‘Europe is back at the epicenter of the pandemic,’ a W.H.O. official says. – NYT

Europe is again experiencing near-record levels of coronavirus cases, and could experience half a million Covid-related deaths in the next three months, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

How Can the U.S. Avoid Another COVID-19 Stockpile Disaster? – MedPageToday

What can be done to prevent poor federal responses to disasters, such as the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) that was woefully under-stocked when COVID-19 hit? That’s the question addressed in a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). – Download Report

COVID is still crushing parts of the U.S. as the holiday season approaches – NPR

The U.S. has settled into an uneasy, drawn-out exit from the delta surge that took hold over the summer. For many weeks, declining cases and hospitalizations have offered hope ahead of the holiday season, when Americans travel and spend more time indoors, but progress has stalled recently, with cases rising or plateauing in more than 20 states.

The U.K. approves Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, calling it a world first – NPR

Merck’s antiviral pill that fights COVID-19 in adults with the disease won its first authorization in the world Thursday, as the U.K.’s medical regulator announced that the drug is “safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalization and death” in mild to moderate cases.

Inside the World’s Most Blatant Covid-19 Coverup: Secret Burials, a Dead President – WSJ

Tanzania denied the existence of the pandemic for months, even as thousands likely died. The country is a clue to its hidden global toll.

German Cases Hit Fresh Record as Fourth Wave Spreads in Europe – Bloomberg

Germany reported record Covid-19 infections for a second straight day, as a fourth wave of the pandemic hits Europe and threatens to overwhelm hospitals in some hot spots.

Pfizer Develops Covid Pill That Cuts Hospitalizations and Deaths by 89% – Bloomberg

Pfizer Inc. said its Covid-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients by 89%, a result that has the potential to upend how the disease caused by the coronavirus is treated and alter the course of the pandemic. The shares surged 11%.

Vaccine Headlines

WHO issues emergency use listing for eighth COVID-19 vaccine – WHO

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for COVAXIN® (developed by Bharat Biotech), adding to a growing portfolio of vaccines validated by WHO for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.

There’s more demand for boosters than first shots of the COVID vaccine – NPR

The number of people getting COVID-19 vaccine boosters in the U.S. is now far outpacing the number getting their first shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Covid-19 Vaccine Boosters’ Mix-and-Match Efficacy – WSJ

Americans preparing to get a Covid-19 booster now can choose whether to stick with the same vaccine as their initial shots, or choose a different one. Here’s a look at advantages, disadvantages and side effects.

J&J COVID Shot 73.6% Effective in Real-World Study – MedPageToday

Real-world effectiveness with Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV) tracked closely with the clinical trial data in terms of preventing infections and severe outcomes, a retrospective study found.

What Do We Know About the Rare COVID-19 Vaccine Complications? – MedPgeToday

Side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines — such as soreness and fever — are quite common, but the more serious complications are among the top reasons why many may still be hesitant to get vaccinated.

Neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 Mu Variant by Convalescent and Vaccine Serum – NEJM

During the current pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), has diversified considerably. As of September 2021, the World Health Organization had defined four variants of concern (alpha [B.1.1.7], beta [B.1.351], gamma [P.1], and delta [B.1.617.2 and AY]), as well as five variants of interest (eta [B.1.525], iota [B.1.526], kappa [B.1.617.1], lambda [C.37], and mu [B.1.621]).1

Novavax Asks WHO to Grant Emergency Clearance for Covid Shot – Bloomberg

Novavax Inc. said it has filed with the World Health Organization for an emergency-use listing for its Covid-19 vaccine, a move that could help its inoculation reach more people at a time of vast global disparities in immunizations.

Docs’ Burning Questions About the COVID Vaccine for Young Kids – MedPageToday

The formulation of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 provoked the most questions among clinicians at a call hosted by CDC staff.

Who Are the Scientists Behind the COVID-19 Vaccines? – MedPageToday

There’s the slick, turtleneck-loving CEO who’s really good at raising cash for his company that has yet to release any data. There’s the workaholic power couple focused on curing cancer. There’s the researcher who co-invented a recombinant DNA technology but stays at a small biotech that’s limping along.

Clinical Considerations

COVID proteins that trigger strokes and heart attacks – Times of Israel

Discovery, made through ‘peek in virus’s black box,’ could lead to therapies that halt havoc wrought on vascular system, say Tel Aviv University scientists

Official Reporting for November 5, 2021