Vaccines protect against omicron’s fast-spreading sister variant, BA.2, new data show
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2022
COVID-19 vaccines will continue to protect the public against a spinoff omicron gene variant that’s making inroads across the United States, new data from the United Kingdom suggest.
U.S. gives green light to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2022
“Spikevax” is the second COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to receive full FDA approval, following Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty in September.
Shot targeting omicron may be ready by March, Pfizer predicts
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 11, 2022
The company says it is working with partner BioNTech to develop a shot that will combine its original vaccine with a drug that helps build immunity to the highly transmissible omicron variant.
Can mRNA tech make a better shingles shot? Vaccine makers plan to find out
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 06, 2022
Pfizer and BioNTech plan to speed development of a prospective shingles drug, with clinical trials expected to begin in the second half of 2022.
Some believe Pfizer’s COVID pill can help address labor issues
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 06, 2022
Pfizer’s newly approved antiviral COVID-19 pill Paxlovid for treating the disease could be just what nursing homes need to address staffing shortages exacerbated by the public health crisis, according...
Feds shrink Pfizer booster interval to 5 months as omicron surges
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 05, 2022
The decision is part of an effort to increase the number of booster shot recipients and build up Americans’ immunity in response to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, officials said.
Pfizer, Moderna vaccines recommended over Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus shot
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 17, 2021
Americans should preferably be vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines due to a rare but serious risk of blood clots and the lesser protection found with the J&J vaccine, CDC says.
Omicron renders Pfizer vaccine less effective; variant surge to hit U.S. by January
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 15, 2021
The vaccine is less able to prevent infection, but retains 70% protection against hospitalization, a new study shows. The news comes as federal health officials warn that omicron is spreading rapidly in...
Best bet against omicron? Prior infection or a booster shot, early research suggests
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 09, 2021
A two-dose course of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may not be enough to effectively combat the new omicron coronavirus variant, but a booster shot may do the trick, two early lab studies suggest....
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.