Pfizer Inc. announced Tuesday that it has launched a trial that will compare its existing COVID-19 vaccine against a new version tailored to beat back the highly contagious Omicron variant. “While current research and real-world data show that boosters continue to provide a high level of protection against severe disease and hospitalization with Omicron, we… read on > read on >
It has begun to feel like a pandemic that will never end, but public health experts now say the Omicron variant may be ushering in a “new normal,” where COVID-19 becomes an endemic, but manageable, disease. “I do feel that we are moving into a transition phase in the pandemic, and I do think Omicron… read on > read on >
Coronavirus infections before or after vaccination provide equal levels of increased immunity, and the key to this so-called “super immunity” is to be vaccinated, researchers report. “It makes no difference whether you get infected-and-then-vaccinated, or if you get vaccinated-and-then-a-breakthrough infection,” said study co-senior author Fikadu Tafesse. He is an assistant professor of molecular microbiology and… read on > read on >
Support from family and friends, along with exercise and sufficient sleep, have helped protect teens’ mental health during the pandemic, new research shows. The study also found that teen girls have been more likely than boys to suffer mental distress during the pandemic. For the study, researchers analyzed data gathered from more than 3,000 participants,… read on > read on >
TUESDAY, Jan. 25, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Christina Saldivar felt well-rested and energetic when she headed to her elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, on a Monday morning in February 2020. At 26, she was enjoying her first year of teaching music at the same campus instead of bouncing around as an itinerant… read on > read on >
Strokes aren’t common among young people, but when they do happen, they strike more often in women than men, a new review finds. Of the nearly 800,000 Americans who suffer a stroke each year, 10% to 15% are adults age 45 or younger, according to the American Heart Association. The new research suggests that young… read on > read on >
If you’re wondering whether to intentionally expose yourself to the Omicron variant with the goal of developing immunity, the answer is absolutely not, experts say. “It sounds like playing with fire to me,” said Dr. Nicole Van Groningen, a hospitalist who has treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. First of all,… read on > read on >
When older people cut back on physical activity, their risk of type 2 diabetes rises. But walking regularly can help, a new study suggests. The more steps you take — and the more intensely you walk — the lower your odds for type 2 diabetes, researchers found. To assess the link between walking and diabetes… read on > read on >
Cannabidiol, a compound derived from marijuana, appears to show promise in blocking replication of the COVID-19 virus and preventing its spread, lab and animal studies show. CBD inhibited the ability of the coronavirus to spread in human lung cell samples, and also suppressed COVID-19 infection in the lungs and nasal passages of lab mice. Although… read on > read on >
Coronavirus testing requirements for vaccinated people arriving in England will be scrapped, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday. Details about the changes are to be provided later in the day by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, the Associated Press reported. To “show that this country is open for business, open for travelers, you will see… read on > read on >
