LOS ANGELES, Calif. Aug 13 – Following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approval of an additional dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised people, Los Angeles County will begin administering third doses to those who qualify tomorrow. The FDA has amended the Emergency Use Authorization for these vaccines to allow for a third dose which can be administered at least 28 days following the second dose of the vaccine.
Ideally individuals should be vaccinated with the same vaccine they received for the first and second dose, but if that is not possible, receiving a third dose with another mRNA vaccine is acceptable.
Although the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work very well in the majority of individuals, there is evidence that individuals who are severely immunocompromised are not fully protected after receiving two doses and this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose. Certain medical conditions or the treatments used for specific conditions may prevent the immune system from responding adequately to two doses of the vaccine and therefore require an additional dose to provide adequate protection from COVID-19. Individuals who qualify for a third dose include organ transplant recipients, people undergoing cancer treatment, people with advanced or untreated HIV and those on certain immunosuppressive medications.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) encourages individuals who qualify for a third dose to speak to their healthcare provider to confirm their eligibility and get vaccinated. Third doses of the vaccines will be accessible through vaccination sites that currently offer Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Eligible individuals will be able to provide a self-attestation that they have a qualifying medical condition at these sites.
A follow-up dose is not currently recommended for those who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The FDA is still evaluating data on the effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in immunocompromised individuals. COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are also not recommended for the general public at this time.
Today, Public Health confirms 19 new deaths and 3,810 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 19 new deaths reported today, four people who passed away were over the age of 80, six people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, four people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, two people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49, and one person who died was between the ages of 18 and 29. Two deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach. To date, Public Health identified 1,342,839 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,872 deaths.
There are 1,645 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 22% of these people are in the ICU. Testing results are available for more than 7,630,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 4.1%.
“We are thinking of every family member and friend grieving the loss of a loved one. We wish you healing and peace,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Studies have shown immunocompromised people are more likely to have post vaccination infection and become severely ill from COVID-19. An additional vaccine dose for some people with weakened immune systems could help prevent serious illness and death. If you have a qualifying condition, we encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider about getting a third dose. We also encourage those who are close contacts of immunocompromised people to get vaccinated as soon as possible in order to protect their family members and friends who are at higher risk.”
Similar to the overall trend in L.A. County, the number of COVID-19 cases among people experiencing homelessness increased over the past few weeks. This week, there were 150 new cases reported among people experiencing homelessness which includes 74 cases from previous weeks that were newly identified as cases associated with people experiencing homelessness and are included in the new case totals. To date, 7,834 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County tested positive for COVID-19 and 218 people who were experiencing homelessness passed away from COVID-19. Of the people experiencing homelessness who passed away, 101 were sheltered, 71 were unsheltered, and for 46 people who passed away, their shelter status was unknown.
There are 1,112 providers administering vaccinations to people experiencing homelessness; together they have administered over 49,282 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to people experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County. Of the vaccinated people experiencing homelessness, 24,294 are fully vaccinated. The County continues to work closely with partner organizations to vaccinate and protect people experiencing homelessness from COVID-19 infection.
L.A. County continues to offer vaccines at many different sites across the county to make it as easy as possible for eligible L.A. County residents to get vaccinated. Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.
