Depression rates rose three-fold among U.S. adults during the first year of the COVID pandemic, new research shows. Surveys of more than 6,500 adults found that about 33% have had more intense symptoms of depression this year, compared to 28% in the pandemic’s early months in spring of 2020 and 9% before it began. “The…  read on >  read on >

Misinformation and medical mistrust are major drivers of vaccine hesitancy among U.S. Hispanics, new research shows. The researchers also found that protecting other family members is an important factor in convincing Hispanics to get vaccinated. The small study included 22 Hispanic mothers in Oregon and 24 of their children who were in grades 9 to…  read on >  read on >

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has hit minority groups in the United States hard, with significantly more deaths among Black and Hispanic Americans compared with white and Asian Americans, a new study finds. According to the report, these disparities highlight the need to address ongoing inequities influencing health and longevity in the United States. What’s more,…  read on >  read on >

Booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for people aged 18 and older have been given the green light by the European Medicines Agency. They “may be considered at least six months after the second dose for people aged 18 years and older,” the European Union’s drug regulator said Monday, the Associated Press reported. The…  read on >  read on >

From the fear of getting sick to lockdown isolation, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased stress levels, and for many women, the uptick led to changes in their monthly periods. More than half of respondents to an online survey reported changes in their menstrual cycles during the pandemic, including differences in premenstrual symptoms and in the…  read on >  read on >

Imagine battling debilitating depression for years, trying everything but finding little or no relief. That’s what Sarah, 36, lived with most of her adult life. “I had exhausted all possible treatment options,” recalled Sarah, who did not want her last name used. “It [depression] had controlled my entire life. I barely moved. I barely did…  read on >  read on >

People newly infected with COVID-19 might soon have access to what essentially is Tamiflu for the novel coronavirus, a breakthrough that experts say would drastically alter the course of the ongoing pandemic. At least three contenders are vying to become the first antiviral pill that specifically targets COVID-19, according to reports from drug manufacturers. Such…  read on >  read on >

Black kids and Hispanic kids with cancer fare worse than their white counterparts, a large, nationwide study finds. “This study suggests that improving health insurance coverage and access to care for children, especially those with low [socioeconomic status], may reduce racial/ethnic survival disparities,” Jingxuan Zhao, an associate scientist at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta,…  read on >  read on >