Experts are meeting to discuss coronavirus vaccines

Hello,

Today’s a big day in the race for an effective and safe coronavirus vaccine. A group of experts is meeting in a conversation that could have big implications for what it’ll take for a vaccine to get cleared by the FDA. 

Also in healthcare news: 11 charts that break down how the US compares to other countries in responding to COVID-19, and what a series of brief exposures that infected a prison guard can teach us about the spread of the virus.

The doctors and scientists who’ll evaluate every coronavirus vaccine are set to meet for the first time. Here are the 7 biggest questions they’re likely to debate.

• An influential group of independent vaccine experts is set to meet Thursday to discuss coronavirus vaccines.
• The group advises the US Food and Drug Administration and will be first to vet any coronavirus vaccine.
• The FDA almost always follows the recommendations of advisory committees, but it isn’t required to do so.

Read the full story from Andrew Dunn here>>

How the US coronavirus outbreak compares to other countries in 11 charts

• The United States has the most coronavirus cases and deaths of any country in the world.
• The US ranks eighth in total cases per capita and ninth in deaths per capita.
• Experts predict the worst of the nation's third surge of new cases is yet to come.

See all the charts from Aria Bendix and Skye Gould here>>

A series of 1-minute interactions gave a correctional officer the coronavirus, prompting new CDC guidance about brief exposure

• The CDC advises anyone who's been in close contact with someone with coronavirus to quarantine for 14 days.
• Close contact was previously defined as being within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 consecutive minutes.
• But a new study shows that a correctional officer got sick after a series of very brief interactions with inmates who later tested positive.

Read the full story from Aylin Woodward here>>

More stories we're reading:

• 6 vaccine experts told us how they'll decide whether to get a coronavirus shot (Business Insider)
• A health system in Virginia is still squeezing money out of patients after it pledged it would stop (Kaiser Health News) 
• Inside Pfizer's plan to distribute a coronavirus vaccine (The Wall Street Journal)
• OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead guilty to 3 criminal charges as part of an $8 billion-plus settlement (AP)
• Health secretary Alex Azar says all Americans who want a vaccine could get one by spring 2021 (Business Insider) 

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- Lydia