6月23日朱诺市讯，美国海岸警卫队6月22日表示，一架海岸警卫队直升机在阿拉斯加进行训练飞行时坠毁，目前未有人员死亡报告，四名机组人员获救被送往当地医院。该机坠毁原因正在调查中。 据美国海岸警卫队北极区（Arctic District）消息，这架载有4人的MH-60“松鸦鹰”（Jayhawk）直升机在靠近朱诺（Juneau）的锡特卡（Sitka）哈伯山（Harbor Mountain）附近坠毁。事故报告于当地时间上午10点过后不久发出。 海岸警卫队表示，4名机组人员已被送往当地医院，但未透露关于他们伤情的具体细节。 海岸警卫队还表示：“确保我们船员的安全与福祉并实施救援，是我们绝对且当务之急的首要任务，我们将展开正式调查，以查明事件的相关情况。”
6月22日华盛顿讯，特朗普政府今天公布了一项计划，拟将寻求入籍美国的合法移民的申请费提高570美元，同时取消针对低收入申请人的费用减免及豁免政策。 根据美国公民及移民服务局（USCIS）提出的这项规定，入籍申请费用将大幅上调：纸质申请的费用将从760美元升至1330美元，在线申请的费用将从710美元升至1280美元。此外，针对入籍申请被拒而要求USCIS进行复议的申请费也将增加645美元。 该计划还将取消入籍申请的费用豁免，以及针对家庭收入等于或低于联邦贫困线400%的移民的费用减免政策。不过，寻求入籍的现役军人仍将享有费用豁免待遇。 美国公民及移民服务局称，这些调整不会立即生效，因为它们属于一项拟议法规，尚需经历联邦政府制定法规流程中的后续步骤。公众将有60天的时间提交意见，以表达对这些调整的支持或反对。 负责监管美国公民及移民服务局的美国国土安全部（DHS）在计划中指出，上调费用对于全额负担公民身份申请的处理成本至关重要，尤其考虑到特朗普政府正致力于对申请人进行更严格的审查。与其他大多数联邦机构不同，美国公民及移民服务局的资金主要来源于其收取的各项费用。 美国国土安全部指出，与其它移民福利相关的费用相比，历届政府此前一直将入籍申请费维持在较低水平，旨在“促进公民身份的获取与融入”。但该机构官员们表示，特朗普政府正在采取不同的策略。 美国国土安全部在拟议法规中表示：“尽管国土安全部过去为（入籍相关申请）设定较低费用，以实现历届政府鼓励入籍的优先目标，但该部如今认为，不应以牺牲其它移民福利为代价，给予入籍申请更低的收费标准。” 美国国土安全部今天发表声明称：“拟议法规旨在定期调整收费，以收回处理申请的全部成本。在前任政府时期制定的现行收费标准，已无法覆盖特朗普总统行政令所要求的必要筛查与审查工作产生的费用。” 曾在拜登政府时期担任美国公民及移民服务局高级官员的道格·兰德（Doug Rand）对拟议涨价背后的理由提出了质疑。兰德表示：“若单就大幅上调入籍费用这一举措而言，唯一合理的解释就是，‘特朗普2.0’政府急于为合法移民制造更多不必要的障碍。” 美国政府长期以来一直鼓励合法移民完成入籍程序，即正式的归化入籍。通常，有资格申请美国公民身份的人员为合法永久居民，即绿卡持有者，具体要求取决于个人情况，通常需持有绿卡满3年或5年。 申请美国公民身份者一般必须通过英语和公民常识考试，并满足其他条件，例如没有严重的犯罪记录。作为其打击移民措施的一部分，特朗普政府第二任期力求限制并收紧获取合法移民福利的途径，包括在审查流程中增加更多环节。 在申请美国公民身份申请方面，特朗普政府采取了更积极的手段来审查申请人是否具备“良好品行”这一要求。除此之外，还重启了一项长期搁置的做法，即“邻里走访调查”，通过与申请人的邻居及同事交谈来核实情况。 特朗普政府正在加大力度，针对那些被指控通过非法手段或欺诈行为，包括在申请中隐瞒犯罪记录获得公民身份的外国出生美国公民，启动撤销其公民身份的程序。
