The Latest on COVID-19

• In a press release, Pfizer said early data shows that their vaccine is extremely effective for adolescents. In a study of over 2,200 12- to 15-year-olds, researchers found no symptomatic cases among those given the vaccine. The company plans to submit this data to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as soon as possible to gain expanded emergency use authorization of the vaccine.
• COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. last year, trailing heart disease and cancer. The disease led to about 375,000 deaths in the year, and the age-adjusted death rate rose about 16%.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Rochelle Walensky warned Americans that with cases on the rise, the country is in a “critical moment.” “As we see increases in cases, we can’t afford to let our guard down. We are so close, so very close, to getting back to the everyday activities we all miss so much,” she said. “But we’re not quite there yet.”