Good morning. It's Friday, Dec. 18, and the US is on track to have its second COVID-19 vaccine ready for distribution by this weekend. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Moderna Eyes Approval

A federal advisory panel has recommended granting emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. The decision clears the way for full approval of the second vaccine in the US, with distribution likely beginning this weekend. 

The vaccine is built on the same technology as a treatment from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech—using mRNA—which began being administered this week. It is similarly effective, reaching almost 95% efficacy after two doses separated by four weeks. Unlike Pfizer's vaccine, which requires an ultracold supply chain (see the science), Moderna's drug can be stored at minus 4 degrees, a standard freezer temperature. Also unlike Pfizer, which received no federal money for drug development, Moderna received $1B in support from the Trump Administration's Operation Warp Speed.

The US has signed $3B in contracts for 200 million doses from Moderna through June—enough for 100 million people. The supply will be added to at least 100 million doses from Pfizer. The government has the option to purchase up to 800 million additional doses between both companies, though they would not be ready until next year.

One fortuitous surprise—many hospitals have found extra doses in the vials shipped by Pfizer, which may significantly expand the scarce vaccine supply during initial distribution. Separately, two Alaskan healthcare workers suffered allergic reactions after receiving the Pfizer shot. They're the only such incidents reported in the US thus far, with tens of thousands of doses having been administered. 

Both Vice President Mike Pence (tomorrow) and President-elect Joe Biden (next week) will receive vaccines live on television, in an effort to boost confidence in the safety of the treatments. Rep. Cedric Richmond (D, LA-2), a close adviser to Biden, tested positive yesterday (Biden tested negative). 

Vaccine rollout comes as the US enters the worst phase of the pandemic seen to date. In total, the US has reported more than 17.2 million cases of COVID-19 and 310,702 deaths, up by 3,270 deaths from yesterday. See rolling averages for cases and deaths.

See a great overview of how Moderna's vaccine works here.

Jobless Claims Rise

An estimated 885,000 Americans filed initial unemployment claims last week, a rise of more than 20,000 from the previous week and the highest figure since early September. The four-week moving average, which had trended downward since the peak of 7 million new claims seen in late March (see data), has reversed and is trending upward. Economists say the change reflects the impact of business closures and new restrictions by states as COVID-19 cases surge across the country. Roughly 20.6 million people are receiving some form of benefits under all programs, which includes continuing claims and stimulus-provided coverage for contractors and the self-employed.

The data come as Congress wrangles over another round of economic stimulus. Negotiators are reportedly close to a $900B deal that would include direct checks to Americans, but talks are likely to spill into the weekend—requiring a stopgap funding bill by tonight to avoid a government shutdown.

Kidnapped Students Released

More than 300 students kidnapped in northwest Nigeria six days ago were returned to their families unharmed yesterday. The relief comes after government troops located and surrounded the bandit group, though the terms of the release are unclear; officials denied paying a ransom. The Islamist extremist group Boko Haram originally claimed responsibility for the incident, though their relationship with the perpetrators is unclear—the group hasn't historically operated in the northwest, and some question whether the group claimed responsibility after the fact. 

The episode evoked memories of the 2014 kidnapping of more than 270 school-aged girls from the northeastern town of Chibok. The episode sparked worldwide shock, with Boko Haram militants reportedly using the victims as child brides and tokens for negotiations with the government. An estimated 112 girls remain missing. Read firsthand accounts from survivors here.

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

Brought to you by ButcherBox™

> Russia banned from using its name and flag at next two Olympic games and from competing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to doping scandal (More)

> Jeremy Bulloch, English actor best known for role as Boba Fett in “Star Wars,” dies at 75 (More)

>  Landmark College Athlete Bill of Rights congressional legislation proposal would create sweeping changes allowing student-athletes to sign endorsement deals and hire agents (More) | NCAA approves blanket waiver for all Division I athletes to be able to transfer schools and play immediately this season (More)

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Science & Technology

> World Health Organization to lead an investigation into the animal origins of the COVID-19 emergence in China, including how it jumped species to humans (More)

> Measurements of gravitational waves reveal details of the interior of ultradense neutron stars (More) | What are ripples in spacetime? (More)

> New machine learning analysis of 6 million YouTube videos finds people across the globe make similar facial expressions in similar social contexts; suggests a universality about how humans express emotions (More)

Business & Markets

> US stock markets up (S&P 500 +0.6%, Dow +0.5%, Nasdaq +0.8%) to fresh all-time highs on stimulus hopes (More) | Coinbase, largest US cryptocurrency exchange, files for confidential IPO (More) | Stock trading app Robinhood settles with SEC for $65M for misleading customers (More)

> Thirty-eight US states sue Google, alleging a monopoly on internet search through anticompetitive conduct (More)

> Members of the Sackler family, owners of OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma, attest role in opioid crisis before Congress (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Mark Milley held a secret meeting with Taliban leaders in Qatar early in the week, according to reports; discussions come as the US draws down remaining troops in Afghanistan (More)

> President-elect Joe Biden to name Rep. Deb Haaland (D, NM-1) as secretary of the interior and Michael Regan to lead the Environmental Protection Agency; Haaland would become the first Native American to hold a cabinet position, Regan would be the first Black man to serve as EPA chief (More)

> Microsoft breached as part of massive Russian-direct cyberattack this week; officials say the SolarWinds supply chain hack was not the only point of entry (More) | Department of Energy, two national labs, and the National Nuclear Safety Administration also victims (More) | Overview here (More)

IN-DEPTH

The Deadliest Place in America

USA Today | Trevor Hughes. The situation is bleak in rural Gove County, Kansas, which has the highest fatality rate from COVID-19 of any US county. (Read)

Editor's note: Following the publication of this story, the mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, resigned after receiving death threats for supporting a mask mandate.

What Comes After Smartphones?

Ben-Evans.com | Benedict Evans. More than 15 years on, smartphones have almost fully matured as a technology. A short but thought-provoking look at what may be the next generationally disruptive technologies. (Read)

Modern Economic Theory is Wrong

Bloomberg | Brandon Kochkodin. Economists have it all wrong, says one British physicist. It's both an outlandish and tantalizing idea—and hinges on a concept called ergodicity. (Read, $$)

The Ravages of Alzheimer's

Maclean's | Shannon Proudfoot. A wrenching, intimate look at the effects of early-onset Alzheimer's in one family. (Read)

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ETCETERA

Scientists discover the world's ugliest flower.

A look at America's richest families.

Watch the best music videos of 2020.

A 1,000-year-old cross is pulled from a Scottish field.

Zoom lifts its 40-minute free limit for the upcoming holidays.

Visualizing how people worldwide spend their time.

Waste time creating your own blob Opera (thanks Google).

The world's longest-exposure photo was taken with a beer can.

Clickbait: Florida's python-sniffing dogs are on the prowl.

Historybook: Mayflower arrives at Plymouth Harbor (1620); 13th Amendment formally adopted in Constitution, abolishing slavery (1865); HBD Steven Spielberg (1946); HBD Brad Pitt (1963); RIP actress Zsa Zsa Gabor (2016).

"All good ideas start out as bad ideas, that’s why it takes so long."

- Steven Spielberg

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