6月22日华盛顿讯，美国军方官员表示，一架美军F-16战斗机6月20日下午拦截了一架飞越马里兰州黑格斯敦（Hagerstown）上空禁飞区的民用飞机。 北美防空司令部（NORAD）称，该飞机违反了针对政要（VIP）设立的临时飞行限制规定。据美国国家公务航空协会（NBAA）介绍，这种限制实际上是由美国联邦航空管理局（FAA）宣布的禁飞区，通常与美国总统特朗普、副总统万斯（JD Vance）或其他美国政府高官的行程有关；此外，外国领导人到访美国或举办“超级碗”等大型活动时，也可能设立此类限制。 北美防空司令部表示，该架美军F-16战斗机于美东时间下午12:20左右拦截了这架民用飞机，并对其进行监视，直至其安全降落在附近机场。该机构在社交媒体上发布有关此次拦截的消息时，呼吁飞行员保持警惕，并在“每次飞行前”检查空域限制情况。 美国联邦航空管理局指出，临时飞行限制信息通过“飞行员通告”（NOTAMs）传达给飞行员；这些限制规定禁止所有飞机和无人机在特定时段内未经许可进入指定空域。违反此类限制“可能面临从警告或罚款到执照暂停或吊销不等的处罚”；该机构同时指出，具体处罚措施视个案情况而定。 美军喷气式飞机拦截误入限制空域的民用飞机并非罕见之事。北美防空司令部此前曾通报，上个月有一架美军F-16战斗机拦截了一架飞越华盛顿特区限制空域的飞机，并将其安全护送离开该区域。 北美防空司令部在6月初曾发出警告称，自当月初以来，美军战机已针对纽约和新泽西地区发生的“十多起未经授权的飞机入侵事件”采取了应对行动，并敦促飞行员提高警惕。 据北美防空司令部透露，去年夏天，新泽西州空军国民警卫队的飞行员曾针对特朗普总统位于新泽西州萨默塞特县（Somerset County）贝德明斯特（Bedminster）的高尔夫俱乐部上空出现的空域违规行为激增的情况，采取了应对措施。
6月22日华盛顿讯，曾在美国四任总统任期内担任美联储主席的经济学家艾伦·格林斯潘（Alan Greenspan）今天去世，享年100岁。 格林斯潘的妻子安德烈娅·米切尔（Andrea Mitchell）今天在一份声明中表示，格林斯潘是在家中因帕金森病并发症去世的。米切尔本人是美国全国广播公司新闻频道（NBC News）的首席华盛顿及外交事务记者。 格林斯潘作为美国历史上任期最长久的美联储主席之一，执掌美国央行的时期恰逢所谓的“大稳健”（Great Moderation）时代。这是一个始于20世纪80年代中期、终于2007年的稳定时期，其特征包括低通胀、股市上涨以及强劲的经济增长。 与此同时，格林斯潘的任期内经历了数次金融危机，从1987年的股市崩盘到21世纪初互联网泡沫的破裂，不一而足。1996年，格林斯潘提出了著名的“非理性繁荣”（irrational exuberance）一词，用以形容由投资者盲目乐观情绪助推而成的市场泡沫，以此影射当时人们对互联网公司股票的狂热追捧。 更具争议的是，格林斯潘的任期表现常被与2008年全球金融危机及随之而来的“大衰退”联系在一起，尽管这场经济崩溃发生在他于2006年初卸任美联储主席一职之后。然而，一些批评人士指出，格林斯潘在任期后期推行的“宽松货币”政策，助长了次贷危机的形成，而这场危机最终引发了美国自“大萧条”以来最严重的经济崩溃。 《经济学人》在2017年的一篇文章中回顾道：“危机过后，针对格林斯潘先生的主要批评在于，他天真地信奉市场有效性，既未能在20世纪90年代末或21世纪初刺破泡沫，也未能对金融业实施恰当的监管。” 格林斯潘曾为自己在“大衰退”之前的决策进行了辩护；他在2007年接受《财富》杂志采访时声称，他自己是“历史修正主义”的受害者，并自称当时已经对次级抵押贷款以及房地产市场中酝酿的其他危险信号发出了警告。 格林斯潘告诉《财富》杂志，在早年担任经济学家时，他曾低估了人类行为在经济学中的作用，认为那“不值得评估”。但他后来意识到，“预测体系中遗漏了非常重要的变量，而这些变量都与人类的系统性活动有关，”格林斯潘指出。 格林斯潘对该刊物表示：“你可以预料到，人类有时会陷入亢奋状态，有时又会陷入极度的痛苦与恐惧之中。唯一可以确定的是，这一点永远不会改变。” 格林斯潘在担任美联储主席期间，还因发表晦涩难懂的经济评论而闻名，立法者、经济学家和投资者都争相解读其言论。与此同时，格林斯潘倡导提高透明度，推动美联储改变以往那种信息量较少的声明风格，这种风格在20世纪80年代之前颇为常见。…