Although research is being conducted on Long COVID or Long COVID-19, whose symptoms continue for weeks and months after initial infection, there are very few ongoing clinical trials on treatments. Anecdotally, there has been what appears to be a successful treatment for Long Covid using Pfizer’s antiviral regimen Paxlovid.
In response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pfizer will cease operations within Russia and proceeds from the company’s subsidiary in that country will be donated to provide direct humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine. Regarding COVID-19, Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla noted in an interview with Face the Nation that it is likely that a fourth booster shot of the company’s vaccine will be needed to fend off another surge of infections.
Americans can choose a Covid-19 booster shot that is different from their original inoculation but the recommendation is to stick with the vaccine they got first if available, White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Oct. 22.
British health authorities, as well as global experts, are closely watching a subtype of the Delta variant that appears to be rising in the UK.
U.S. President Joe Biden will announce new steps to slow the spread of Covid-19 before the U.N. General Assembly meets, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Sept. 12.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said on Aug. 29 he supports Covid-19 vaccine mandates for children attending schools as the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus continues to fuel a surge in cases in the nation.
The number of children hospitalized with Covid-19 in the United States hit a record high of more than 1,900 on Aug. 14, as hospitals across the South were stretched to capacity fighting outbreaks caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to announce that the regulatory agency is authorizing the use of a booster shot for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in some immunocompromised patients.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy stood by federal guidance that those fully vaccinated against Covid-19 no longer needed to wear masks, while blaming social media companies for fueling vaccine misinformation.
Health agencies and vaccine and immunology experts have pushed back against Pfizer and BioNTech’s assertions that a Covid-19 booster shot is necessary.