Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for April 28th, 2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for April 28th, 2021.</p><p><br></p><p>India has reported more than 17.6 million cases since the pandemic began last year. But experts fear the actual number could be 30x higher. That means more than half a billion cases. Health workers and scientists have long warned infections and deaths are greatly underreported for a variety of reasons. Some predictions have the death toll peaking at more than 13,000 a day — more than 4x the current daily death toll.</p><p><br></p><p>As expected, the CDC eased guidelines in the U.S. on wearing masks outdoors. Fully vaccinated Americans don't need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers. The unvaccinated can also go outside without masks in some situations. It was essentially an endorsement what many Americans were already doing.</p><p><br></p><p>Brazil's health regulator rejected several states’ requests to import almost 30 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine out of safety concerns, and the Russian government is not happy. The agency said there were faults in all clinical studies of the vaccine’s development, as well as absent or insufficient data.</p><p><br></p><p>Pfizer’s CEO said that before the end of this year, they may release a pill that can treat early-stage COVID-19 infections at home. It would work by inhibiting the enzyme the virus needs to infiltrate human cells. Of course, it all depends on clinical trials and the FDA.</p><p><br></p><p>West Virginia’s trying to climb up the ranks of our top vaccinating states report by paying young people to get the vaccine. $100 savings bond for anyone age 16 to 35 who gets vaccinated. The Governor said, "I'm trying to come up with a way that's truly going to motivate them to get over the hump." Even those who’ve already gotten the shots will get paid retroactively.</p><p><br></p><p>In the United States cases were down 24%, deaths are down 5%, and hospitalizations are flat over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has b