The Biden administration plans to extend mask mandates for airplanes, trains and buses through January 18. The current Transportation Security Administration mask mandate ends September 13. (Reuters)
Data from Israel show Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has decreased in efficacy among people who received their doses in January. The new data have prompted public health officials to highlight the importance of booster shots. (CNBC Weekly)
Maternal and family virtual care platform Maven Clinic has raised $110 million, giving the startup a $1 billion valuation. Oprah Winfrey has joined the company’s roster of investors. (STAT)
Eli Lilly plans to create new neuroscience and immunology units as part of its restructuring and focus on its Alzheimer’s candidate donanemab. Anne White, who previously served as SVP and president of Lilly Oncology, will head the neuroscience unit. (Endpoints News)
Vaccine hesitancy has spilled over into blood transfusions, with some vaccine-skeptical patients now requesting blood donations only from unvaccinated people. Doctors estimate some 60 to 70% of donated blood is coming from vaccinated donors and report that there is no safety risk. (Kaiser Health News)
