Scientists are reporting that the antibodies people make to fight the new coronavirus do not fade quickly.

The new study is the most extensive work yet on the immune system’s response to the virus and is good news for efforts to develop vaccines. The report published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. It was based on tests on more than 30,000 people in Iceland. It found antibodies lasted for at least four months after diagnosis.

The study also found that more severe cases of the coronavirus led to a stronger immune response to the virus.

"Among recovered persons, antibody levels are higher in older persons and in those more severely affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection," according to the research.

Independent experts say if a vaccine can spur production of long-lasting antibodies like that, it gives hope that immunity may not be fleeting. That's what some smaller studies previously suggested.

While the research was promising, it did also find that Icelanders are vulnerable to a second wave of the coronavirus even with the number of potentially immune citizens.

The Biden administration on Monday announced more details regarding its commitment to donate 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the rest of the world by the end of June.

On Monday, the White House announced the distribution list of 55 million doses of vaccine.

According to the White House, 41 million doses will be shared with COVAX and be delivered to the following countries.

• Approximately 14 million for Latin America and the Caribbean to the following: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, Dominican Republic, Panama, and Costa Rica.
• Approximately 16 million for Asia to the following: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Cambodia, and the Pacific Islands.
• Approximately 10 million for Africa to be shared with countries that will be selected in coordination with the African Union.

The other 14 million doses will be shared with Colombia, Argentina, Haiti, other CARICOM countries, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Oman, West Bank and Gaza, Ukraine, Kosovo, Georgia, Moldova, and Bosnia.

The White House previously announced the destination of the remaining 25 million vaccine doses of its initial 80 million dose pledge earlier this month.

During a White House press briefing on Monday, press secretary Jen Psaki noted that officials have made "Herculean logistical effort" in sharing vaccine doses. She noted that in addition to the typical storage and shipping challenges that come along with transporting vaccines, the White House is also attempting to overcome language barriers and other international shipping issues.

During a foreign trip last week, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. had committed to providing the world with an additional 500 million vaccine doses through COVAX within a year. Other G-7 nations also agreed to provide 500 million doses of their own for a total of 1 billion doses.

President Joe Biden on Friday celebrated the U.S.'s accomplishment in distributing 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in his first 150 days in office, calling it a "truly American accomplishment."

In remarks from the White House, Biden celebrated the fact that the mass vaccination program has delivered real-world results — COVID-19 infections and deaths are at their lowest points since the virus arrived in America in March 2020.

"Folks, we're heading into a very different summer from last year. A bright summer, one filled with hope," Biden said.

In a statement released Friday, the White House noted that the rate of vaccination has exploded since Biden took office on Jan. 20. As of Friday, 87% of seniors and 74% of adults over 40 have received at least one shot, and 15 states have partially vaccinated 70% of their adult population.

However, time is running short on Biden's current vaccination goal. He has said he hopes to have 70% of U.S. adults partially vaccinated by July 4 — with 16 days remaining, the CDC says 65% of adults have gotten at least one shot.

According to Bloomberg, the daily rate of distributed doses fell steadily between mid-April and early June. However, the daily vaccination rate has been on the rise in recent weeks.

The recent rise in vaccinations comes as the Biden administration has partnered with several large businesses to incentivize Americans to get a shot. The White House has partnered with chain retailers to offer sweepstakes to those who get vaccinated in-store, sports teams to offer free tickets to fans who present proof of vaccination and brewers to offer free beers when the U.S. reaches the 70% goal.

Several states have launched their own incentive programs, like Ohio's vaccine lottery that offers grand prizes of $1 million or free college scholarships.

In addition to offering incentives, the Biden White House has partnered with pharmacy chains to extend their hours of operation to make vaccinations more convenient, partnered with childcare centers to offer free drop-in care for those who are getting the vaccine and offered tax credits to small and medium-sized businesses that allow employees to take a day off work to get vaccinated.

Vaccine maker Novavax says its shot is highly effective against COVID-19 and also protects against variants.

The Maryland-based company on Monday announced results from a large, late-stage study in the U.S. and Mexico that found its vaccine was about 90% effective. Preliminary data also showed it was safe.

"Today, Novavax is one step closer to addressing the critical and persistent global public health need for additional COVID-19 vaccines. These clinical results reinforce that NVX-CoV2373 is extremely effective and offers complete protection against both moderate and severe COVID-19 infection," said Stanley C. Erck, the president and CEO of Novavax in a statement. "Novavax continues to work with a sense of urgency to complete our regulatory submissions and deliver this vaccine, built on a well understood and proven platform, to a world that is still in great need of vaccines."

Novavax previously released results from smaller studies in Britain and South Africa.

The company plans by the end of September to file for emergency use authorization in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere.

Novavax's vaccine is made by growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory.

Currently, the U.S. has more supply of COVID-19 vaccines than demand. The Biden administration has said it currently has enough vaccines on hand to vaccinate every American who wants a shot. However, Bloomberg reports that the U.S.'s rate of daily vaccinations has fallen significantly since its peak in mid-April.

While the U.S. market is already saturated with COVID-19 vaccines, the Novavax vaccine could have a significant impact abroad, where many countries have struggled to obtain doses.

William 'Bill' Shakespeare, one of the first people in the U.K. to receive Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine upon its emergency approval, has died of a stroke, the country's National Health Service confirmed to the BBC.

According to local politician Jayne Innes, Shakespeare died last week.

"Greatly saddened and upset to hear our friend, the very lovely Bill Shakespeare, has passed away," Innes tweeted, according to USA Today. "Bill will be remembered for many things, including a taste for mischief. He became an international sensation as the first man to receive a COVID vaccine."

Shakespeare, 81, was the second person to get a Pfizer shot in England on Dec. 8. He was second in line at University Hospital in Coventry, England on Dec. 8 when vaccine distribution opened to the general public. According to the BBC, Shakespeare was a patient in the hospital's "frailty ward" at the time of his vaccination.

A few days after England began public vaccinations, the U.S. formally approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use.

"It could make a difference to our lives from now on, couldn't it?" Shakespeare said at the time, according to CBS News. "It's started changing our lives and our lifestyle."

Following his vaccination, Shakespeare's famous name prompted the New York Post to run the headline "TAMING OF THE FLU" — a play on the famous Shakespeare play "The Taming of the Shrew."

According to the BBC, Shakespeare leaves behind his wife of 53 years, two sons and several grandchildren.