Imagine if we didn’t have these stupid, deadly, often politically motivated fights about getting people vaccinated. Imagine if, as a country, united, we looked at the Covid vaccines as the oxymoron that they are: scientific miracles. Imagine if we didn’t live in a country approaching 700,000 deaths that are continuing at an alarming pace, especially in certain regions where people are still doing their “research” while watching Fox News, sharing Facebook posts, and popping handfuls of horse dewormer. Imagine it. Or just check out Portugal, where it’s actually happening. It’s not perfect. The crisis is not over. And as they have been to date, Portugal’s health experts remain vigilant. But, overall, and certainly by comparison, it’s pretty damn good. “Lisbon is triumphant: a city of live music and partying, where early-risers might find sidewalks still sticky with beer. Traffic is back to normal as people settle into the rhythms of commuting to work. And the celebrity of the moment — on glossy magazine covers — is the former submarine commander who led the country’s vaccination drive.” WaPo (Gift Article for ND Readers): Portugal has nearly run out of people to vaccinate. What comes next?

+ “Merck & Co. said Friday that its experimental COVID-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the coronavirus and that it would soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize its use.”

+ California to require Covid-19 vaccination for students.