Calif. Vax Incentives; Booster Questions Linger; J&J Resuming Production Soon

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Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced the state is ready to dole out $116.5 million worth of incentives, including cash prizes, to get Californians vaccinated ahead of the June 15 reopening. (Politico)

While Gov. Brad Little (R) was out of the state, Idaho’s lieutenant governor banned mask mandates in schools and public buildings (ABC News)

More research is needed now in order to decide if a booster will be needed — and when. (ABC News)

Mexico just granted emergency use authorization to Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. (Reuters)

And following Johnson & Johnson’s contamination problems at its Baltimore plant, the FDA is expected to give the greenlight to resume vaccine production as early as next week. (Wall Street Journal)

As of Friday at 8:00 a.m. EDT, the unofficial COVID-19 toll in the U.S. was 33,218,607 cases and 593,293 deaths, increases of 27,443 and 1,336, respectively, since this time a day ago.

In a guideline update, the NIH now recommends using either baricitinib (Olumiant) or tocilizumab (Actemra) with dexamethasone alone or plus remdesivir (Veklury) for hospitalized patients on high-flow oxygen or noninvasive ventilation who have evidence of clinical progression or elevated inflammation markers.

A concert in Florida is charging $18 for those with a vaccine card, but $999.99 for unvaccinated attendees. (Florida News Times)

The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into allegations of manufacturing violations at Eli Lilly’s factory that produces its COVID-19 antibody therapy bamlanivimab. (Reuters)

Pennsylvania (not including Philly) is slated to lift its mask mandate when 70% of the adult population is vaccinated or on June 28 — whichever comes first. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Some researchers are warning against probing into the “lab-leak” theory as it could only heighten tensions between the U.S. and China and fuel online bullying. (Nature)

Ahead of the Summer Olympics in July, Japan is eyeing a state of emergency extension through June 20th. (Reuters)

As more and more countries are opening their borders, how will international travelers prove they’re vaccinated? (NPR)

Whilst screaming “no vaccine,” a woman from Tennessee mowed her car through a vaccination tent in protest, just narrowly missing several workers. (ABC News)

In other news:

• The FDA cleared Xandar Kardian’s XK300: a new contactless monitoring system that uses radar power to detect a person’s vital signs sans physical sensors. (FierceBiotech)
• Samsung and Bayer invested in Ada Health, a company that developed an app to connect users with AI-guided medical diagnostics. (CNBC)
• Amazon is being lampooned after unveiling a video of its enclosed booths called “AmaZen” — designed for stressed workers to take mental-health breaks. (The Guardian)
• The Florida Supreme Court rejected a challenge to its state’s medical marijuana law. (Orlando Sentinel)
• A trial date has been set for a Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse who was accused of administering a fatal dose of vecuronium bromide (Norcuron) instead of midazolam (Versed) to a patient in 2017. (News 4 Nashville)