Biotechnology
Pfizer says omicron shots substantially boosted antibodies against BA.5 subvariant in early human data
Jakub Porzycki | NurPhoto | Getty Images Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech on Thursday said their new omicron boosters substantially increased protective antibodies against the dominant omicron BA.5 subvariant for adults in the first direct human data released to the public on the new shots. The study looked at blood samples taken from 40 […]
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WHO calls for more international aid to prevent Ebola from spreading beyond Uganda
The World Health Organization is working with Uganda to prevent a deadly Ebola outbreak in the East African nation from spreading to neighboring nations, the global health agency’s chief said on Wednesday. Health authorities in Uganda have identified 74 confirmed and probable cases of Ebola across five districts, according to the WHO. At least 39 […]
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WHO calls for more international aide to prevent Ebola from spreading beyond Uganda
The World Health Organization is working with Uganda to prevent a deadly Ebola outbreak in the East African nation from spreading to neighboring nations, the global health agency’s chief said on Wednesday. Health authorities in Uganda have identified 74 confirmed and probable cases of Ebola across five districts, according to the WHO. At least 39 […]
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FDA authorizes Covid omicron booster shots for kids as young as 5 years old
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized Covid booster shots that target the omicron variant for preschoolers through elementary school students. Pfizer’s new omicron boosters are authorized for children ages 5 to 11 and Moderna’s shots for kids ages 6 through 17. The shots are administered two months following completion of the two-dose primary […]
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Moderna and Merck will jointly develop a cancer vaccine for high-risk melanoma patients
Pipettes are seen at the Moderna Therapeutics Inc. lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. Moderna this week started testing Adam Glanzman | Bloomberg | Getty Images Moderna and Merck will jointly develop and sell a cancer vaccine that is personalized for individual patients, the companies announced on Wednesday. Moderna’s vaccine, based […]
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Risk of Covid death almost zero for people who are boosted and treated, White House Covid czar says
People who stay up to date on their vaccines and receive treatments when they have breakthrough infections face almost no risk of dying from Covid-19, a top health official said on Tuesday. Dr. Ashish Jha, head of the White House Covid task force, said the U.S. has made major strides in fighting Covid since the […]
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U.S. is tracking several omicron subvariants, but new boosters should offer protection, White House says
The U.S. is tracking several coronavirus omicron subvariants that more easily evade immunity, but the new booster shots should protect against them, a top health official said on Tuesday. Health officials are closely watching the subvariants because they render many treatments ineffective, said Dr. Ashish Jha, head of the White House Covid task force. But […]
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Poliovirus found in Brooklyn and Queens sewage, New York health officials say
Polio virus particle, computer illustration. Kateryna Kon | Science Photo Library | Getty Images New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has extended the state of emergency declared in response to the spread of poliovirus after sewage tested positive in Brooklyn and Queens. Hochul said the state disaster emergency will remain in place at least through Nov. […]
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FDA clears vaccine to prevent whooping cough in newborns by giving shot to mother during pregnancy
Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, August 29, 2020. Andrew Kelly | Reuters The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a vaccine for use in the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent whooping cough in newborn infants. The vaccine, called Boostrix, is made by […]
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Covid vaccines prevented at least 330,000 deaths among U.S. seniors in 2021, health officials say
Covid vaccines prevented at least 330,000 deaths and nearly 700,000 hospitalizations among adult Medicare recipients in 2021, the Health and Human Services Department said in a new report published Friday. The reduction in hospitalizations due to vaccination saved more than $16 billion in medical costs, according to the HHS report. A 10% increase in vaccination […]
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