A new formula for the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech might be needed by the middle of 2022 to protect against future mutations of the virus resistant to the current vaccine, BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin told the Financial Times.

   -- Current vaccines are still effective against Delta and other circulating 
      variants of coronavirus, and their effectiveness can be bolstered with 
      booster shots. But future mutations could require a "tailored" version, 
      Sahin said. "This is a continuous evolution, and that evolution has just 
      started." 
   -- The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first Covid-19 vaccine to market, the 
      first based on mRNA technology approved by regulators, and is currently 
      the world's bestselling drug. More than 101.8 million Americans have been 
      fully vaccinated with it, and nearly 3.9 million have received its 
      booster shots. 
   -- Sahin rejected calls to share vaccine patents, saying doing so would risk 
      quality control. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said sharing patents would 
      disincentivize innovation. Pfizer and BioNTech plan to develop a 
      manufacturing plant in South Africa, to help boost vaccine supplies in 
      Africa. 
   -- American Airlines, JetBlue, and Alaska Air Group have mandated vaccines 
      for employees, citing requirements as federal contractors. In Alaska, 
      which leads the U.S. in Covid-19 infection rates, hospitals are rationing 
      oxygen, ICU beds and care in favor of patients most likely to survive. 

What's Next: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising Americans to boost ventilation at indoor holiday parties by opening windows and doors and using window fans to keep air fresh, or better yet, host outdoor gatherings with social distancing. It also says unvaccinated people should not travel.

-- Janet H. Cho

***

MarketWatch Wants to Hear From You

A tax proposal from Democrats would require the Internal Revenue Service to monitor Americans' personal bank accounts more closely. What would this mean for consumers -- and what information do banks already disclose to the government about your accounts?

A MarketWatch correspondent will answer this question soon. Meanwhile, send any questions you would like answered to thebarronsdaily@barrons.com.

***

-- Newsletter edited by Liz Moyer, Camilla Imperiali, Steve Goldstein, Rupert Steiner