Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and I woke up this morning to the construction workers next door listening to “Kids in America” by Kim Wilde. Here’s what you need to know today.

(By the way, if you’d like this emailed to your inbox, you can sign up here.)

1. The U.S. economy could grow much faster than expected this year, report says

The nation’s economy could rebound twice as fast as expected thanks to both President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion rescue plan and a ramp up in vaccinations, according to a report released today by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The international organization said government relief plans won’t be as effective in jump-starting economies if officials don’t speed up vaccination efforts at the same time. That warning appeared to be aimed at Europe, where countries like Germany and France have struggled with their vaccine rollouts. [New York Times]

If the U.S. economy does rebound, will the financial recovery be equal? Black and Hispanic women have faced the brunt of job losses in the U.S., according to government data. [NYT]

The House is poised to approve Biden’s stimulus plan today or tomorrow. NPR has this overview of how the plan offers aid to low-income families, renters, restaurants and others. [NPR]

2. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appears to be highly effective against a virus variant that emerged in Brazil

A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine is offering good news as scientists race to understand a more contagious coronavirus variant that was first discovered in Brazil.

Among the known variants, the one from Brazil triggered more alarms because of how quickly it spread in a population that some scientists say should have already reached herd immunity. A preliminary report suggested people who had recovered from COVID-19 could be reinfected with the variant, but that research has not been peer-reviewed. [Washington Post]

Meanwhile, should a person with cancer get a vaccine before someone who has cystic fibrosis? At least 37 states have moved forward with vaccinating Americans with underlying health conditions, but the rules are confusing and vary state by state or even county by county, a New York Times analysis finds. [NYT]

In Illinois, some people with underlying conditions say their lives won’t change much after they are fully vaccinated. [WBEZ]

Looking for leftover vaccines that need to be used or else they’ll be trashed? A website called Dr. B aims to hook people up with shots. [NYT]

3. The United Center vaccination site is now open

The largest COVID-19 vaccination site in Illinois opened today after experiencing some delays this morning. Using the Pfizer vaccine, officials aim to administer about 6,000 shots a day. Those supplies are on top of what Chicago and Illinois are already receiving.

Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago’s commissioner of public health, said about 50,000 appointments have already been scheduled at the United Center. [WBEZ]

The Chicago Tribune reports there was some confusion this morning when the United Center hit an hour delay in administering vaccinations.

“I feel great as long as we get our shots,” said Omelan Kluchnyk, the first person in line. [Chicago Tribune]

Vaccination efforts appear to be improving in Illinois, which is reporting a seven-day average of 95,000 shots per day, according to The Washington Post. That’s up 20% compared to the previous week. [WaPo]

4. Millions more smokers and ex-smokers should get free lung screenings a year, task force recommends

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a federally appointed group of medical experts, today issued new guidelines that would mean 15 million Americans — double the current number — would be eligible for free lung cancer screenings.

The task force’s new recommendation includes people ages 50 to 80 who have smoked at least a pack a day for 20 years or more, and it applies to current smokers or people who quit during the last 15 years.

The task force said it hopes the change will lead to more screenings among women and Black people, both of whom are vulnerable to cancer even though they smoke less than white men. [NBC News]

5. Queen Elizabeth II breaks her silence

Queen Elizabeth II today issued a personal statement saying “the whole family was saddened” to hear Harry and Meghan’s allegations of racism and rejection.

The queen said the “issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning.” But she also suggested that Harry and Meghan’s recollection of events are disputed by the royal family.

“While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately,” the queen said.

The statement came as the royal family faces growing pressure from the public to respond to Harry and Meghan’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. The queen’s comments come after senior royals held “crisis meetings,” reports the BBC. [BBC]

Harry and Meghan’s allegations of racism have reignited debates about abolishing the monarchy in former British colonies, where protests against racism have been building, reports The Washington Post. [WaPo]

Here’s what else is happening

• A bill banning transgender women and girls from competing in high school and college sports is poised to be signed into law in South Dakota. [NPR]
• Federal prosecutors allege the founder of the right-wing Oath Keepers directed followers during the Jan. 6 insurrection. [NPR]
• Chicago’s traffic was ranked the third worst in the nation last year, even with the pandemic causing fewer people to drive. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Russia and China want to create a research station on the moon. [Axios]

Oh, and one more thing …

James Cameron’s Avatar is making a comeback in China. Yes, that’s the 2009 sci-fi movie that promised to launch a new cinematic universe but failed to leave a lasting effect on pop culture.

Surprising and seemingly random, China’s Film Bureau is giving the movie the OK for wide release on Friday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, China was prepared to bring back Avatar last year in an effort to get people back into movie theaters, but a resurgence in COVID-19 cases apparently caused officials to abandon those plans.

The move means that Avatar could once again claim its title as the highest grossing movie of all time. It’s just about $7.4 million behind Avengers: Endgame. [Hollywood Reporter]

Tell me something good …

If you could live your life in a movie genre, what would it be?

Heather Anthony writes:

“I would love to live in a Studio Ghibli movie. All the food would be delicious and lovingly prepared, I’d live in a beautifully scenic space filled with calm moments, and I’d have some sort of magical friend to have adventures with. I’m feeling more tranquil just thinking about it!”

And Juhi writes:

“I’d want to live my life in a romantic comedy/drama. Something like Two Week’s Notice or The Wedding Planner. It would be comforting to be in a world where love always prevails and everyone gets their happily ever after. Wouldn’t it be great to know that everything works out in the end?”

Feel free to email me at therundown@wbez.org or tweet me at @whuntah.

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