COVID-19 vaccines will likely go the way of flu shots in the future, with updated doses given annually, U.S. health officials said Tuesday. “In the absence of a dramatically different variant, we likely are moving towards a path with a vaccination cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine, with annual updated COVID-19 shots…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) – While researchers explore the possibilities of COVID-19 vaccines that don’t require an injection, public health officials in India and China have already each approved new needle-free versions for their citizens. In India, regulators on Tuesday approved a nasal vaccine developed in the United States and manufactured by the…  read on >  read on >

High levels of air pollution during the first six months of life could affect the colonies of bacteria in babies’ guts, increasing their risk for allergies, obesity, diabetes and issues with brain development, according to new research. Researchers said their new study is the first to show a link between inhaled pollutants from traffic, wildfires,…  read on >  read on >

Patients suspected of having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may soon be able to get a diagnosis much more quickly, not wasting the precious time many have left, new research suggests. In 2020, a blood test for ALS based on microRNA (short segments of genetic material) was developed by scientists from the company Brain Chemistry Labs,…  read on >  read on >

Children should get their flu shot as soon as it is available, preferably by the end of October, a leading medical group recommends. Flu vaccination lagged last year, with 55% of children getting their vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) noted. Coverage levels were 8 percentage points lower for Black children compared with white…  read on >  read on >

A new report reveals a hidden secret about the nation’s beautiful rural roads: They’re too often fatal for motorists. Nearly half of all U.S. crashes happen on rural roads, despite only 19% of Americans living in those areas. The report, conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), details why and what can be done…  read on >  read on >

Telehealth flourished during the pandemic, and now a new study shows it saved lives: The practice meant more people struggling with opioid addiction stayed in treatment longer and thereby lowered their risk of dying from an overdose. For the study, researchers analyzed data among nearly 176,000 Medicare beneficiaries from September 2018 to February 2021. The…  read on >  read on >