Today is Tuesday, March 23rd, and you're listening to The Morning Announcements.

I'm Tammy Sage.

Yesterday, AstraZeneca released a results of a study, which found that their vaccine was

79% effective at preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19, including in older adults.

AstraZeneca also said that the study's independent safety monitors found no serious side effects,

including no increased risk of blood clots like there had been a few cases of in Europe,

which led a number of countries to briefly suspend vaccinations last week.

AstraZeneca plans to file an application for FDA approval in the U.S. in the coming weeks.

While we're talking about vaccines, I should add that Krispy Kreme announced yesterday

that they will give a free donut to anyone with a valid vaccination card.

And this is not just a one-time offer, anyone who's vaccinated couldn't theory get a donut

every day of 2021 if they wanted.

I could definitely see myself taking them up on this.

The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will consider whether to reinstate the

death penalty for Boston, Marathon, Bomber, and Joker, Sarnaya.

Last year, the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston threw out the death penalty sentences

after finding that a trial judge had failed to ensure proper questioning of prospective

jurors, specifically about whether they had been influenced by media coverage of the

bombing.

The Trump administration then appealed to the Supreme Court trying to bring back the capital

punishment.

Yesterday, the justices agreed to consider reinstating the death sentences.

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