Moderna says booster protects against omicron - December 20, 2021

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin delivered a massive blow to President Joe Biden’s proposed $2 trillion spending bill over the weekend, announcing on “Fox News Sunday” that he had withdrawn his support for the legislation. Manchin’s break from the Democratic party would remove the key vote necessary to achieve a 50-50 vote in the Senate, upending the fate of the Build Back Better Act. Goldman Sachs quickly lowered its U.S. economic outlook following the news, while economists said the U.S. must brace for a tight fiscal squeeze in the new year. Pelosi hopeful of Build Back Better Act deal in 2022 - Axios What losing Build Back Better means for climate change NPR @kylegriffin1: In a letter to colleagues, Leader Schumer vows to bring up BBB despite Manchin's objections and "we will keep voting on it until we get something done." He adds: Every senator will have "the opportunity to make their position known on the Senate floor, not just on television." U.S. Treasury yields ticked lower on Monday as investors and economists grew more concerned that the omicron variant could derail economic recovery. Several European countries have imposed new coronavirus restrictions such as lockdowns, curfews and the closure of nonessential businesses to stem the spread of the new variant, while more uncertainty has prompted U.S. offices to close for in-person work. Omicron uncertainty prompts WEF to delay Davos summit to mid-2022 - Reuters Biden admin eyes a potentially stark shift in messaging around ending the pandemic - CNN Moderna said Monday that its coronavirus booster appears to protect against the omicron variant, sending the company's shares higher amid warnings that the new variant is “raging” through the world. While most of the world’s vaccines do offer some protection against severe illness from omicron, a growing consensus of public health experts say that those vaccines will not prevent infection. They say a new global surge not only threatens the health of vulnerable people around the world but increases the opp