FDA Approves New COVID-19 Vaccines for 2024-25

On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved and granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been updated with this formula to more closely target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. Thursday’s actions relate to updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

In early June, the FDA advised manufacturers of licensed and authorized COVID-19 vaccines that the COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) should be monovalent JN.1 vaccines. Based on the further evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and a rise in cases of COVID-19, the agency subsequently determined and advised manufacturers that the preferred JN.1-lineage for the COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) is the KP.2 strain, if feasible.

“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “These updated vaccines meet the agency’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”

The updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines include Comirnaty and Spikevax, both of which are approved for individuals 12 years of age and older, and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, both of which are authorized for emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years of age.

What You Need to Know

Unvaccinated individuals 6 months through 4 years of age are eligible to receive three doses of the updated, authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.

Individuals 6 months through 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive one or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (timing and number of doses to administer depends on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received).

Individuals 5 years through 11 years of age regardless of previous vaccination are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines; if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least 2 months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, approved Comirnaty or the updated, approved Spikevax; if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least 2 months since the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Additional doses are authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years of age as described in the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine fact sheets.

Individuals who receive an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may experience similar side effects as those reported by individuals who previously received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and as described in the respective prescribing information or fact sheets. The updated vaccines are expected to provide protection against COVID-19 caused by the currently circulating variants. Barring the emergence of a markedly more infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2, the FDA anticipates that the composition of COVID-19 vaccines will need to be assessed annually, as occurs for seasonal influenza vaccines.

For Thursday’s approvals and authorizations of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, the FDA assessed manufacturing and nonclinical data to support the change to include the 2024-2025 formula in the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The updated mRNA vaccines are manufactured using a similar process as previous formulas of these vaccines. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to hundreds of millions of people in the U.S., and the benefits of these vaccines continue to outweigh their risks.

On an ongoing basis, the FDA will review any additional COVID-19 vaccine applications submitted to the agency and take appropriate regulatory action.

The approval of Comirnaty (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) (2024-2025 Formula) was granted to BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH. The EUA amendment for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (2024-2025 Formula) was issued to Pfizer Inc.

The approval of Spikevax (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) (2024-2025 Formula) was granted to ModernaTX Inc. and the EUA amendment for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2024-2025 Formula) was issued to ModernaTX Inc.

FDA Takes Action on Updated COVID-19 Vaccines

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action approving and authorizing for emergency use updated COVID-19 vaccines formulated to more closely target currently circulating variants and to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. Monday’s actions relate to updated mRNA vaccines for 2023-2024 manufactured by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc. consistent with the totality of the evidence and input from the FDA’s expert advisors, these vaccines have been updated to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant XBB.1.5.

What You Need to Know

Individuals 5 years of age and older regardless of previous vaccination are eligible to receive a single dose of an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months since the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. 

Individuals 6 months through 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive one or two doses of an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (timing and number of doses to administer depends on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received). 

Unvaccinated individuals 6 months through 4 years of age are eligible to receive three doses of the updated authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or two doses of the updated authorized Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.

The FDA is confident in the safety and effectiveness of these updated vaccines and the agency’s benefit-risk assessment demonstrates that the benefits of these vaccines for individuals 6 months of age and older outweigh their risks.

Individuals who receive an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may experience similar side effects as those reported by individuals who previously received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as described in the respective prescribing information or fact sheets.

The updated vaccines are expected to provide good protection against COVID-19 from the currently circulating variants. Barring the emergence of a markedly more virulent variant, the FDA anticipates that the composition of COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated annually, as is done for the seasonal influenza vaccine. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will make recommendations on who should receive an updated vaccine, as well as further considerations for specific populations such as immunocompromised and older individuals. 

Manufacturers have publicly announced that the updated vaccines would be ready this fall, and the FDA anticipates that the updated vaccines will be available in the near future.

“Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated.”

The updated mRNA vaccines are each approved for individuals 12 years of age and older and are authorized under emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years of age. As part of Monday’s actions, the bivalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.

Data Supporting the Updated mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines (2023-2024 Formula)

The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines approved and authorized Monday are supported by the FDA’s evaluation of manufacturing data to support the change to the 2023-2024 formula and non-clinical immune response data on the updated formulations including the XBB.1.5 component. 

The updated mRNA vaccines are manufactured using a similar process as previous formulations. In studies that have been recently conducted, the extent of neutralization observed by the updated vaccines against currently circulating viral variants causing COVID-19, including EG.5 and BA.2.86, appears to be of a similar magnitude to the extent of neutralization observed with prior versions of the vaccines against corresponding prior variants against which they had been developed to provide protection. This suggests that the vaccines are a good match for protecting against the currently circulating COVID-19 variants.

The benefit-risk profile of previously authorized and approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccines is well understood as these vaccines have been administered to hundreds of millions of people in the United States. 

Based on an evaluation of the totality of the evidence, the benefit-risk profile is favorable for individuals 6 months of age and older to receive an updated COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Although serious outcomes from COVID-19 are less common in younger individuals, they do occur, and it has been demonstrated that recently receiving a COVID-19 vaccine reduces the risk of such serious outcomes.

