Current Events in April 2021

Now that every adult in the U.S. is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, Amazon has given its digital assistant Alexa the ability to help people find out where they can get inoculated locally. 

Consumers can now ask, “Alexa, where can I get a COVID vaccine?” Users can also include their location in the question by saying, for example, “Alexa, where can I get a COVID vaccine in Seattle?” 

Users can then get in contact with the vaccination site by saying “Alexa, call the first one.” For users outside of the U.S., Alexa can be used to learn more about vaccine availability and eligibility and find a nearby testing location. 

“We will continue to evolve our experiences over time to provide customers with information that is important to them,” Amazon said on its website. The company added that consumers can find out more about its efforts to support the COVID-19 vaccine rollout by visiting its COVID-19 testing and vaccination blog.

Amazon isn’t the only major tech corporation striving to help get COVID-19 vaccinations into more arms. Facebook recently added new features to its Covid Information Center. The social media giant now offers a tool that shows users when and where they can get vaccinated, plus a link to make an appointment. 

Venmo users can now buy, hold, and sell bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies straight from the platform’s app.

The Paypal-owned digital payment app said it conducted a survey last year which showed that more than 30% of its customers had already started purchasing crypto or equities. Twenty percent of those users had started doing so during the pandemic. 

By introducing the new feature, Venmo is aiming to support the movement of crypto transactions into the mainstream payment ecosystem. 

“With the introduction of crypto on Venmo, the broader Venmo community will now have access to an easy-to-use and intuitive crypto platform to help them take part in the cryptocurrency market,” the company said in a statement. 

Crypto on Venmo

Venmo, which has more than 70 million users, said users will be able to invest in four different cryptocurrencies -- Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash -- with a minimum spending requirement of $1. Users can also share their crypto purchases with friends on the app’s social feed.

Venmo’s new crypto feature can be accessed by clicking on “Crypto” in the menu at the top right in the app. In addition to being able to buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrencies in the app, users can also view guides and videos focused on answering commonly asked crypto questions.

“No matter where you are in your cryptocurrency journey, crypto on Venmo will help our community to learn and explore cryptocurrencies on a trusted platform and directly in the app they know and love,” said Darrell Esch, a senior vice president and general manager of Venmo. “Our goal is to provide our customers with an easy-to-use platform that simplifies the process of buying and selling cryptocurrencies and demystifies some of the common questions and misconceptions that consumers may have.” 

The addition of the feature expands on an earlier decision by PayPal to allow users to buy cryptocurrency on its main platform. PayPal also recently agreed to purchase Curv, a startup that helps clients securely store their digital tokens. 

Spending hours in the gym isn’t possible for all consumers. However, a new study conducted by researchers from the Physiological Society found that this level of dedication may not be necessary to improve physical fitness. 

According to their findings, incorporating short bursts of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) throughout the day can be a great way for consumers to boost their health. The study shows that finding ways to be active for just a few minutes at a time over the course of a workday can yield significant health benefits, especially for those who are still working from home. 

“While the [World Health Organization] guidelines may serve their purpose at a populational level, individualised and tailored low-volume HIIT interventions delivered by appropriately trained exercise professionals may be more effective at an individual level, especially for time-poor individuals,” said researcher Dr. Angelo Sabag.  

Putting HIIT to the test

The researchers focused on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) physical activity guidelines, which recommend that consumers engage in 75-100 minutes of intense exercise each week. The team analyzed studies from the last 10 years that looked at the impact of low-volume HIIT workouts on consumers’ health and wellness; in these exercise sessions, consumers engage in vigorous exercise for less than 15 minutes, plus a warm-up and cool down. 

The study showed that low-volume HIIT workouts led to similar results as longer, more traditional workouts. However, for those who may be strapped for time, these findings are important because there are still benefits to exercising even if it’s not for extended periods of time. The researchers explained that regularly engaging in low-volume HIIT workouts can improve heart health, including artery health and overall heart function. 

In another recent study from this same group of researchers, HIIT workouts as short as four minutes were found to be effective at boosting metabolic health for diabetic consumers. The researchers noted improvements to cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, and blood sugar, among several other measures that were directly tied to these short bursts of activity. 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have had to get creative over the last year with their physical activity routines. These findings highlight how regularly incorporating a little exercise throughout the day can provide lasting benefits. 

