Coronavirus News Explained

 Safety of the Moderna Vaccine in Adolescents     With the reopening of schools this August and through September, many adolescents will be subject to a much higher chance of potential COVID-19 exposure. As proven by multiple studies and real-world events, COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to minimize infection. Although multiple COVID-19 vaccines are available to adults, as of August 2021, the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine available to children aged 12-17 years. However, a recent study published on August 11, 2021 in the New England Journal of Medicine examined the safety and efficacy of the Moderna vaccine, which is currently available for ages 18 and up, in adolescents between 12 and 17 years. While only the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have published studies with children, if more vaccines are studied and deemed safe and effective in adolescents, adolescents would not only have more vaccine options, but a greater availability of vaccines for their age group. About the Study  

 COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections     As of August 2021, a little over 50% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, despite the increasing number of vaccinated individuals and high efficacy of the vaccines, rare breakthrough cases have occurred. With the reports of breakthrough cases, or instances when people who are fully vaccinated get infected with COVID-19, many questions have arisen. How common are breakthrough infections? What are the symptoms? How severe are the cases? These questions are addressed in a peer-reviewed study investigating breakthrough cases among healthcare workers in Israel. The study was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 28, 2021.  About the Study     The study setting took place in the Sheba Medical Center, which is the largest medical center in Israel staffed with 12,586 healthcare workers. By April 28, 2021, 11,453 workers (91%) had been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. The study was