Coronavirus vaccine news, updates and information for 5-26-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for May 26th, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The CDC reports nearly one out of two Americans have now received at least one dose of a vaccine as of yesterday. And half of citizens 18 and over have been fully vaccinated. The United States has administered 287,788,872 doses.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Elsewhere, problems remain. Bahrain's health ministry reported the highest daily death toll in that small island nation as a surge in cases hits record levels. Authorities mostly blame it on large gatherings during Ramadan. And in Malaysia, an outbreak is getting worse and spilling over into neighboring Thailand. Hospitals in Malaysia are strained, and the country has imposed a near lockdown until June 7.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Moderna reports trials of its vaccine show it’s safe and effective for teenagers. They’ll submit the results to the FDA in hopes of getting authorization for use in kids aged 12 to 17. It’s hoped this increased access could boost supply ahead of the new school year's start this fall.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>However, uptake of the virus in young Americans is proving to be a problem. Those 24 and younger are getting doses at much lower rates. For those 12 to 15, only 1.4% have gotten at least one dose. Only 1.7% of 16- to 17-year-olds have done so, and 7.6% of 18- to 24-year-olds have. Experts point out that while younger people don't face a high chance of serious illness, they still risk long-term symptoms if they get COVID-19.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It’s getting kicked up a notch. The Republican led U.S. Senate and Democrat led House of Representatives intelligence committees are conducting their own investigations into the origins of the pandemic. There appear to be still-classified reports researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology became so ill they sought hospital care way back in November 2019. There are fears a lack of transparency will frustrate reaching an authoritative account of how the virus was unleashed.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the United S