OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska has been steadily declining over the past several weeks, but it remains at a high level that worries health experts.

Dr. James Lawler with the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Global Center for Health Security said it appears that more Nebraskans are doing things like dining out less often and wearing masks in public. And he said it helps that a number of Nebraska cities recently passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-ricketts-lincoln-norfolk-omaha-grand-island-ec39dbf18077a19bd9266678a692ecff" target="_blank">mask mandates</a>.

But he said it's important for Nebraskans to remain vigilant about maintaining social distancing because virus trends could turn negative before vaccines become widely available to the general public in the spring.

"We have a vaccine rolling out, but that doesn't change the overall picture," Lawler&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/livewellnebraska/nebraska-covid-numbers-have-fallen-but-things-could-still-turn-south/article_ae781222-3e5b-11eb-9e93-e3664cbd7e45.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>to the Omaha World-Herald. "Things could still turn south pretty easily."

Nebraska said 693 people were hospitalized with the virus on Monday. That number has been generally decreasing since the state set a record of 987 on Nov. 20, but it is still three times higher than it was on Oct. 1.

The state reported 483 new virus cases and 45 deaths Monday to give the state 149,344 cases and 1,418 deaths since the pandemic began.

Nebraska has gone from having the fifth-highest rate of infection in the nation earlier this month to ranking 17th on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Over the past two weeks, the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased from 1,772.14 new cases per day on Nov. 30 to 1,289.57 new cases per day on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608053559774.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska has been steadily declining over the past several weeks, but it remains at a high level that worries health experts.Dr. James Lawler with the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Global Center for Health Security said it appears that more Nebraskans are doing things like dining out less often and wearing masks in public. And he said it helps that a number of Nebraska cities recently passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-ricketts-lincoln-norfolk-omaha-grand-island-ec39dbf18077a19bd9266678a692ecff" target="_blank">mask mandates</a>.But he said it's important for Nebraskans to remain vigilant about maintaining social distancing because virus trends could turn negative before vaccines become widely available to the general public in the spring."We have a vaccine rolling out, but that doesn't change the overall picture," Lawler&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/livewellnebraska/nebraska-covid-numbers-have-fallen-but-things-could-still-turn-south/article_ae781222-3e5b-11eb-9e93-e3664cbd7e45.html#tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank">said&nbsp;</a>to the Omaha World-Herald. "Things could still turn south pretty easily."Nebraska said 693 people were hospitalized with the virus on Monday. That number has been generally decreasing since the state set a record of 987 on Nov. 20, but it is still three times higher than it was on Oct. 1.The state reported 483 new virus cases and 45 deaths Monday to give the state 149,344 cases and 1,418 deaths since the pandemic began.Nebraska has gone from having the fifth-highest rate of infection in the nation earlier this month to ranking 17th on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Over the past two weeks, the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased from 1,772.14 new cases per day on Nov. 30 to 1,289.57 new cases per day on Monday.

Nebraska virus numbers improving but experts still worried

OMAHA, Neb.-People
need vitamin D to carry out essential biologic functions because it
regulates thousands of genes, including those that modulate the
immune system, which guards against various types of infection.
However, it is estimated that more than 50% of the world’s
population have insufficient levels of vitamin D, especially during
the winter months due to limited exposure to sunlight – the source
of vitamin D production. According to Joan Lappe, PhD, associate dean
for research and a professor in the <a href="https://nursing.creighton.edu/">College
of Nursing at Creighton University</a>,
there is growing scientific evidence to show that vitamin D can help
prevent diseases, including COVID-19.

“Almost
all body cells have vitamin D receptors, which indicates they need
vitamin D to carry out their work. When there is inadequate vitamin
D, body functions can become compromised. A long-term deficiency is
likely to negatively affect an individual’s health in some way,”
Lappe said.

The
cellular function of vitamin D has been well studied and shows
mechanisms for promoting health, including recent research that
indicates higher vitamin D blood levels are associated with lower
rates of COVID-19 infection and lower risk of contracting severe
cases that could lead to hospitalization or death. Evidence also
suggests that assuring adequate vitamin D levels can be an effective
addition to COVID-19 treatment. 


Randomized
trials have shown that vitamin D supplementation decreases the
incidence of osteoporosis, stress fractures and the common cold.
Research also suggests that adequate vitamin D levels decrease
incidence of cancer, type 2 diabetes, depression and falls.

“Vitamin
D is made through skin exposure to sunlight. In our modern world,
many people don’t obtain adequate vitamin D from sunlight. When
they do have sunlight exposure, they often wear sunscreen which
blocks most vitamin D production. In addition, as people age, the
ability of their skin to convert vitamin D decreases, which makes the
elderly even more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency,” Lappe said.

Others
who could be vulnerable to low vitamin D levels include homebound
individuals; those with conditions that limit fat absorption such as
liver disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis; people who are obese or have undergone gastric
bypass surgery; and those with darker skin because of their higher
levels of melatonin, Lappe added.

Lappe
said vitamin D is not naturally abundant in most foods, but certain
types of fish are good sources. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel
and herring are sources of vitamin D. Ocean-raised fish, however,
which feed on vitamin D-rich plankton, have much higher levels than
farm-raised varieties. Also, the U.S. fortifies milk with about 100
International Units (IU) of vitamin D per cup, while fortifying other
foods, such as yogurt, juices, cereals and soy, with varying amounts,
Lappe said.

Vitamin
D is also available as a dietary supplement, which Lappe said is
safe, inexpensive and widely available. Stand-alone vitamin D
supplements can be found in various doses and many multiple-vitamin
preparations and calcium supplement pills also contain vitamin D.
According to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) guidelines, the
current recommended intake levels of vitamin D are 400 international
units (IU) for children up to age 12 months, 600 IU for ages 1 to 70
years and 800 IU for people over 70 years. However, Lappe said it is
widely accepted that these recommendations are too low to maintain
adequate blood levels of vitamin D in all adults. 


The
DRI indicates that 4,000 IU per day of vitamin D is the Tolerable
Upper Intake Level, which is the highest level of nutrient intake
that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost
all individuals in the general population. Lappe said the best
approach to determining the proper amount of supplementation is to
have the blood levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) measured
and then base the dose of supplementation on those levels. There is
no benefit to taking more vitamin D supplementation than is needed to
maintain healthy blood levels.

Other
benefits of vitamin D include facilitation of calcium absorption in
the stomach, and promotion of bone growth and maintenance.