Additional Details on Monday’s Actions

Specifically, Monday’s actions include:

Approval of Comirnaty (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) to include the 2023-2024 formula, and a change to a single dose for individuals 12 years of age and older. Comirnaty was previously approved as a two-dose series for individuals 12 years of age and older. 

Approval of Spikevax (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) to include the 2023-2024 formula, a change to a single dose for individuals 18 years of age and older, and approval of a single dose for individuals 12 through 17 years of age. Spikevax was previously approved as a two-dose series for individuals 18 years of age and older. 

Authorization of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for emergency use in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age to include the 2023-2024 formula and lower the age eligibility for receipt of a single dose from 6 years to 5 years of age. Additional doses are also authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years, as described in the fact sheets.

Authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for emergency use in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age to include the 2023-2024 formula. Additional doses are also authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years, as described in the fact sheets.

The approval of Comirnaty (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) (2023-2024 Formula) was granted to BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH. The EUA amendment for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (2023-2024 Formula) was issued to Pfizer Inc.

The approval of Spikevax (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) (2023-2024 Formula) was granted to ModernaTX Inc. and the EUA amendment for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2023-2024 Formula) was issued to ModernaTX Inc.

FDA Authorizes Omicron Booster Vaccines Against Coronavirus

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, which we will also refer to as “updated boosters,” contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. 

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older. 

The monovalent COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized or approved by the FDA and have been administered to millions of people in the United States since December 2020 contain a component from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. 

What you need to know:

The authorized bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, or updated boosters, include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant. 

The BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant are currently causing most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this fall and winter. In June, the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted overwhelmingly to include an omicron component in COVID-19 booster vaccines.

For each bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, the FDA based its decision on the totality of available evidence, including extensive safety and effectiveness data for each of the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, safety and immunogenicity data obtained from a clinical study of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA from omicron variant BA.1 lineage that is similar to each of the vaccines being authorized, and nonclinical data obtained using a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA of the original strain and mRNA in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant.

Based on the data supporting each of these authorizations, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating omicron variant. Individuals who receive a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may experience side effects commonly reported by individuals who receive authorized or approved monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

With today’s authorization, the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older.

The agency will work quickly to evaluate future data and submissions to support authorization of bivalent COVID-19 boosters for additional age groups as we receive them.

Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when:

Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. 

Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

“The COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, continue to save countless lives and prevent the most serious outcomes (hospitalization and death) of COVID-19,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent contain mRNA from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The mRNA in these vaccines is a specific piece of genetic material that instructs cells in the body to make the distinctive “spike” protein of the original virus strain and the omicron variant lineages BA.4 and BA.5. The spike proteins of BA.4 and BA.5 are identical. 

“The FDA has been planning for the possibility that the composition of the COVID-19 vaccines would need to be modified to address circulating variants. We sought input from our outside experts on the inclusion of an omicron component in COVID-19 boosters to provide better protection against COVID-19. We have worked closely with the vaccine manufacturers to ensure the development of these updated boosters was done safely and efficiently. The FDA has extensive experience with strain changes for annual influenza vaccines. We are confident in the evidence supporting these authorizations,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The public can be assured that a great deal of care has been taken by the FDA to ensure that these bivalent COVID-19 vaccines meet our rigorous safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality standards for emergency use authorization.”

For each of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines authorized Wednesday, the FDA evaluated immunogenicity and safety data from a clinical study of a booster dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained a component of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and a component of omicron lineage BA.1. The FDA considers such data as relevant and supportive of vaccines containing a component of the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages. Furthermore, data pertaining to the safety and effectiveness of the current mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which have been administered to millions of people, including during the omicron waves of COVID-19, contributed to the agency’s evaluation.

Data Supporting the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Authorization

To evaluate the effectiveness of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 18 years of age and older, the FDA analyzed immune response data among approximately 600 individuals 18 years of age and older who had previously received a two-dose primary series and one booster dose of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. These participants received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) at least 3 months after the first booster dose. After 28 days, the immune response against BA.1 of the participants who received the bivalent vaccine was better than the immune response of those who had received the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.

The safety of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 18 years of age and older is supported by safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1), safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary and booster vaccination with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. 

The safety data accrued with the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process.

The clinical study that evaluated the safety of a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) included approximately 800 participants 18 years of age and older who had previously received a two dose primary series and one booster dose of the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, and then at least 3 months later, received a second booster dose with either the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1). 

Among the study participants who received the bivalent vaccine, the most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, swelling of the lymph nodes in the same arm of the injection, nausea/vomiting and fever. 

Data Supporting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Authorization

To evaluate the effectiveness of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 12 years of age and older, the FDA analyzed immune response data among approximately 600 adults greater than 55 years of age who had previously received a 2-dose primary series and one booster dose with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. These participants received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Pfizer-BioNTech’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) 4.7 to 13.1 months after the first booster dose. After one month, the immune response against BA.1 of the participants who received the bivalent vaccine was better than the immune response of those who had received the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

The safety of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 12 years of age and older is based on safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1), safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary and booster vaccination with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. 

The safety data accrued with the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process. 

