Mixed signals on Covid booster shots

Plus, a new submarine deal for Australia.

Vox is aiming to add 2,500 financial contributions from readers in the next 30 days, to help keep our journalism on the evolving pandemic free as we head into the fall. Help us reach our goal by giving any amount today. The FDA is preparing for a big decision in the booster shot debate; Australia enters a deal for US nuclear submarine technology.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Ellen Ioanes. TOP NEWS The FDA wades into the Covid-19 booster shot debate     Jens Schlueter/Getty Images The FDA neither endorsed nor nixed wide use of Covid-19 booster shots in a report this week, as the debate among the Biden administration, public health experts, and pharmaceutical companies over whether boosters are necessary continues. [The Washington Post / Carolyn Y. Johnson, Joel Achenbach, and Laurie McGinley] The FDA's vaccine panel will convene on Friday to review available evidence and decide whether or not to approve boosters. The agency generally follows the advice of such panels. [The Hill / Nathaniel Weixel] Scientists are divided over the data: A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, using data collected from Israel's booster campaign, found severe Covid-19 is less likely among those who have received a third shot. [NYT / Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland] But an article in the Lancet, whose authors include two FDA vaccine scientists, disagreed. It found no significant evidence that vaccine efficacy against serious cases of Covid-19 decreases over time. [NYT / Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland] Pfizer has trial data showing that its vaccine, developed in conjunction with BioNTech, decreases in efficacy by about 6 percent every two months after a person is fully vaccinated, in a presentation for Friday's meeting. [Axios / Jacob Knutson] Preliminary results from the UK's Public Health England indicate that vaccine protection wanes most for older adults with underlying health issues, although it remains highly effective in preventing hospitalization and death. [STAT / Matthew Herper and Helen Branswell] The Biden administration jumped on the booster bandwagon in August, after data from the CDC showed vaccine efficacy waning over time. That, combined with surging US cases due to the highly infections delta variant, made a convincing case for a third shot. [Politico / Adam Cancryn, Erin Banco, and Sarah Owermohle] Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has recommended that wealthy countries put a two-month moratorium on booster shots so that more doses could get to countries with low vaccine coverage. [Al Jazeera] Australia will get nuclear submarines, angering France and China The US, the UK, and Australia have entered into a partnership to share military technology to counter potential threats in the Pacific region. The so-called AUKUS pact will give Australia its first nuclear-powered submarines. The US had previously shared this technology only with the UK. [BBC] The three nations already cooperate in other defense capabilities, including through the intelligence-sharing Five Eyes group, which also includes Canada and New Zealand. [Politico / Alexander Ward and Paul McCleary] China certainly picked up on the hint, warning the three powers to let go of their "cold war" sensibilities. [Guardian / Helen Davidson and Gavin Blair] The new deal also upset France, which had its own (long troubled) $66 billion deal to provide Australia with conventional submarines. [NYT / Roger Cohen] Relations between China and Australia have deteriorated significantly over the past three years, with China cutting its exports to Australia as it strengthens its ties to Western powers. [NBC / Jennifer Jett and Chantal Da Silva] Support our journalism "Vox Sentences is my morning cup of reality. The daily updates are succinct, relevant, and clever, and they have become my go-to source for more in-depth coverage". —Woody, Vox contributor Give MISCELLANEOUS Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he is self-isolating after "dozens" of his staff members have tested positive for Covid-19. [NPR / Charles Maynes and Deepa Shivaram] Nearly half of all new gun owners since January 2019 are women, up from an estimated 10 to 20 percent in previous polls, according to the 2021 National Firearms Survey. [WSJ / Zusha Elinson] Jason Dolan, a former Marine, is the fourth member of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers to plead guilty to conspiracy charges for his participation in the January 6 Capitol riot. [AP / Alanna Durkin Richer] France says it has killed Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the leader of the Islamic State in Sahel. Al-Sahrawi is the alleged mastermind behind the deaths of four US soldiers in Niger in 2017, as well as six French humanitarian workers in 2020. [WP / Ellen Francis and Rachel Pannett] VERBATIM "What must the pastor do? Be a pastor, don't go condemning. Be a pastor, because he is a pastor also for the excommunicated." [Pope Francis, on whether he would give communion to President Joe Biden, a Catholic and proponent of abortion rights / The New York Times] LISTEN TO THIS     Matt Yglesias says farewell to the Weeds as the hosts discuss US life expectancy. [Spotify / The Weeds] Read more from Vox The housing crisis is the top concern for urban residents   Nicki Minaj isn't anti-vax, exactly. That's why her vaccine resistance is so concerning.   How Walgreens' sloppy Covid-19 test registration system exposed patient data   Wildfires in Australia caused an explosion of sea life thousands of miles away   It's getting harder for people to believe that Facebook is a net good for society       This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 11, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.