About
Creighton University: Creighton
University in Omaha, Nebraska, enrolls 4,458 undergraduates and 4,312
graduate and professional students among nine schools and colleges.
No other university its size offers students such a comprehensive
academic environment with personal attention from faculty-mentors.
Jesuit and Catholic, it affords incomparable interprofessional
education, bridging eight health professions programs with law,
business and the arts and sciences – all on one walkable campus.
Creighton University ranks in the top third of U.S.
News &amp; World Report’s
rankings for National Universities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608053032877.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Creighton UniversityOMAHA, Neb.-People
need vitamin D to carry out essential biologic functions because it
regulates thousands of genes, including those that modulate the
immune system, which guards against various types of infection.
However, it is estimated that more than 50% of the world’s
population have insufficient levels of vitamin D, especially during
the winter months due to limited exposure to sunlight – the source
of vitamin D production. According to Joan Lappe, PhD, associate dean
for research and a professor in the <a href="https://nursing.creighton.edu/">College
of Nursing at Creighton University</a>,
there is growing scientific evidence to show that vitamin D can help
prevent diseases, including COVID-19.“Almost
all body cells have vitamin D receptors, which indicates they need
vitamin D to carry out their work. When there is inadequate vitamin
D, body functions can become compromised. A long-term deficiency is
likely to negatively affect an individual’s health in some way,”
Lappe said.The
cellular function of vitamin D has been well studied and shows
mechanisms for promoting health, including recent research that
indicates higher vitamin D blood levels are associated with lower
rates of COVID-19 infection and lower risk of contracting severe
cases that could lead to hospitalization or death. Evidence also
suggests that assuring adequate vitamin D levels can be an effective
addition to COVID-19 treatment. 
Randomized
trials have shown that vitamin D supplementation decreases the
incidence of osteoporosis, stress fractures and the common cold.
Research also suggests that adequate vitamin D levels decrease
incidence of cancer, type 2 diabetes, depression and falls.“Vitamin
D is made through skin exposure to sunlight. In our modern world,
many people don’t obtain adequate vitamin D from sunlight. When
they do have sunlight exposure, they often wear sunscreen which
blocks most vitamin D production. In addition, as people age, the
ability of their skin to convert vitamin D decreases, which makes the
elderly even more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency,” Lappe said.Others
who could be vulnerable to low vitamin D levels include homebound
individuals; those with conditions that limit fat absorption such as
liver disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis; people who are obese or have undergone gastric
bypass surgery; and those with darker skin because of their higher
levels of melatonin, Lappe added.Lappe
said vitamin D is not naturally abundant in most foods, but certain
types of fish are good sources. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel
and herring are sources of vitamin D. Ocean-raised fish, however,
which feed on vitamin D-rich plankton, have much higher levels than
farm-raised varieties. Also, the U.S. fortifies milk with about 100
International Units (IU) of vitamin D per cup, while fortifying other
foods, such as yogurt, juices, cereals and soy, with varying amounts,
Lappe said.Vitamin
D is also available as a dietary supplement, which Lappe said is
safe, inexpensive and widely available. Stand-alone vitamin D
supplements can be found in various doses and many multiple-vitamin
preparations and calcium supplement pills also contain vitamin D.
According to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) guidelines, the
current recommended intake levels of vitamin D are 400 international
units (IU) for children up to age 12 months, 600 IU for ages 1 to 70
years and 800 IU for people over 70 years. However, Lappe said it is
widely accepted that these recommendations are too low to maintain
adequate blood levels of vitamin D in all adults. 
The
DRI indicates that 4,000 IU per day of vitamin D is the Tolerable
Upper Intake Level, which is the highest level of nutrient intake
that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost
all individuals in the general population. Lappe said the best
approach to determining the proper amount of supplementation is to
have the blood levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) measured
and then base the dose of supplementation on those levels. There is
no benefit to taking more vitamin D supplementation than is needed to
maintain healthy blood levels.Other
benefits of vitamin D include facilitation of calcium absorption in
the stomach, and promotion of bone growth and maintenance.
About
Creighton University: Creighton
University in Omaha, Nebraska, enrolls 4,458 undergraduates and 4,312
graduate and professional students among nine schools and colleges.
No other university its size offers students such a comprehensive
academic environment with personal attention from faculty-mentors.
Jesuit and Catholic, it affords incomparable interprofessional
education, bridging eight health professions programs with law,
business and the arts and sciences – all on one walkable campus.
Creighton University ranks in the top third of U.S.
News &amp; World Report’s
rankings for National Universities.

Vitamin D supplements can boost health, lessen effects of COVID-19

Just after 6:00 am on Tuesday, the first shipments of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. UNMC received nearly 3000 doses, 660 of which will be for area first responders.

Just after 6:00 am on Tuesday, the first shipments of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. UNMC received nearly 3000 doses, 660 of which will be for area first responders.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9oi5zNP4PQ8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

VIDEO Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrives at Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center

OMAHA, Neb. -- Families in Nebraska are struggling to meet their basic needs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aecf.org/resources/kids-families-and-covid-19/" target="_blank">new Annie E. Casey Foundation report</a>. The health crisis also has exposed and exacerbated racial inequities. Aubrey Mancuso, executive director at Voices for Children in Nebraska, says 1 in 10 Nebraska families with children said they have not had enough to eat either occasionally or often, but families of color face food insecurity at a rate 2.6 times higher than their white neighbors. "It's also important to break down some of this data by race and ethnicity, and also realize that behind all these numbers there is an individual or family who is struggling," Mancuso said. "And we really need to ensure that we are supporting kids and families as we recover from the pandemic." One in 5 families reported they can't make their next mortgage payment, and 33% believe they're likely to lose their homes because of eviction or foreclosure. Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs at the Casey Foundation, said families are struggling to manage school, work and mental health. Twenty percent report experiencing depression since the pandemic's onset. "All children, in good times and in bad, should have their basic needs met," Boissiere said. "Children should not be hungry. They should have safe, secure housing. They should have access to quality education. Parents should have access to child care so that they can work to support those families." The report's recommendations include prioritizing racial equity in recovery efforts, strengthening the Affordable Care Act and expanding access to unemployment insurance. Mancuso said it's important for lawmakers to maximize all available state and federal resources to help families recover. "Investing in infrastructure, to help build and rebuild our child care infrastructure, mental-health infrastructure, and ensuring that families have access to health care," Mancuso said.

By Eric Galatas-Nebraska News ConnectionOMAHA, Neb. -- Families in Nebraska are struggling to meet their basic needs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aecf.org/resources/kids-families-and-covid-19/" target="_blank">new Annie E. Casey Foundation report</a>. The health crisis also has exposed and exacerbated racial inequities. Aubrey Mancuso, executive director at Voices for Children in Nebraska, says 1 in 10 Nebraska families with children said they have not had enough to eat either occasionally or often, but families of color face food insecurity at a rate 2.6 times higher than their white neighbors. "It's also important to break down some of this data by race and ethnicity, and also realize that behind all these numbers there is an individual or family who is struggling," Mancuso said. "And we really need to ensure that we are supporting kids and families as we recover from the pandemic." One in 5 families reported they can't make their next mortgage payment, and 33% believe they're likely to lose their homes because of eviction or foreclosure. Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs at the Casey Foundation, said families are struggling to manage school, work and mental health. Twenty percent report experiencing depression since the pandemic's onset. "All children, in good times and in bad, should have their basic needs met," Boissiere said. "Children should not be hungry. They should have safe, secure housing. They should have access to quality education. Parents should have access to child care so that they can work to support those families." The report's recommendations include prioritizing racial equity in recovery efforts, strengthening the Affordable Care Act and expanding access to unemployment insurance. Mancuso said it's important for lawmakers to maximize all available state and federal resources to help families recover. "Investing in infrastructure, to help build and rebuild our child care infrastructure, mental-health infrastructure, and ensuring that families have access to health care," Mancuso said.

Nebraska children, families continue to struggle with COVID recovery

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska received its first shipment of the new coronavirus vaccine on Monday and expects to get more than 100,000 doses this month to treat front-line health care workers, state officials said.

Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska's chief medical officer, said the initial shipments had arrived at two hospitals as of mid-morning.

