Disease Prevention

Airline, transit mask mandates extended through April 18 - Roll Call The CDC will craft a revised policy framework for future mask use on public transportation, a Biden administration official said. Roll Call

The White House on Thursday announced it would extend the current federal mask mandate for passengers on airplanes and public transit for another month — the third extension of the mandate since it was imposed in January 2021.

Top lawmakers reach deal on Ukraine aid, $1.5T spending WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders reached a bipartisan deal early Wednesday providing $13.6 billion to help Ukraine and European allies plus billions more to battle the pandemic as part of an overdue $1.5 trillion measure financing federal agencies for the rest of this year. AP NEWS

...

6 Months of U.S. Data Support Safety of mRNA COVID Vaccines CDC reports find that most AEs were minor, transient, and few patients sought medical care Molly Walker medpagetoday

Nearly all local and systemic adverse events (AEs) reported after Pfizer or Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines were mild and transient, and only a fraction of individuals reported seeking medical care, according to data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and CDC's v-safe tracker.