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.
COVID ‘breakthrough’ outbreak affects one quarter of residents at French nursing home
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 15, 2021
In a facility with a 97% resident vaccination rate, the large number of infections shows that a shot alone is not enough to protect the frail elderly from SARS-CoV-2, researchers contend.
Stay on guard: Vaccinated residents remain susceptible to outbreaks, French nursing home studies reveal
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 13, 2021
Vaccinations and infection control measures may not entirely protect nursing homes from COVID-19 outbreaks — especially when staff members are unvaccinated, according to two new studies from France.
Feds identify promising and ‘urgently needed’ COVID antiviral drug
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 04, 2021
The experimental drug TEMPOL has shown promise in early studies, halting the activity of a viral enzyme and limiting the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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.
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...
Boosters on the way: LTC residents, healthcare workers may top fed’s list after CDC approves 3rd shot
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 16, 2021
The Biden administration has secured 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as part of a strategy to provide additional shots to already vaccinated priority groups this fall, investigators have been told....
Large VA study reveals ease of COVID-19 transmission among unvaccinated healthcare staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Investigators found nearly 20 times the rate of COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated healthcare staff, plus signs that transmission clusters were linked to those workers.