"We only know that we expect to receive ... 15,600 within the next 24 to 48 hours," Anthone said at a news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Nebraska's distribution plan calls for the first vaccine doses to go to front-line health workers and other key professions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-health-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-b0f4f93d8cdbbada20c5830864861f10" target="_blank">including meatpacking workers and teachers</a>. Ricketts said the general public likely won't be eligible until April.

The vaccines are set to go to eight Nebraska hospitals, which state officials have refused to identify, citing security concerns.

CHI Health Vice President of Pharmacy Mike Tiesi said its group of 14 hospitals in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa received 3,900 doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine at one of its hospitals.

The first shipment of four boxes of the vaccine arrived at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy hospital in Omaha on Monday morning, Tiesi said. The hospital group plans to administer the first shots to health care workers Monday afternoon.

CHI expects to receive additional doses of the vaccine soon at its St. Elizabeth hospital in Lincoln, Tiesi said, and its St. Francis hospital in Grand Island expects to receive a shipment Tuesday.

"This is the hope we have been looking for, waiting for," Tiesi said Monday. "I can't wait until this gets into the hands - or the arms - of the general public later this spring."

Officials at Bryan Health in Lincoln said they also received their first shipment Monday and planned to start vaccinating employees later in the day.

The eight hospitals were chosen based on their ability to store Pfizer's vaccine in extreme cold, Anthone said. They will distribute doses to nine other hospitals. Another vaccine, produced by Moderna, which is expected next week pending federal approval, will go to hospitals in rural areas that don't have that storage capability.

Shipments expected later this month have faced some delays, but Anthone said he still expects Nebraska to get 104,000 by month's end.

The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska dipped below 700 Sunday for the first time since early November, but the total remains high.

The state said 692 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday, down from 711 a day earlier. That's the first time since Nov. 4 that the number of virus patients in hospitals was below 700. The total is still about triple what it was on Oct. 1.

Nebraska reported 1,173 new virus cases and eight new deaths Sunday to give the state 148,861 cases and 1,373 deaths since the pandemic began.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,756.29 new cases per day on Nov. 29 to 1,302.86 new cases per day on Sunday.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska received its first shipment of the new coronavirus vaccine on Monday and expects to get more than 100,000 doses this month to treat front-line health care workers, state officials said.Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska's chief medical officer, said the initial shipments had arrived at two hospitals as of mid-morning."We only know that we expect to receive ... 15,600 within the next 24 to 48 hours," Anthone said at a news conference with Gov. Pete Ricketts.Nebraska's distribution plan calls for the first vaccine doses to go to front-line health workers and other key professions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-health-nebraska-coronavirus-pandemic-b0f4f93d8cdbbada20c5830864861f10" target="_blank">including meatpacking workers and teachers</a>. Ricketts said the general public likely won't be eligible until April.The vaccines are set to go to eight Nebraska hospitals, which state officials have refused to identify, citing security concerns.CHI Health Vice President of Pharmacy Mike Tiesi said its group of 14 hospitals in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa received 3,900 doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine at one of its hospitals.The first shipment of four boxes of the vaccine arrived at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy hospital in Omaha on Monday morning, Tiesi said. The hospital group plans to administer the first shots to health care workers Monday afternoon.CHI expects to receive additional doses of the vaccine soon at its St. Elizabeth hospital in Lincoln, Tiesi said, and its St. Francis hospital in Grand Island expects to receive a shipment Tuesday."This is the hope we have been looking for, waiting for," Tiesi said Monday. "I can't wait until this gets into the hands - or the arms - of the general public later this spring."Officials at Bryan Health in Lincoln said they also received their first shipment Monday and planned to start vaccinating employees later in the day.The eight hospitals were chosen based on their ability to store Pfizer's vaccine in extreme cold, Anthone said. They will distribute doses to nine other hospitals. Another vaccine, produced by Moderna, which is expected next week pending federal approval, will go to hospitals in rural areas that don't have that storage capability.Shipments expected later this month have faced some delays, but Anthone said he still expects Nebraska to get 104,000 by month's end.The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Nebraska dipped below 700 Sunday for the first time since early November, but the total remains high.The state said 692 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday, down from 711 a day earlier. That's the first time since Nov. 4 that the number of virus patients in hospitals was below 700. The total is still about triple what it was on Oct. 1.Nebraska reported 1,173 new virus cases and eight new deaths Sunday to give the state 148,861 cases and 1,373 deaths since the pandemic began.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,756.29 new cases per day on Nov. 29 to 1,302.86 new cases per day on Sunday.

Nebraska hospitals get 1st shipments of coronavirus vaccine

The largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history got underway Monday as health workers in select hospitals rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic — a day of optimism even as the nation’s death toll neared 300,000.

“I feel hopeful today. Relieved,” said critical case nurse Sandra Lindsay after getting a shot in the arm at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York.

Shipments of precious frozen vials of vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech began arriving at hospitals around the country Monday.

“This is the light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s a long tunnel,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as he watched Lindsay’s vaccination via video.

Several other countries also have OK’d the vaccine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-gives-first-covid-19-vaccine-doses-719288c35d8ef8815b56b1c9c5fff24c">including the U.K.</a>, which started vaccinating last week.

For health care workers who, along with nursing home residents, will be first in line for vaccination, hope is tempered by grief and the sheer exhaustion of months spent battling a coronavirus that still is surging in the U.S. and around the world.

“This is mile 24 of a marathon. People are fatigued. But we also recognize that this end is in sight,” said Dr. Chris Dale of Swedish Health Services in Seattle.

Packed in dry ice to stay at ultra-frozen temperatures,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-d4525c56fd2606f1c0dae46ac3c96405">the first of nearly 3 million doses&nbsp;</a>being shipped in staggered batches this week made their way by truck and by plane around the country Sunday from Pfizer’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, factory. Once they arrive at distribution centers, each state directs where the doses go next.

Some hospitals across the country spent the weekend tracking their packages, refreshing FedEx and UPS websites for clues.

More of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will arrive each week. And later this week, the FDA will decide whether to green light the world’s second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna Inc.

Now the hurdle is to rapidly get vaccine into the arms of millions, not just doctors and nurses but other at-risk health workers such as janitors and food handlers — and then deliver a second dose three weeks later.

“We’re also in the middle of a surge, and it’s the holidays, and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace,” said Sue Mashni, chief pharmacy officer at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

Plus, the shots can cause temporary fever, fatigue and aches as they rev up people’s immune systems, forcing hospitals to stagger employee vaccinations.

A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccination. Just half of Americans say they want to get vaccinated, while about a quarter don’t and the rest are unsure, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">recent poll&nbsp;</a>by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Health Research.

The FDA, considered the world’s most strict medical regulator, said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appears safe and strongly protective -- and laid out the data behind it in a daylong public meeting last week for scientists and consumers alike to see.

“Please people, when you look back in a year and you say to yourself, ‘Did I do the right thing?’ I hope you’ll be able to say, ‘Yes, because I looked at the evidence,’” Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. “People are dying right now. How could you possibly say, ‘Let’s wait and see.’”

Still, emergency use means the vaccine was cleared for widespread use before a final study in nearly 44,000 people is complete -- and that research is continuing to try to answer additional questions. While effective against COVID-19 illness, it’s not yet clear if vaccination will stop the symptomless spread that accounts for half of all cases.

The shots still must be studied in children, and during pregnancy. But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said late Sunday that vaccination should not be withheld from pregnant women who otherwise would qualify.

