• US coronavirus cases surpass 41 million. Source
• Lancet publishes Considerations in Boosting COVID-19 immune responses, a paper from international experts including current and WHO and FDA staff. It notes that most observational studies pointing to the need for booster doses are “…preliminary and difficult to interpret precisely due to potential confounding and selective reporting,” and calls for “ …Careful and public scrutiny of the evolving data… to assure that decisions about boosting are informed by reliable science more than by politics,” saying that “…current vaccine supplies could save more lives if used in previously unvaccinated populations than if used as boosters in vaccinated populations.” Source
• In an interview with Bloomberg Television, David Nabarro, WHO Special Envoy for COVID-19, warns that prioritizing coronavirus boosters in high-income countries increases the risk of variants emerging in countries with low vaccination rates, saying “We’re in a very unstable situation. Please let’s slow down, look at the world as a whole, and develop a response plan for the whole world and do it properly.” Source
• China reports a 22-case coronavirus outbreak in Fujian Province, driven by the Delta variant. Source
• After a 48 percent drop in the seven-day average of new daily cases over the past 14 days, South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa announces that restrictions will be eased. Source
• As cases of the Delta variant continue to surge, Australia has begun vaccinating children ages 12 and over. Source
• NIH-funded research will examine possible links between coronavirus vaccination and menstrual changes, to address concerns that may be preventing women from getting shots. Source
• Australia’s public health body, OzSAGE, releases a report warning that implementation of the government’s reopening plan could result in a second peak of infections, and easing additional restrictions once 80 percent of adults are fully vaccinated could cause hospitals to become overwhelmed over December and into January. Source
• The UK government cancels a supply contract for 100 million doses of Valneva’s experimental coronavirus vaccine, saying the company had breached its obligations without further details. Source