The clinical study that evaluated the safety of a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) included approximately 600 participants greater than 55 years of age who had previously received a 2-dose primary series, one booster dose of the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and then 4.7 to 13.1 months later, received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Pfizer-BioNTech’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1). Among the study participants who received the bivalent vaccine, the most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. 

The fact sheets for both bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for recipients and caregivers and for healthcare providers include information about the potential side effects, as well as the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis. 

With Wednesday’s authorization, the FDA has also revised the EUA of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to remove the use of the monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for booster administration for individuals 18 years of age and older and 12 years of age and older, respectively. These monovalent vaccines continue to be authorized for use for administration of a primary series for individuals 6 months of age and older as described in the letters of authorization. At this time, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine remains authorized for administration of a single booster dose for individuals 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completing a primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

The amendments to the EUAs were issued to Moderna TX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

Proposed Missouri Tax Cuts in Special Session: Pro and Con

Pro: Governor Mike Parson’s Office

On Monday, during a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson announced that he has issued the official call for a special session to make historic income tax cuts and extend key agriculture tax credit programs for a minimum of six years. The General Assembly will meet in Jefferson City on September 6, 2022, at 12 p.m. to begin consideration of Governor Parson's proposed legislation.

"My team and I have been working with our colleagues in the General Assembly and agriculture partners to formulate a plan to adequately extend our critical agriculture tax credit programs and pass the largest income tax cut in state history," Governor Parson said. "Today, we believe we have that plan and are ready to call legislators back to Jefferson City to get to work on behalf of our farmers, ranchers, and business owners and provide lasting tax relief to every taxpaying Missourian."

Tenets of Governor Parson's proposed tax plan include reducing the individual income tax rate, increasing the standard deduction, and further simplifying the tax code. Governor Parson's proposed plan includes:

–Reducing the top individual income tax rate from 5.3 to 4.8 percent, a nearly 10 percent cut;

–Increasing the standard deduction for individuals by $2,000 and by $4,000 for married joint filers; and

–Eliminating the bottom income tax bracket.

Governor Parson's tax relief plan means significant savings for Missourians each year. Below are a few scenarios that estimate state income tax savings for Missourians of different backgrounds, based on the State's tax structure:

–Senior making $20,000 per year - 100 percent decrease in tax liability;

–Single adult making $25,000 per year - 32 percent decrease in tax liability;

–Single mom with two kids making $35,000 per year - 21 percent decrease in tax liability; and

–Married couple making $125,000 per year - 11 percent decrease in tax liability. 

"Our tax cut proposal means that every taxpaying Missourian, no matter their background, income, or job description, will see a reduction in their tax liability," Governor Parson said. "Every Missourian will earn their first $16,000 tax free and married joint filers will earn their first $32,000 tax free, resulting in significant savings for millions of Missourians. Our plan puts more of Missourians' hard-earned dollars back in their pockets and aims to make it a little easier for families to put food on the table and gas in the car."

Governor Parson's special session call also includes the extension and creation of several agriculture tax credit programs intended to help develop key areas of Missouri's agricultural industry, the state's top economic driver. The sunset for each program will be for a minimum of six years. The call includes:

–Extending the expiration of the meat processing facility investment tax credit;

–Creating a tax credit program for retail dealers of higher ethanol blend fuels;

–Creating a tax credit program for retail dealers of biodiesel;

–Creating a tax credit program for Missouri biodiesel producers;

–Creating a tax credit program for establishing or improving urban farming operations;

–Extending the expiration of the Rolling Stock Tax Credit program;

–Extending the expiration of the Agricultural Product Utilization Contributor Tax Credit;

–Extending the expiration of the New Generation Cooperative Incentive Tax Credit;

–Exempting utility vehicles for agriculture use from state and local sales and use taxes;

–Creating the Specialty Agricultural Crops Act; and

–Amending the Family Farms Act to modify the definition of small farmer.

Con: Missouri Budget Project

Statement from Amy Blouin, President & CEO, Missouri Budget Project

While Missouri is fortunate to have the budget reserves it currently does, this situation is temporary, and is a result of short-term federal funds. Quite simply, relying on the current surplus to fund permanent tax changes isn’t fiscally sustainable, or responsible, and will ultimately require cuts to state services like we saw in Kansas a few years ago.

In response to COVID, the federal government provided billions of dollars to Missouri, which bolstered the state’s economy and state revenue. Those extraordinary federal funds also allowed the state to stockpile a large amount of general revenue. Governor Parson was reluctant to use short term federal funds for ongoing needs, and the same logic applies here.

Moreover, while Governor Parson focused on how certain struggling individuals might pay less in taxes, the proposals discussed today remain heavily weighted to benefit the wealthiest Missourians. What’s more, it would not benefit the thousands of Missourians who earn too little money to owe income taxes – even though they pay more in overall state and local taxes than their wealthy counterparts. In fact, in Missouri, the lower your earnings, the more you pay in state and local taxes as a share of what you make: according to the most recent analysis, Missouri families in the bottom quintile of income pay 9.9% of their income in state and local taxes, compared to just 6.2% for the wealthiest 1% of families.