While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607960673587.png" alt="Sandra Lindsay, an ICU Nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens is the first American to get the vaccine in a non-trial setting, according to the office of New York Governor.&nbsp;Dr. Michelle Chester administered the shot." />
 <figcaption>Sandra Lindsay, an ICU Nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens is the first American to get the vaccine in a non-trial setting, according to the office of New York Governor.&nbsp;Dr. Michelle Chester administered the shot.</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressThe largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history got underway Monday as health workers in select hospitals rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic — a day of optimism even as the nation’s death toll neared 300,000.“I feel hopeful today. Relieved,” said critical case nurse Sandra Lindsay after getting a shot in the arm at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York.Shipments of precious frozen vials of vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech began arriving at hospitals around the country Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Watch LIVE as the first person in New York gets vaccinated: <a href="https://t.co/a3p8QOtK6w">https://t.co/a3p8QOtK6w</a>&mdash; Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo/status/1338488030416388098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This is the light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s a long tunnel,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as he watched Lindsay’s vaccination via video.Several other countries also have OK’d the vaccine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-gives-first-covid-19-vaccine-doses-719288c35d8ef8815b56b1c9c5fff24c">including the U.K.</a>, which started vaccinating last week.For health care workers who, along with nursing home residents, will be first in line for vaccination, hope is tempered by grief and the sheer exhaustion of months spent battling a coronavirus that still is surging in the U.S. and around the world.“This is mile 24 of a marathon. People are fatigued. But we also recognize that this end is in sight,” said Dr. Chris Dale of Swedish Health Services in Seattle.Packed in dry ice to stay at ultra-frozen temperatures,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-d4525c56fd2606f1c0dae46ac3c96405">the first of nearly 3 million doses&nbsp;</a>being shipped in staggered batches this week made their way by truck and by plane around the country Sunday from Pfizer’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, factory. Once they arrive at distribution centers, each state directs where the doses go next.Some hospitals across the country spent the weekend tracking their packages, refreshing FedEx and UPS websites for clues.More of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will arrive each week. And later this week, the FDA will decide whether to green light the world’s second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna Inc.Now the hurdle is to rapidly get vaccine into the arms of millions, not just doctors and nurses but other at-risk health workers such as janitors and food handlers — and then deliver a second dose three weeks later.“We’re also in the middle of a surge, and it’s the holidays, and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace,” said Sue Mashni, chief pharmacy officer at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.Plus, the shots can cause temporary fever, fatigue and aches as they rev up people’s immune systems, forcing hospitals to stagger employee vaccinations.A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccination. Just half of Americans say they want to get vaccinated, while about a quarter don’t and the rest are unsure, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">recent poll&nbsp;</a>by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Health Research.The FDA, considered the world’s most strict medical regulator, said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appears safe and strongly protective -- and laid out the data behind it in a daylong public meeting last week for scientists and consumers alike to see.“Please people, when you look back in a year and you say to yourself, ‘Did I do the right thing?’ I hope you’ll be able to say, ‘Yes, because I looked at the evidence,’” Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. “People are dying right now. How could you possibly say, ‘Let’s wait and see.’”Still, emergency use means the vaccine was cleared for widespread use before a final study in nearly 44,000 people is complete -- and that research is continuing to try to answer additional questions. While effective against COVID-19 illness, it’s not yet clear if vaccination will stop the symptomless spread that accounts for half of all cases.The shots still must be studied in children, and during pregnancy. But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said late Sunday that vaccination should not be withheld from pregnant women who otherwise would qualify.While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.___

 🎥 ICU nurse is first to get Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination

By BERNARD CONDON and MATT SEDENSKY-Associated Press

(AP)-After 110,000 deaths ravaged the nation’s nursing homes and pushed them to the front of the vaccine line, they now face a vexing problem: Skeptical residents and workers balking at getting the shots.

Being first has come with persistent fears that the places hit hardest in the pandemic — accounting for nearly 40% of the nation’s death toll — could be put at risk again by vaccines sped into development in months rather than years. Some who live and work in homes question if enough testing was done on the elderly, if enough is known of side effects and if the shots could do more harm than good.

“You go get that first and let me know how you feel,” said Denise Schwartz, whose 84-year-old mother lives at an assisted living facility in East Northport, New York, and plans to decline the vaccine. “Obviously it would be horrible for her to get COVID, but is it totally safe for someone who’s elderly and in fragile health?”

As the U.S. begins shipping out freezer-packed vials of newly approved vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, public health officials say the answer is yes.

Everyone from members of the military to former presidents have announced their intentions to get the shots, echoing the refrains of others who say the drugs are the product of rigorous review, firm data and independent experts.

In an ongoing study of nearly 44,000 people, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found the vaccine was safe and more than 90% effective across recipients of different ages, including older adults and those with health problems that put them at high risk of COVID-19.

But the undercurrent of doubt in nursing homes persists, sometimes fueled by divisive politics, distrust of institutions and misinformation. And so far, the workers are the ones being heard the loudest.

“Folks are concerned about it, that it was rushed through by people who were not listening to the science,” said Denise Allegretti, a director at 1999 SEIU, the nation’s largest healthcare worker union.

Internal surveys by groups including the American Nurses Foundation suggest many workers in long-term care facilities are so concerned about the vaccine they would refuse it.

“I will not be the test dummy,” wrote one respondent to a survey by the National Association of Health Care Assistants. “It’s not going to be safe and I won’t trust it,” added another. Some respondents just answered, “No way!”

Christina Chiger, a 33-year-veteran nurse’s aide at a nursing home in Tampa, Florida, is exhausted and frightened after a relentless nine months that left two dozen residents dead and made 16-hour shifts common. But she has no plans to take the vaccine, for now at least.

“Will there be side effects? Will it actually work?” she asked. “If we all get sick from taking this, who’s going to take care of our patients?”

Resistance to the vaccine in nursing homes is not entirely unexpected — about 3 in 10 staffers, and 2 in 10 residents were not vaccinated for the flu last year, for example — but it’s no less worrisome.

Given how easily COVID-19 spreads, particularly in communal settings, experts believe around 70% of the population will need to receive the vaccine for it to be successful.

“Nursing home staff has always been a challenge to vaccinate,” said Litjen Tan, chief strategist at the advocacy group Immunization Action Coalition. “We’re cutting it close.”

Cultural issues could also be at play. People of color make up a majority of aides and other frontline workers in nursing homes, and some minorities express mistrust of medicine that experts see linked with past abuses.

A poll released last week by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Black and Hispanic people in the U.S. are far less likely than white people to agree to be vaccinated. Some 53% of whites said they would get the shots, compared with 24% of Blacks and 34% of Hispanics.

The AP-NORC poll also found women were less likely than men to say they would be vaccinated. An estimated 9 in 10 front-line nursing home workers are women. Overall, about a quarter of U.S. adults said they would refuse to get a vaccine, and another quarter said they weren’t sure.

“They don’t trust it. They don’t trust the science,” said Lori Porter, who heads the health assistants group and blames the Trump administration for making faith in science a political issue and undermining his own experts. “There’s so much misinformation that has circled over this pandemic this whole year that they don’t feel they can trust anyone.”

The federal government is seeking to blunt such attitudes with a $250 million ad campaign set to roll out this week that will eventually target healthcare workers and vulnerable groups. The pitch touts how vaccines will help beat COVID-19 the same way they defeated smallpox, measles and polio.

“One of the great triumphs of medical science ... has been vaccinations,” Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease scientist, said in one video.

The American Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, has called for every resident and staff member to get both vaccine doses by March 1, even though it expects no federal or state mandates requiring shots.

“Our hope is that we get widespread acceptance of the vaccine,” said AHCA’s president, Mark Parkinson. “But if we don’t, I assure you that our organization as well as individual operators will be analyzing whether or not they can mandate the vaccine. We’re just hoping that we don’t have to go there.”

John Sauer, head of the Wisconsin branch of LeadingAge, which represents non-profit long-term care facilities, said the misery most residents and workers have already witnessed should be all the convincing they need. “They know that this could literally be a life-and-death situation.”

No reliable gauges of nursing home residents’ opinion on the coronavirus vaccine have emerged. Among older adults in general, the AP-NORC poll found greater acceptance of the vaccine than among younger people.

But fears persist among many older people, over the possibility of bad interactions for people already on a long list of drugs, or of undiscovered problems specific to their age group.

As with many vaccines, the drug companies say recipients may experience fever, fatigue or sore arms from the injection. Authorities are investigating several allergic reactions reported in Britain by health workers with a history of severe allergies.

Penelope Ann Shaw, a 77-year-old nursing home resident in Braintree, Massachusetts, said she plans to refuse the vaccine, as she does with annual flu shots, because of drug allergies and her concerns about how little is known about the new coronavirus drugs.

“For me, I think it’s a little premature,” said Shaw, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune system disorder, and was the lone long-term care resident to serve on the federal Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. “You’re not doing it with me.”

After a year in which many facilities have walled off to the world, crippling some residents in isolation, and leading to medical declines and deaths in others, some need no convincing.

Among them is 85-year-old Harriet Krakowsky, a resident of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in New York City, who had friends killed by the virus and is still waiting for visitation restrictions to ease so she can meet two great-grandchildren who were born this year.

“For the first time in six or seven months,” she said, “there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568903138747.png" alt="Photo: STEVEN DEPOLO / FLICKR--CC" />
 <figcaption>Photo: STEVEN DEPOLO / FLICKR--CC</figcaption>
 </figure>By BERNARD CONDON and MATT SEDENSKY-Associated Press(AP)-After 110,000 deaths ravaged the nation’s nursing homes and pushed them to the front of the vaccine line, they now face a vexing problem: Skeptical residents and workers balking at getting the shots.Being first has come with persistent fears that the places hit hardest in the pandemic — accounting for nearly 40% of the nation’s death toll — could be put at risk again by vaccines sped into development in months rather than years. Some who live and work in homes question if enough testing was done on the elderly, if enough is known of side effects and if the shots could do more harm than good.“You go get that first and let me know how you feel,” said Denise Schwartz, whose 84-year-old mother lives at an assisted living facility in East Northport, New York, and plans to decline the vaccine. “Obviously it would be horrible for her to get COVID, but is it totally safe for someone who’s elderly and in fragile health?”As the U.S. begins shipping out freezer-packed vials of newly approved vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, public health officials say the answer is yes.Everyone from members of the military to former presidents have announced their intentions to get the shots, echoing the refrains of others who say the drugs are the product of rigorous review, firm data and independent experts.In an ongoing study of nearly 44,000 people, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found the vaccine was safe and more than 90% effective across recipients of different ages, including older adults and those with health problems that put them at high risk of COVID-19.But the undercurrent of doubt in nursing homes persists, sometimes fueled by divisive politics, distrust of institutions and misinformation. And so far, the workers are the ones being heard the loudest.“Folks are concerned about it, that it was rushed through by people who were not listening to the science,” said Denise Allegretti, a director at 1999 SEIU, the nation’s largest healthcare worker union.Internal surveys by groups including the American Nurses Foundation suggest many workers in long-term care facilities are so concerned about the vaccine they would refuse it.“I will not be the test dummy,” wrote one respondent to a survey by the National Association of Health Care Assistants. “It’s not going to be safe and I won’t trust it,” added another. Some respondents just answered, “No way!”Christina Chiger, a 33-year-veteran nurse’s aide at a nursing home in Tampa, Florida, is exhausted and frightened after a relentless nine months that left two dozen residents dead and made 16-hour shifts common. But she has no plans to take the vaccine, for now at least.“Will there be side effects? Will it actually work?” she asked. “If we all get sick from taking this, who’s going to take care of our patients?”Resistance to the vaccine in nursing homes is not entirely unexpected — about 3 in 10 staffers, and 2 in 10 residents were not vaccinated for the flu last year, for example — but it’s no less worrisome.Given how easily COVID-19 spreads, particularly in communal settings, experts believe around 70% of the population will need to receive the vaccine for it to be successful.“Nursing home staff has always been a challenge to vaccinate,” said Litjen Tan, chief strategist at the advocacy group Immunization Action Coalition. “We’re cutting it close.”Cultural issues could also be at play. People of color make up a majority of aides and other frontline workers in nursing homes, and some minorities express mistrust of medicine that experts see linked with past abuses.A poll released last week by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Black and Hispanic people in the U.S. are far less likely than white people to agree to be vaccinated. Some 53% of whites said they would get the shots, compared with 24% of Blacks and 34% of Hispanics.The AP-NORC poll also found women were less likely than men to say they would be vaccinated. An estimated 9 in 10 front-line nursing home workers are women. Overall, about a quarter of U.S. adults said they would refuse to get a vaccine, and another quarter said they weren’t sure.“They don’t trust it. They don’t trust the science,” said Lori Porter, who heads the health assistants group and blames the Trump administration for making faith in science a political issue and undermining his own experts. “There’s so much misinformation that has circled over this pandemic this whole year that they don’t feel they can trust anyone.”The federal government is seeking to blunt such attitudes with a $250 million ad campaign set to roll out this week that will eventually target healthcare workers and vulnerable groups. The pitch touts how vaccines will help beat COVID-19 the same way they defeated smallpox, measles and polio.“One of the great triumphs of medical science ... has been vaccinations,” Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease scientist, said in one video.The American Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, has called for every resident and staff member to get both vaccine doses by March 1, even though it expects no federal or state mandates requiring shots.“Our hope is that we get widespread acceptance of the vaccine,” said AHCA’s president, Mark Parkinson. “But if we don’t, I assure you that our organization as well as individual operators will be analyzing whether or not they can mandate the vaccine. We’re just hoping that we don’t have to go there.”John Sauer, head of the Wisconsin branch of LeadingAge, which represents non-profit long-term care facilities, said the misery most residents and workers have already witnessed should be all the convincing they need. “They know that this could literally be a life-and-death situation.”No reliable gauges of nursing home residents’ opinion on the coronavirus vaccine have emerged. Among older adults in general, the AP-NORC poll found greater acceptance of the vaccine than among younger people.But fears persist among many older people, over the possibility of bad interactions for people already on a long list of drugs, or of undiscovered problems specific to their age group.As with many vaccines, the drug companies say recipients may experience fever, fatigue or sore arms from the injection. Authorities are investigating several allergic reactions reported in Britain by health workers with a history of severe allergies.Penelope Ann Shaw, a 77-year-old nursing home resident in Braintree, Massachusetts, said she plans to refuse the vaccine, as she does with annual flu shots, because of drug allergies and her concerns about how little is known about the new coronavirus drugs.“For me, I think it’s a little premature,” said Shaw, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune system disorder, and was the lone long-term care resident to serve on the federal Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. “You’re not doing it with me.”After a year in which many facilities have walled off to the world, crippling some residents in isolation, and leading to medical declines and deaths in others, some need no convincing.Among them is 85-year-old Harriet Krakowsky, a resident of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in New York City, who had friends killed by the virus and is still waiting for visitation restrictions to ease so she can meet two great-grandchildren who were born this year.“For the first time in six or seven months,” she said, “there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel.”

