Vaccine

Fentanyl is the leading cause of opioid deaths in Texas, increasing five-fold in recent years.

Advocates for inoculation are distressed by what they see as a new political focus on an old public health measure.

There are enough doses to fully vaccinate 500 people.

Politics, religion, distrust and disinformation all play a role. "I've realized that there's no convincing somebody once they have their mind made up," says a social worker in Beaumont, Texas.

A phase one human trial of an mRNA HIV vaccine will soon begin in San Antonio.

Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi used an oldie-but- goodie technology to devise a vaccine that's easy to make — and relatively cheap. India has already ordered 300 million doses.

"My ears are my life," says composer, pianist and teaching artist Beata Moon, who experienced ear ringing after her first vaccine dose. Around the same time, she also tested positive for COVID-19.

"We must expand the availability of COVID-19 testing and our hospital capacity now," a statement from the Texas Restaurant Association says.

Local elected leaders are urging local residents to keep their guard up against COVID-19 during holiday gatherings this Christmas and New Year's.

University of Texas at Austin researchers project a statewide surge in coronavirus cases over the next few weeks will outpace the nation as a whole.