Pfizer said Monday, September 20, that its COVID vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.

The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is available for anyone 12 and older. But with kids now back in school and the extra-contagious delta variant causing a huge jump in pediatric infections, many parents are anxiously awaiting vaccinations for their younger children.

For elementary school-aged kids, Pfizer tested a much lower dose — a third of the amount that’s in each shot given now. Yet after their second dose, children ages 5 to 11 developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teenagers and young adults, Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer senior vice president, told The Associated Press.

The kid dosage also proved safe, with similar or fewer temporary side effects — such as sore arms, fever or achiness — that teens experience, he said.

“I think we really hit the sweet spot,” said Gruber, who’s also a pediatrician.

Gruber said the companies aim to apply to the Food and Drug Administration by the end of the month for emergency use in this age group, followed shortly afterward with applications to European and British regulators.

Earlier this month, FDA chief Dr. Peter Marks told the AP that once Pfizer turns over its study results, his agency would evaluate the data “hopefully in a matter of weeks” to decide if the shots are safe and effective enough for younger kids.

Many Western countries so far have vaccinated no younger than age 12, awaiting evidence of what’s the right dose and that it works safely in smaller tots. But Cuba last week began immunizing children as young as 2 with its homegrown vaccines and Chinese regulators have cleared two of its brands down to age 3.

While kids are at lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, more than 5 million children in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID since the pandemic began and at least 460 have died, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cases in children have risen dramatically as the delta variant swept through the country.

“I feel a great sense of urgency” in making the vaccine available to children under 12, Gruber said. “There’s pent-up demand for parents to be able to have their children returned to a normal life.”

In New Jersey, 10-year-old Maya Huber asked why she couldn’t get vaccinated like her parents and both teen brothers have. Her mother, Dr. Nisha Gandhi, a critical care physician at Englewood Hospital, enrolled Maya in the Pfizer study at Rutgers University. But the family hasn’t eased up on their masking and other virus precautions until they learn if Maya received the real vaccine or a dummy shot.

Once she knows she’s protected, Maya’s first goal: “a huge sleepover with all my friends.”

Maya said it was exciting to be part of the study even though she was “super scared” about getting jabbed. But “after you get it, at least you feel like happy that you did it and relieved that it didn’t hurt,” she told the AP.

Pfizer said it studied the lower dose in 2,268 kindergartners and elementary school-aged kids. The FDA required what is called an immune “bridging” study: evidence that the younger children developed antibody levels already proven to be protective in teens and adults. That’s what Pfizer reported Monday in a press release, not a scientific publication. The study still is ongoing, and there haven’t yet been enough COVID-19 cases to compare rates between the vaccinated and those given a placebo — something that might offer additional evidence.

The study isn’t large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that sometimes occurs after the second dose, mostly in young men. The FDA’s Marks said the pediatric studies should be large enough to rule out any higher risk to young children. Pfizer’s Gruber said once the vaccine is authorized for younger children, they’ll be carefully monitored for rare risks just like everyone else.

A second U.S. vaccine maker, Moderna, also is studying its shots in elementary school-aged children. Pfizer and Moderna are studying even younger tots as well, down to 6-month-olds. Results are expected later in the year.

OK, it definitely wasn’t the Pandemmys, or the Zoomemmys, or whatever you want to call last year’s virtual Emmy ceremony — with everyone at home, and visitors in hazmat suits showing up to bestow awards

This year was different — defiantly so. People were together, and not even in masks (except during commercial breaks.) There were plenty of hugs and kisses — in fact, quipped presenter Seth Rogen, he had just been sneezed in the face by Paul Bettany. (Guests had to present vaccine proof and negative COVID-19 tests.)

But of course, this wasn’t the PRE-COVID Emmys either. The crowd, in a tent in downtown Los Angeles, was much smaller than in normal years. And many overseas nominees couldn’t come due to travel restrictions — especially the cast and crew of “The Crown,” which accepted its six drama awards from a party in London, as “Schitt’s Creek” had done a year earlier in Canada.

And in a year where so much was different, there were some familiar problems. Awards were concentrated among a few shows. The hashtag #EmmysSoWhite emerged — a record number of nominees of color yielded only two Black winners, RuPaul for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and Michaela Coel for writing “I May Destroy You.” A slew of Black actors were passed over.

Cedric the Entertainer proved an infectiously joyful and hard-working host, but the comedy bits were spotty at best. It also didn’t help that some overlong speeches dragged down the proceedings, for example from the director of “The Queen’s Gambit,” who was criticized on Twitter for a speech that to some, seemed to feel as long as a chess game.