After 110K virus deaths, nursing homes face vaccine fears

PORTAGE, Michigan (AP) — The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation’s pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000.

The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. history — one that health officials hope the American public will embrace, even as some have voiced initial skepticism or worry. Shots are expected to be given to health care workers and nursing home residents beginning Monday.

Quick transport is key for the vaccine, especially since this one must be stored at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Early Sunday, workers at Pfizer — dressed in fluorescent yellow clothing, hard hats and gloves — wasted no time as they packed vials into boxes. They scanned the packages and then placed them into freezer cases with dry ice. The vaccines were then taken from Pfizer’s Portage, Michigan, facility to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, where the first cargo plane took off amid what airport officials called a “jubilant” mood.

“This is a historic day,” said Richard W. Smith, who oversees operations in the Americas for FedEx Express, which is delivering 630-some packages of vaccine to distribution sites across the country. United Parcel Service also is transporting a share of the vaccine.

Helping with the transport of the vaccine has special meaning to Bruce Smith, a FedEx package handler at the Grand Rapids airport, whose older sister, Queen, died after she contracted the coronavirus in May. She was hospitalized in Georgia one day after he saw her on a video chat, and they never spoke again.

“I think she would be ecstatic to know that something that has ravaged our family — that a family member is going to be part of such a big project,” said Smith, 58, whose nephew, Queen’s son, also got sick and is still undergoing therapy for stroke-like symptoms. “It is very, very important.”

Tracked with GPS-enabled sensors, the initial shipments were expected to contain about 3 million doses, with many more to come. Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with another 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday. Doses of the vaccine, co-developed by German partner BioNTech, are given out based on each state’s adult population. Then the states decide where they go first.

In California, where health care workers will be among the first to be vaccinated, state health officials are prioritizing hospitals that have adequate storage capacity, serve high-risk populations and have the ability to vaccinate people quickly.

Initial surveys have found that even some health care workers don’t want to be first in line. Dr. Graham Snyder, who’s led the vaccine task force at Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC, estimates that about half of its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered.

But many health officials expect enthusiasm to grow.

“There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune,” said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality at the 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi. Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said. Enough vaccine is being saved so that each person who gets the first dose of vaccine can get a second required shot a few weeks later.

Senior U.S. government officials, including some White House officials who work in close proximity to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, are among those who will be offered coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-michael-pence-f5a759c9d597d0e458c5fc9d2a96ee6f">vaccines as soon as this week</a>, two people familiar with the matter confirmed.

A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about half of Americans want to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Another quarter aren’t sure, while the remaining quarter say they aren’t interested. Some simply oppose vaccines in general. Others are concerned that the vaccines have been rushed and want to see how the rollout goes.

Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the FDA, which approved the Pfizer vaccine Friday, has repeatedly insisted that the agency’s decision was based on science, not politics, despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine wasn’t approved before Saturday.

Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly, also said he is “very concerned” about the skepticism about the vaccine in some circles.

“Unfortunately ... there’s been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners ...,” Slaoui said. “I can guarantee you that no such things have happened, that we follow the science.”

He called the development of vaccines from several pharmaceutical companies, including Moderna and AstraZeneca, “a remarkable achievement of science, academia, the industry ecosystem and the U.S. government, working together.”

The Moderna vaccine will be reviewed by an expert panel Thursday and soon afterward could be allowed for public use.

KALAMAZOO, Michigan (AP) — The first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States headed Sunday from Michigan to distribution centers across the country, with the first shots expected to be given in the coming week to health care workers and at nursing homes.

Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine will set in motion the biggest vaccination effort in American history at a critical juncture of the pandemic that has killed 1.6 million and sickened 71 million worldwide.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be sent out, and the priority is health care workers and nursing home residents as infections, hospitalizations and deaths soar in the U.S. With numbers likely to get worse over the holidays, the vaccine is offering a bright spot in the fight against the pandemic that’s killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with an additional 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday. The vaccine, co-developed by German partner BioNTech, is being doled out based on each state’s adult population.

Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC has chosen staff who are critical to operating its facilities as among those getting the first round of vaccinations, said Dr. Graham Snyder, who led the center’s vaccine task force.

“It’s very exciting. I will be thrilled, that moment when we administer our first dose,” Snyder said Saturday. “That will clearly be a watershed moment for us.”

Snyder said the UPMC system estimates that half its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered to them.

The vaccine is heading to hospitals and other sites that can store it at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer is using containers with dry ice and GPS-enabled sensors to ensure each shipment stays colder than the weather in Antarctica.

Doses should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states, such as local pharmacies, within three weeks, federal officials said.

The 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi expects to receive more than 9,000 doses in the coming days, said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality.

Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said.

“I would say there’s enthusiasm,” Kemmerly said Saturday. “There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune.”

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine Friday, saying it is highly protective and presents no major safety issues. While U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review, they faced political pressure until the final stages.

Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country where some are skeptical about vaccines — some because of overall opposition to vaccines and others because of the quick timeframe in which the virus vaccines were developed. Even some health care workers have said in surveys that they would forgo at least the first round of shots to see how things go.

The head of the FDA has repeatedly insisted that the agency’s decision was based on science, not politics, despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine wasn’t approved before Saturday.

Speaking Sunday to Fox News, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly, also said he is “very concerned” about the skepticism about the vaccine in some circles.

“Unfortunately ... there’s been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners or anything like that,” Slaoui said. “I can guarantee you that no such things have happened, that we follow the science.”

Another vaccine by Moderna will be reviewed by an expert panel next week and soon afterward could be allowed for public use.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, U.S. officials said Saturday, after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer’s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states, said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. An additional 425 sites will get shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be shipped nationwide. It was unclear exactly who would receive the first shots, though health care workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said health authorities would decide.

A similar number of shots will be held back for those recipients’ second dose, which is needed for full protection from COVID-19.

The announcement Saturday kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments, private companies and health care workers to quickly distribute limited vaccine supplies throughout the U.S. It offers hope in a country grappling with surging COVID-19 infections and deaths, which are overwhelming hospitals and raising fears that things will only get worse as people gather over the holidays.

Perna compared the vaccine distribution effort to D-Day, the U.S.-led military offensive that turned the tide in World War II.

“D-Day was the beginning of the end and that’s where we are today,” Perna said a news conference. But he added that it would take months of work and “diligence, courage and strength to eventually achieve victory.”

MaineHealth, a network of 12 hospitals based in Portland, plans to provide an expected first delivery of nearly 2,000 vaccines to doctors, nurses and others facing risk as they treat COVID-19 patients, said Dr. Dora Mills, chief health improvement officer.

“It’s almost hard for me to talk about without tearing up,” Mills said Saturday. “This vaccine gives us some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.”

The first shipments will leave Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by truck and then be flown to regional hubs around the country. Medical distributor McKesson and pharmacy chains, including CVS and Rite-Aid, also are involved in the initial rollout and vaccinations at nursing homes and assisted living centers.