Missouri can’t afford to enact the failed Brownback tax failure that devasted Kansas' budget. With Brownback’s policies, a budget surplus became a deficit, lawmakers had to make repeated and drastic cuts to state services, and the state’s economy suffered. After years of budget crises, that state’s Republican legislature reversed course and repealed most of the tax cuts. Because of the Hancock amendment, Missouri policymakers won’t have that option.

Missouri is the Show-Me State, and the Kansas failure showed us the devastating results of these kind of cuts to schools, public safety, healthcare, and the many other fundamental state services all of us rely on.

CDC Revises COVID-19 Guidance

On Thursday, CDC streamlined its COVID-19 guidance to help people better understand their risk, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19, and what actions to take if they are sick or test positive for the virus. COVID-19 continues to circulate globally, however, with so many tools available to us for reducing COVID-19 severity, there is significantly less risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death compared to earlier in the pandemic.

“We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19,” said Greta Massetti, PhD, MPH, MMWR author. “We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing high-quality masks, testing, and improved ventilation.  This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.”

In support of this update CDC is:

–Continuing to promote the importance of being up to date with vaccination to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Protection provided by the current vaccine against symptomatic infection and transmission is less than that against severe disease and diminishes over time, especially against the currently circulating variants. For this reason, it is important to stay up to date, especially as new vaccines become available.

–Updating its guidance for people who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines on what to do if exposed to someone with COVID-19.  This is consistent with the existing guidance for people who are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.

–Recommending that instead of quarantining if you were exposed to COVID-19, you wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5.

–Reiterating that regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19.

–You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results.

–If your results are positive, follow CDC’s full isolation recommendations.

–If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.

–Recommending that if you test positive for COVID-19, you stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.  You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. Wear a high-quality mask when you must be around others at home and in public.

–If after 5 days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.

–Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11.

–You should wear a high-quality mask through day 10.

–Recommending that if you had moderate illness (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing) or severe illness (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19 or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10.

–Recommending that if you had  severe illness or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you. If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.

–Clarifying that after you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms worsen, restart your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about your symptoms or when to end isolation.

–Recommending screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.

–Emphasizing that physical distance is just one component of how to protect yourself and others.  It is important to consider the risk in a particular setting, including local COVID-19 Community Levels and the important role of ventilation, when assessing the need to maintain physical distance.

Actions to take will continue to be informed by the COVID-19 Community Levels, launched in February. CDC will continue to focus efforts on preventing severe illness and post-COVID conditions, while ensuring everyone have the information and tools, they need to lower their risk.

This updated guidance is intended to apply to community settings. In the coming weeks CDC will work to align stand-alone guidance documents, such as those for healthcare settings, congregate settings at higher risk of transmission, and travel, with Thursday’s update.

Editorial -- Why Won’t People Work? Long COVID

A Sunday NPR Weekend Edition piece found that at least 4 million Americans don’t work because of Long COVID. They used to be productive workers, but now, they don’t have the energy to work as much. Common symptoms include brain fog, fatigue, fever, indigestion, and elevated body temperature. The 4 million figure is based on data from the Census Bureau, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Lancet, one of the world’s top medical journals.

One possible solution would be to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act. Such a situation would qualify as a disability under the law, and employers would be required to make accommodations, such as lighter workloads, more flexibility in hours, more work from home, or giving them a different role. These accommodations have to be done individually; durations and symptoms vary widely among individuals. Sometimes, symptoms come and go. Some people may even qualify for Social Security Disability income.

Another solution would be to keep improving access to vaccines. My dad had long COVID symptoms for months, but when he got the Moderna shot, he got better.

Another possible solution would be Basic Income. The object of a Basic Income is not to be a substitute for work, but to eliminate poverty, allow everyone to participate in the economy, and allow people to have a safety net when things happen through no fault of their own. This is why we advocate a $1,000 a month UBI. 

Yes, we know that certain people may misuse it. We all know the type. But God created each of us, including Adam and Eve, knowing that we would all sin and fall short of His glory. By the same token, should we abolish police because certain cops misuse their authority? Should we abolish teachers because certain teachers take advantage of students in ways that traumatize them for life? Should we reject God because certain clergy misuse their pulpits?

The US Department of Labor is soliciting ideas from both employers and workers that would help address Long COVID. You can leave comments at https://longcovidatwork.ideascale.com/ until the middle of August.

Editorial -- Joe Biden Playing Doctor

Not only is Joe Biden no more competent than Donald Trump, he is playing doctor and making things worse. We were told that if we elected him over Donald Trump, he would be a lot more competent than Mr. Trump. But not only have more people died from COVID-19 under Mr. Biden, it has not gone away. After hitting a plateau at 100,000 for the last month, it has started to surge again, hitting 138,000 cases a day. Hospitalizations and deaths have started to go up again too.

Now, the President is committing some of the same missteps that his predecessor was. There are currently 1,470 monkeypox cases in the country. There are 1 million doses of a vaccine named Jynneos available. However, they are sitting in a storage facility in Denmark because some bureaucrat somewhere won’t sign off on approval to ship it here.

There is a drug, Tecovirimat, that can treat monkeypox. The CDC announced in June that it will allow the use of TPOXX to treat monkeypox. However, it turns that that physicians have to fill out 100 pages of paperwork for each patient they want to prescribe it to.