Still there were feel-good moments: Debbie Allen. Jean Smart! Kate Winslet. Ted Lasso himself — heck, all Ted’s friends, too. And perhaps best of all, the fiercely original Coel, giving a stunning (and concise!) speech about writing.

Some key moments of the evening:

A JEANAISSANCE…

Yes, the expected Jeanaissance happened, with veteran Smart receiving a standing ovation after winning best actress in a comedy — her fourth Emmy in a long career — for playing a Las Vegas stand-up comic in “Hacks.” She immediately paid tearful tribute to her husband, Richard Gilliland, who died in March: “I would not be here without him, and without his … putting his career on the back burner so I could take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities I have had.” It was a theme — personal loss — that was threaded through a number of speeches.

AND THE GREAT KATE

While “Mare of Easttown,” also featuring Smart, lost out to “The Queen’s Gambit” for best limited series, it won three key acting awards, including the Great Kate — Winslet, of course — who captivated audiences with her role as a “a middle-aged, imperfect, flawed mother,” in her words, in which she also nailed a very difficult Philadelphia accent. The show “is this cultural moment, and it brought people together and gave them something to talk about other than a global pandemic,” Winslet noted.

THE LASSO EFFECT

It was unquestionably the feel-good show of the year, and “Ted Lasso” — about the unrelentingly upbeat American coach of a British football team — started winning early, with ebullient stage actress Hannah Waddingham accepting the award for best supporting actress in a comedy, closely followed by Brett Goldstein for supporting actor. Then Jason Sudeikis, the titular coach, made it a happy trio, winning best actor. “This show’s about families, this show’s about mentors and teachers, this show’s about teammates, and I wouldn’t be here without those three things in my life,” said Sudeikis. He told castmates and crew: “I’m only as good as you guys make me look.” The Apple TV+ show capped off the night by winning best comedy.

CAN WE COME?

“We’re going to party,” said Peter Morgan, creator of “The Crown,” as the royal saga from Netflix won drama writing, directing and all four acting honors. At times it seemed like that party — held in London due to travel restrictions — might be more fun than the long party in Los Angeles. Olivia Colman, who became the second actor to win for playing Queen Elizabeth II on the same show, after Claire Foy, was delighted but tearful as she recalled the death of her father during COVID. “He would have loved all of this,” she said.

VACCINE HUMOR

There was not much politics in Emmy speeches, unless you counted Stephen Colbert riffing on the California governor recall attempt with a slightly labored joke about “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” being recalled. “Mrs. Maisel has survived the recall and will remain marvelous,” he concluded. But Cedric the Entertainer delivered some topical humor with a riff on vaccines. Likening the various jabs to stores, he called Pfizer the Neiman Marcus, Moderna the Macy’s, and Johnson & Johnson the TJ Maxx of vaccines. He also offered up a dig at Nicki Minaj for the story about her cousin’s friend in Trinidad.

DEBBIE ALLEN GETS TO STOP THE CLOCK…

“Turn that clock off,” Allen said as she launched into her speech accepting the Governors Award. “I’m not paying any attention to it.” She added she was “trembling with gratitude and grace and trying not to cry … it’s taken a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room most of the time.” She urged a younger generation to “Tell your stories … it’s your turn.” The crowd cheered — when you have her career as an actor, dancer, choreographer and activist, you’re allowed to ignore the playoff music.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS DEBBIE ALLEN

Then there was Scott Frank, director of “The Queen’s Gambit.” When he won, he thanked some folks, then more, then more, reading from a prepared speech.. The playoff music swelled, several times, but he continued, saying at one point: “Really?” Frank was called out on Twitter. “This is why directors need editors,” wrote writer-producer Danny Zuker, calling the remarks “The Irishman” of speeches.

A WRITER, ON WRITING

Luckily, what followed was probably the night’s highlight — the remarks by Coel, of “I May Destroy You.” She said she had something to tell the writers out there. “Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that isn’t comfortable,” she said. “I dare you.” In a world, she added, where we all feel the need to be visible, equating it with success, “do not be afraid to disappear … See what comes to you in the silence.” Coel dedicated her show, in which she played a survivor of sexual assault, “to every single survivor of sexual assault.”

BOSTON, MA. SEPT. 19: Instructor Heidi Henderson, light green top, a professor in the dance department at Connecticut College, works with a class focusing on contemporary dance, Sunday Sept. 19, 2021 at the Boston Dance Alliance, in Brighton.This was the first open call the group has had since 2019 due to COVID. Choreographers from around Boston were on hand to see the dancers ages 18 and up perform for possible use in upcoming productions. (Herald Photo By Jim Michaud/ Boston Herald)

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – On Monday, September 20, GasBuddy reported a weekly update on Albany gas prices. All Albany-based data is from GasBuddy’s daily survey of 546 stations in Albany.

