COVID-19 updates: 70% of American adults fully vaccinated
More than 80% of adults have at least one dose, CDC says.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 752,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
Just 68% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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New study reaffirms need for additional vaccine shots for immune-compromised people
A new study finds mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are 77% effective against hospitalizations among people with immune compromised conditions, compared to 90% effective among hospitalizations among people without such conditions.
This study -- a multistate analysis of nearly 90,000 hospitalizations from January to September 2021 -- adds more evidence that vaccines don't work as well among people with compromised immune systems. Also, people with certain immune compromised conditions are more at-risk than others.
-ABC News' Sony Salzman
Daily case average rising, hospitalizations declining
The daily case average in the U.S. has jumped by 13.3% in the last week, according to federal data.
Alaska currently has the country's highest infection rate, followed by Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. Puerto Rico, Florida and Hawaii have the lowest infection rate.
Hospitalizations are declining. About 48,000 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in the U.S., down by nearly 104,000 patients from eight weeks ago.
Hospital admissions are also down by 11.7% in the last week, according to federal data.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Major pharmacy chains to offer Pfizer vaccine to children 5-11
Several major pharmacy chains told ABC News they are gearing up to offer the Pfizer vaccine to 5- to 11-year-olds within days of its approval by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency is expected to give the green light as early as Tuesday night. If approved, roughly 28 million children would be eligible for the mRNA vaccine.
"We expect to be able to provide vaccinations for this age group shortly after November 3," Rite Aid said in a statement.
Walgreens said in a statement that, "appointments will open as we receive supply to stores, beginning this week."
A spokesperson for CVS said the chain will share more specifics about its vaccine rollout once the authorization is made, and will provide customers with information on its website.
"We have played a prominent role in administering third doses to the immunocompromised and authorized booster shots, and are prepared to expand vaccine eligibility to ages 5-11 as soon as authorized to do so by public health agencies," CVS said in a statement.
-ABC News' Sasha Pezenik
Details on vaccine mandates for businesses expected in coming days
A federal rule on vaccine mandates for businesses will be released this week, according to the Labor Department.
The rule will require employers with 100 employers or more to mandate the vaccine or weekly testing. It also will require large businesses to provide paid time off to workers to get the shot and recover from side effects from the vaccine.
The department said in a statement, "On November 1, the Office of Management and Budget completed its regulatory review of the emergency temporary standard. The Federal Register will publish the emergency temporary standard in the coming days."
It's not clear when the rule will take effect.
President Joe Biden first announced the rule in September and it's since been making its way through the regulatory process.
-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett, Anne Flaherty