Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Excess Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March to December 2020

Although racial/ethnic disparities in U.S. COVID-19 death rates are striking, focusing on COVID-19 deaths alone may underestimate the true effect of the pandemic on disparities. Excess death estimates capture deaths both directly and indirectly caused by COVID-19. ...

An estimated 2.88 million deaths occurred between March and December 2020. Compared with the number of expected deaths based on 2019 data, 477 200 excess deaths occurred during this period, with 74% attributed to COVID-19.

Age-standardized excess deaths per 100 000 persons among Black, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), and Latino males and females were more than double those in White and Asian males and females.

Los Angeles OKs one of strictest US vaccination mandates LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles leaders on Wednesday approved one of the nation's strictest vaccine mandates — a sweeping measure that requires the shots for everyone entering bars, restaurants, nail salons, gyms or even a Lakers game. AP NEWS

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‘Complex EU’ leads Europe to diverge from US on coronavirus vaccine booster Europe’s vaccine rollout is slightly different from the US program, and this played into the broader opinion by the EMA. POLITICO

The world's two leading medicines regulators have reached different decisions on a third dose of the BioNTech/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine — and it’s partly because of the complexity of the EU, according to the European Medicines Agency.

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No exceptions are given to personnel who have already contracted and recovered from COVID-19.