Good Day BIO: Did we meet the goal?

After spending a much-needed holiday week seeing family and friends, we’ve had time to reflect on how far we’ve come since July 2020. Our conclusion? While there’s still work to do to increase vaccination both in the U.S. and globally, what we’ve achieved in the last six months is a feat worth celebrating—and a testament to the importance of collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

The goal: By July 4, 160 million adults fully vaccinated and 70% with at least one shot. 

The outcome:As of July 1, 155,884,601 Americans were fully vaccinated, which equals about 54.9% of the eligible population (12+) and 47% of the total population. In addition, 63.9% of the eligible population (54.6% of total population) had received at least one dose.

Among 65+, 78.3% were fully vaccinated by July 1. COVID hits this group the hardest, so >75% in six months is an unprecedented win.

The kids are alright. The 12-18 age group has been eligible for just about two months, but already, more than 6 million teens have gotten at least one shot.

And numbers continued to increase over the holiday week.As of July 8, CDC reported 158,287,566 fully vaccinated, +0.7% increase.

However, with variants raging both in the U.S. and globally, COVID continues to have an impact—particularly on youngerpeople, communities of color, and states with lower vaccination rates.

The bright side: All three vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States—Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson—have proven effective against variants including Delta, so getting shots in arms is critical.

What BIO’s doing to help: We continue to explain why the vaccines are safe and effective, in the media, with patients, and at www.COVIDVaccineFacts.org. Globally, biotechnology companies are leveraging global partnerships and collaborations to reach patients all around the world—with manufacturers set to produce enough supply to vaccinate all high-risk patients worldwide.

You can dig into the data at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations. 

Thanks to BIO’s Phyllis Arthur and David Thomas for helping us crunch the numbers.

More Health Care News: 

Biopharma Dive: FDA revises labeling of Biogen's Alzheimer's drug to emphasize early treatment
“The new prescribing information was issued as a result of Biogen filing a supplemental drug application with the FDA requesting clarification of the population in which treatment should be initiated.” 

Moderna: Moderna announces first participant dosed in phase 1/2 study of its quadrivalent seasonal flu mRNA vaccine
“We expect that our seasonal influenza vaccine candidates will be an important component of our future combination respiratory vaccines,” said Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel. 

STAT News: Death rates are declining for many common cancers in the U.S., report finds
However: “[A]cross the board, racial health disparities persist. Black women and white women are diagnosed with breast cancer at similar rates…but the mortality rate for Black women is 40% higher. Overall, cancer is more common among white individuals than Black individuals, but Black people die from cancer at higher rates.”

With the Senate back to work and the House returning next week, we’re keeping an eye on the Sustainable Skies Act—which would help combat climate change and support the development of sustainable aviation fuel.

In a nutshell, the Sustainable Skies Act (H.R. 3440/S. 2263) would create a long-term, performance-based tax credit specifically for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).  

The details: “The legislation would create a tax credit starting at $1.50 per gallon for blenders that supply sustainable aviation fuel with a demonstrated 50% or greater lifecycle estimate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to standard jet fuel,” said the press release from co-sponsors Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Dan Kildee (D-MI), and Julia Brownley (D-CA). “[T]he legislation provides an additional credit of $0.01/gallon for each percentage the fuel reduces emissions over 50%.” 

Learn more about the Sustainable Skies Act.

Why SAF? SAF is made from renewable biomass and waste feedstocks, which can reduce GHG emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. SAF producers are also making significant investments in sustainable agriculture, clean fuels infrastructure, and new energy solutions to power the way we move. 

Long-term tax incentives help these companies grow—creating more new jobs, contributing to rural prosperity, and securing and diversifying our nation’s energy supply.    

The bill has broad support—from BIO and a coalition of airlines, fuel producers, and airports.   

But it needs your help to get it passed. Join our BIOAction Campaign and tell your elected leaders to support The Sustainable Skies Act.

More Agriculture and Environment News: 

Bloomberg Green: Climate change juiced the deadly Pacific Northwest heatwave
“Last week’s deadly heat in the northwestern U.S. and British Columbia would not have reached the highs it did in a world without greenhouse gas pollution, according to climate scientists who conducted a rapid-response study of the heatwave.” 

FarmProgress: USMCA celebrates one-year anniversary
“‘So, when we’re discussing ‘lessons learned’ from one year in USMCA, we must address the Mexican government’s unprovoked rejection of technology—technology that has been proven to enhance the sustainability of agriculture at a time when we need it most,’ BIO says.”

President Biden’s Monday: Meeting with the AG and local law enforcement, elected officials, and a community violence intervention expert to discuss the administration’s strategy to reduce gun crimes. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate’s back in session. While the House is still in recess, House committees will continue to markup FY22 appropriations bills, including Labor, HHS, and Education, Energy and Water Development, and Commerce, Justice, and Science. Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for attaching drug price controls to a budget bill that could potentially pass the Senate without Republican support. Meanwhile, the U.S. Capitol grounds have reopened to visitors after the fencing erected after January 6 was taken down on Saturday.