Another case in point. Recently, in Ruan vs. United States, the Supreme Court overturned a decision that would have sent board certified pain management specialist Xiulu Ruan to prison for 21 years for not conforming to government standards regarding the prescription of opioids. He was charged under the Controlled Substances Act. The defendant was not allowed to argue in court that he acted in good faith, which led the Supreme Court to unanimously overturn the conviction. In order for the government to convict a doctor, they have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a doctor knowingly or intentionally acted in an unauthorized manner.

One can agree or disagree with the merits of the decision. The National Institutes of Health says that roughly 21 to 29% of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them. Some transition to illegal drugs. 

But the Biden Administration can’t substitute its judgement for that of the courts. Two days after the Supreme Court ruling, the Justice Department organized an opioid strike force in New England targeting doctors who law enforcement officers decide are overprescribing paid medications. 

We were told when Mr. Biden got elected that he would restore respect for the rule of law that his predecessor flouted. That means respecting court decisions one disagrees with. The last thing doctors need is to have to look over their shoulder in fear that the cops might break into their office. And then Mr. Biden wonders why nobody likes him.

FDA Issues EUA for Novavax Vaccine

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 18 years of age and older. 

“Authorizing an additional COVID-19 vaccine expands the available vaccine options for the prevention of COVID-19, including the most severe outcomes that can occur such as hospitalization and death,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Today’s authorization offers adults in the United States who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine another option that meets the FDA’s rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization. COVID-19 vaccines remain the best preventive measure against severe disease caused by COVID-19 and I encourage anyone who is eligible for, but has not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, to consider doing so.”

The FDA has determined that the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted has met the statutory criteria for issuance of an EUA. The data support that the known and potential benefits of the vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in people 18 years of age and older, and that this vaccine may be effective in preventing COVID-19. In making this determination, the FDA can assure the public and medical community that a thorough analysis and evaluation of the available safety and effectiveness data and manufacturing information have been conducted.

The Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted is administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart. The vaccine contains the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and Matrix-M adjuvant. Adjuvants are incorporated into some vaccines to enhance the immune response of the vaccinated individual. The spike protein in this vaccine is produced in insect cells; the Matrix M-adjuvant contains saponin extracts from the bark of the Soapbark tree that is native to Chile. 

“After a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the data, and assessment of the manufacturing processes and information, as well as input from the FDA’s committee of external independent advisors, the FDA’s medical and scientific experts have determined that the vaccine meets the FDA’s high standards for safety and effectiveness for emergency use authorization,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted provides another alternative for adults and adds another vaccine to the COVID-19 vaccine supply for the United States. The American public can trust that this vaccine, like all vaccines that are used in the United States, has undergone the FDA’s rigorous and comprehensive scientific and regulatory review.”

FDA Evaluation of Available Effectiveness Data 

The vaccine was assessed in an ongoing randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study conducted in the United States and Mexico. The effectiveness of the vaccine was assessed in clinical trial participants 18 years of age and older who did not have evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection through 6 days after receiving the second vaccine dose. Among these participants, approximately 17,200 received the vaccine and approximately 8,300 received saline placebo. Overall, the vaccine was 90.4% effective in preventing mild, moderate or severe COVID-19, with 17 cases of COVID-19 occurring in the vaccine group and 79 cases in the placebo group. No cases of moderate or severe COVID-19 were reported in participants who received the vaccine, compared with 9 cases of moderate COVID-19 and 4 cases of severe COVID-19 reported in placebo recipients. In the subset of participants 65 years of age and older, the vaccine was 78.6% effective. The clinical trial was conducted prior to the emergence of delta and omicron variants.

FDA Evaluation of Available Safety Data

The safety of the vaccine was assessed in approximately 26,000 clinical trial participants who received the vaccine and approximately 25,000 who received placebo. The most commonly reported side effects by vaccine recipients included pain/tenderness, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, nausea/vomiting and fever. Approximately 21,000 vaccine recipients had at least two months of safety follow-up after their second dose.

The Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) includes a warning that clinical trial data provide evidence for increased risks of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of tissue surrounding the heart) following administration of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted. The Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers informs that in most people who have had myocarditis or pericarditis after receiving the vaccine, symptoms began within 10 days following vaccination and that vaccine recipients should seek medical attention right away if they experience any of the following symptoms after vaccination: chest pain, shortness of breath, feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart.

As part of this authorization, it is mandatory for the company, Novavax Inc., and vaccination providers to report the following to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS): serious adverse events, cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and cases of COVID-19 that result in hospitalization or death. 

It is also mandatory for vaccination providers to report all vaccine administration errors to VAERS for which they become aware and for Novavax Inc. to include a summary and analysis of all identified vaccine administration errors in monthly safety reports submitted to the FDA.

The FDA has evaluated the pharmacovigilance plan submitted by the company to monitor the safety of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted as it will be used under EUA to ensure that any safety concerns are identified and evaluated in a timely manner. As a condition of authorization, the company will conduct studies to further assess its safety, including studies to further assess the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis.

In addition, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have several systems in place to continually monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety and allow for the timely detection and investigation of potential safety concerns.

