Good news from AstraZeneca

F.D.A. approval could change the global vaccine campaign, even if the U.S. doesn't need the shot.

View in browser|nytimes.com March 22, 2021 An informed guide to the pandemic, with the latest developments and expert advice about prevention and treatment. (Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.) By Amelia Nierenberg Writer, Briefings More than 1.5 million people cleared U.S. airport security on Sunday, the most since the pandemic began, The Associated Press reports. The Philippines reported record-breaking new infections over the weekend, sending Manila and four surrounding provinces into a temporary lockdown. Miami Beach police used pepper balls to disperse spring break revelers who were not following coronavirus restrictions. Get the latest updates here, as well as maps and vaccines in development. AstraZeneca's strong showing A U.S. trial of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine found that it completely prevented the worst outcomes from Covid-19. No subjects in the trial reported serious safety issues. More than 32,000 subjects participated in the trial, the largest yet for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Based on those results, it was 79 percent effective overall in preventing symptomatic infections. It also offered strong protection for older people, who had not been as well represented in earlier studies. The company will soon seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration, even though the U.S. may not need the vaccine — doses are unlikely to become available before May, when federal officials predict there will be enough doses from the three vaccines that have already been authorized for all U.S. adults. But the results could help the vaccine recover from the safety scare it faced in Europe. More than a dozen countries temporarily suspended the shot's use over concerns about possible rare blood complications. Global confidence wavered, even though only a handful of people out of millions inoculated had any serious side effects. In India, for example, where AstraZeneca's vaccine is one of two available, many people are currently skeptical of the shots as the country races to contain a second wave. Alongside a public trust-building campaign from European officials, U.S. clearance would further burnish the shot's reputation, as the F.D.A.'s rigorous review process is considered the global gold standard. Because of its low cost and simple storage requirements, the AstraZeneca vaccine is the backbone of vaccine rollouts in many poor and middle-income countries. "This is the vaccine that will likely vaccinate the world," Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, wrote on Twitter on Monday, adding: "If you were rooting for global vaccination, this is a good morning." The Covid-19 weight gain If you've had to loosen your belt a few notches this year, you're not alone. A new study suggests that adults under shelter-in-place orders gained more than half a pound every 10 days — that's nearly two pounds a month — which could easily translate to 20 pounds over the course of the year. The study participants had mostly been losing pounds before the orders were issued, but their weights began rising steadily, in part because of dietary patterns that changed during stay-at-home orders. The restrictions also curtailed the humdrum physical activity that is part and parcel of daily living. The study was relatively small, and its results are not generalizable. But because participants were losing weight beforehand, "it's reasonable to assume these individuals are more engaged with their health," the senior researcher on the study said. "That suggests we could be underestimating — that this is the tip of the iceberg." If you want to move more, try an exercise snack. Here are five workouts that you can do in 10 minutes or fewer. Vaccine rollout West Virginia opened Covid-19 vaccination to all adults on Monday, the third state to do so. All Arizona residents older than 16 can get vaccinated at select state-operated locations starting Wednesday. Any New York state resident older than 50 can receive a Covid-19 vaccine starting Tuesday. Taiwan started vaccinating residents on Monday. It is one of the few places in the world to successfully contain the coronavirus from the beginning of the pandemic. Doctors are delivering vaccines to homebound seniors. President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he would receive one of Russia's vaccines on Tuesday, seven months after national regulators approved it for emergency use. A few people in the United Arab Emirates have received a third dose of China's Sinopharm vaccine after the first two doses produced insufficient levels of antibodies. South Africa sold its unused AstraZeneca doses to 14 other African Union countries, Reuters reported. The country paused the vaccine last month after a small trial showed it offered only minimal protection against the local variant of the virus. Here's a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states. If you've found this newsletter helpful, please consider subscribing to The New York Times — with this special offer. Your support makes our work possible. What else we're following The success of the Biden administration's $1.9 trillion stimulus package may ultimately rest on its ability to boost the number of coronavirus screening tests, which have been on the decline in recent months. Rich countries signed away a chance to vaccinate the world. The Times's Selam Gebrekidan and Matt Apuzzo explain. A small number of Covid survivors with no previous mental illness develop psychotic symptoms after infection. Read about one survivor or listen to today's episode of The Daily. As nursing homes relax restrictions, joyful families dofor the first time in a year, The Associated Press reports. The chief executive of Texas Roadhouse died by suicide this weekend after fighting post-Covid symptoms, The Washington Post reports. Kent Taylor was 65. Microsoft plans to open its offices without restrictions when the virus acts "more like an endemic virus such as the seasonal flu." About 75 percent of employees said they want flexible remote work options to continue. The pandemic has hobbled Paris's Latin Quarter, a shabby-chic intellectual neighborhood that has long relied on tourism. The leading opposition figure in the Republic of Congo died hours after polls closed in the presidential election he was contesting on Sunday. He had tested positive for the coronavirus. What you're doing I have been reading everyone else's responses to how they have dealt with the pandemic. I have cried for other readers; I have laughed with other readers; I have wished there was a way to reach out to them and support them, encourage them, thank them, commiserate with them. Mostly I have wanted to tell them they are not alone. And give them a virtual hug. — Sarah Martin, Hoschton, Ga. Let us know how you're dealing with the pandemic. Send us a response here, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter. Whet Moser edited today's newsletter. Email your thoughts to briefing@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward you the briefing? Sign up here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Coronavirus Briefing from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018