Jury fines BlueCross for firing worker over COVID-19 vaccine mandate | Chattanooga Times Free Press

A Tennessee jury has awarded a former research scientist at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee $687,000 in back pay and damages after she was fired in 2021 for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Following a three-day jury trial in Chattanooga last week, a federal jury decided BlueCross failed to provide reasonable accommodation for Tanja Benton, who did most of her work from home and claimed a religious exemption to the company's vaccine mandate.

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Reminders—but not free rides—boost COVID-19 booster uptake Text messages increased 30-day COVID-19 booster uptake by 21%. CIDRAP

Nature has published a large study showing that text message reminders to receive a COVID-19 booster worked to increase vaccine uptake, but that offering free rides to pharmacies did not. 

Exclusive: Congo authorities approve mpox vaccines to try to contain outbreak Authorities in the Democratic of Congo have approved the use of two mpox vaccines to try to tackle an upsurge in cases and a dangerous new strain spreading in the country. Jennifer Rigby Reuters

...The Congo has seen 20,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths from mpox, mainly among children, since the start of last year.

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US CDC narrows age recommendation for RSV shots in US The U.S. CDC on Wednesday narrowed its recommendation for use of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines in older adults this year and held off on recommending their use for adults under age 60. Michael Erman Reuters

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