Challenge Trials in the Works; CDC Staff Woes; Drug With N=21 Worth a Shot?

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Challenge studies with COVID-19 vaccines that deliberately expose participants to the virus are under discussion in Great Britain — but not with Sanofi’s vaccine, the company stressed. (BBC, Reuters)

The FDA wants to use relatively strict standards for COVID vaccine emergency authorizations, but will the White House allow it? (Politico)

As of 8:00 a.m. ET Thursday, the unofficial U.S. COVID-19 tally stood at 6,935,414 cases and 201,920 deaths — reflecting increases of 37,873 and 1,102, respectively, since Wednesday.

Scientists analyzed a large collection of genetic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and found that the virus has been mutating and possibly become more contagious, according to a paper released before peer review. (Washington Post)

Britain said to be at another tipping point in COVID, and Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are taking different safety measures than England. (Reuters)

Deborah Birx, MD, is uncertain of her future on the White House coronavirus task force. (CNN)

“I have never seen morale this low. It’s just, people are beaten down,” said a CDC employee of his current work environment. (The Hill)

The FDA authorized Assure Tech.’s rapid SARS-CoV-2 antibody test for point-of-care use.

Thousands of schoolkids and personnel are developing coronavirus infections, but researchers don’t see evidence that within-school transmission is responsible. (Washington Post)

Worth a shot? NeuroRx is seeking FDA emergency authorization for its drug aviptadil using data from just 21 patients. (Endpoints News)

CDC confirmed that COVID-19 incidence was highest in twenty-somethings during the summer.

The chairwoman of an FDA advisory committee recused herself from reviewing COVID-19 vaccines because she’s a lead investigator for one of the frontrunners. (Reuters)

This year’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square is going virtual with some in-person help with the iconic Ball Drop. (ABC7)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to fund the country’s response to COVID by taxing “extreme wealth inequality.” (The Guardian)

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