Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
CDC, FDA recommend pause on J&J COVID-19 vaccines to investigate clotting reports
Vaccinators scrambled to reschedule COVID-19 appointments Tuesday after President Biden's team stopped using the Johnson & Johnson shot at federal sites and advised states to do the same because six recipients out of nearly 7 million experienced serious blood clots. Published April 13, 2021
White House: Near-term vaccination isn’t the way out of Michigan COVID-19 crisis
The Biden administration defended its decision to surge personnel and therapeutics to Michigan instead of offering it extra vaccines, citing the weeks it would take to get an immune response amid the emerging crisis. Published April 12, 2021
Tariffs sparked by Airbus, Boeing subsidy fight suspended for four months
The Biden administration and European Union agreed in March to suspend the tariffs for four months as they seek a "fresh start" in resolving a long-running fight over government subsidies to Airbus and Boeing. Published April 11, 2021
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to feds: Give us extra COVID-19 vaccines
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pleaded for extra COVID-19 vaccines from the Biden administration Friday as she contends with an alarming surge linked to aggressive variants and youth sports. Published April 9, 2021
‘Vaccine passport’ bans force colleges to rethink COVID-19 mandates
The roster of colleges saying they will require students to be "fully vaccinated" before returning to campus this fall is growing rapidly, posing a high-profile test of COVID-19 mandates as some governors block unequal treatment of those who spurn the shots. Published April 8, 2021
U.S. not only country coaxing residents to get COVID-19 vaccines
Fear of "vaccine hesitancy" is dogging President Biden's COVID-19 effort, but the U.S. isn't the only place twisting arms before jabbing them, with Africans wary of Western powers offering shots and Beijing doling out cash and other enticements to denizens who no longer see the virus as a threat. Published April 7, 2021
Biden to King Abdullah of Jordan: Stay strong
President Biden said he told King Abdullah of Jordan, a key ally, to "stay strong" amid his clash with half-brother and former Crown Prince Hamza, which is causing turmoil in the Middle East country. Published April 7, 2021
CDC: U.K. variant is the most common form of virus in U.S.
The dreaded "U.K. variant" is the most prevalent form of the coronavirus in the U.S. and likely fueling the spread around day care centers and youth sports, while resulting in more hospital stays among adults in their 30s and 40s, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. Published April 7, 2021
HHS: 500K signups in special Obamacare period; GOP pushing for more affordable options
The Biden administration on Wednesday said half a million Americans had selected a health insurance plan on the federal Obamacare signup portal since the start of a special enrollment period in February. Published April 7, 2021
Biden tours pop-up vaccine clinic, offers pep talk and jokes
President Biden visited a pop-up vaccination site in a converted Virginia chapel Tuesday to thank volunteers, regale them with his brand of humor and set the table for a White House address demanding full eligibility for the vaccine in all states. Published April 6, 2021
Biden demands full vaccine eligibility by April 19
President Biden on Tuesday told states to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to all adults by April 19, signaling that he is confident that governors can offer an appointment to anyone who wants one instead of carefully moving through priority groups. Published April 6, 2021
Easter bunny crashes White House briefing
The Easter bunny crashed the White House press briefing Monday to dole out chocolates to reporters after COVID-19 prevented the administration from holding a big, family-friendly Easter Egg Roll. Published April 5, 2021
White House pledges to release Joe Biden’s budget outline ‘soon’ amid delays
The White House said Monday it hopes to release President Biden's top-line budget request for fiscal 2022 "soon" and partly blamed the outgoing Trump administration for the delay. Published April 5, 2021
CDC, states say coronavirus infections hitting younger groups
Most U.S. seniors are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but the virus is infecting younger people, setting off a race to immunize the bulk of Americans in the face of aggressive variants and a feared "fourth wave" of infection. Published April 5, 2021
J&J “assuming full responsibility” of vaccine production in Baltimore
The federal government is putting Johnson & Johnson in charge of a Baltimore vaccine facility to avoid the type of mix-up that spoiled up to 15 million doses. Published April 4, 2021
Japanese Prime Minister Suga to visit White House in April
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will visit the White House on April 16 -- and no, it won't be a ZOOM meeting. Published April 2, 2021
CDC: Fully vaccinated people can travel safely; no need to get tested or self-quarantine within U.S.
People who've been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can travel within the U.S. without getting tested or quarantining after their trips because they are less likely to get and spread the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Published April 2, 2021
Mitch McConnell pushes Republican men to get COVID-19 vaccine
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday called on all Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, singling out GOP men who appear to be the most reluctant to roll up their sleeves. Published April 1, 2021
J&J, Emergent stocks slide amid COVID-19 vaccine mix-up
Stocks for Johnson & Johnson and Emergent BioSolutions fell in early trading Thursday amid reports that about 15 million doses of J&J's COVID-19 vaccine failed quality checks after an ingredients mix-up. Published April 1, 2021
Feds roll out ads, ‘community corps’ to promote COVID-19 vaccines
The Biden administration enlisted a "community corps" of sports leagues, churches and labor unions Thursday to promote the COVID-19 vaccine as eligibility widens rapidly and officials start to think about the point when supply will outstrip demand. Published April 1, 2021
