and systems that predict student success based on factors like poverty, follows in-depth reporting by The 74 on schools’ growing use of digital surveillance and the tech’s impact on student privacy and civil rights."
Covid-19 Research
COVID Vaccines in Pregnancy Tied to Lower Risk of NICU Stay, Stillbirth: A systematic review and meta-analysis published yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics.
Japanese researchers led the analysis of nine observational studies comparing the pregnancy outcomes of 81,349 women who received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose with those of 255,346 unvaccinated peers through Apr 5, 2022.
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy was tied to lower risk of NICU admission, stillbirth, and maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and no significant additional risk of preterm birth, SGA, low Apgar score (indicator of newborn needing medical attention;), cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, or chorioamnionitis (infection of the placenta or amniotic fluid.
"Our data support the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, facilitating the vaccination rates among pregnant individuals even if they do not get vaccinated before pregnancy."
"COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy was not associated with an increase in the risk of peripartum outcomes, was associated with a decreased risk of NICU admission, IFD, and maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, COVID-19 vaccination should be encouraged for pregnant individuals."
Kids From Low-Income Areas at Triple Risk of COVID Hospital Care: A study of more than 688,000 children and adolescents in Germany finds that those living in low-income areas were three times more likely as those in less-deprived areas to be hospitalized for COVID-19.
mRNA Boosters Extend Protection for 4 to 5 Months: Study
During the Omicron period, vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 requiring admission to hospital was 89% (95% confidence interval 88% to 90%) within 2 months after dose 3 but waned to 66% (63% to 68%) by 4 to 5 months. Vaccine effectiveness of three doses against emergency department or urgent care visits was 83% (82% to 84%) initially but waned to 46% (44% to 49%) by 4 to 5 months.
A Public Health Success Story: Via David Leonhardt.
"In the spring of 2021, several months into the mass vaccination program, white Americans were significantly more likely to have been vaccinated than Black or Latino Americans. By late 2021, the Hispanic rate was higher than the white rate, and the Black rate was almost as high as the white rate, according to the C.D.C. As a result, the racial gap in death rates has also disappeared."
"That disappearance is arguably one of Biden’s biggest accomplishments — one that would not have happened, to be clear, without passionate advocacy and hard work by many community health officials. In a country with deep racial inequities, where Covid was initially another tragic example, the virus is no longer disproportionately harming Black and Hispanic Americans."
"One reason is that the remaining pool of unvaccinated Americans is disproportionately Republican, and Republicans are disproportionately white."
State
Arizona: Arizona school transportation grant program returns for its second year.
"Black Mothers Forum was awarded $100,000 through the Arizona Transportation Modernization Grants Program, which aims to improve access to reliable and safe transportation for students. Wood said Black Mothers Forum is preparing to launch its carpool app, SAFE."
“The whole point is to look at different ways to approach K-12 transit, and to also drive efficiency solutions,” said Emily Anne Gullickson, A for Arizona’s chief executive officer. “We know that transportation barriers are real, and costs have been through the roof.”
"Tolleson Union was awarded $2 million to implement ridesharing for students and create pick-up and drop-off hubs for those who reside outside the district. The district is working with HopSkipDrive, a company that hires people to transport students to school and other activities. Jeremy Calles, the chief financial officer of Tolleson Union, said 186 students in the district are using the service."
California: Hackers release 500GB of data stolen in LA school district ransomware attack.
Florida: More than 2.5 million Florida students have missed school during Hurricane Ian.
Texas: Bus driver shortage continues more than a month into new school year.
International
"We Gave Up So Much": Young people across the UK reflect on how the pandemic affected them – and continues to shape their futures.
Economic Recovery
Job Openings Fell in August: “The 1.1 million drop in openings is the largest decline since the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, and job openings are at their lowest level in a year.”
House Prices: 7 Years in Purgatory, via Calculated Risk.
Resources
Fat Bear Week Has Arrived: Meet the chunky contenders.
I Have Questions: A goat sings in Worcester cathedral during animal blessing service.
The BBC tracked down Pablo.