Coronavirus vaccine news, updates and information for 5-11-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for May 11th, 2021.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>The FDA expanded use of Pfizer's vaccine yesterday to kids as young as 12. The hope is that this will get adolescents protected before heading back to school in the fall. Canada was the first to expand use to 12 and up. Interestingly, researchers found kids developed higher levels of antibodies than young adults.</p><p><br></p><p>The India variant continues to work its way around the world. Argentina's Health Ministry confirmed its first cases of both that variant and the South Africa variant. They were found in three people returning from Europe. An expert warns spread of the Indian variant in the UK is “not looking good at all,” especially in London and the North West. And health authorities in Thailand confirmed their first cases of the Indian variant in a woman and her 4-year-old son who came in from Pakistan.</p><p><br></p><p>We’ve reported before that Seychelles has vaccinated more of its population than any other country. But now active cases have more than doubled in the week ending May 7. 2,486 people, and 37% of them are fully vaccinated. Cases are also surging in the Maldives.</p><p><br></p><p>Dr. Anthony Fauci agrees that the actual number of people killed by COVID-19 is probably much higher than the official numbers say. In fact, he said he has no doubt of it. A recent study counted nearly double what was recorded by federal health officials.</p><p><br></p><p>Hugs are coming back. In less than a week, people in England will be able to give friends and family a hug for the first time since restrictions were put in place in March of 2020. It’s part of the next round of lockdown easing. It is stressed though that people exercise common sense.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>In the United States cases were down 29%, deaths are down 8%, and hospitalizations are down 15% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since April 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>There are now 6,411,