“This research is especially important now as people are looking for new and exciting ways to engage in regular exercise, after a year of lower physical activity due to the pandemic,” Dr. Sabag said. 

Recent studies have highlighted the health risks associated with eating red meat, including a higher risk of conditions like dementia and breast cancer. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the European Society of Cardiology shows that eating red meat also increases the risk of heart disease. Their work showed that red meat significantly compromises heart function. 

“Previous studies have shown links between greater red meat consumption and risk of heart attacks or dying from heart disease,” said researcher Dr. Zahra Raisi-Estabragh. “For the first time, we examined the relationships between meat consumption and imaging measures of heart health. This may help us to understand the mechanisms underlying the previously observed connections with cardiovascular disease.” 

Prioritizing heart health

To better understand how red meat negatively affects consumers’ heart health, the researchers analyzed data from more than 19,400 participants enrolled in the U.K. Biobank. While the participants recorded their diets over the course of the study, the researchers focused on three primary health factors: blood vessel elasticity, a cardiac MRI, and muscle strength of the heart. 

Participants with the highest red meat intake had the poorest heart health in every category and were more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. The researchers found that higher red meat intake was associated with stiffer blood vessels, which can make it harder for the heart to pump blood throughout the body and ultimately increases the risk of disease.

“The findings support prior observations linking red and processed meat consumption with heart disease and provide unique insights into links with heart and vascular structure and function,” said Dr. Raisi-Estabragh. 

To figure out why red meat consumption significantly impacts heart health, the researchers identified several different factors that can come into play. Their work found that conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can put a strain on consumers’ hearts when coupled with red meat consumption. The team also found that red and processed meats can affect the body on a deeper physiological level that makes heart disease more likely. 

“There is some evidence that red meat alters the gut microbiome, leading to higher levels of certain metabolites in the blood, which have in turn been linked to greater risk of heart disease,” Dr. Raisi-Estabragh said. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that consumers take these findings into consideration and make healthier choices that can benefit their heart health down the line. 

“This was an observational study and causation cannot be assumed,” said Dr. Raisi-Estabragh. “But in general, it seems sensible to limit intake of red and processed meat for heart health reasons.” 

McDonald’s is rolling out yet another meal associated with popular music stars. This time, it’s the South Korean boy band BTS.

Billed as a menu tour, the new meal debuts May 26 in the U.S. at participating restaurants. Based on the band’s “signature order,” the meal features a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, medium Coke, and sweet chili and Cajun dipping sauces like the ones served at McDonald’s in South Korea.

Previously, the fast-food chain designed meals in collaboration with music stars Travis Scott and J. Balvin.  BIGHIT MUSIC, BTS’s label, says the members of the group are all in with the promotion.

“The band has great memories with McDonald’s,” the company said in a statement. “We’re excited about this collaboration and can’t wait to share the BTS Meal with the world.” 

Expanding international influence

The move appears to be part of McDonald’s campaign to expand its international influence. BTS has topped pop music charts since 2013, and because of the group’s worldwide appeal, the BTS signature meal will be offered at participating restaurants in at least 50 countries.

“BTS truly lights up the world stage, uniting people across the globe through their music,” said Morgan Flatley, chief marketing officer at McDonald’s USA. “We’re excited to bring customers even closer to their beloved band in a way only McDonald’s can – through our delicious food – when we introduce the BTS signature order on our menu next month."

The celebrity co-marketing trend got a boost from the pandemic last year as fast-food became a comforting outlet, especially for young consumers. The campaigns by McDonald’s and its rivals have featured celebrities with a lot of youth appeal.

Industry analysts say these types of collaborations can be win-win deals, giving artists increased exposure and restaurant chains a certain hipness. The deals have been especially helpful in reaching Gen Z consumers who are accessible through social media.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has finally commented on the weekend crash of a Tesla Model S in Texas that local police said had no driver. One man in the front passenger seat and another in the back seat died when the car hit a tree and burst into flames.

The immediate assumption on the part of law enforcement and federal safety agencies was the occupants were misusing the car’s Autopilot feature or the new beta version of “Full Autonomous Driving,” known as FSD. In a tweet late Monday, Musk said that was not the case. 

