Three things for April 16
1. Follow-up of COVID-19 vaccine likely needed
On Thursday, April 15, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla brought up the possibility of fully vaccinated people needing to get a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine after a certain amount of time of being fully vaccinated.
At an event hosted by CVS Health, Bourla said, “A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed.”
Moderna is also looking towards the possibility that booster shots will be needed in the future. CBS News reports Moderna will test a booster shot in January.
President Biden’s administration is also looking towards the future of COVID vaccinations. According to a statement by Dr. David Kessler, chief science officer of COVID response, the administration plans to ensure Americans will have access to booster shots if needed.
“We are evaluating and expanding studies to determine which options would be effective to achieve ongoing protection. As you can imagine, there are numerous potential combinations of vaccine doses that might help protect Americans in the future. Therefore, we are also planning now to make sure we have sufficient vaccines available to support this potential need,” Kessler said.
2. Defense rests its case in Derek Chauvin trial
On Thursday, April 15, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin chose not to testify at his trial, which brought the defense’s case to a close. AP News reports the defense used two days for testimonies, while the prosecution’s testimonies lasted for two weeks.
Chauvin is charged with two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter for the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was arrested after being suspected of using a fake $20 bill, according to NBC News. Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.
Closing arguments from both sides of Chauvin’s case will be presented on Monday, April 19.
3. SpaceX Crew Dragon approved for launch to International Space Station
On Thursday, April 15, NASA announced SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket’s approval for launch to the International Space Station. This will be the second time the Crew Dragon, also called “Endeavour,” will make a trip into space.
The crew will consist of four people, and the astronauts will stay in space for approximately six months.
The launch will take place on Thursday, April 22, at 6:11 a.m. at the Kennedy Space Center.
