A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel on Wednesday voted to recommend that Americans 65 and older get the new, more potent flu shots because the regular shot doesn’t offer enough protection. The more powerful vaccines might also offer more or longer protection for seniors with weakened immune systems who don’t… read on > read on >
Hate crime laws that protect gay, lesbian and transgender people may have an unexpected benefit: fewer teen suicide attempts, among kids of all sexual orientations. That’s the conclusion of a new study that looked at what happened in U.S. states that enacted hate crime laws with protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning individuals.… read on > read on >
(HealthDay News) – Health authorities in Britain, who routinely test sewage samples for the virus that causes polio, declared a “national incident” after evidence of local spread was found in London sewers. No cases have been identified yet, according to the UK Health Security Agency. There is little risk to the public, British health officials… read on > read on >
(HealthDay News) – Moderna Inc. announced Wednesday that the revamped COVID booster shot it has developed to fight Omicron and its subvariants should be ready for public use by August. The company has been making shots of the vaccine, called mRNA-1273.214, before getting regulatory approval so it can be ready to ship doses out for… read on > read on >
If you struggle to fall asleep at night, you are not alone. About 28% of Americans say insomnia is taking a toll on their daily lives, and about 64% say they take sleep aids to help them fall asleep or stay asleep. “Chronic insomnia is a dangerous public health problem,” said Jennifer Martin, a licensed… read on > read on >
Pets have helped people weather both the HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics, a survey of long-term HIV/AIDS survivors shows. “The underlying question in our minds has always been: What role do pets play for people who are so isolated and suffering so much stigma?” said study leader Lynette Hart, a professor of veterinary medicine at the… read on > read on >
One of the worst meningitis outbreaks in U.S. history has prompted public health officials to urge gay and bisexual men who live in Florida or plan to visit the state to get vaccinated right away. Twenty-four cases of meningitis (meningococcal disease) and seven deaths among gay and bisexual men are under investigation by the U.S.… read on > read on >
Breathing in air pollution can lead to toxic particles entering the brain — and not just through the nose. New research suggests they have a direct pathway through the bloodstream, potentially contributing to brain disorders and neurological damage. “There are gaps in our knowledge around the harmful effects of airborne fine particles on the central… read on > read on >
More and more of America’s teens are getting vaccinated against the human papillomavirus virus (HPV), new research indicates. Between 2015 and 2020, the study found, the percentage of 13- to 17-year-olds who had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine steadily increased, rising from 56% to just over 75%. “In addition, the adolescents who… read on > read on >
Keeping your bedroom dark not only helps you get a good night’s sleep, but may significantly lower your odds of developing three major health problems, a new study suggests. Older men and women who used night lights, or left their TV, smartphone or tablet on in the room were more likely to be obese, and… read on > read on >
