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More than 50 million Americans have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. So far, Americans have been largely brand-agnostic, but that’s about to change as a new vaccine rolls out. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been hailed as a game changer. It requires only a single dose rather than two doses spaced weeks apart, and it does not need freezer storage, making it a natural fit for hard-to-reach rural areas and underserved communities with limited access to health care and storage facilities. But while many people are excited about the prospects of only one shot, the new vaccine is also getting backlash. Part of that is coming from lack of clarity about the vaccines’ efficacy numbers, and part of it is more nuanced.

The pharmacy in Hankinson, North Dakota, a town of about 900 people at the state’s extreme southeastern tip, has been in operation since 1897. The town was a decade old by then and had quickly swelled with settlers enticed by ads for good farmland along the railroad. A pharmacy was one of those signs of a town’s arrival; a knowledgeable druggist was essential. This remained true through the years, even though it turned out that the region’s population had already peaked and was slowly dwindling, as it still is. The earliest owners of Hankinson Drug had kept a stock of jewelry as well as pharmaceuticals, and both traditions remain alive with the current proprietors. In recent years, their pharmacy has been the only one in the county outside Wahpeton, a bigger town 30 minutes away on the Minnesota border.

The United States is in a competition for global talent, as the Fourth Industrial Revolution[i] reshapes much of the world. The United States must engage in a major new challenge– a holistic Artificial Intelligence international competition while addressing the age-old American conundrum surrounding immigration policy.  The job outlook for technical professionals, specifically those in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, has never been brighter. These professionals have many opportunities where they can balance their desire for intellectual stimulation, impact, work culture, and compensation. For many organizations, the demand for AI talent greatly outstrips supply.

Megan Jacob is a mother of three who just got her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. She’s also an associate professor in clinical microbiology and director of Diagnostic Laboratories at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Now, under her leadership, the college is home to COVID-19 testing labs for the NC State community. With the laboratories capable of completing 8,000 tests per day — and current expectations for campus demand at about 11,000 tests per week — much of the university community’s health is in the hands of her and her lab team. “I’ve hired some really great people in our lab who, in their cover letters, say, ‘I just want to contribute to fighting the pandemic,’” says Jacob. “It has truly brought out some of the best in people.”