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The FDA’s approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine has yet to produce an expected uptick in vaccine uptake. (Business Insider)

Four researchers whose work provided the basis for development of the first approved COVID-19 vaccine, along with a pioneer in the study of neurodegenerative diseases, are among the winners of the 2022 Breakthrough Prize Foundation awards for groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

Stillbirths in unvaccinated pregnant women are causing alarm in Mississippi. (Washington Post)

The board of commissioners for Mecklenburg County, the second most-populous county in North Carolina, approved a mask mandate for indoor religious gatherings. (Charlotte Observer)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) filed an emergency appeal to block mask mandates in schools while the case wends through the court system. (CNN)

As of 8 a.m. ET on Friday, the unofficial COVID-19 toll in the U.S. included 40,606,094 cases and 654,624 deaths, increases of 147,164 and 1,925, respectively, since the same time yesterday.

Almost 69,000 COVID cases and 17,000 COVID-related deaths in nursing homes went unreported during 2020. (JAMA Network Open)

France announced a ban on all nonessential travel by unvaccinated Americans. (CNN)

Meanwhile, the country is dealing with a bird flu outbreak. (Reuters)

Three Vermont state troopers resigned amid accusations they had falsified COVID vaccination cards. (NBC News)

Vaccine developer Moderna is working on a formulation that includes a COVID booster and a flu vaccine. (Reuters)

In response to President Biden’s executive order to promote economic competition, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at HHS published a plan that outlines “principles for equitable drug pricing reform.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said she was successfully treated for breast cancer earlier this year after a routine mammogram detected calcifications. (Medium)

Opioid deaths among Black people are increasing at faster rates than in whites. (NPR)

Sometimes anxiety can be a good thing. (NPR)

As anticipated, Los Angeles Unified public schools approved a requirement that eligible students be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year. (CNN)

A national survey showed that unvaccinated Americans consider vaccine mandates a greater health threat than COVID-19. (de Beaumont Foundation)

Radio and television personality Howard Stern had some choice words for vaccine opponents whose position comes down on the side of personal freedoms. (The Hill)

Comedian Patton Oswalt canceled shows in Florida and Utah after venue managers turned down his request that all attendees present proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test. (NBC News)

The Justice Department made good on its threat to sue Texas over the state’s 6-week abortion ban. (CNN)

In a quest to learn more about the origin of the pandemic, the CDC is trying to determine the first COVID death in the U.S. (New York Times)

The FDA and FTC issued warning letters to 10 companies about illegal sales of dietary supplements promoted as treatment for diabetes.