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More equity efforts: Uber and Walgreens to offer free rides to COVID-19 vaccine sites
Uber and Walgreens are partnering to offer free rides to COVID-19 vaccination sites in an effort to expand vaccine availability in communities of color.
The companies said in a joint statement that Uber will offer free transportation to Walgreens and offsite vaccination clinics. Once an individual has made an appointment, they will then be able to schedule a free ride. The companies also plan on partnering with the National Urban League to help convince people of the benefits of a vaccine.
The goal is both to address the lack of transportation and to address vaccine hesitancy among communities of color. States continue to struggle with appointment availability, as confusing, glitchy websites crash. At the same time, the supply of doses has not kept up with demand, as states expand eligibility and more people try to schedule a shot.
Welcome to Friday’s Overnight Health Care.
The Biden administration is using the Defense Production Act to try to speed PPE manufacturing and COVID testing. A new CDC study shows mask mandates helped reduce hospitalizations, and President Biden is ready to move forward on coronavirus relief without Republicans.
We ll start with the White House and two new actions from the Biden administration on the pandemic:
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First: using the Defense Production Act to boost tests, gloves and vaccine supplies
The Biden administration will use wartime powers to significantly increase the supply of rapid at-home and point-of-care COVID-19 tests.
The Defense Production Act (DPA) will be used to “rapidly surge” domestic testing capabilities, investing money in six suppliers to produce 61 million at-home and point-of-care tests to be available by the end of the summer, said Tim Manning, the White House COVID-19 response team supply coordinator.
Welcome to Thursday s Overnight Health Care.
Johnson & Johnson filed for emergency authorization of its vaccine. Senate Democrats are pushing forward on their coronavirus relief bill, starting with an all night vote-a-rama. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that members of the LGBTQ+ community are at greater risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms and Wisconsin s governor and GOP legislature are set up for a showdown over the state s mask mandate.
We ll start with J&J:
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Johnson & Johnson requests emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine
Some positive news on the vaccine front: Johnson & Johnson on Thursday filed an application for emergency use authorization for its single-shot coronavirus vaccine, bringing it one step closer to helping the U.S. fight the virus.