The FDA also expects Novavax Inc. to continue their clinical trials to obtain additional safety and effectiveness data and pursue approval (licensure). The EUA was issued to Novavax Inc. The authorization will be effective until the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of drugs and biologics for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is terminated. The EUA may be revised or revoked if it is determined the EUA no longer meets the statutory criteria for issuance.

Governor Signs Bill Opening Several Grant Opportunities

On Thursday, Governor Mike Parson announced updates are now available on the State’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) website, which originally went live in mid-May. The updates include the addition of several new grant programs that were signed into law by Governor Parson on June 30, as well as a detailed overview of all planned uses of ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds as provided for in HB 3020.

At the time of the website’s launch in May 2022, the only grant programs that were accepting applications were water, wastewater, stormwater, and lead service line inventory grant programs. Several additional grant programs anticipate accepting applications in the coming weeks, including grants for agriculture innovation and workforce development, private MoExcels projects, workforce training, and broadband infrastructure. The remaining grant programs will begin accepting applications over the next couple of months.  

With the Governor’s signing of HB 3020, five new grant programs that were added by the General Assembly have also been added to the website, including: grants to port authorities ($25M), grants to local county law enforcement and county prosecutors ($1M), grants to innovative projects to promote agriculture in urban/suburban communities ($50k), Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority biofuel grants ($4M), and county jail improvement grants ($10M). Additional information on these grant programs, including application timeframes, will added to the website in the coming weeks as program details are developed.

 “With this historic funding, we owe it to the people of Missouri to make sure it will be used strictly for the purpose of serving all Missourians effectively,” Governor Parson said. "These grants have the potential to set our people, infrastructure, and workforce development up for the future. People will be able to follow along throughout the process by accessing our website, which is a transparent one-stop shop to view our spending efforts and ensure these funds are being used most appropriately.”  

ARPA and associated federal regulations outline specific categories of allowable spending for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The eligible categories of spending include projects or programs that support public health expenditures; address negative economic impacts caused by COVID-19; replace lost public sector revenue; or invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.  

Signed into federal law on March 11, 2021, ARPA includes funding for states and local governments to mitigate the negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic (State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds). Missouri was allocated approximately $2.7 billion in State Fiscal Recovery Funds under ARPA.

Per federal law, all ARPA funded programs and grants must be allocated by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026.

FDA Recommends Inclusion of Omicron Booster Doses

On Tuesday, June 28th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s independent experts on the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee met to publicly discuss whether a change to the current vaccine strain composition of COVID-19 vaccines for booster doses is necessary for the 2022 fall and winter seasons. 

The COVID-19 vaccines that the FDA has approved and authorized for emergency use have made a tremendous difference to public health and have saved countless lives in the U.S. and globally. However, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has evolved significantly, with recent surges around the world associated with the rapid spread of highly transmissible variants such as omicron. 

Currently available vaccines have helped reduce the most serious outcomes (hospitalization and death) caused by COVID-19, but results from post-authorization observational studies have shown that effectiveness of primary vaccination wanes over time against certain variants, including omicron. And while initial booster doses have helped restore protection against severe disease and hospitalization associated with omicron, studies have also indicated waning effectiveness of first booster doses over time.

The American public can be assured that any COVID-19 vaccine authorized or approved by the FDA meets our standards for safety and effectiveness. We encourage those who are currently eligible for a booster to get one.

As we move into the fall and winter, it is critical that we have safe and effective vaccine boosters that can provide protection against circulating and emerging variants to prevent the most severe consequences of COVID-19. Following a thorough discussion on June 28, 2022, an overwhelming majority of the advisory committee voted in favor of including a SARS-CoV-2 omicron component in COVID-19 vaccines that would be used for boosters in the U.S. beginning in fall 2022.

Following the vote, and striving to use the best available scientific evidence, we have advised manufacturers seeking to update their COVID-19 vaccines that they should develop modified vaccines that add an omicron BA.4/5 spike protein component to the current vaccine composition to create a two component (bivalent) booster vaccine, so that the modified vaccines can potentially be used starting in early to mid-fall 2022. 

As we expect this coming year to be a transitional period when this modified booster vaccine may be introduced, we have not advised manufacturers to change the vaccine for primary vaccination, since a primary series with the FDA-authorized and approved COVID-19 vaccines provides a base of protection against serious outcomes of COVID-19 caused by circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2. 

Vaccine manufacturers have already reported data from clinical trials with modified vaccines containing an omicron BA.1 component and we have advised them that they should submit these data to the FDA for our evaluation prior to any potential authorization of a modified vaccine containing an omicron BA.4/5 component. Manufacturers will also be asked to begin clinical trials with modified vaccines containing an omicron BA.4/5 component, as these data will be of use as the pandemic further evolves.

The FDA has been planning for the possibility that vaccines would need to be modified to address circulating variants and previously provided guidance to industry on how to do so efficiently. As has been the case with all COVID-19 vaccines throughout the pandemic, the agency will evaluate all relevant data to inform the safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality of modified vaccines under consideration for authorization or approval to ensure that they meet the FDA’s standards. 

In keeping with our commitment to transparency, the FDA will communicate future plans pertaining to the potential authorization or approval of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses with an omicron component.