“Data logs recovered so far show Autopilot was not enabled & this car did not purchase FSD, “Musk wrote on Twitter. “Moreover, standard Autopilot would require lane lines to turn on, which this street did not have.”

If so, that deepens the mystery of what happened to the car that left the road at a high rate of speed Saturday night and slammed into a tree near Houston. Police say that when they arrived at the scene the car was fully engulfed in flames. 

While there were bodies in the front passenger seat and in the back seat, The Wall Street Journal quoted police as saying there was no one behind the wheel. Musk later took The Journal to task for what he called inadequate reporting on the crash.

Questioning the narrative

Tesla fans also took to Twitter defending the carmaker and questioning the official narrative. One, Ahmad Dalhat, replied to The Journal article saying it didn’t make sense.

Dalhat noted that the Autopilot seat is weighted to make sure there is a driver and that hands must be on the steering wheel every 10 seconds or the system disengages. He asked The Journal to do more research, drawing a “like” from Musk.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are both on the scene in Texas investigating the crash. Some previous Tesla accidents have been shown to be the result of the driver misusing the Autopilot feature.

In its owner’s manual and on its website, Tesla says “Autopilot and full self-driving capability are intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment.”

General Motors is recalling 30 model year 2017-2021 Chevrolet Camaros.

The plastic "Camaro" emblem, located on the steering wheel airbag cover, may separate during deployment of the front driver airbag.

Plastic pieces of emblem may act as projectiles from deployment and increase the risk of injury.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side airbag module free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 10, 2021.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212327220.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 31,672,240 (31,636,941)

Total U.S. deaths: 567,233 (566,970)

Total global cases: 141,544,240 (140,858,072)

Total global deaths: 3,022,288 (3,013,280)

CDC says half of all adults have had at least one shot

The U.S. has reached a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination milestone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that half of all adults have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Across the country, most states have opened vaccination eligibility today to all adults, at the request of President Biden. That comes at an opportune time since the rate of infection has begun to rise among the unvaccinated.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said fewer than 6,000 fully vaccinated people have been infected with the virus in so-called “breakthrough” cases. However, none of them got seriously ill or died from the virus. 

Fauci: Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be back this week

Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief COVID-19 medical adviser, predicts that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could resume distribution by Friday. The vaccine has been on pause since last week when health officials began investigating six reports of recipients suffering blood clots.

“I would think that we’re not gonna go beyond Friday, in the extension of this pause,” said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), on ABC’s “This Week.”

A CDC advisory committee met last week to review vaccine data but did not issue a recommendation because it said it needed more information. Out of more than 7 million people, six women who received the vaccine formed blood clots in the brain and one died.

Scientists plan to reinfect COVID-19 survivors

Researchers at Oxford University are embarking on an experiment that is not without some controversy in the medical community. They plan to reinfect a group of people who have recovered from COVID-19.

The objective is to see how much immunity is provided by the previous exposure. Scientists say there is a lot to be gained from this kind of trial since it will provide insight into the degree to which a previous illness provides future protection.

To conduct the trial, more than 60 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 will be quarantined inside Oxford University Hospitals, with test subjects rotating in about every three weeks. The study is being funded, in part, by the British government.

Poll: 56% say COVID-19 is here to stay

After more than a year, it might not be surprising if people thought this pandemic is never going to end. In fact, a lot of consumers actually do feel that way.

A survey by Healthinsurance.com found that 56% of respondents agreed that “COVID-19 is never going away.” Another 91% said they would miss some aspects of pandemic life when things return to “normal.”

There was a slight increase from last April in the number of people who said they are able to pay their monthly bills, but the survey found saving for an emergency hasn't improved. Forty-six percent said they don't have enough money saved to cover medical costs should they come down with an illness like COVID-19. 

Petco suggests employers welcome dogs back to the office

Has your employer started making plans to reopen the office? Well, guess what? Your dog has gotten accustomed to having you around all day. Not only are you in for an adjustment, so is your best friend.

Petco Health and Wellness Company is urging employers to consider adopting a pet-friendly workplace policy, in addition to other post-pandemic changes. The company suggests that such a policy could be good for everyone.

