Biotechnology
WHO is tracking omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants as they spread through Africa and Europe
Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are circulating at low levels in several countries within Southern Africa and Europe, according to the World Health Organization. The two subvariants of the highly contagious Covid-19 strain have been detected in Botswana, South Africa, Germany and Denmark, among other countries, WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19 Maria Van Kerkhove said […]
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Uninsured face surprise medical bills for Covid testing, hospital treatment after U.S. Congress fails to fund pandemic aid program
Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss reopening schools during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., September 30, 2021. Shawn Thew | Pool | Reuters People who don’t have health insurance are now being charged $100 or […]
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WHO says Covid still a global public health emergency even as deaths fall to lowest level in two years
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks during a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, December 20, 2021. Denis Balibouse | Reuters The World Health Organization on Wednesday said Covid-19 remains a global public health emergency despite the fact that deaths from the virus have fallen to their lowest level since the […]
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Covid outbreaks in New York and D.C. infect senior officials as omicron BA.2 variant sweeps the U.S.
A man is given a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at pop-up testing site in New York, April 11, 2022. Brendan McDermid | Reuters Covid infections are rising again in the U.S. with outbreaks in New York City and Washington, D.C. resulting in senior government officials coming down with the virus as the more contagious omicron […]
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WHO says it closely watching China as it grapples with its worst Covid surge of the pandemic
The World Health Organization on Monday said it is monitoring a major surge in Covid cases in mainland China, an outbreak that local officials have attributed to the more contagious omicron BA.2 subvariant. Dr. Kate O’Brien, director of WHO’s immunization and vaccine program, said the agency is in contact with public health authorities in China […]
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‘Grim milestone’ reached in Ukraine with more than 100 attacks on health facilities and transportation, WHO says
A mother holds her newborn baby in the bomb shelter of a maternity hospital on March 02, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Valentyn Ogirenko | Reuters The World Health Organization on Thursday condemned Russia’s more than 100 attacks on health-care facilities and transport vehicles, including ambulances, in Ukraine over the last six weeks — in violation […]
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U.S. has until June to decide whether we need new Covid shots for this fall, FDA official says
A volunteer is injected with a vaccine as he participates in a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination study at the Research Centers of America, in Hollywood, Florida, September 24, 2020. Marco Bello | Reuters The FDA has until the early summer to decide whether vaccine makers need to change existing Covid shots to target different virus […]
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Scientists divided on need for 4th Covid shot after FDA quietly approved another round of boosters
Cathy Dozal gets her second booster shot against COVID-19 from Vocational nursing student, Patricia Lizardo, at Long Beach City College in Long Beach on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Brittany Murray | Medianews Group | Getty Images Leading U.S. scientists and physicians worry that the FDA and CDC are moving too fast in approving a fourth […]
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CDC director says high immunity in U.S. population provides some protection against omicron BA.2
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Tuesday said there is enough immunity in the U.S. population to provide some protection against the more contagious omicron BA.2 subvariant, which could help stave off another Covid wave that slams hospitals. “The high level of immunity in the population from vaccines, boosters and previous infection will provide some level […]
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Biden administration launches national research plan to understand and treat long Covid
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) before receiving a second COVID-19 booster vaccination in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building’s South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 30, 2022. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters President Joe Biden on Tuesday directed the Health and Human Services Department to lead […]
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