India’s drug regulator granted emergency use approval for Zydus Cadila’s Covid-19 vaccine, the world’s first DNA shot against the coronavirus, in adults and children aged 12 years and older.
Trial data from AstraZeneca on Aug. 20 raised the prospect of a new treatment to prevent Covid-19 beyond vaccines, giving hope in particular for people who respond poorly to immunization shots.
Three U.S. senators – Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Democrat John Hickenlooper of Colorado and independent Angus King of Maine – disclosed on Aug. 19 they had tested positive for Covid-19.
As the work force returns to the office, life science companies are having to take their stance on vaccine policy. Some have chosen a strict mandate, others a mandate with options, and others have yet to issue an edict.
A British public health study found that protection from either of the two most commonly used Covid-19 vaccines against the prevalent Delta variant of the coronavirus weakens within three months.
Florida’s largest school district on Aug. 18 imposed a mask mandate in defiance of the state’s governor, another chapter in the coronavirus political battle in the southern United States where new infections are highest.
Facebook Inc. removed over three dozen pages spreading misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines, after the White House called on social media firms to tighten controls on pandemic-related facts shared on their platforms.
The Covid-19 vaccines available in the United States are still highly effective at preventing hospitalization but their effectiveness against new infections has decreased as the Delta variant spread, according to new studies published on Aug. 18 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. A different study suggests children’s noses may be better than adults’ at defending against infection because of “pre-activated” immunity against the coronavirus.
The U.S. government said on Aug. 18 it plans to make Covid-19 vaccine booster shots widely available starting on Sept. 20 as infections rise from the coronavirus Delta variant, citing data indicating diminishing protection from the vaccines over time.
The United States reported more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths on Aug. 17 – equating to around 42 fatalities an hour – according to a Reuters tally, as the Delta variant continues to ravage parts of the country with low vaccination rates.