In a key distribution challenge, the vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech, must be stored and shipped at ultra-low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer has developed shipping containers that use dry ice, and GPS-enabled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and ensure it stays cold.

Distribution sites are mainly large hospitals and other facilities able to meet those ultra-cold storage requirements. Within three weeks, vaccines should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states, such as local pharmacies, Perna said.

The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday so health workers could receive the shots and begin giving them, Perna said.

Workers at Mount Sinai Hospital System in New York did a dry run this week to prepare for their shipment. In a clean room, pharmacists practiced making separate doses of a training vaccine and ensuring the freezer was kept at temperatures colder than in Antarctica.

“Not a lot of people have vaccinated for a large pandemic like this,” said Susan Mashni, vice president of pharmacy at Mount Sinai. “So we want to make certain that we get it right. There’s a lot of different moving pieces and parts.”

At a meeting where an expert panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines unanimously endorsed the Pfizer shot, some said local health officials were struggling to ensure the vaccine is distributed fairly and to those most in need and to ease people’s concerns about getting the shot.

But “the funding necessary for state and local health departments to carry out this program has been put in the deep freeze,” said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a Seattle physician representing the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine late Friday. It capped an unprecedented global race to speed vaccines through testing and review, chopping years off the normal development process.

The FDA found the vaccine highly protective with no major safety issues. U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review, but President Donald Trump’s administration pressured the agency until the final announcement. A top White House official even threatened to remove FDA chief Stephen Hahn if a ruling didn’t come before Saturday.

Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country with deeply ingrained skepticism about vaccines.

“Science and data guided the FDA’s decision,” Hahn said Saturday. “We worked quickly because of the urgency of this pandemic, not because of any other external pressure.”

While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.

The FDA’s vaccine director, Dr. Peter Marks, said the agency will carefully track any reports of allergic reactions in the U.S.

Next week, the FDA will review a vaccine from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health that appears about as protective as Pfizer’s shot. On Friday, the Trump administration said it had purchased 100 million more doses of that vaccine on top of 100 million it previously ordered.

The announcement came after revelations that the White House opted not to lock in an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for delivery in the second quarter of 2021. The Trump administration contends the current orders plus those in the pipeline will be enough to accommodate any American who wants to be vaccinated by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

First COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive at sites across the U.S.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska reported its smallest number of new virus cases since early November on Saturday as the state prepares for the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine to arrive.

The state said 811 new virus cases were reported Saturday to give the state a total of 147,688 cases since the pandemic began. That marked the first time since Nov. 2 that the daily tally of new cases was below 1,000.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,772.14 new cases per day on Nov. 28 to 1,507.43 new cases per day on Saturday.

Nebraska said 711 people were hospitalized with the virus on Saturday, which was down from 759 the day before. That figure remains well below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20.

There have also been 1,365 deaths in the state linked to the virus.

Also Saturday, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said 11 more prison staffers had tested positive for the virus. Ten of those ill staffers work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution and one works at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.

A total of 402 Corrections Department employees have now been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of those, 286 have recovered.

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 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska reported its smallest number of new virus cases since early November on Saturday as the state prepares for the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine to arrive.The state said 811 new virus cases were reported Saturday to give the state a total of 147,688 cases since the pandemic began. That marked the first time since Nov. 2 that the daily tally of new cases was below 1,000.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska decreased over the past two weeks, going from 1,772.14 new cases per day on Nov. 28 to 1,507.43 new cases per day on Saturday.Nebraska said 711 people were hospitalized with the virus on Saturday, which was down from 759 the day before. That figure remains well below the record of 987 set on Nov. 20.There have also been 1,365 deaths in the state linked to the virus.Also Saturday, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said 11 more prison staffers had tested positive for the virus. Ten of those ill staffers work at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution and one works at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.A total of 402 Corrections Department employees have now been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of those, 286 have recovered.

Nebraska reports fewest new virus cases in nearly 6 weeks

Governor Pete Ricketts announced that the State is moving from the “orange” to “yellow” phase of its coronavirus pandemic response plan.&nbsp; As a result, the State of Nebraska is issuing new Directed Health Measures (DHMs) effective 12:01 AM on Saturday, December 12, 2020.&nbsp; The new DHMs change some of the restrictions put in place to help manage the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, protecting Nebraska’s hospitals has been the ‘north star’ guiding our strategic response to the coronavirus,” said Gov. Ricketts.&nbsp; “Coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased from where they were three weeks ago.&nbsp; As a result, we’re updating the State’s DHMs in keeping with our pandemic plan. &nbsp;The virus is still present in our communities, and we all need to continue using the tools we have to slow its spread.&nbsp; I especially urge Nebraskans to be mindful of at-risk loved ones when making plans to celebrate the holidays. &nbsp;Let’s all take personal responsibility to stay healthy and keep Nebraska headed in the right direction.” &nbsp;

Nebraska’s pandemic response plan links DHM restrictions to the percentage of staffed hospital beds in Nebraska filled by coronavirus patients.&nbsp; The percentage is below 20% (7-day rolling average), which is the threshold for the State moving to the “yellow” phase of its pandemic plan.

Moving from the “orange” to “yellow” phase involves the following DHM changes:

New DHMs will be posted on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website in the coming days.&nbsp; To view them, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx" target="_blank">dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus.gov</a>, and click on the link for “Directed Health Measures.”&nbsp;

Executive Order 20-36 will remain in place.&nbsp; It gives public bodies the option to meet virtually by videoconference or teleconference through January 31, 2021.&nbsp; Full text of the executive order is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F8ssof1qzp2sv8m4%2FEO%252020-36%2520-%2520COVID%252019%2520-%2520Public%2520Meetings%2520Requirement%2520Limited%2520Waiver%2520REVISED.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cf11e2450709f44de234508d89e21500e%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637433213192741926%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=qtoCK9x71y8JJv5nPXj76l5hBg0goLawh0Y0B9NmBrw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