Parnell Receives $667,788 Grant for Water Improvements

On June 1st, the Missouri Department of Economic Development announced that the City of Parnell had received a $667,788 CDBG Grant to make repairs to the water tower and distribution system. 

The money is part of a $41.2 million award through the state’s COVID relief program to help them prevent, prepare for, and respond to the lasting effects of COVID-19. 41 Missouri communities received funds.

Sixth Nodaway County Resident Tests Positive in One Day

A sixth Nodaway County resident has tested positive for the Coronavirus Thursday, the Nodaway County Health Department reported. This is in addition to the five people who already tested positive that day. The individual is a male between the ages of 10 and 19 and is a household contact to a known positive case. They are self-isolating in a private residence. If you are not contacted by a health official, you are not at increased risk, and you are not a close contact.

MSHSAA Releases Guidelines for Athletic Competition

On Wednesday, MSHSAA released guidelines on participation in athletics. All students and coaches and officials will be temperature screened before practices and competitions. If someone is tested and they test positive, they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and identify any recent close contacts. If it is uncertain who the close contacts are, the entire team may be required to self-isolate.

Schools must have a traditional school schedule in order to have sports this fall. If a school is forced to offer online learning only, then MSHSAA will not allow them to offer sports. 

If a participant, coach, or official has a positive finding on their temperature screen or shows symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness or breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, or vomiting or diarrhea, they will be sent home immediately and referred for testing. Written clearances by a healthcare provider or documentation of a negative test shall be required for return to participation.

The complete guidelines can be found at the MSHSAA website.

Five Nodaway County Residents Test Positive for Coronavirus

Five Nodaway County residents tested positive for the Coronavirus Thursday, the Nodaway County Health Department reported. The individuals are a man between 40-49 years of age, a woman between the ages of 40-49, and three children between 0 and 9 years old. They are isolated at a private residence, and are contacts to a known positive case.

If you have not been contacted by the health department, you are not considered a close contact, and you are not at increased risk. The health department urges the public to maintain six feet of separation, limit person to person interactions, practice good hygiene, and wear a mask. 

There have now been 43 positive tests for the Coronavirus in Nodaway County since the pandemic hit the area in April. Of these, 28 are no longer in isolation.

Wal-Mart Now Requires Masks to be Worn

Wal-Mart will start requiring all employees and customers to wear masks effective July 20th, the company announced on its website Wednesday. This includes all Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs. The gap will give the store time to inform customers and employees of the changes, post signage, and train associates in the new protocols. Customers will now be met with a greeter who will enforce the new policy on masks. 

The CDC says that face coverings help slow the spread of COVID-19 and that the virus can be spread by people who don’t know that they have the virus.

Opinion -- Nurses, Physicians Associations Urge State Mask Requirement

 The physicians and nurses who comprise the Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA) and the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA), join together to urge Missouri’s Governor Mike Parson to implement a statewide masking requirement for indoor spaces and for crowded outdoor spaces where social distancing is difficult.

Over the past two weeks, Missouri has experienced the highest surge in COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Since a person may be infected with COVID-19 but still be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, it is imperative that all people wear masks in public places in order to protect their families, friends, and fellow citizens.

“It has become increasingly clear that COVID-19 is spread mainly by someone inhaling the virus expelled by another person and wearing a mask is the best way to slow the spread. As numbers continue to rise in Missouri, we must issue statewide policy to protect Missouri’s citizens and preserve our health care workforce,” said Terry Reese, MSN, RN, FNP-BC; President, MONA.

The CDC recommends that all people age two and older wear face masks in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when social distancing is difficult. Many studies have shown that mask use decreases effective transmission rate of COVID-19 by blocking some infectious contacts.

“Preventing the spread of COVID-19 is necessary for continued economic growth, opening of schools in the fall, participation in sports, and an increased sense of community cooperation. These should be our goals and wearing a mask so as not to infect others is a commonsense way to achieve them,” said George Hruza, MD, MBA, FAAD; President, MSMA.

The physicians and nurses of Missouri compel the Governor to implement a statewide masking requirement that would protect both lives and livelihoods.

Worth County Businesses Eligible for CARES Act Funds

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments (Regional Council) is administering the CARES Act funds received by Worth County and is now accepting applications for CARES Act fund reimbursement requests.

Small businesses and non-profits located within Worth County are eligible to apply. Application requests for reimbursement must be based on eligible expenses or costs already incurred during the period of March 1 through June 30, 2020 and must satisfy the requirements of the CARES Act and Treasury guidance. Applicants will be required to submit sufficient supporting documentation such as invoices, receipts, and proof of payment.

The program funds will be allocated to eligible and qualified small businesses and non-profits based on availability.

Applications and supporting documentation are required for review and approval. All grants will be processed on a first-come, first-review basis to qualified applicants. Please note that applications for funds are considered public information.

To be eligible, businesses must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a for-profit, independently owned business or independently operated franchise, or non-profit organization geographically located within the borders of Worth County, MO.

• Must possess a current city, county, and state license or permit to operate, as applicable.

• Must provide proof of a business hardship created by COVID-19 (i.e. employee layoffs, purchase of added safety items, added expenses due to COVID-19, etc.).

• Must use funds for operational needs, such as employee expenses, lease/mortgage payments, utilities, materials, supplies and services.

