Study: Texts may stir some to seek vaccine
Most states around the country are experiencing a vaccination lag, even as vaccines become more widely available. The culprit? Most vaccine hesitancy has come from young, rural and lower-income people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More data shows that at least 10% of people who received one dose of an mRNA vaccine have yet to get their second shot.
Researchers found in a study published in May that people who were texted encouraging them to get the flu vaccine were more likely to get inoculated, and some states have begun using the same strategy to increase vaccination rates.
Hengchen Dai, an assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, tested the text messages at UCLA’s Health system, finding that the message reminders boosted vaccination rates by as much as 3.4 percentage points.
Oklahoma launched a statewide texting campaign in June to reach people across the state with details about how to find an appointment near them.
Various other states have employed lotteries and cash incentives.
Study author Dr. Mitesh Patel told CNN it was unlikely the texts would persuade a hesitant person to get vaccinated. But “there’s probably 10% of people who are just vaccine apathetic,” he said. “They’re not against it, but they’re not going to go out of their way to get it, and that 10% could really push us toward herd immunity.”
Anheuser-Busch still giving away free beer over July Fourth holiday weekend
Remember Anheuser-Busch’s promise to give Americans free beer if the White House hit its goal of getting 70% of U.S. adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4? The beer-maker is keeping its word, even though the country fell short of that goal.
Starting Friday and through Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET, adults 21 and older can go to MyCooler.com/beer and upload a picture of themselves at their favorite place to have a beer (such as a bar or restaurant, backyard or baseball stadium). They will get an email with a digital gift card worth $5, the average retail price of an Anheuser-Busch product. They can use the card to claim a free beer through Monday.
– Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Wearing a mask at the gym doesn’t affect workouts, Cleveland Clinic study finds
A new study found wearing a mask while exercising doesn’t impact performance.
Cleveland Clinic researchers analyzed 20 healthy men and women as they ran on a treadmill wearing no mask, an N95 mask and a cloth mask with a carbon filter, according to the study published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open.
They increased the treadmill speed from 0 to 2% in the first two minutes and then by 1% every minute until volunteers reached peak exhaustion. Participants were also asked to fill out a questionnaire of how they were feeling post-exercise.
Study authors found that while respondents perceived it harder to breathe at peak exercise with a mask, there actually were no significant physical changes between exercising with or without a mask. – Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY
Brazil’s Bolsonaro under fire after allegations that he overlooked deal to buy vaccines
Accusations that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro turned a blind eye to possible corruption in a deal to purchase coronavirus vaccines have heightened threats to his presidency, including a move to recommend slapping him with a criminal charge.
The claims have added impetus to the opposition’s impeachment drive and left the Brazilian leader’s allies in Congress evaluating the costs of their support.
Bolsonaro, who has been targeted by nationwide street protests in recent weeks, has called the Senate committee investigating the government’s COVID-19 response a “national shame” aimed at undermining his administration.