"At Petco, we've experienced the benefits of working with and around pets all day for decades," said Ron Coughlin, Petco's CEO. "The past year of quarantining and working from home has brought more pets into American families than ever before and significantly deepened the bonds we share with them. We want to see those bonds continue and ensure these pets remain an integral part of our families well into the future.” 

Around the nation

• New York: A year after people began leaving apartments in New York City in search of larger homes, many apartments in the city are still vacant. More than 50% of unrented apartments in Manhattan are being kept off the market to keep rents from falling even more, according to UrbanDigs data.

• Missouri: New cases of the virus are declining in Missouri while they rise in nearby states. Missouri health officials announced 254 new COVID-19 cases but no additional virus deaths on Sunday.

• Oregon: Some residents and business owners are not happy with Oregon’s move to make the mask mandate “permanent.” Officials say it’s only a technical requirement to keep the mandate from expiring until health officials say it’s safe.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that he expects a decision on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to come by the end of the week. 

The company’s vaccine was recently paused after it was linked to a blood-clotting disorder that Dr. Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, has described as “extraordinarily rare.” Six of the 7.5 million Americans who received the company’s single-dose vaccine developed blood clots in their brain within one to three weeks of vaccination. Experts have been taking this time to collect more information about the vaccine. 

Fauci, who heads up the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said experts are likely to decide this week either to restrict the vaccine’s use or to add some sort of warning label. 

“I don’t want to get ahead of the CDC and the FDA and the advisory committee, but I would imagine that what we will say is that it would come back, and it would come back in some sort of either warning or restriction,” he said Sunday on “Meet the Press.”

Last week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices -- the expert panel advising the CDC on the matter -- ended a meeting by saying it couldn’t make a recommendation because the group needed more information. 

“I do not want to vote on this issue today,” committee member Dr. Beth Bell, clinical professor of global health at the University of Washington, said at the Wednesday meeting. “I just don’t feel we have enough information to make an evidence-based decision.”

The ACIP said possible recommendations include continued use in vaccinations, discontinued use, or use only for certain groups.

Bitcoin suffered what analysts called a “flash crash” over the weekend, sending the king of crypto sliding nearly 14% on Saturday -- from $61,057 to $52,829 -- before recovering to $56,216. 

The hit Bitcoin took was reportedly set off by an unconfirmed Twitter rumor that the U.S. Treasury was going to crack down on money laundering schemes involving cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrency investors are quickly finding out how volatile these assets are. Those who have held on tightly and weathered the storms have generally profited. As an example, those who bought bitcoins recently probably have a hard time grumbling about an $8,000 loss when they’ve made double that in the last few months. 

Fevered pitch or cool-headed patience?

Investors were buying cryptocurrencies at a fevered pitch last week. Most of the crypto watchers had their eyes set on Coinbase going public, many with their fingers crossed that it could be a watershed moment for the industry after suffering doubt from financial regulators and Wall Street. There was also a wild 500% rally in Dogecoin — a peer-to-peer digital currency that started out as a joke but is starting to become more popular. 

Despite the optimism, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warns consumers to let that fever cool off a bit before diving in. The agency has already filed actions against five parties, including cryptocurrency app developers and individuals who may have defrauded hundreds of retail investors out of more than $11 million through two fraudulent and unregistered digital asset securities offerings.

“I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me and asked if they should invest in bitcoin.  I recently conducted an investor education program at a retirement community and a woman said to me, “My children keep telling me I need to hurry up and invest in bitcoin—is it safe, have I already missed the boat?” stated Lori Schock, Director of the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. 

Schock said it’s unlikely that the SEC or other regulators will be able to help consumers recover their investment if fraud occurs. So, for now, it’s important to be cautious when considering buying into the cryptocurrency hype.

“Cryptocurrencies may be today’s shiny, new opportunity but there are serious risks involved. Proceed with caution, do your research, evaluate your financial goals and most importantly, don’t flip a coin when you’re making investment decisions. Before you invest, go to Investor.gov to learn how to invest wisely and avoid fraud,” she advised.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an urgent warning to owners of the Peloton Tread+ treadmill after it said one child was killed in an accident and several others were injured.

The agency said it acted after an investigation, reporting that its staff believes the Peloton Tread+ poses “serious risks to children for abrasions, fractures, and death.”

