U.S. panel endorses widespread use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine; FDA expected to act quickly
The advisory group, in 17-4 vote with one abstention, concluded that the shot appears safe and effective against the coronavirus in people 16 and older.
Health Care
Articles
U.S. budget deficit up 25.1% in first 2 months of budget year
The deficit—the shortfall between what the government collects in taxes and what it spends—reflected an 8.9% jump in outlays, to $886.6 billion, and a 2.9% decline in tax revenues, to $457.3 billion.
Economic relief talks descend into disarray as congressional bickering intensifies
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested on Thursday that discussions over emergency legislation could stretch beyond Christmas, even though multiple critical programs expire at the end of this month and there are fresh signs the economy is weakening.
Warehouses luring more cash than offices in pandemic-fueled flip
Investors have poured money into industrial properties in 2020, spending more on U.S. warehouses than office buildings for the first time as social-distancing pushes even more consumers to e-commerce.
COVID-19 deaths continue to mount as state surpasses 400,000 cases
The state has reported an increase of 556 deaths due to COVID-19 over the past seven days, an average of 79.4 per day. That’s up from 454 the previous week, an average of 648.6.
CVS to give Eli Lilly therapy to COVID-19 patients at home
The medication will be provided by the U.S. government, which paid Indianapolis-based Lilly $375 million for an initial two-month supply of 300,000 doses as part of the Operation Warp Speed program.
Jobless claims jump nationally, in Indiana amid resurgence of virus
The latest figures coincide with a surging viral outbreak that appears to be weakening the job market and the economy and threatening to derail any recovery.
Lawmakers act to avert shutdown, buying time for COVID relief talks
Amid the uncertainty, the House easily passed a one-week government-wide funding bill Wednesday that sets a new Dec. 18 deadline for Congress to wrap up both the COVID-19 relief measure and a $1.4 trillion catch-all spending bill that is also overdue.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine faces last hurdle before U.S. decision
Thursday’s meeting of the Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel is likely the last step before a U.S. decision to begin shipping millions of doses of the shot, which has shown strong protection against the coronavirus.
Indiana set to receive more than 55,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine next week
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, the state’s chief medical officer, said the state has been told it will receive 55,575 initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine next week.
Vaccines herald return to offices, but most workers don’t want to go
More than half of U.S. employees currently working from home say they’d like to keep their remote arrangements beyond the pandemic, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday.
Indiana reports 5,853 new COVID-19 cases, 98 more deaths
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 slipped slightly, from 3,250 on Monday to 3,244 on Tuesday.
United Kingdom probing if allergic reactions linked to Pfizer vaccine
British regulators warned Wednesday that people who have a history of serious allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination program.
New White House offer adds $600 checks to COVID-19 relief package
The $916 billion offer, the separate ongoing talks among key rank-and-file senators, and the shifting demands by the White House all add up to muddled, confusing prospects for a long-delayed COVID-19 aid package.
Pandemic tames health care cost growth for some employers
Large U.S. employers saw their smallest health care cost increase in more than two decades due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and workers might benefit from that next year, according to the consulting firm Mercer.
COVID-19 aid in balance as Congress buys time for talks
Lawmakers are struggling to figure out how to deliver long-delayed pandemic relief, including additional help for hard-hit businesses, further unemployment benefits, funding to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and funding demanded by Democrats for state and local governments.
Indiana reports another 124 COVID-19 deaths, 5,457 cases
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 rose from 3,214 on Sunday to 3,250 on Monday, the second straight day of increases after five days of declines.
U.S. productivity increased at 4.6% rate in third quarter
Economists cautioned that the swings in productivity this year have been unusually large and are distorting the underlying trend in productivity.
Studies suggest AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine safe, effective
New results on a possible COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca suggest it is safe and about 70% effective, but questions remain about how well it may help protect those over 55.
U.S. regulators post positive review of Pfizer vaccine data
The positive review from the Food and Drug Administration sets the stage for a decision allowing the vaccine’s initial use in the United States within days.