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☆ Covid vaccine rates in the U.S. are slumping — and it will be a challenge to boost them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

In this article PFEMRNANVAX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA sign advertises Covid vaccine shots at a Walgreens Pharmacy in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Aug. 14, 2023. Brian Snyder | ReutersThree years into the Covid-19 pandemic, few Americans are rolling up their sleeves to get a Covid vaccine. Experts and vaccine makers can agree that low Covid vaccination rates are concerning, even as cases of the virus dwindle from their pandemic highs. However, Iovine of the University of Florida doesn't believe combination shots will have a significant effect on Covid vaccination rates. If combination shots don't do the trick, it's unclear what else could boost Covid vaccination rates down the line.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Ali Mokdad, Mokdad, Irfan Khan, Jennifer Kates, Brad Pollock, Nicole Iovine, epidemiologist, Iovine, Michael Yee, Albert Bourla, Arpa Garay, Garay, John Trizzino, Trizzino, Jamey Mock, Andrew Pekosz, Jefferies, Yee, doesn't Organizations: Walgreens, Reuters, Pfizer, Moderna, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, University of Washington, CVS Pharmacy, Los Angeles Times, KFF, UC Davis Health's, University of Florida, Jefferies, Arpa, CNBC, Istock, Getty, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: Somerville , Massachusetts, U.S, Novavax, Covid, Eagle Rock , California

The summer increase of COVID-19 appears to have passed its peak. The mindset change is likely how health officials will examine COVID-19 during the fall and winter months for years to come. Last winter saw a peak of new weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions at nearly 44,500. That would mean that the U.S. enters peak respiratory disease season with an elevated level of COVID-19 circulating already, so a further increase could be possible on top of that. But to get the most protection against this form of the COVID virus that's circulating right now, get the updated COVID vaccine."

Persons: Ashish Jha, ”, – COVID, don’t, Andrew Pekosz, It’s, Mandy Cohen, ” Pekosz, “ pirola, it's, Biden, ” Cohen, Cohen, – Organizations: White, for Disease Control, CDC, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: U.S, hospitalizations, Boston

☆ Covid, RSV and flu vaccines are now available — here's how to decide whether to get them together
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For the first time ever, vaccines for Covid, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus are available in the U.S.Public health officials are urging eligible Americans to take all three shots so the nation can avoid another "tripledemic" of Covid, flu and RSV, which inundated hospitals last fall and winter. Most people only need to consider whether they should get an updated Pfizer or Moderna Covid shot and a flu vaccine at the same time, since both are broadly available to all Americans. A maternal vaccine from Pfizer protects infants against RSV, but that shot isn't available just yet. Health experts told CNBC that they don't expect any issues with taking all three shots at once. Still, other experts note that there is little research on administering an RSV shot with another vaccine, or on giving all three shots together.

Persons: Dr, Ali Alhassani, Andrew Pekosz Organizations: Public, Pfizer, Moderna, GSK, CNBC, Boston Children's Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: U.S, Boston

☆ Covid: How to check if expired tests still work as cases rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

As Covid cases surge again in the U.S., Americans are digging out unused at-home tests that they stashed earlier on in the pandemic. If the date has not changed, the FDA advises against using expired tests. Public health experts say testing remains a critical tool for protection as Covid metrics climb. However, certain local health clinics and community sites still offer at-home tests to the public at no cost. Before buying new at-home tests, it wouldn't hurt to check if any expired ones sitting in your medicine cabinet are still safe to use.

Persons: Abbott's, Andrew Pekosz, Covid hospitalizations Organizations: Drug Administration, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CNBC, FDA, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Orlando, U.S

☆ When to wear masks as Covid cases rise, new variants emerge in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An uptick in Covid cases and hospitalizations in the U.S., and the emergence of new variants of the virus, are prompting questions about whether Americans should start masking up again. One thing's for sure: People infected with Covid should wear masks around others to prevent the spread of the virus. That includes your personal risk level, Covid rates in your region and who you might make contact with, public health experts said. Newer Covid variants like the now-dominant EG.5, or "Eris," and a handful of XBB strains have fueled the rise. New Covid shots from Pfizer , Moderna and Novavax are slated to roll out in mid-September, and will likely provide robust protection against those variants.

Persons: Michael Nason, Donna Nason, Andrew Pekosz, Francesca Torriani, Pavitra, Axios Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CNBC, CDC, U.S, Pfizer, Moderna, University of California, University of Washington School of Medicine Locations: Bakersfield, Los Angeles , CA, California, U.S, Covid, San Diego

☆ Is It Time to Wear a Mask Again?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Dani Blum | More About Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As new Covid variants gain traction, reinfections become more common and cases climb in certain areas, a few schools and businesses are reinstating mask requirements. Here’s a refresher on where, when and how to mask. When should you wear a mask inside? Everyone’s risk tolerance varies, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said. “Certainly every time you add another person to the room, particularly people who are within three to five feet of you, that increases your chance of getting infected, exponentially,” Dr. Pekosz added.