The warnings drew strong pushback from the company, which said the treadmill is safe when safety rules are followed. Peloton said it reported to the CPSC in March when it learned of a child’s death caused by the machine. 

“On March 18, 2021, Peloton's co-founder and CEO John Foley sent an urgent reminder directly to Tread+ members to follow the critical warnings and safety instructions that accompany the Tread+, which state that children, pets, and objects should be kept clear of the Tread+ at all times,” the company said in a statement. “Members were also reminded to remove the safety key and store it out of the reach of children when an adult is not using the Tread+.”

‘Inaccurate and misleading’

Peloton said information in the CPSC press release about the incidents is “inaccurate and misleading” and said its efforts to aid in the investigation of the incidents were rejected.

The CPSC said its investigation turned up at least 39 reports of children, and one pet, being injured while the machine was in operation. It released a video showing one incident in which a child was injured. (Warning: Video content may be disturbing to some viewers.)

“In light of multiple reports of children becoming entrapped, pinned, and pulled under the rear roller of the product, CPSC urges consumers with children at home to stop using the product immediately,” the agency said.

The CPSC believes that at least one incident occurred while a parent was running on the treadmill, suggesting that the hazard cannot be avoided simply by locking the device when not in use. Reports of a pet and objects being sucked beneath the Tread+ also suggest possible harm to the user if the user loses balance.

All treadmills can be dangerous

Injuries caused by any kind of treadmill are not uncommon. The CPSC has reported that 24,000 Americans were treated for treadmill injuries at hospitals in 2014. However, that statistic includes patients treated for injuries from overuse, such as pulled muscles and tendons.

Deaths from treadmill accidents are said to be somewhat rare. In 2015, SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg died of a head injury after falling while using a treadmill at a resort.

According to Sadler, a sports and recreation insurance provider, the treadmill is among the riskiest of all workout equipment because it has a motor that propels it.

The CPSC says consumers who decide to keep using the Peloton+ treadmill should keep it in a locked room. They are also advised to keep all objects, including exercise balls and other equipment, away from the machine. When not in use, the agency says it should be unplugged.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken its first action under the new COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act by charging a chiropractor with deceptively marketing vitamin D and zinc products as “proven” supplements for treating or preventing COVID-19. 

St Louis-based chiropractor Eric Anthony Nepute was advertising the products under the brand name “Wellness Warrior.” He claimed the supplements were equally or more effective than the currently available COVID-19 vaccines. Nepute and his company Quickwork “baselessly” made the following claims, according to the FTC: 

• “COVID-19 Patients who get enough vitamin D are 52% less likely to die”;

• “People who get enough vitamin D are 77% less likely to get the disease”;

•  “Wellness Warrior Vita D is more effective at preventing the disease than approved vaccines.”

“The defendants’ claims that their products can stand in for approved COVID-19 vaccines are particularly troubling: we need to be doing everything we can to stop bogus health claims that endanger consumers,” Acting FTC Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter said in a statement. “With this case, the Commission has quickly put to use its new authority to stop false marketing claims related to the pandemic.”

No supplements proven to treat or prevent the virus

In addition to fining Nepute and his company, the FTC is also seeking to block the defendants from falsely claiming that vitamin D and zinc have been proven to be effective in treating or preventing the virus. 

The agency is reiterating that no supplements have been scientifically proven to treat or prevent COVID-19. That said, consumers who see any companies claiming that their products do either should ignore them. The agency recommends getting information straight from government sources like CDC.gov or FDA.gov.

“When there’s a medical breakthrough to treat, prevent, or cure a disease, you’re not going to hear about it for the first time through an ad or sales pitch,” the FTC says. 

Los Angeles, California is setting out to establish itself as the largest U.S. city with a guaranteed income program for poor residents.

On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti said he will ask the L.A. City Council to appropriate $24 million in next year’s budget to guarantee monthly payments of $1,000 to $2,000 for low-income families. That fund could grow to $35 million with additional capital from council districts and other sources.

The program is not a lifelong guarantee, but rather a one-year program focused on helping households with at least one minor that may have suffered hardship relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Candidates will be chosen from all 15 of the city’s districts and disbursements are based on each district’s share of those living below federal poverty guidelines. Earlier during the pandemic’s spread, Garcetti was also able to get a moratorium on evictions passed.

