Both Pfizer and Moderna have asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve their updated coronavirus boosters for children. The “bivalent” shots, like those that adults were able to start receiving this month, target both the original coronavirus and the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. Pfizer has asked the FDA for approval of its… read on > read on >
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eased its universal masking recommendation for nursing homes and hospitals, unless those health care institutions are in areas seeing high levels of COVID-19 transmission. The change is part of updated guidelines published by the CDC on Friday. Still, due to high COVID rates only about a… read on > read on >
It can be hard to talk to your loved ones about moving into assisted living, so don’t push them too hard and make sure they feel safe and comfortable with the idea, one expert advises. “Start the conversation as early as possible, and focus on what matters,” said Dr. Angela Catic. She’s a geriatrician and… read on > read on >
Losing excess weight may not only help prevent knee arthritis, but also slow its progression in people who already have the condition, a recent study suggests. Researchers found that among over 9,000 middle-aged and older adults, those who managed to shed some extra weight benefited their knees in two ways: They were less likely to… read on > read on >
At least 4.4 million Americans have received the updated COVID-19 booster shot. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the count Thursday as public health experts decried President Joe Biden’s televised claim that “the pandemic is over.” The White House estimates that more than 5 million people have actually received the reformulated booster,… read on > read on >
Climate change could spell trouble for those with heart failure, a new study suggests. When the temperatures soared in France during the summer of 2019, the heat wave appears to have worsened the conditions of heart failure patients, researchers report. “The finding is timely, given the heat waves again this year,” said study author Dr.… read on > read on >
If you haven’t had a COVID vaccine, you can’t travel to Canada, but that could change soon. The vaccine requirement for foreign nationals in that country is likely to be eliminated by the end of September, the Associated Press reported, citing an official close to the matter who wasn’t authorized to speak about it. That… read on > read on >
Too few children with sickle cell anemia are getting the recommended screening tests for stroke, a common complication of this disease, a new government report finds. What’s more, many aren’t receiving hydroxyurea, a medication that can reduce the complications associated with the blood disorder, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted.… read on > read on >
Your children’s school clothes may look neat, but are they safe to wear? Maybe not. Researchers found high levels of dangerous chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school uniforms sold across North America. These chemicals — which can build up in people and the environment over time — can be harmful to health.… read on > read on >
An unprecedented water crisis continues to take a heavy toll on the mental health of adults in Flint, Michigan, a large survey shows. Five years after the crisis, an estimated one in five — about 13,600 people — remained clinically depressed, the survey found. And about one in four — 15,000 people — had post-traumatic… read on > read on >