Albany gas prices have not changed in the past week, averaging $3.24/g Monday, September 20. Gas prices in Albany are 8.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 95.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Dear Amy: My child came out to my husband and me as non-binary, using “they/them pronouns and a new name.

I am struggling to change the way I address them, but I am honestly trying.

My husband is not.

My husband flat-out told them that he doesn’t care if they identified differently; he will continue to use their birth name and pronouns.

My husband says he doesn’t care what other people call them, and that there is no negative connotation meant on his part, but I know it is and will be taken that way.

I told him that my child may refuse to interact with him if he refuses to address them in this new way, but he says he doesn’t care.

His partial acceptance confuses me on what to do.

Based on previous discussions, I believe my child will keep in touch with me, but not my husband, but I always said I would leave my husband if he showed hate to a child of mine.

This situation is confusing, because this isn’t rejection — it’s just not really acceptance.

Should I leave him?

— Torn

After 25 years of rolling out other company’s medical devices, St. Paul-based contract-manufacturer Minnetronix Medical has begun designing some of its own.

The MindsEye Port — a small but expandable insert used in deep-brain surgery — received clearance from the federal Food and Drug Administration last year for the treatment of stroke, cancer and other conditions. MindsEye is a few months away from hitting the market, and if regulatory reviews are favorable, could be followed next year by a spinal catheter that removes blood from cerebral spinal fluid after an aneurysm.

Those aren’t the only innovations that have chief executive officer Jeremy Maniak feeling bullish about company growth. Over the past year, Minnetronix has brought on 75 new workers — roughly half of them engineers — to its headquarters at 1635 Energy Park Drive, just off Snelling Avenue, bringing the total workforce there to more than 400 employees. Maniak, who joined Minnetronix in 2010, was named the company’s chief executive officer in early 2020, weeks before the pandemic officially hit Minnesota.

$6 MILLION EXPANSION

A year-long, $6 million physical expansion has remodeled the three-building campus, growing its footprint from 120,000 to 160,000 square feet, thanks in part to $1 million in grants and loans from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

“We are 100 percent in St. Paul,” said Maniak, in a recent interview. “Obviously, we have a global supply chain. We reach all over the world for parts, but all the high-end testing and assembly happens right here in St. Paul. (We’re) designing, developing and manufacturing a hundred different medical devices on any given day.”

Maniak said the company’s customer base has doubled in five years, and there are 85 contract projects in the pipeline.

It’s the kind of growth that has caught the attention of city and state leaders eager to boost the city’s business profile in the areas of technology and innovation.

Minnetronix is privately backed by Altaris Capital Partners, a New York-based investment firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. Altaris, which had held minority ownership in the company since 2016, became the majority owner in February.

“MINNETRONIX DAY”

On Monday, St. Paul Mayor Carter and DEED Commissioner Steve Grove are scheduled to tour the expanded facility with Maniak and celebrate a ribbon-cutting for the renovated campus. The mayor plans to declare Monday “Minnetronix Day” in St. Paul.

Part factory, part research facility and part corporate headquarters, the Minnetronix campus is made up of some two dozen labs, a traditional factory floor, “clean rooms” for sterile manufacturing and corporate offices. From there, devices are shipped to medical clients around the world, from start-ups to global companies, including Plymouth, Minn.-based Smiths Medical and Boston-based ActivSurgical.

“There’s not many companies in the state that touch this many medical technologies,” Maniak said. “We’ve seen really strong investment in healthcare and in medical technology. When people finance new innovations and therapies, and better, faster, cheaper delivery of healthcare, that helps drive growth, and we’re positioned well to take advantage of that. We really brought on a lot of folks, from engineers to assemblers to key leadership positions across the whole company.”

Over the years, Minnetronix has concentrated its focus on four core segments of the med-tech industry: fluid and gas management, optical systems, RF/EM energy equipment and the stimulation and critical active wearables markets, such as glucose-monitoring machines.

“THRIVE” MODE

While demand for non-essential medical services all but dried up during the early days of the pandemic last year as hospitals deferred non-critical care, other clients relied on the company’s manufacturing and supply chain expertise as much as ever.

