Herd immunity, post-pediatric COVID vaccines. Is it possible?

Also: Markey heads to Scotland; why Bill Galvin thinks redistricting maps could lead to "chaos" at the polls [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  November 4, 2021 ☀️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Good Morning Boston, Enjoy the later sunsets while you can. This is your reminder that daylight saving time ends Sunday. You'll get an extra hour of sleep that day, but sunset will also be at 4:30 p.m. [Hello darkness, my old friend]( - Sen. Ed Markey is heading to Scotland, and no, it's not for vacation. He's meeting up with world leaders at the UN's climate change conference. Even though climate change funding and Democrats' Build Back Better agenda hasn't yet passed here at home, Markey will speak about the initiatives that he says are passing soon. To learn more about why this UN conference really does matter to Massachusetts, [read this excellent explainer]( by our senior environmental correspondent Barbara Moran. Not only is it packed with helpful information, but it's also fun to read. - COVID-19 infections in Massachusetts schools appear to be up this week, according to new data from state education officials. A little more than 2,200 students and staff tested positive last week, which is a 27% jump from the week prior. But all may not be as it appears. Officials said this week's reported cases may include positives from schools that weren't able to submit last week because of the power outages from the nor'easter. Let's see what next week's report shows. - Cambridge-based Moderna is [lowering its expectations]( when it comes to 2021 COVID vaccine deliveries. Originally, the company forecasted $20 billion in sales by the end of the year, but now it's thinking that will be closer to $15-18 billion. What moved the needle? Longer delivery lead times for exports and a temporary impact from expanding its fill-finish capacity, according to the company. - Zoom out: The number of people getting COVID boosters in the U.S. is now [outpacing those getting their first shots](. Is this a good or bad thing? Better protecting yourself and loved ones by getting vaccinated and keeping your immunity strong is great, and if you're eligible for boosters health officials highly recommend it. But this new stat suggests that while the White House's push for boosters is effective, attention may be split when it comes to convincing the unvaccinated to get the jab. - The new redistricting maps proposed by the Massachusetts House and Senate [got the final OK]( from Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday. But not everyone is thrilled by the change, including Sec. of State William Galvin. He thinks the redrawing will "inevitably lead to chaos at the polls and make it impossible for voters to understand who their elected representatives are." - The late "Ice Bucket Challenge" creator Pete Frates is helping to raise money for ALS research one last time. Frates [died from ALS in 2019](. Now, items that belonged to him are up for auction. The goal is to raise $10,000 to help ALS patients pay for home care. [If you'd like to partake]( you can bet on items like a Boston Bruins jersey signed by Bobby Orr and a signed photo of Patriots coach Bill Belichick. P.S.– Do you know what endangered creature is making a comeback in western Mass.? Take [our Boston News Quiz]( and test your knowledge of local stories we’ve covered this week. Meagan McGinnes Senior Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [With pediatric COVID vaccines a reality, experts reexamine whether ‘herd immunity’ is possible]( “This is the most important piece,” said Robert Horsburgh, a physician and professor of epidemiology, biostatistics and global health at Boston University. [Read more.]( [With pediatric COVID vaccines a reality, experts reexamine whether ‘herd immunity’ is possible]( “This is the most important piece,” said Robert Horsburgh, a physician and professor of epidemiology, biostatistics and global health at Boston University. [Read more.]( [Wu promises changes to Boston's strategy on tent encampment and special court session]( Wu said she is looking into reports that Boston police arrested a woman who was in a line for methadone treatment Wednesday and brought her to the court. [Read more.]( [Wu promises changes to Boston's strategy on tent encampment and special court session]( Wu said she is looking into reports that Boston police arrested a woman who was in a line for methadone treatment Wednesday and brought her to the court. [Read more.]( [Map: See how every precinct voted in the Boston mayoral election]( Michelle Wu defeated fellow city councilor, Annissa Essaibi George, decisively with over 64% of the votes. [Read more.]( [Map: See how every precinct voted in the Boston mayoral election]( Michelle Wu defeated fellow city councilor, Annissa Essaibi George, decisively with over 64% of the votes. [Read more.]( [More women than ever lead top Massachusetts companies, but most directors are white men]( More women are in leadership positions in the top 100 Massachusetts companies than ever before, according to a new report from The Boston Club. But the group found just 14.5% of board seats are occupied by people who are non-white, even though they make up 32.4% of Massachusetts residents. [Read more.]( [More women than ever lead top Massachusetts companies, but most directors are white men]( More women are in leadership positions in the top 100 Massachusetts companies than ever before, according to a new report from The Boston Club. But the group found just 14.5% of board seats are occupied by people who are non-white, even though they make up 32.4% of Massachusetts residents. [Read more.]( [October job numbers were likely stronger. Why the future still looks uncertain]( Forecasters think job growth accelerated last month after a slowdown in August and September, but millions of would-be workers are still on the sidelines, leaving the pace of the recovery in doubt. [Read more.]( [October job numbers were likely stronger. Why the future still looks uncertain]( Forecasters think job growth accelerated last month after a slowdown in August and September, but millions of would-be workers are still on the sidelines, leaving the pace of the recovery in doubt. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - ICYMI: Biden's vaccine rules for 100 million workers are here. [These are the details.]( - Here are a [few photos]( of mourners paying their respects yesterday to Jerry Remy, a Red Sox Hall of Famer, broadcaster and local icon. - The Somerville Museum is showcasing social media from a bygone era: [the penny postcard.]( - Why can't we seem to get enough of Princess Diana? Queens and princesses become screens onto which we project our beliefs about women’s worth, writes Arianne Chernock [in this commentary]( about the new biopic "Spencer." (You can read [Sean Burns' latest review]( of the film here.) What We're Reading 📚 - Poison in the Air ([ProPublica]( - The Enormous Hole That Whaling Left Behind ([The Atlantic]( - Shadows of the Klan, the Ghost of Hendrix, and Fans Who Think I’m White ([The New York Times]( Tell Me Something Good [2 California condor chicks hatch from unfertilized eggs, fascinating scientists]( These endangered birds were nearly extinct in 1983. Since then, biologists have carefully bred condors in captivity, keeping track of who fathered whom. [Read more.]( [2 California condor chicks hatch from unfertilized eggs, fascinating scientists]( These endangered birds were nearly extinct in 1983. Since then, biologists have carefully bred condors in captivity, keeping track of who fathered whom. [Read more.]( Before you go: A [cross-stitching]( update! 😎 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   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 WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2021 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.