A chart comparing the color-coded phases of the State’s pandemic response plan is available by&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/DHM-Measure-Table-ENGLISH.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Governor Pete Ricketts announced that the State is moving from the “orange” to “yellow” phase of its coronavirus pandemic response plan.&nbsp; As a result, the State of Nebraska is issuing new Directed Health Measures (DHMs) effective 12:01 AM on Saturday, December 12, 2020.&nbsp; The new DHMs change some of the restrictions put in place to help manage the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;“Since the beginning of the pandemic, protecting Nebraska’s hospitals has been the ‘north star’ guiding our strategic response to the coronavirus,” said Gov. Ricketts.&nbsp; “Coronavirus hospitalizations have decreased from where they were three weeks ago.&nbsp; As a result, we’re updating the State’s DHMs in keeping with our pandemic plan. &nbsp;The virus is still present in our communities, and we all need to continue using the tools we have to slow its spread.&nbsp; I especially urge Nebraskans to be mindful of at-risk loved ones when making plans to celebrate the holidays. &nbsp;Let’s all take personal responsibility to stay healthy and keep Nebraska headed in the right direction.” &nbsp;Nebraska’s pandemic response plan links DHM restrictions to the percentage of staffed hospital beds in Nebraska filled by coronavirus patients.&nbsp; The percentage is below 20% (7-day rolling average), which is the threshold for the State moving to the “yellow” phase of its pandemic plan.Moving from the “orange” to “yellow” phase involves the following DHM changes:<ul>
 <li>Fan attendance at&nbsp;extracurricular activities—both school and club—is no longer limited to household members of participants.</li><li>Parties at restaurants and bars remain limited to groups of 8 or less.&nbsp; Individuals must still be seated unless ordering food, using the restroom, or playing games.&nbsp;&nbsp;Six feet of separation&nbsp;between groups returns to a guidance.</li><li>The maximum&nbsp;capacity for indoor gatherings&nbsp;goes from 25% to 50%.Only certain venues where people convene are considered “gatherings” under the State’s DHMs.&nbsp; Go to&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx" target="_blank">dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and click on “Directed Health Measures” for details.</li><li>Only certain venues where people convene are considered “gatherings” under the State’s DHMs.&nbsp; Go to&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx" target="_blank">dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;and click on “Directed Health Measures” for details.</li><li>Masks&nbsp;are recommended, rather than required, for establishments such as childcare centers, salons, barber shops, massage therapists, and body art studios.&nbsp;</li><li>Elective surgeries&nbsp;can resume as long as a hospital keeps 10% of its capacity available to treat coronavirus patients.</li>
 </ul>New DHMs will be posted on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website in the coming days.&nbsp; To view them, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx" target="_blank">dhhs.ne.gov/coronavirus.gov</a>, and click on the link for “Directed Health Measures.”&nbsp;Executive Order 20-36 will remain in place.&nbsp; It gives public bodies the option to meet virtually by videoconference or teleconference through January 31, 2021.&nbsp; Full text of the executive order is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2F8ssof1qzp2sv8m4%2FEO%252020-36%2520-%2520COVID%252019%2520-%2520Public%2520Meetings%2520Requirement%2520Limited%2520Waiver%2520REVISED.pdf%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7Cf11e2450709f44de234508d89e21500e%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637433213192741926%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=qtoCK9x71y8JJv5nPXj76l5hBg0goLawh0Y0B9NmBrw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.A chart comparing the color-coded phases of the State’s pandemic response plan is available by&nbsp;<a href="http://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/DHM-Measure-Table-ENGLISH.pdf" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Gov. Ricketts announces new directed health measures effective Saturday

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska will relax its coronavirus restrictions Saturday after a recent decline in hospitalized patients, but state officials stressed that residents should still avoid crowded areas and confined spaces to keep the virus from spreading.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday that the state will revert to fewer restrictions because the number of coronavirus patients in hospital beds has fallen below a seven-day average of 20% of those available by the end of Friday.

Hospitals will now be allowed to resume elective surgeries as long as they keep a minimum number of beds available.

Restrictions on indoor crowd sizes will ease as well, although state guidelines continue to advise social distancing. Masks in places such as salons and barbershops will no longer be required but they are recommended, and many of the state's largest cities still have local mandates in place.

Ricketts urged people to continue to avoid large gatherings and wear masks, although he hasn't imposed a statewide mandate.

"We still have the virus in the community, we need to continue to practice all the rules we've been talking about with regard to the pandemic," he said at a news conference.

The number of coronavirus patients in Nebraska's hospitals appears to have stabilized for now even though the numbers are still elevated.

State officials said 779 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Thursday evening, a number that has remained relatively unchanged over the last several days. The state reached a single-day high of 987 hospitalizations last month, raising the prospect of tougher social-distancing restrictions.

Nebraska's chief medical officer, Dr. Gary Anthone, said officials can see "a light at the end of the tunnel" with the pandemic but warned that the state is still in a precarious position.

"We've held down the fort now for almost nine months, and now we can see the cavalry coming" with expected vaccine shipments, he said. "Now is not the time to quit fighting."

Mel McNea, the CEO of Great Plains Health in North Platte, said his hospital will continue to monitor bed space closely even if the state restrictions are relaxed. McNea said the hospital is still treating more urgent ailments, such as heart attacks and strokes.

Nebraska confirmed 1,850 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a number that has been trending downward since the latest peak in the middle of November. The state reported 145,774 known cases and 1,329 deaths since the pandemic began.

The elevated numbers have raised concerns that hospitals could become overwhelmed with patients and lead to even more deaths. Most of the people who have died from the virus in Nebraska are elderly.

Nebraska still has 28% of its hospital beds, 26% of its intensive care unit beds and 70% of its ventilators available for virus patients.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska will relax its coronavirus restrictions Saturday after a recent decline in hospitalized patients, but state officials stressed that residents should still avoid crowded areas and confined spaces to keep the virus from spreading.Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday that the state will revert to fewer restrictions because the number of coronavirus patients in hospital beds has fallen below a seven-day average of 20% of those available by the end of Friday.Hospitals will now be allowed to resume elective surgeries as long as they keep a minimum number of beds available.Restrictions on indoor crowd sizes will ease as well, although state guidelines continue to advise social distancing. Masks in places such as salons and barbershops will no longer be required but they are recommended, and many of the state's largest cities still have local mandates in place.Ricketts urged people to continue to avoid large gatherings and wear masks, although he hasn't imposed a statewide mandate."We still have the virus in the community, we need to continue to practice all the rules we've been talking about with regard to the pandemic," he said at a news conference.The number of coronavirus patients in Nebraska's hospitals appears to have stabilized for now even though the numbers are still elevated.State officials said 779 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Thursday evening, a number that has remained relatively unchanged over the last several days. The state reached a single-day high of 987 hospitalizations last month, raising the prospect of tougher social-distancing restrictions.Nebraska's chief medical officer, Dr. Gary Anthone, said officials can see "a light at the end of the tunnel" with the pandemic but warned that the state is still in a precarious position."We've held down the fort now for almost nine months, and now we can see the cavalry coming" with expected vaccine shipments, he said. "Now is not the time to quit fighting."Mel McNea, the CEO of Great Plains Health in North Platte, said his hospital will continue to monitor bed space closely even if the state restrictions are relaxed. McNea said the hospital is still treating more urgent ailments, such as heart attacks and strokes.Nebraska confirmed 1,850 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a number that has been trending downward since the latest peak in the middle of November. The state reported 145,774 known cases and 1,329 deaths since the pandemic began.The elevated numbers have raised concerns that hospitals could become overwhelmed with patients and lead to even more deaths. Most of the people who have died from the virus in Nebraska are elderly.Nebraska still has 28% of its hospital beds, 26% of its intensive care unit beds and 70% of its ventilators available for virus patients.

Nebraska relaxes restrictions after hospitalizations dip

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of coronavirus patients in Nebraska's hospitals appears to have stabilized for now even though the numbers are still elevated, according to new data.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The number of coronavirus patients in Nebraska's hospitals appears to have stabilized for now even though the numbers are still elevated, according to new data.State officials said 779 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Thursday evening, a number that has remained relatively unchanged over the last several days. The state reached a single-day high of 987 hospitalizations last month, raising the prospect of tougher social-distancing restrictions.Nebraska confirmed 1,850 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a number that has been trending downward since the latest peak in the middle of November. The state reported 145,774 known cases and 1,329 deaths since the pandemic began.The elevated numbers have raised concerns that hospitals could become overwhelmed with patients and lead to even more deaths. Most of the people who have died from the virus in Nebraska are elderly.Nebraska still has 28% of its hospital beds, 26% of its intensive care unit beds and 70% of its ventilators available for virus patients.

Coronavirus Update