Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
USPS changes mean slower, costlier mail services
The U.S. Postal Service is about to get slower. Published September 28, 2021
N.Y. Gov. Hochul signs executive order to address health staffing
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order to alleviate potential staffing shortages at hospitals as the state deadline for health workers to get their first COVID-19 shot passed late Monday into Tuesday. Published September 28, 2021
Delta surge drove recent vaccinations; recipients cite hospitalization or death of a friend: Poll
Americans who've been vaccinated against COVID-19 since June were more likely to point to fear of a fast-moving variant, overcrowded hospitals or the death of a loved one as the motivating factor than employer rules or full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, according to a poll released Tuesday. Published September 28, 2021
Americans with ‘natural immunity’ seek ways around COVID-19 mandates
Vaccine holdouts with some immunity from prior coronavirus infections find themselves in the muddled middle as the nation debates how far to go in mandating the shots, with some employers giving them carve-outs and blue states taking hard lines. Published September 27, 2021
Biden on high-stakes week ahead: ‘I’m a born optimist’
President Biden didn't flinch as he received a COVID-19 booster shot Monday, but the week ahead is far scarier for his party and his presidential legacy, as Washington faces the prospect of a government shutdown, default on its debts and pivotal votes on infrastructure and social welfare spending at the center of the Democrats' agenda. Published September 27, 2021
Biden gets a COVID-19 booster shot in front of cameras
President Biden received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine in front of the cameras Monday, hoping to set a high-profile example after he prodded regulators to approve extra doses to stiff-arm the virus ahead of winter. Published September 27, 2021
Police union: ‘Dozens’ of Mass. troopers to resign over vaccine mandate
A top police union says "dozens" of Massachusetts troopers will resign after a judge denied its bid to delay the COVID-19 vaccine mandate imposed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. Published September 27, 2021
New York vaccine deadline for health workers is a key test of mandates
New York State might use the National Guard to fill staffing vacancies when its COVID-19 vaccine mandate takes effect Monday and nudges holdouts from their hospital jobs. Published September 27, 2021
CDC panel backs COVID-19 boosters for seniors, those with underlying conditions
A vaccine advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday approved COVID-19 boosters for more Americans, opening access to these extra doses for millions. Published September 23, 2021
FDA deploying ‘fast-track’ arsenal against COVID-19
Food and Drug Administration officials said in July that Pfizer's application for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine would enjoy "priority review," and set a target deadline for finishing by January 2022. Published September 23, 2021
States see liquor shortages amid high demand, supply problems in pandemic
Thought the coronavirus pandemic was bad enough? States are considering ways to ration their liquor as pandemic-related shortages hamstring suppliers trying to keep pace with demand. Published September 23, 2021
Biden to global leaders: Time to ‘step up’ efforts on vaccines, oxygen, treatments
President Biden told global leaders Wednesday to "supercharge" the fight against COVID-19 by donating -- not selling -- vaccines to needy nations with no diplomatic strings attached and bolstering supplies of oxygen, medical treatments and masks where they're needed. Published September 22, 2021
FDA backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for seniors, high-risk persons
The Food and Drug Administration late Wednesday authorized boosters shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in seniors, persons at high risk from COVID-19 and those whose jobs make them more likely to get infected. Published September 22, 2021
Biden: U.S. will buy and donate 500M more COVID-19 vaccine doses for the world
President Biden will announce Wednesday the U.S. is purchasing an additional 500 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine to give to the rest of the world, bringing its total commitment to more than 1 billion shots. Published September 22, 2021
‘Jack up the stock’: Vaccine profit PR flusters scientists, inflates public expectations
Drugmakers are hailing great results with COVID-19 boosters and shots for school-age children, enthusing a pandemic-weary public and markets but flustering scientists who say it is important to look at real data before getting too optimistic. Published September 21, 2021
DHS chief Mayorkas pledges investigation into horseback incident in Texas
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Tuesday that any mistreatment of a migrant is unacceptable and will be addressed with "full force" amid the uproar over border agents on horseback who wrangled Haitians and others near makeshift camps in Del Rio, Texas. Published September 21, 2021
Eric Clapton plays arena with COVID-19 vaccine requirement, despite anti-mandate stance
British guitar legend Eric Clapton played a show over the weekend in a New Orleans arena that conditions entry on COVID-19 vaccination, even though he has said he would avoid those types of venues. Published September 21, 2021
J&J says a second dose greatly enhances protection against COVID-19
Johnson & Johnson said persons who received a second dose of its COVID-19 vaccine enjoyed 94% protection against symptomatic disease, an increase from 74% under a one-shot regimen and a level on par with early studies of two-dose vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Published September 21, 2021
White House: Biden will get COVID-19 booster vaccine on camera
President Biden will get a COVID-19 booster shot in public once federal regulators complete an effort to offer extra doses to seniors and at-risk persons, the White House said Monday. Published September 20, 2021
U.S. to allow vaccinated travelers from all countries, bows to pressure from Europe
The U.S. will let vaccinated foreign nationals fly into the country in early November without quarantining, the White House said Monday, a major change after European partners grumbled that the Americans did not reciprocate their efforts to ease long-standing pandemic bans. Published September 20, 2021
