INDIANAPOLIS — Thursday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, including the latest news on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana. Registrations for the vaccine are now open for select groups through Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The need for a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine between six and 12 months after a person is fully vaccinated will "likely" be needed, the CEO of Pfizer said in comments released Thursday.
"A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC's Bertha Coobs on "CVS Health Live."
Bourla said the third dose would be necessary to combat coronavirus variants.
"It is extremely important to suppress the pool of people that can be susceptible to the virus," Bourla explained. "The fact that there are people that are protected, this is what creates the new variants."
Bourla added some diseases, like polio, only require one vaccine dose whereas the flu requires a shot every year.
ISDH Update
The Indiana Department of Health announced Monday that 1,408 more Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
That brings the total to 703,345 Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus.
The state reported 7 new deaths. To date, 12,789 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19.
As of Thursday, a total of 3,588,808 vaccine doses have been administered in Indiana. This includes 36,853 newly administered first doses reported Thursday.
There are 32,464 more Hoosiers fully vaccinated as of Thursday, which brings the total number of fully vaccinated Hoosiers to 1,497,753
The fully vaccinated number represents individuals who have received a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and those who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Hoosiers age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule an appointment, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance.
Europe surpasses 1 million COVID-19 deaths, cases continue to rise
A top official from the World Health Organization says Europe has surpassed 1 million deaths from COVID-19 and the situation remains “serious,” with about 1.6 million new cases reported each week in the region.
Overall, a tally by Johns Hopkins University shows nearly 3 million deaths have been linked to COVID-19 worldwide -- with the Americas hardest hit, followed by Europe.
The United States, Brazil and Mexico have reported the highest number of deaths, collectively at more than 1.1 million.
Tokyo Games: Officials say cancelation, no fans still option
Two top officials of Japan's ruling LDP party on Thursday said radical changes could be coming to the Tokyo Olympics.
One went as far to suggest they still could be canceled, and the other that even if they proceed, it might be without any fans.
COVID-19 cases have been surging across Japan. On Wednesday, Japan's second-largest metropolitan area of Osaka recorded over 1,100 new cases, its highest total since January.
Japan also recorded more than 4,000 new cases, also high-marks dating back to early in the year. Japan has attributed 9,500 death to COVID-19, good by world standards but poor by results in Asia.
New COVID study about blocking plane seats doesn't account for masks, vaccines
A new study says leaving middle seats open could give airline passengers more protection from COVID-19.
Researchers said the risk of passengers being exposed to the virus from an infected person on the plane could be reduced by 23 to 57 percent if middle seats are empty, compared with a full flight.
The study released Wednesday supports the response of airlines that limited seating early in the pandemic. However, all U.S. airlines except Delta now sell every seat they can, and Delta will stop blocking middle seats on May 1.
The airlines argue that filters and air-flow systems on most planes make them safe when passengers wear face masks, as they are now required to do by federal regulation.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 31.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 5 a.m. ET Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 564,000 deaths in the U.S.
Worldwide, there have been more than 138.3 million confirmed cases with more than 2.97 million deaths and 78.7 million recoveries.
The actual number of people infected by the virus around the world is believed to be much higher — perhaps 10 times higher in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — given testing limitations and the many mild cases that have gone unreported or unrecognized.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness like pneumonia, or death.