Coronavirus vaccine news, updates and information for 5-10-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for May 10th, 2021.</p><p><br></p><p>Calls for India's prime minister to implement a nationwide shutdown continue to increase. COVID-19 is spreading there so fast the country Saturday reported more than 4,000 dead, a new single-day high. This is generating bodies faster than they can be buried or cremated. Vaccines and treatments, including oxygen, remain in short supply.</p><p><br></p><p>But why is this happening? The World Health Organization says the variant first identified in India has mutations that increase transmission. That, combined with India going back to massive gatherings, and a lack of vaccinations gives us our current picture. But while the variant may be more resistant to antibodies, vaccines, if taken, would slow transmission and make cases milder.</p><p><br></p><p>They aren’t discussing which vaccine to take in Chad. There are no vaccines of any kind there at all. Not even for healthcare workers. The World Health Organization says nearly a dozen countries are in the same boat. Many of these are in Africa, which accounts for only 1% of the vaccines administered worldwide.</p><p><br></p><p>In the U.S., an uptick of infections in Florida post spring break. There have been more than 10,000 variant cases reported Wednesday throughout the state according to the Florida Department of Health. Only 1% of all cases in Florida undergo genetic coding testing that reveals if there are variant infections.</p><p><br></p><p>In Spain, it looks like spring break. Impromptu street celebrations erupted across the country at midnight Saturday when a six-month-long national state of emergency to contain the pandemic ended and nighttime curfews were lifted. There are still restrictions, but those were being ignored. Police had to manage multiple scenes of unmasked dancing and group singing.</p><p><br></p><p>In the United States cases were down 30%, deaths are down 6%, and hospitalizations are down 13% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has b