“All of those customers needed our help, they just needed our help in different ways,” Maniak said. “(We were) helping our customers slow down and pause if they were non-essential, and then in many cases accelerate delivery and accelerate supply chains. The two ends of the spectrum. We saw the extremes of both. … At first it was ‘survive,’ and then we moved to ‘thrive.’ We were able to get into ‘thrive’ mode pretty quickly.”

He added that “one of the staples of our workplace culture is ‘What can you do to help?’ and ‘What can you control?,’ rather than getting lost in what’s happening to you. The world is very volatile. We can’t control that. But we can control how we react and how we show up in that environment.”

For the campus expansion, Gardner Builders of Minneapolis worked with Pope Architects of St. Paul. Intereum of Plymouth. designed the interior spaces.

Posted: Sep 20, 2021 / 05:47 AM EDT / Updated: Sep 20, 2021 / 05:47 AM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – On Monday, September 20, GasBuddy reported a weekly update on Albany gas prices. All Albany-based data is from GasBuddy’s daily survey of 546 stations in Albany.

Albany gas prices have not changed in the past week, averaging $3.24/g Monday, September 20. Gas prices in Albany are 8.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 95.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

The cheapest station in Albany is priced at $2.90/g Monday, September 20 while the most expensive is $3.39/g, a difference of 49.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state Monday, September 20 is $2.97/g while the highest is $3.89/g, a difference of 92.0 cents per gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.18/g Monday, September 20. The national average is up 1.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.01/g higher than a year ago.

Historical gas prices in Albany and the national average going back 10 years:

• September 20, 2020: $2.28/g (U.S. Average: $2.16/g)
• September 20, 2019: $2.66/g (U.S. Average: $2.67/g)
• September 20, 2018: $2.86/g (U.S. Average: $2.85/g)
• September 20, 2017: $2.69/g (U.S. Average: $2.58/g)
• September 20, 2016: $2.20/g (U.S. Average: $2.21/g)
• September 20, 2015: $2.36/g (U.S. Average: $2.29/g)
• September 20, 2014: $3.54/g (U.S. Average: $3.34/g)
• September 20, 2013: $3.70/g (U.S. Average: $3.48/g)
• September 20, 2012: $4.07/g (U.S. Average: $3.84/g)
• September 20, 2011: $3.77/g (U.S. Average: $3.57/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:

• Waterbury- $3.14/g, up 2.4 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.11/g.
• Hartford- $3.11/g, up 1 cent per gallon from last week’s $3.10/g.
• Springfield- $3.04/g, up 2.4 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.02/g.

“Gas prices have been stuck in somewhat of a limbo and remain near 2021 highs long after Hurricane Ida has dissipated. The damage done to oil production has been left behind and so far has prevented prices from resuming their seasonal decline,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “Ida caused the loss of over 30 million barrels of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, and with gasoline demand remaining relatively high for the season, oil inventories remain relatively tight, preventing any organized decline in gas prices for the time being. As a result, we may have to wait a couple more weeks until hurricane season slows for oil inventories to start to rise and gas prices to fall.”

DIVISION 1

*Jacob Leonard threw three TDs, including the game-winner with 1:02 left, as Taunton improved to 2-0 with a 26-20 win over Durfee.

*Andrew Wetterwald kicked three field goals as Andover defeated Acton-Boxboro, 23-16.

*Mac Gulla ran for 285 yards and two TDs as Franklin defeated Brockton, 37-7.

*Jackson Delaney caught five passes for 133 yards and three TDs as St. John’s Prep rolled to a 49-14 win over Central Catholic.

*Estarling Morales had a solid all-around game as he ran for 105 yards and a touchdown, while registering 10 tackles in Lawrence’s 27-6 win over Somerset Berkley.

DIVISION 2

*Conner Zukowski completed 19-of-29 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns as Mansfield outlasted North Attleboro, 31-29, in double overtime. Trevor Foley was the prime target as he caught seven passes for 119 yards and three scores.

*Liam Dillon intercepted three passes, one he returned for a touchdown, as well as making six solo tackles in Woburn’s 50-14 win over Burlington.

*JC Petrongolo completed 15-of-25 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns as Catholic Memorial defeated LaSalle, 42-26.

*James Murphy threw for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Reading edged Barnstable, 18-14.

*Jack O’Connell completed 16-of-23 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for two more scores as North Andover beat Beverly, 34-0.

*Dan Craig ran for 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while throwing for 160 yards and two more scores as Chelmsford beat Lexington, 35-20.

*Cian Nicholas ran for 166 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns as Hingham held off Arlington, 21-14.

