INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai held a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss increasing COVID-19 vaccine production, global health issues and the proposed waiver to certain provisions of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) related to the pandemic.

Billionaire Bill Gates said Sunday that the world could be completely back to normal by the end of 2022 thanks in large part to the continued rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, though he doesn't believe the virus will be totally eradicated by then.

Moderna Inc. CEO Stephane Bancel said Friday that the company is on track to produce 1 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year, but warned that with manufacturers producing large quantities, there could be an oversupply in 2022.

With many states lifting COVID-related restrictions amid a more widely available vaccine, Oregon is poised to go in completely the opposite direction as health officials consider mandating masks and social distancing in all businesses indefinitely.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said on Tuesday that it is prepared to ramp up production of its COVID-19 vaccine after U.S. federal agencies called for a pause on administering injections of the Johnson & Johnson version over potential health risks.

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat provides insight into the FDA recommending a "pause" of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after six instances of blood clotting in recipients.

The biotech startup behind the COVID-fox19 vaccine jointly developed by AstraZeneca PLC and the University of Oxford filed Friday with U.S. regulators for a public share offering. Vaccitech PLC said in a securities filing it plans to use the technology underpinning the vaccine to develop treatments targeting prostate cancer, hepatitis B and human papillomavirus.

Federal health officials have been evaluating incidents in Georgia, Iowa, Colorado and North Carolina but have not "found any reason for concern."

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced on Friday that it submitted a request for emergency use authorization to begin administering its COVID-19 vaccine to adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 in the U.S.