• Must be in compliance with local, state, and federal non-discrimination policy, and overall good standing with city and county service providers as of February 1, 2020 (e.g., current on utility bills, no liens or judgments, and prior year(s) property taxes, state and federal taxes).

• Must be a business with 30 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) or fewer employees.

Local governments and political subdivisions located within Worth County are eligible to apply for both reimbursement requests and future COVID-19 response needs. Application requests for reimbursements must be based on eligible expenses or costs already incurred during the period of March 1 through June 30, 2020. Applications for future COVID-19 response needs can be based on expenses or costs not yet incurred but needed to respond to the pandemic. 

Both application requests must satisfy the requirements of the CARES Act and Treasury guidance. Applicants will be required to submit sufficient supporting documentation such as invoices, receipts, and proof of payment.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, July 31, 2020. The Regional Council will review the applications for completeness (including supporting documentation), compliance with the CARES Act requirements and Treasury guidance, with final award decisions made by the Worth County Commission. Award recipients will be required to enter into a written agreement with the County prior to disbursement of awarded funds.

The application is available from the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and can be downloaded from their website, www.nwmorcog.org. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Amy Dowis, Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments, 660-582-5121, ext. 3 or amy@nwmorcog.org.

Over the course of the past few weeks, Worth County has reviewed the requirements of the CARES Act and the guidance issued by the Department of Treasury and has been working with the Regional Council to identify community priorities and develop an application process to allow applicants to request CARES Act funds and make award decisions for the use of funds.

Blythedale Fair Canceled

The Blythedale Fair, which was to have been held in August, has been canceled. The event will be held next year during the first weekend in August.

Northwest Winefest Canceled

The Northwest Winefest, which was to have been held in Mound City on September 29th, has been canceled. All vendors and ticket holders will be refunded in full. The event will be held again next year. Details will be announced in spring.

Opinion – No, the Economy is Not Roaring Back

By Rik Hafer

The Labor Department announced that almost 5 million jobs were added in June.  On top of an impressive increase in May of nearly 3 million jobs, predictions of V-shaped recovery seemed inevitable.  Sadly, it isn’t going to happen.

Do economists always look on the gloomy side of life?  No, we study the data and observe behavior to reach our conclusions.  And right now neither is providing encouraging signals.

Employment numbers improved following the re-opening of stores, shops, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities across the nation.  This was expected after an unprecedented loss of 22 million jobs in March and April.  But is it a dead cat bounce, the phrase used to describe temporary recoveries in stock prices after a significant fall?  Is the nascent recovery sustainable?  

Several factors suggest a temporary bounce.  

Data from new coronavirus hot spots—Texas, Arizona, and Florida— and other states suggest a sharp decline in economic activity also is taking hold.  The Wall Street Journal reported that credit card use data from J.P. Morgan Chase reveals a significant drop in recent weeks.  As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increase, spending will slow.  Of course we hope that events in those states do not foreshadow Missouri’s future, but it is not a time for complacency. 

The June employment data is a snapshot of the labor market in mid-June.  More recent data indicate that hiring slowed since then.  Measures of economic activity also have plateaued.  The economy is operating at levels higher than in March and April, though still far below the first of the year. 

Some see this as a temporary pause in an ongoing recovery.  That is a false hope, I fear.

“I hesitate to call this a recovery,” said Mary C. Daly, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at an event hosted by the Washington Post.  More to the point, she added “ultimately the virus will determine the pace at which we can go.”

That brings me to my second point.  No one wants a return to the shutdowns of March and April.  But something similar is likely if our collective behavior doesn’t change to slow the re-emergence of the virus. 

Once re-openings were permitted, pent up desires got the best of us.  Many flocked to stores, beaches, and, where possible, bars.  Officials from the CDC to governors to mayors cautioned us to follow the health protocols of distancing and wearing face coverings.  Unfortunately, too many rejected these guidelines as government overreach, infringing on their personal rights.  

The problem is that not following the protocols potentially inflicts third-party costs on everyone else.  If you happen to be asymptomatic and mask-less, you unknowingly spread the virus to others.  You in effect impose a cost on them that they did not want.  It isn’t your right to make others ill.

Not wearing a mask should not be synonymous with the don’t-tread-on-me attitude any more than our collective agreement that wearing clothes when grocery shopping is probably a good idea.  Rejecting face coverings doesn’t reflect a stand against tyranny, but a disregard for other’s safety. 

Those living in rural areas may think that “the virus is just a city thing.”  Increased Covid-19 cases in rural counties confirm what the experts have said:  the virus knows no boundaries.  Because increased cases often precede more hospitalizations, residents in rural counties may be especially vulnerable if the virus spreads.  According to the Kaiser Health Network, over 50 counties in Missouri have no ICU beds.  In about half of those counties, those aged 60 or older constitute at least a third of the population.  Not a good combination should the virus flare up.

Everyone wants to see a return to normal times.  One low-cost way to help is to be socially responsible: wear a face covering and social distance in public settings.  Even though some of our political leaders don’t, trust the experts on this one.  The economy is depending on you.

Rik W. Hafer

Professor of Economics and Director,

Center for Economics and the Environment

Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise