J&J vaccine effective against COVID Delta variant, drugmaker says
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 06, 2021
Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine prompts a “strong neutralizing antibody response” that lasts at least eight months, the drugmaker has announced.
CDC advises COVID boosters for all adults, citing worrisome omicron variant
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 30, 2021
The new recommendation comes amid rising concerns about the omicron coronavirus variant — yet another reason to get an additional vaccine dose, health officials say.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, June 3
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 03, 2021
Nursing homes’ smaller but continued COVID outbreaks blamed on unvaccinated staff, report finds … U.S. to test mixed COVID vaccine booster dose schedules in vaccinated adults … WHO plans to simplify...
COVID cases rise in 15 states; variant fuels outbreak in Kentucky nursing home
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 22, 2021
The average U.S. case rate is falling, but almost a third of states have seen an increase, and one Kentucky facility’s outbreak shows how new COVID-19 variants and vaccination play a role in continued...
Two years into pandemic, we’re better prepared to fight off virus variants
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 02, 2021
Despite the threat of the quickly spreading and highly mutated omicron coronavirus variant — which has just landed in the U.S. — we are safer than we were before the pandemic, some experts say.
Feds wait for lowered vaccine efficacy to recommend COVID-19 booster shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 22, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine booster shots will not be necessary until mRNA vaccines become less effective, federal health officials say. But immunocompromised Americans are potential near-term recipients, they told...
CDC says COVID-19 vaccine boosters not yet necessary, while Pfizer seeks approval for third dose
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 12, 2021
Fully vaccinated Americans do not need a COVID-19 booster shot at this time, according to federal health officials. But Pfizer has asked to offer a third dose of its current vaccine and is developing an...
COVID cases fall 82% in nursing homes; vaccination will help thwart variants, advocates say
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 03, 2021
The steep drop in coronavirus cases over seven weeks is a sign that vaccinations are working and are the key to a normalized life for residents, the AHCA/NCAL says.
COVID deaths now ‘entirely preventable’ due to vaccines, CDC director says
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 24, 2021
High vaccine efficacy in the United States means that “every death due to COVID-19 is particularly tragic because nearly every death, especially among adults … [is] entirely preventable,”...
This season’s flu vaccinations linked to lower COVID-19 likelihood, severity
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2021
People who received a flu vaccination were 24% less likely to test positive for COVID-19. And those who did contract the disease had a less severe course when compared with people who didn’t get a flu...