The latest Despite false starts and a disastrous first test at mass-producing an mRNA vaccine last fall, Pfizer is racing ahead toward a target to produce enough coronavirus vaccines in 2021 for 3 billion shots. Post reporter Christopher Rowland traces Pfizer's path through the pandemic, from its early 2020 partnership with the German biotech company BioNTech, to overcoming engineering challenges at its plant in Kalamazoo, Mich., to the creation of millions and millions of doses of a powerful vaccine. Though the pandemic's exact toll varies depending on who counts it, by the middle of this week the U.S. passed the milestone of at least 600,000 Americans killed by the coronavirus, according to trackers at Johns Hopkins University and Reuters. As more and more of America is vaccinated, though, the rate of death is slowing. It took little more than a month for the toll to rise from 400,000 to 500,000 dead, but the climb from 500,000 to 600,000 occurred over four months. Like the U.S. population, half of the players in the NFL have had at least one vaccine dose. "We're a microcosm of our country, right?" said DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the football players' union. A person familiar with the situation told The Post that, as of last week, 50 out of 90 players on 16 teams, and 70 players on three teams, were vaccinated. The organizers behind the Tokyo Summer Games have released detailed coronavirus rules for Olympic athletes and officials to follow – and disobeying those rules could result in consequences as severe as deportation. Participants must be tested twice within the 96 hours before departing for the games, again when arriving, and daily in Japan. Masks and physical distancing are mandatory for athletes when not competing. The economy continues on its recovery from the pandemic slump. An analysis by The Washington Post identified seven sectors where workers are most in demand, and where wages are high among nonmanagerial employees. Sawmills, moving companies and veterinary clinics are among the places where workers are most needed. Other important news British police have charged a 57-year-old man who attended an anti-lockdown demonstration where protesters chased and harassed a BBC journalist, video shared on social media showed. Eight crew members working on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship tested positive for the coronavirus, postponing the ship's first voyage for weeks. As pandemic restrictions fall away in the United States, colds and other common infections have made an unwelcome return. These athletes have advice for getting back into shape and honing a competitive edge after a pandemic hiatus. | 
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