What We're Reading: All US Adults Vaccine Eligible; Cutting Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes; Vaccines May Ease Lingering COVID-19

All Adults Nationwide Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines

Reported by ABC News, all US adults are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines as of yesterday, with all 50 states; Washington, DC; and Puerto Rico meeting President Joe Biden’s April 19 deadline. Expanded eligibility comes as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise nationwide, with the 7-day average of new cases increasing by 1% from last week—from 66,702 to 67,443—compared with tje 7-day average of 53,000 cases per day from 4 weeks ago. So far, half of US adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 33% are now fully vaccinated.

Biden Admin Considering Rule to Lower Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

As the Biden administration considers a policy on whether or not to ban menthol cigarettes, it is also considering another policy that would require tobacco companies to reduce the nicotine in all cigarettes sold in the United States to nonaddictive or minimally addictive levels. Reported by The Wall Street Journal, the FDA must respond on whether to enact a policy aligned with a citizens’ petition on banning menthol cigarettes on April 29, which may also see a potential nicotine reduction policy as well. Both policies would likely take years to implement and face legal challenges.

Vaccines Reportedly Easing Long-term COVID-19 Symptoms

According to CBS News, a poll of 962 people with long-term COVID-19 symptoms found that 39% reported mild to full resolution of their lingering symptoms after they were vaccinated. The poll, conducted by a Facebook group called “Survivor Corps,” also found that 46% of respondents’ symptoms remained the same after vaccination and 14% said they felt worse. Following poll results, the Yale School of Medicine said it hopes to enroll 100 people with long-term symptoms from the virus in its own study to understand the potential impact of vaccines and whether benefits would last.