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Today's Rundown

CureVac looks to subgroup to save failed COVID-19 vaccine as final analysis confirms sub-50% efficacy
Novavax pledges to help verify COVID vaccine status for trial participants as the world opens back up to travel
Hospital CEOs stayed in place during a hectic year for health systems
FDA revokes emergency nods for KN95 respirators and disinfecting hardware as mask supplies rebound
ASCO and Friends push for more cancer patients in COVID-19 vaccine trials
Moderna taps Ogilvy for first chief brand officer as marketing plans await full FDA approval
NIH study suggests rapid antigen and PCR tests for COVID-19 are equally reliable when used frequently
Provider groups ask OSHA for more time to implement COVID-19 emergency protection standard
UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: AHIP, BCBSA program helps vaccinate 2M seniors
COVID-19 tracker: CureVac sees hope for vaccine despite trial flop; AZ jab highly protective against death in older adults

Featured Story

CureVac looks to subgroup to save failed COVID-19 vaccine as final analysis confirms sub-50% efficacy

By Nick Paul Taylor

CureVac has highlighted the efficacy of its failed COVID-19 vaccine in adults aged up to 60 years as evidence the jab has a role to play in the response to the pandemic. The German biotech is pushing ahead with a regulatory submission in Europe despite achieving 48% efficacy in its phase 2b/3 trial.

Novavax pledges to help verify COVID vaccine status for trial participants as the world opens back up to travel

By Annalee Armstrong

As debate about COVID-19 vaccine passports continues, participants in clinical trials for shots that are yet to be authorized are finding themselves lost in the shuffle. Novavax, which is trying to get its vaccine across the finish line, spoke up Wednesday to say that clinical trial participants should not be disadvantaged in situations where they need to provide proof of vaccination.

Hospital CEOs stayed in place during a hectic year for health systems

By Dave Muoio

Nationwide hospital CEO turnover dipped for a second consecutive year to match the lowest rates seen in a decade, according to a recent American College of Healthcare Executives report.

FDA revokes emergency nods for KN95 respirators and disinfecting hardware as mask supplies rebound

By Conor Hale

As the COVID-19 pandemic finally begins to turn a corner in the U.S., the FDA has started rescinding some of the blessings it bestowed at the height of the emergency—including for a wide variety of respirator masks and hardware for cleaning and reusing them.

ASCO and Friends push for more cancer patients in COVID-19 vaccine trials

By Kyle LaHucik

A larger portion of cancer patients needs to be included in COVID-19 vaccine trials to gain better understanding of the safety and efficacy for the demographic that is more susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, argue the American Society of Clinical Oncology and Friends of Cancer Research.

Moderna taps Ogilvy for first chief brand officer as marketing plans await full FDA approval

By Beth Snyder Bulik

As Moderna preps a marketing strategy for its COVID-19 vaccine—in fact, its only commercial product—it is hiring its first-ever chief brand officer. Kate Cronin joins this month from Ogilvy Health, where she was global CEO.

NIH study suggests rapid antigen and PCR tests for COVID-19 are equally reliable when used frequently

By Andrea Park

In calculations of the overall sensitivity of each type of test, researchers found that both the PCR and antigen analyses achieved more than 98% sensitivity when results from every three days were taken into account. That’s a stark improvement from the 80% sensitivity rating calculated for once-weekly antigen tests.

Provider groups ask OSHA for more time to implement COVID-19 emergency protection standard

By Robert King

Provider groups MGMA and AHA are asking the federal government for more time to comply with an emergency protection standard to shield frontline healthcare workers from COVID-19.

UPDATED Coronavirus tracker: AHIP, BCBSA program helps vaccinate 2M seniors

By Healthcare Staff

Follow along with the latest COVID-19 news straight from the Fierce Healthcare team.

COVID-19 tracker: CureVac sees hope for vaccine despite trial flop; AZ jab highly protective against death in older adults

By Noah Higgins-Dunn,Kevin Dunleavy,Fraiser Kansteiner

Despite a disappointing 48% vaccine efficacy readout in a key late-stage trial, CureVac says it's forging ahead with a regulatory submission in Europe. Two doses of AstraZeneca’s jab prevent roughly 94% of deaths from the coronavirus in people aged 65 and older, according to a new Public Health England report. And more headlines.

COVID-19 Tracker