*Greg Rosenkranz caught three passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, while returning an interception for a third score as Boston Latin defeated O’Bryant, 34-12.
*Nicholas Araujo booted three field goals and added a pick-six as Milford cruised to a 44-7 win over Wellesley.

DIVISION 3

*For the second straight game, Will Kelly rushed for three touchdowns as Dartmouth defeated Greater New Bedford Voke, 35-0.

*Dom Gird rushed for 164 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Billerica defeated Westford Academy, 22-14.

*Michael Landolfi completed 12-of-17 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns as Hanover rolled to a 34-0 win over East Bridgewater.

*Mat Nadworny rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns to give Masconomet a 35-24 win over Peabody.

*Chase Vaughan threw for 300 yards and three TDs as Milton took care of Framingham, 34-6.

DIVISION 4

*Brady Madigan caught five passes for 167 yards and four touchdowns as Duxbury held off Scituate, 27-26.

*Jacob Briggs ran for four touchdowns and threw for a fifth as Middleboro cruised to a 48-21 win over New Bedford.

*Lucas Stallard caught seven passes for 165 yards and two TDs, while recording 10 tackles as Newburyport beat Bedford, 42-27.

DIVISION 5

*Alex Carucci threw three touchdown passes and also ran for a score in North Reading’s 46-9 win over Greater Lawrence.

*Troy Irizarry ran for 93 yards and three touchdowns as Bishop Fenwick rolled to a 48-7 victory over Arlington Catholic

*Julien Acevedo-Torres rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns as Whittier defeated Malden, 28-7.

DIVISION 6/7

*Jake Croke ran for four touchdowns and threw for a fifth as Norwell defeated Archbishop Williams, 34-24.

*David Brown rushed for 135 yards and three TDs, while returning a pair of punts for scores as St. Mary’s rolled to a 62-14 win over Bellingham.

*Mashpee earned its first win as Kayden Eaton rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-6 win over Nantucket.

*Malcolm Crispin ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns as Latin Academy defeated Weston, 51-6.

*Randy Bermudez rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown as East Boston won its second straight, 40-16, over Brighton.

*Daveon Scott ran for 200 yards and scored twice in the overtime sessions as Holbrook/Avom edged Wareham, 28-22.

*Emanuel Pires amassed 147 all-purpose yards and scored three times as Matignon/Cathedral beat Atlantis Charter/Bishop Connolly, 42-6.

*Angel Velez ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns as Tri-County beat South Shore, 27-8.

DIVISION 8

*Nathan Razza completed 12-of-17 passes for 188 yards and two TDs, while Aidan Baker caught seven passes for 130 yards and two scores as well as eight tackles and a fumble recovery as West Bridgewater outlasted Fairhaven in overtime, 33-27.

*Anthony Plumb completed 9-of-17 passes for 242 yards and four TDs as Georgetown coasted to a 44-8 win over Roxbury Prep.

*Nick Sawyer ran for 228 yards and two TDs as Lowell Catholic rallied to defeat Ipswich, 27-21.

*A.J. Pallazola caught a pair of TD passes, returned an interception and a kickoff for scores as Manchester-Essex rolled to a 49-0 win over Nashoba Tech.

This article has been archived. Find the latest coverage on Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie here.

NORTH PORT, Fla. (WFLA) — North Port police officers and FBI agents searched the Carlton Reserve Saturday to find Brian Laundrie, fiancé of missing North Port woman Gabby Petito.

The North Port Police Department tweeted that Laundrie’s family believes he went to the reserve earlier in the week. His family previously said he was last seen Tuesday while wearing a hiking bag with a waist strap.

North Port police spokesperson Josh Taylor said this is being investigated as a missing person case since there still is no crime for officers to investigate.

“We can’t just go just pulling people in,” Taylor said. “He certainly has the Fifth Amendment (right) not to speak.

The initial search focused on the 200 acres at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, where Taylor said Laundrie is believed to have entered the reserve. The search then expanded into the Carlton Reserve, which encompasses 25,000 acres.

Taylor said 50 officers from five different local agencies had joined the search for Laundrie. So far, vehicles, K9s, air units, and drones were deployed in what is being called a grid search.

Police say evidence bags containing Laundrie’s clothes were used for the K9s in the search. They were taken Friday while officers were at the Laundrie home.

“We’re hopeful that he’s out here,” Taylor said. “Certainly, we prepare for all different possibilities, but you know, our goal is to locate him and bring him back to North Port.”

Taylor said Laundrie could be out in the nature preserve for months if he wanted, depending on his skills.

Law enforcement called off the search later in the evening “due to darkness” but will pick back up Sunday morning.