“How many decades are we going to keep fighting a war on poverty with the same old results,” Garcetti said. “This is one of the cheapest insertions of resources to permanently change people’s lives.”

Garcetti has made affordability a centerpiece of his administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, 105,000 LA residents whose total household income fell below the pre-pandemic poverty line were provided prepaid debit cards of $700 to $1500. 

The movement continues

The guaranteed income movement is spreading nationwide. Similar programs are already in place in other U.S. cities, many driven by local mayors who are part of the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income initiative. Cities taking part in the program include Richmond, Va., Columbia, S.C., Pittsburgh, Pa., Patterson, N.J., St. Paul, Minn., Gary, Ind., Stockton, Calif., Oakland, Calif., Hudson, N.Y., Chelsea, Mass., Jackson, Miss., Gainesville, Fla., and Tacoma, Wash.

Each city has its own method and requirements. For example, qualified residents in Pittsburgh receive $500 a month for two years from the city in what Mayor Bill Peduto is calling the “Assured Cash Experiment of Pittsburgh.” In Stockton, California, the city offers $500 a month to 125 eligible residents. And in Jackson, Mississippi, 20 African-American mothers receive $1,000 a month. 

Pundits say a safety net like guaranteed income is a double-edged sword. It can help narrow the gap for people who don’t qualify for public assistance because they earn over the threshold, but critics say guaranteed income can also become a disincentive to work. They also say guaranteed income might allow recipients to abuse the free money for drugs or alcohol since the checks are usually written with no strings attached.

On a national level, the Biden White House is also working on narrowing the gap between poverty and a sustainable income. During his second day in office, President Joe Biden put forth an effort focused on expanding food assistance and delivering stimulus checks to low-income Americans, as well as another directive asking federal agencies to bump the minimum wage for federal workers to $15 an hour. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday that half of American adults (50.4%) have now gotten at least one COVID-19 shot. 

The agency added that almost a third of adults are now fully inoculated against the virus. That percentage is likely to go up over the next few weeks now that President Biden has opened up vaccine eligibility to all Americans ages 18 and older. 

Vaccine acceptance also appears to be on the rise. A poll conducted in January by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs found that 67% of Americans said they would be willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The latest AP-NORC poll found that 75% of Americans now feel willing to get vaccinated. 

Three vaccines have received emergency authorization in the U.S. Two vaccines -- one from Pfizer and BioNTech and one from Moderna -- require two shots, while Johnson & Johnson’s requires one. Administration of the latter is currently paused while experts look into its link to a rare blood-clotting disorder. Dr. Anthony Fauci expects experts to deliver a decision on the vaccine by the end of this week. 

Regaining normalcy

Fauci has said that 70- 85% of Americans will need to be fully vaccinated before life can return to “normal.” Health officials remain concerned about COVID-19 variants, but Fauci said that vaccinations are crucial to preventing mutations.   

"The only way a virus mutates (is) if it can replicate. So if you vaccinate people and double down on public health measures and keep the level of viral dynamics low we will not have an easy evolution into mutations," he said earlier this year. "That's something that people really need to understand."

"The way you stop those mutations: Get vaccinated and abide by the public health measures," Fauci said.

A preliminary investigation of a fatal weekend crash of a Tesla in Texas suggests that no one was behind the wheel when the vehicle slammed into a tree at a high rate of speed. 

Two men in the car were killed. Police said one occupant was in the front passenger seat. The other was in the backseat. Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told The Wall Street Journal that investigators are “99.9%” sure that the car had no driver when it crashed. Tesla equips its vehicles with an “Autopilot” feature but stresses in its owner’s manual that it is designed to assist the driver and is not intended to pilot the car with no one behind the wheel. 

“Autopilot and full self-driving capability are intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment,” Tesla says in a warning on its website.  

Texas State Police and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are continuing their investigation. Police say it took hours to extinguish the fiery crash, which required 32,000 gallons of water. They say the Tesla’s battery reignited several times.

Other Tesla crashes

Neither the NHTSA nor Tesla has made public statements concerning the crash. It’s just the latest in a series of accidents over the years in which it is believed the driver of a Tesla was depending too heavily on the Autopilot feature, but this is the first time that authorities believe no one was driving.

