Pandemic Essentials, Photographed

Masking after vaccination; shipping container library; must-read op-ed

View this email online Goats and Soda editor's note Lockdown Essentials   This week I got one of those random Facebook "memories" messages. It was a quote from a story I wrote for our blog in our first year of existence. Our team went to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. I met a Kenyan musician who loved his homespun string instrument: "I have all the notes," he said. "I can do anything." It's a great quote. And it made me think about a post we've been working on. We're showcasing a project created by anthropologist Paula Zuccotti, who asked people around the world to send her a photo of the 15 essential objects that have helped them cope during the pandemic. To paraphrase the musician, if you have all the things that give you joy and comfort, you may feel as if you can do anything – including survive and even find moments of joy during a devastating global health crisis. Read the story here. We hope to do a follow-up. Readers, show us a photo of yourself holding one essential object from your pandemic life. Horizontal photos are preferred. Send it to goatsandsoda@npr.org with "My Pandemic Essential" in the subject line. We may use the photo in an upcoming story. Deadline is July 6. If you're curious, I'm torn about what I'd pick as my #1 essential object: my piano, my running shoes ... or my seltzer maker. Marc Silver Editor Newsletter continues after sponsor message coronavirus FAQs  Malaka Gharib/NPR I'm Vaccinated And Confused. Do I Need To Mask Up Or Not? A World Health Organization representative just advised wearing masks after vaccination. The CDC has a different perspective. We asked public health specialists to weigh in. I've Been Vaccinated. Do I Need To Worry About Variants? Here's what we know about the effectiveness of vaccines for variants of concerns, notably the delta variant, first identified in India and now responsible for more than 20% of new U.S. cases. in the news Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images India Is The World's Biggest Vaccine Maker. Yet Only 4% Of Indians Are Vaccinated The Serum Institute began mass-producing COVID vaccines even before approval. They've made millions of doses. But so far only 4% of people in India are fully vaccinated. What went wrong? Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, say researchers -- to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants. A Revolutionary Solar Fridge Will Help Keep COVID Vaccines Cold In Sub-Saharan Africa The challenge of refrigerating COVID-19 vaccines is acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 28% of health-care facilities have reliable power. One solution? A new kind of refrigerator powered by the sun. Half The World Lacks Proper Sanitation. Is It Possible To 'Transform The Toilet'? In the book Pipe Dreams, Chelsea Wald examines the health issues related to sanitation and looks at global efforts to manage human waste, including turning it into fuel and fertilizer. opinion Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images I'm Nigerian. I'm Vaccinated. Europe Won't Let Me In Europe lists four approved vaccines for travelers. There's an omission that makes physician Ofeanyi Nsofor feel invisible – and disappointed. photos Tommy Trenchard for NPR The Hot-Spot Library Was Born In Two Shipping Containers In A Cape Town Slum It started with a young man, Terence Crowster, who had a dream: bringing books to kids in a neighborhood torn apart by drug abuse and gang violence. Now it has 700 members and more than 2,000 books – and a second branch is coming soon. links we like   NPR's new "Joy Generator" shows you how to find happiness from small moments of delight. The mayor of Amsterdam has apologized for the city's role in the Dutch slave trade. BBC reports. They called it the "Black Woodstock" -- a 1969 music festival in Harlem with performances by Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and many other stars, brought back to light in the new documentary Summer Of Soul. NPR reports. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: goatsandsoda@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy