The latest It was a common message from President Biden: He would "follow the science" to stop the coronavirus pandemic. But critics of his recently announced plan to provide eight-month booster shots to vaccinated Americans say this idea may be getting ahead of the data. Some were concerned the announcement places unwanted pressure on regulators to give booster plans the green light. And immunologists told The Washington Post the decision could be premature, based on the success of the vaccines at preventing hospitalizations and other indicators. The Moderna vaccine may be associated with a higher risk of a heart condition called myocarditis than earlier data had indicated. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Food and Drug Administration are examining reports out of Canada, plus U.S. observations, to determine whether this is the case, especially in men under 30. The side effect remains very uncommon, people familiar with the investigation emphasized. Experts have consistently noted that the benefits of coronavirus vaccination far outweigh the risk of harm. Monoclonal antibodies are a freely available treatment for covid-19 that can prevent severe disease if given early enough to patients. Donald Trump, when he became sick as president, received them. But patients are rarely taking this therapy now. Fewer than 30 percent of eligible patients have taken Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' monoclonal antibodies, the drug company said. "It is absolutely the standard of care for covid-19," one infectious-disease pharmacist told The Post. "It is my hope that clinics know that." The pandemic has entered a dire phase in Mississippi. Thomas Dobbs, the state health officer, said Wednesday, "We are clearly at the worst part of the pandemic that we've seen throughout." He added: Mississippi is "seeing higher and higher numbers of not just cases but hospitalizations, people in intensive care units, life support." Slightly more than one-third of Mississippi is vaccinated, placing it just above Alabama to be the second-lowest vaccinated state in the nation. In Alabama, doctors have begun to beg their patients to roll up their sleeves and take the shot. Post reporter Stephanie McCrummen describes the intimate conversations in that state between physicians and those they are trying to protect. About 65 percent of Alabama isn't vaccinated. It has been averaging nearly 3,000 new cases daily. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who recently tested positive for the coronavirus, had requested to block restraining orders on his ban against mask rules in schools. The all-Republican Texas Supreme Court rejected the governor's request, allowing masks to be required in schools, at least for the time being. This legal saga will continue, with the Texas attorney general's challenge to be next heard by the state Third Court of Appeals. Whatever that outcome, it is expected to be appealed, Post reporters Meryl Kornfield and Timothy Bella note. Other important news A trio of senators, all of whom were vaccinated, announced Thursday they had tested positive for the coronavirus. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) join multiple other members of Congress to test positive recently, despite being vaccinated. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has instructed its Catholic priests to reject parishioner requests for religious exemptions to vaccine mandates. Pope Francis recently described getting the vaccine as an "act of love." Health and Science reporters Joel Achenbach and Carolyn Johnson will be answering reader questions about the Biden administration's plan for booster shots, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern today. If you aren't able to join while the event is live, don't worry – this and similar Q&As remain on The Post website. | 
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