Pandemic roundup: Agriculture workers are the most vaccine-resistant; lack of paid time off hurts vax rates

Agriculture workers are the most resistant. (Morning Consult chart; click to enlarge)

Here's a roundup of recent news about the pandemic and immunization efforts:

Sources say U.S. health officials will soon authorize a coronavirus booster shot, and will recommend that fully vaccinated Americans get that extra dose eight months after receiving their second shot. Read more here.

A surge in Covid patients has pushed Mississippi's hospital system to the brink. Read more here.

Viral videos of speakers at school board and city council meetings are proving a fertile source of misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines on social media. The popularity of such videos is leading schools, local governments and tech platforms to weigh the value of freedom of expression against the harm of creating more misinformation online. Read more here.

Many low-wage American workers lack paid time off from their jobs. That makes them less likely to get vaccinated and has contributed to the spread of the virus, surveys and policy experts say. Read more here.

Rates of vaccine hesitancy and opposition have decreased among Black and Hispanic adults but remain unchanged among Republicans, recent surveys say. Another finding: Agriculture workers are the least willing of any U.S. occupation to get vaccinated (see image at right). Read more here.

Here are some easy hacks to make your mask more effective and tips on how to spot counterfeit N95 masks. Read more here.

Here are some tips on how to talk to vaccine-hesitant family and friends about getting their shots. Read more here.

A scientist who claims (sometimes) to be responsible for the invention of mRNA vaccines has amassed an online following questioning the safety of such vaccines. A deep dive from The Atlantic explains what's going on. Read more here.

After just a week in session, a rural county in southeastern Georgia has closed all 11 schools until Sept. 7 because of skyrocketing local coronavirus infections. The vaccination rate in Ware County is about 29%, far below the national average, and about 14% of 15-19-year-olds in the county are fully vaccinated. Read more here.

Republican lawmakers often blame undocumented immigrants for surging coronavirus infections. Blaming diseases on foreigners is an old tactic, and one not supported by evidence, writes a history professor. Read more here.

The pandemic is harming many children's mental health, but therapy is often hard to access. Read more here.