In most cases, authorities have determined driver error caused the accidents. The NHTSA investigated a 2016 crash in Florida in which a vehicle slammed into a truck. The investigation determined that the driver of the Tesla was at fault in the accident because he had ignored Tesla's warnings that the driver must pay attention at all times when the car is in Autopilot mode.

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) noted that Tesla had upgraded the Autopilot system with a "strike-out" feature that disables Autopilot if the driver does not respond to visual instrument panel cues.

As we reported last month, the NHTSA is currently investigating a Tesla crash in Detroit in which two people were critically injured. In its investigation of previous Tesla Autopilot-related crashes, the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) cited the shortcomings of new automotive technologies.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt has reminded drivers there are no vehicles available to consumers that can safely drive themselves.

Are finances to blame for consumers’ chronic pain in later life? The results from a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia indicate that the answer may be yes. 

According to their findings, those who are struggling financially in mid-life are likely to be at an increased risk of chronic pain as they age. 

“Physical pain is considered an illness on its own with three major components: biological, psychological, and social,” explained researcher Kandauda A.S. Wickrama. “In older adults, it co-occurs with other health problems like limited physical functioning, loneliness, and cardiovascular disease.” 

How financial stress can translate into physical pain

To better understand how consumers’ finances can impact them physically, the researchers analyzed roughly three decades’ worth of data from the Iowa Youth and Family Project. The study focused on over 500 families and tracked their financial security and health outcomes over nearly 30 years. 

The researchers found that a clear relationship emerged between those who struggled financially and those who experienced higher levels of pain later in life. They believe this stems from a lack of control over financial struggles, which then leads to physiological responses. The team found that stress from finances can lead to stress in other areas of life, and that compounding stress can make people more susceptible to several physical ailments. 

They also learned that the inverse relationship existed: having higher levels of pain in later life was associated with higher health care costs, which leads to a greater financial burden. Moving forward, the researchers hope that work is done to better educate and prepare consumers to manage their finances in early adulthood.

“In their later years, many complain about memory loss, bodily pain, and lack of social connections,” Wickrama said. “Nearly two-thirds of adults complain of some type of bodily pain, and nearly that many complain of loneliness. That percentage is going up, and the health cost for that is going up. That is a public health concern.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Southampton explored the risks associated with consecutive miscarriages. 

According to their findings, weight is an important factor when it comes to this reproductive issue. The team found that women who are either underweight or overweight have a higher risk of having consecutive miscarriages. 

“Our findings suggest that having an abnormal BMI exacerbates a woman’s risk of suffering from repeated miscarriages, and so clinicians really need to focus on helping women manage this risk factor,” said researcher Ying Cheong. 

How weight can impact pregnancy

The researchers analyzed over a dozen earlier studies that looked at how women’s lifestyles impacted their reproductive health and the risk of having recurrent miscarriages. The team assessed factors like caffeine intake, alcohol consumption, weight, and body mass index (BMI) scores to determine what was most likely to contribute to multiple miscarriages. 

Their findings revealed that women’s weight played a large role in their reproductive health; women that were either underweight, overweight, or obese were at an increased risk of having consecutive miscarriages. 

“Our study included sixteen studies and showed that being underweight or overweight significantly increases the risk of two consecutive pregnancy losses,” said researcher Dr. Bonnie Ng. “For those with BMI greater than 25 and 30, their risk of suffering a further miscarriage increases by 20% and 70%, respectively.” 

Following a healthy lifestyle

Though caffeine and alcohol are associated with pregnancy complications, the researchers didn’t find any link between these habits and consecutive miscarriages in this study. 

“While our study did not find any associations between recurrent pregnancy loss and lifestyle parameters such as smoking, alcohol, and caffeine intake, further large-scale studies are required to clarify this,” said researcher Dr. George Cherian. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that more work is done to ensure that women are following healthy habits throughout the entire pregnancy process. 

Mercedes-Benz (MBUSA) is recalling 109 model year 2021 E350, E450, E450 Wagons, & E63S AMGs, model year 2020 E63S AMG Wagons, and model year 2020-2021 E53 AMGs.

The passenger seat limiter may allow the seat to be positioned too close to the airbag.

A seat too close to the airbag increases the risk of injury in a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger airbag.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the passenger seat limiter free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 25, 2021.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.