Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Failure to report coronavirus-experiment findings renews Wuhan lab controversy
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says he feels vindicated after the National Institutes of Health revealed that a "limited experiment" at the Wuhan lab in China involving mice equipped with human receptors found a virus engineered to carry spike proteins from coronaviruses was more virulent than ones without the special function. Published October 22, 2021
U.K. faces test of its coronavirus strategy as situation worsens
Medical groups in the U.K. are sounding the alarm over rising coronavirus case counts on the cusp of winter and accusing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government of being too sanguine about a potential crisis. Published October 22, 2021
China promotes COVID-19 booster shots in Beijing, border provinces
It's not just the U.S. State media reports China is trumpeting its COVID-19 booster program in certain provinces and Beijing, which hosts the Winter Games in February. Published October 22, 2021
CDC panel advances plan for mix-and-match booster vaccines for COVID-19
Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed a booster plan Thursday for all three COVID-19 vaccines, nudging forward a strategy to let Americans mix-and-match brands to not only bolster their defenses but avoid rare, though serious, side effects that have been linked to both vaccine technologies deployed in the U.S. Published October 21, 2021
Moscow announces closures amid Russian COVID-19 surge
Moscow is set to reimpose lockdown measures to combat the surging coronavirus as the Russian vaccination campaign lags. Published October 21, 2021
FDA approves J&J and Moderna boosters, mixing vaccines
The Biden administration cleared the way Wednesday for millions of Americans to get COVID-19 booster shots and said it will be ready to distribute vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 once the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sign off on an application from Pfizer and BioNTech. Published October 20, 2021
WH touts plan to get kids ages 5 to 11 vaccinated for COVID-19
The Biden administration said Wednesday it will be ready to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11 once the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sign off on an application from Pfizer and BioNTech to start the rollout. Published October 20, 2021
Netflix employees plan virtual walkout over Chappelle special
Workers at Netflix reportedly are planning to stage a "virtual walkout" over comedian Dave Chappelle's standup special, "The Closer," which some employees and critics have panned for being anti-transgender. Published October 20, 2021
Mayor Bill de Blasio extends vaccine mandate to all NYC workers
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday said all city workers will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, eliminating an option to get tested and building on prior mandates for teachers and health workers Published October 20, 2021
Poll: 6 in 10 Americans think pandemic on the wane
More than 6 in 10 U.S. voters believe the coronavirus pandemic is becoming less serious, but a plurality thinks President Biden and his top medical officials aren't interested in dropping mandates even as high-profile figures shirk the shots and big companies say they don't need requirements to increase uptake, according to polling released by a conservative group Tuesday. Published October 19, 2021
Trump slams Colin Powell, media one day after general’s death
Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized the late Colin Powell for "big mistakes" in Iraq and called him a Republican in name only one day after somber remembrances from both parties for the 84-year-old who died from complications of COVID-19. Published October 19, 2021
FDA moves to offer hearing aids over the counter
The Food and Drug Administration took steps Tuesday to allow over-the-counter sales of hearing aids so people can buy them without a medical exam or fitting by a specialist, a move President Biden is pushing in a bid to cut costs for nearly 40 million Americans with hearing loss. Published October 19, 2021
Rachel Levine becomes first transgender four-star officer, will lead U.S. Public Health Service
The Biden administration said Tuesday it was burnishing its support for the LGBTQ community by swearing in Rachel Levine, an assistant health secretary, as the first openly transgender four-star officer across any of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Published October 19, 2021
Australian leader swipes back at Sen. Ted Cruz, who criticized vaccine mandate
The chief minister of Australia's Northern Territory is firing back at Sen. Ted Cruz after the Texas Republican said the territory's stringent COVID-19 vaccine rules amounted to tyranny. Published October 19, 2021
Sen. Bill Cassidy backs cognitive tests for older lawmakers, presidents, Supreme Court
Sen. Bill Cassidy says it might be time for aging leaders in all three branches of government to submit to cognitive tests to make sure they're still sharp enough for the job. Published October 19, 2021
FDA eyeing plan to allow mix-and-match of COVID-19 vaccine booster, report says
The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly planning to allow Americans to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a booster that is different from the one they initially received, a mix-and-match strategy that provides vaccinators flexibility. Published October 19, 2021
Colin Powell faced added risks from COVID-19, despite vaccination
The death of Colin Powell, a decorated general and the first Black secretary of state, is a high-profile reminder that vaccines aren't perfect and some groups remain vulnerable to COVID-19 despite being fully immunized. Published October 18, 2021
Biden: Colin Powell was an ‘unmatched’ patriot
President Biden on Monday hailed Colin L. Powell as a "patriot of unmatched honor and dignity" who embodied the American dream after the family of the former secretary of state announced his death due to complications from COVID-19. Published October 18, 2021
French drugmaker Valneva reports positive COVID-19 vaccine results
A French drugmaker said Monday its COVID-19 shots staved off disease and produced more robust immunity than a rival vaccine, meaning that shots that rely on conventional technology could enter the global pipeline. Published October 18, 2021
Reporter Allison Williams leaving ESPN over COVID-19 vaccine mandate
ESPN reporter Allison Williams said she will be "separated" from the company after it denied her request for an accommodation that would exempt her from its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Published October 18, 2021
