Why Vaccines Will Take Months To Slow Pandemic

Also: Mass. to add dozens of new vaccine sites; Dr. Fauci talks with Radio Boston ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( January 26, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ❄️ A slight chance of snow after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 34. Gov. Charlie Baker has been facing some criticism over the state's vaccine rollout plan, and he addressed some of those concerns – and shared a [few announcements]( during yesterday's COVID briefing. Here's the recap: - First, he's moving residents 65 or older higher up the priority ladder. His administration is also adding dozens of new vaccine sites by Feb. 15, including three new mass vaccination sites. People can locate pharmacies and clinics closest to them on a map, check their eligibility and schedule an appointment [via the state's website](. - Overall, Baker wants to have 165 vaccine sites up and running by the middle of next month. The goal is to have more than 300,000 vaccine doses going into arms per week. What's the catch? The success of all of this depends on the availability of vaccine from the federal government. - The state is also trying to ramp up its testing efforts. Early education providers in Massachusetts will soon be able to [access eight testing sites]( through a new state pilot program. They'll also be able to order PPE at no cost. - Jury trials are once again on hold. They resumed two weeks ago in some courts after being postponed since the start of the pandemic. Four jury trials have been conducted since then and a fifth is underway (which will continue). The earliest sessions will reconvene is Feb. 12. And in non-coronavirus news: - Scheduling note: Baker is giving his State of the Commonwealth Address tonight at 7 p.m. You can listen live on air or head to [wbur.org]( for coverage. - The man who allegedly yelled racial slurs before running over Henry Tapia in Belmont last week is now [facing a murder charge.]( - Members of the Massachusetts National Guard will once again [head to D.C.]( after Baker on Monday signed an order approving up to 700 Air and Army National Guard personnel, at the request of the Secret Service due to concerns of more violence. The local guard members are expected to return home on Feb. 23. P.S.– I think comics are such a great way to make topics that are difficult to talk about or understand much more accessible. That's why I particularly love this NPR comic titled,["How To Raise Informed, Active Citizens."]( I highly recommend giving it a read (and sharing it with the parents, grandparents and tiny human caretakers in your life.) — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Vaccines Will Take Months To Slow Down The Pandemic. Until Then, Mask Up]( According to statistical models he developed with colleagues from Massachusetts General Hospital and Georgia Tech, the number of lives saved by basic coronavirus mitigation measures — like masking, physical distancing and testing — are likely to eclipse the number of lives saved by vaccines over the next year. [Read more.]( - Related: [Moderna Testing Booster To Combat New Variant](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Dr. Anthony Fauci On Massachusetts Vaccine Rollout, National Pandemic]( Radio Boston asked Fauci about the vaccine rollout in Massachusetts and nationally, President Biden's plan to distribute 100 million doses in 100 days, and what his biggest concerns are right now in the pandemic. [Read more.]( 3. [Sen. Patrick Leahy To Preside Over Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial]( Leahy, 80, is the president pro tempore of the Senate, a constitutional role given to the longest-serving lawmaker in the majority party. He's the third in the line of presidential succession, after the vice president and House speaker. [Read more.]( 4. [Biden Repeals Trump-Era Ban On Transgender Troops]( Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers he supported the move. "If you're fit and you're qualified to serve, and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve," he said. [Read more.]( - Opinion: [This Is What Is At Stake When We Talk About Transgender Athletes]( 5. [Deaths Of Despair: How The Pandemic May Be Fueling Lethal Drug Overdoses]( Ordinarily, a spike in unemployment doesn't lead to a spike in overdose deaths. People who aren't working often don't have the money to buy drugs. But University of Chicago economist Casey Mulligan says the COVID recession is unusual. Federal relief payments put more money in people's pockets last spring, just as many of the usual ways to spend it were closed off. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Pooled testing is becoming increasingly popular at restaurants. [Here's why.]( - Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first-ever youth poet laureate, struck a chord across the nation – and among this [group of high schoolers from 826 Boston]( a nonprofit youth writing and publishing organization. - Is 2021 your year to kick bad habits? ARTery critic Ed Siegel shares his [artful path to quiet smoking]( with help from CDs and books. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Life Kit | Olympic Runner Alexi Pappas On Learning To Ask For Help]( [Listen]( VACCINES [Vaccine Delivery Speeds Up In Mass.]( What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass. [Read more.]( Complete Coverage Of Vaccines In Mass. [Find it here.]( COVID-19 Immunity: How To Get It, How Long It Lasts, And How To Detect It. [Listen.]( 📬 Get the latest on vaccine safety protocols, side effects, local distribution plans & more in your inbox. Sign up for our [coronavirus newsletter and alerts.]( What We're Reading - Fauci on What Working for Trump Was Really Like ([New York Times]( - What’s All This Drama About a Pro-Trump Parenting Guru? ([The Cut]( - Baby tyrannosaurs dinosaurs were the 'size of a Border Collie' ([BBC]( Tell Me Something Good [H]( How You Can Own A Pair Of Bernie Sanders' Iconic Mittens (Boston.com)]( The Vermont woman who made Bernie Sander's inauguration mittens has made three more pairs to be auctioned off "for good causes." Each auction is slated to end by Jan. 29. Before you go: [Well played]( GBH. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [Stop getting this newsletter by updating your preferences.]( I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. [Unsubscribe from all editorial newsletters.]( Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2021 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](