Persons: reinfections, ”, Andrew Pekosz, William Schaffner, Pekosz Organizations: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

☆ Highly immune evasive omicron XBB.1.5 variant is quickly becoming dominant in U.S. as it doubles weekly
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Covid omicron XBB.1.5 variant is rapidly becoming dominant in the U.S. because it is highly immune evasive and appears more effective at binding to cells than related subvariants, scientists say. It has since evolved into a family of subvariants including XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. The XBB subvariants are also resistant to Evusheld, an antibody cocktail that many people with weak immune systems rely on for protection against Covid infection because they don't mount a strong response to the vaccines. The scientists described the resistance of the XBB subvariants to antibodies from vaccination and infection as "alarming." The XBB subvariants were even more effective at dodging protection from the omicron boosters than the BQ subvariants, which are also highly immune evasive, the scientists found.

☆ New subvariants, family gatherings may bring more Covid-19 after holiday, but experts don’t expect severe surge
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Experts expect that Thanksgiving gatherings will stir up social networks and give new coronavirus subvariants fresh pockets of vulnerable people to infect. And we are concerned that after holiday gathering, lots of people coming together, that we may see increases in Covid-19 cases as well,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Tuesday on CNN. For the week ending Nov. 19, the CDC estimates that BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 were causing about half of all new Covid-19 cases in the US. Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have remained flat for the past four weeks. “It’s probably got a bit more of a fitness advantage, so what we’re seeing is gradual replacement without a massive change in the total number of Covid-19 cases,” he said.

Two new omicron subvariants have overtaken BA.5 as the prevailing versions of the coronavirus in the U.S.BA.5 became dominant in July, then consistently accounted for the majority of new Covid infections until last week. The two together make up around 44% of new Covid infections, whereas BA.5 makes up just 30%. BQ.1.1 and BQ.1 cases are also rising in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe. Both of the subvariants are considered part of the BA.5 family — they're sublineages that evolved from BA.5. "There’s nothing in the signature of the clinical cases that are being reported that suggests that anything is changing in terms of symptoms with these omicron subvariants," Pekosz said.

☆ Omicron subvariants are resistant to key antibody treatments, putting people with weak immune systems at risk of Covid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Emerging omicron subvariants are resistant to key antibody treatments for HIV patients, kidney transplant recipients and other immunocompromised people, making them particularly vulnerable to Covid this winter, the White House warned this week. While this may be true for the general population, it is not the case for people with weak immune systems. Evusheld is an antibody cocktail authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent Covid in people ages 12 and older who have moderately or severely compromised immune systems. Evusheld, made by AstraZeneca , has helped fill a gap in protection for those with weak immune systems who cannot mount a strong response to the vaccines. Jha acknowledged at the White House on Tuesday that the U.S. has dwindling treatment and prevention options for people with weak immune systems as Covid evolves.

☆ AVERTISMENT: Oamenii nevaccinați sunt "fabrici" pentru noi variante ale COVID-19
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-05 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +2 min

Oamenii nevaccinați nu riscă doar sănătatea lor, ci și pe a celor din jur. "Oamenii nevaccinați sunt fabrici de variante posibile. Dar trebuie să se înmulțească pentru a o face. Variante ale Covid-19 au apărut peste tot în lume - varianta B.1.1.7 sau Alpha a fost văzută pentru prima dată în Anglia. Și SUA au înregistrat mai multe variante proprii.

Persons: CNN dr, William Schaffner, CNN Andrew Pekosz, Johns Hopkins, . Organizations: CNN, Universității Vanderbilt, Alpha, Beta, Organizația Mondială a Sănătății Locations: Anglia, Africa de Sud, India, SUA

☆ Oamenii nevaccinați sunt „fabrici" pentru noi variante ale Covid-19, spun specialiștii în boli infecțioase
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-05 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +2 min

Sursa foto: ProfimediaOamenii nevaccinați sunt „fabrici" pentru noi variante ale Covid-19, spun specialiștii în boli infecțioaseOamenii nevaccinați nu riscă doar sănătatea lor, ci și pe a celor din jur. Devin un risc și mai mare dacă sunt infectați cu coronavirus, deoarece singura sursă de noi variante de coronavirus este corpul unei persoane infectate, spun specialiștii în boli infecțioase. "Oamenii nevaccinați sunt fabrici de variante posibile. Dar trebuie să se înmulțească pentru a o face. Variante ale Covid-19 au apărut peste tot în lume - varianta B.1.1.7 sau Alpha a fost văzută pentru prima dată în Anglia.

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