The US has given out more than 275m doses of coronavirus vaccines from the start of the rollout, inoculating almost half of all Americans. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 158m Americans, or 47.7 per cent of the total population, have received at least one shot.
Ukraine’s parliament has ousted health minister Maksym Stepanov for mishandling the coronavirus vaccine rollout. The country of 42m people has put just under 1m jabs into arms and with only 27,454 residents having received two doses. Denys Shmyhal, prime minister, asked parliament to remove Stepanov from his government.
Local officials in Texas that attempt to impose a mask mandate could be subject to a fine of up to $1,000, Greg Abbott, governor, announced as part of an executive order preventing governmental entities in the state requiring face coverings. The decision applies to counties, cities, school districts, public health authorities and officials.
About 28.5bn coronavirus vaccines would likely be required to end the pandemic by 2023 and slow down virus mutations in…