The Omicron variant of the coronavirus does not have a negative effect on cardiovascular health in young adults who have been vaccinated, a small study suggests. Additionally, women should not delay routine mammograms after receiving a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, experts now say.
White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said on May 22 he expects a U.S. Food and Drug Administration decision on authorizing Moderna’s vaccine for children under age five within the next few weeks.
U.S. advisory panel to weigh in on COVID boosters for children
Advisory Committees, BNT162b2 (Pfizer and BioNTech), Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, Coronavirus Vaccines, COVID-19 booster shots, COVID-19 shots, COVID-19 Vaccinations, COVID-19 Vaccines, FDA, Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (J&J), mRNA-1273/Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Moderna), Pandemics, Therapeutics, Vaccinations, Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)An advisory panel to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is meeting on May 19 to discuss whether to recommend COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for children ages 5 to 11, a group that is just 29% vaccinated so far.
Health officials are considering extending the eligibility for a second COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to people under 50 amid a steady rise in cases, with the United States seeing a threefold increase over the past month.
As U.S. COVID-19 cases rise, so does demand for antivirals
Antivirals, Apple, BNT162b2 (Pfizer and BioNTech), CDC, Connecticut, COVID-19 booster shots, COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 Therapeutics, COVID-19 Vaccines, Delaware, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), FDA, Health Officials, Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients, Maine, Massachusetts, Merck, Molnupiravir, New York, Northeast, Omicron (B.1.1.529) (South Africa), Omicron BA.2, Paxlovid, Pfizer, Regions, Reuters Tally, Rhode Island, Therapeutics, U.S. government, United States, White HouseRising COVID-19 cases are driving up the use of therapeutics, with Pfizer Inc.’s oral antiviral treatment Paxlovid seeing a 315 percent jump over the past four weeks, U.S. health officials said on May 17.
U.S. FDA authorizes Pfizer’s COVID booster shot for young children
BNT162b2 (Pfizer and BioNTech), Children 5-11 Years, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, COVID-19 booster shots, COVID-19 shots, COVID-19 Vaccinations, COVID-19 Vaccines, Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), FDA, Pandemics, Pediatric, Pediatric Vaccines, Pfizer, Therapeutics, VaccinationsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 17 authorized the use of a booster shot of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, making everyone in the United States over the age of 5 eligible for a third shot.
AstraZeneca boosts COVID portfolio with RQ Bio deal
Acquisitions, AstraZeneca, Biotech, Business, Coronavirus Vaccines, COVID-19 Antibodies, COVID-19 shots, COVID-19 Therapeutic, COVID-19 therapeutic candidates, COVID-19 Therapeutics, COVID-19 Therapies, COVID-19 Vaccines, Evusheld (AstraZeneca), Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab; AstraZeneca), Licensing, R&D, Therapeutics, Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)AstraZeneca moved to bolster the company’s COVID-19 portfolio of antibodies on May 17 with a $157 million licensing deal for experimental therapies developed by newly launched biotech RQ Bio.
U.S. health regulators are expected to authorize a booster shot of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 as soon as May 17, the New York Times reported on May 16, citing people familiar with the matter.
Shanghai targets June COVID lockdown exit as China economy slumps
China, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Coronavirus Restrictions, Coronavirus surge, COVID guidelines, Covid-19 Airborne Transmission, COVID-19 booster shots, COVID-19 cases, Covid-19 fatality rate, COVID-19 Lockdown Measures, COVID-19 Prevention Measures, COVID-19 protocols, Covid-19 Quarantine, COVID-19 recommendations, COVID-19 risk, COVID-19 shots, COVID-19 Therapeutic, COVID-19 therapeutic candidates, COVID-19 Therapeutics, COVID-19 Therapies, COVID-19 transmission, COVID-19 vaccination rates, Covid-19 Variants, Mask-wearing, Pandemics, Shanghai, TherapeuticsShanghai set out plans on May 16 for the end of a painful COVID-19 lockdown that has lasted more than six weeks, heavily bruising China’s economy, and for the return of more normal life from June 1.
Explainer: How North Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak could ignite a major health crisis
Coronavirus, Coronavirus Diagnostic Tests, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic, Coronavirus Vaccines, COVAX Facility, COVID-19 Crisis, COVID-19 Deaths, COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Tests, COVID-19 self-testing kit, COVID-19 shots, COVID-19 Testing, Covid-19 Testing Guidance, COVID-19 Therapeutic, COVID-19 vaccination rates, COVID-19 Vaccinations, COVID-19 Vaccines, Diagnostic Tests, North Korea, Outbreaks, Pandemics, Politics, South Korea, Vaccinations, Vaccines, World Health OrganizationNorth Korea’s admission that it is battling an “explosive” COVID-19 outbreak raised concerns that the virus could devastate a country with an under-resourced health system, limited testing capabilities, and no vaccine program.