Extended interview: Expert explains how COVID-19 vaccines work and side effects after gunfire
Dr. Williams Moss, Epidemiologist and General Manager of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins, explains how Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines work and why side effects are more likely after the 2nd dose.
WASHINGTON – – Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Monday indicated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are considering mandating negative COVID-19 tests on domestic flights, similar to what is now required for international flights.
Speaking during one interview With Axios’ Mike Allen on an episode that aired on Sunday, Buttigieg said, “There is an active conversation with the CDC right now.”
“What I can tell you is that it is being driven by data, science, medicine, and input from the people who actually need to do this,” he added.
When asked about Buttigieg’s remarks, CDC chief Dr. Rochelle Walensky on Monday, the agency is considering the proposal as a possible additional security measure to contain the spread of the virus.
“The more screenings we do in places where people congregate, the more asymptomatic illnesses we will find. There are more conventions at airports and to the extent that we have tests available to do tests.” “She said.” First and foremost, I would really encourage people not to travel, but if we do travel it would be another mitigation method to reduce the spread. “
Later on Monday, Buttigieg said he believed the CDC’s decision would be guided by common sense, medicine and science. He acknowledged that travel industry groups – by and large dismissing the plan as overly depressing air travel – had raised “valid points” that limited testing resources could as a result be diverted away from vulnerable communities and that the virus could be almost as easily spread of people who travel by car.
FILE – Pete Buttigieg, US Secretary of Transportation candidate, dons his mask on during his hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in Washington, DC on January 21, 2021 (STEFANI REYNOLDS / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
“We know this is the appropriate measure for international travel when people are traveling to the US,” Buttigieg told CNN, in part because of the threat of mutated virus variants from other countries. “I would say the domestic image varies a lot, but the CDC always evaluates what can best be done to keep Americans safe.”
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, told the Associated Press on Monday that he thinks testing international travelers, as the U.S. is now demanding, is a good thing, but he refuses to make a COVID-19 test one Making travel within the United States a requirement will result in an even steeper decline in travel, only around 40% of what it was before the pandemic. Bastain said the demand for travel will be weak for the next couple of months, but he is sticking to hopes for a summer surge. “” This is because more people will be vaccinated against COVID-19 and feel safe to travel.
Meanwhile, Buttigieg is currently in quarantine after a member of his security service tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
The agent had been “in close contact” with Buttigieg, including Monday morning prior to the agent’s positive outcome, the transportation department said in a statement. Buttigieg has since tested negative and has had no symptoms.
“Secretary Buttigieg will take all necessary steps to ensure there is no spread, including quarantine for a period of 14 days, and continue to follow all other CDC guidelines,” said Laura Schiller, the department’s chief of staff, referring to the centers for disease control and prevention. “He has had the first dose of the vaccine in the past few weeks and will have the second dose when his quarantine is over.”
Buttigieg said late Monday he was feeling fine with no symptoms and the agent had no signs of COVID-19 other than testing positive for the virus.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
