A third dose of a two-shot COVID vaccine significantly boosts transplant patients’ protection against SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study. “We knew from previous studies that two doses were not enough to produce a good immune response against COVID-19 in transplant patients,” said study co-senior author Dr. Deepali Kumar. She is director of transplant infectious… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
COVID Vaccine Safe, Recommended for Pregnant Women, CDC Says
Pregnant women should not hesitate to get coronavirus vaccines, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in updated guidance issued Wednesday. The latest recommendation comes after new data collected by the agency showed no raised risk for miscarriage in mothers-to-be who get the shots during the first 20 weeks of their pregnancy. Previous… read on > read on >
Americans Have High Trust in Health Care Providers: Poll
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News ) — Doctors, nurses and pharmacists are highly trusted by most Americans, a new survey shows. Those health professionals do what’s right either most or all of the time, said at least seven in 10 respondents in the poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy… read on > read on >
Wildfires Ravage Firefighters’ Long-Term Physical, Mental Health
Roaring, fast-moving blazes. Choking smoke. Fiery tornados. Thunderstorms and lightning. The Dixie Fire — now the single largest wildfire in California history — continues to spread, having burned through more than 750 square miles of forest land north of Sacramento. The astonishing spread of smoke from the fire, causing discomfort and illness to people hundreds… read on > read on >
New, Tighter COVID Rules Coming for Oregon
A statewide indoor mask mandate and a vaccination requirement for state employees are expected to be announced Wednesday by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown as coronavirus case numbers grow due to the highly transmissible Delta variant. That would make Oregon the third state after Louisiana and Hawaii to implement a mask mandate for both vaccinated and… read on > read on >
Experts Demand That Biden Do More to Distribute COVID Vaccines Globally
More than 175 public health experts, scientists and activists on Tuesday called for President Joe Biden to do more to help fight the global spread of the coronavirus, warning that newer, more dangerous variants are likely to emerge if nothing is done. “We urge you to act now,” the experts wrote in a joint letter… read on > read on >
U.S. Sees Big Spike in COVID Vaccinations
The average number of first COVID-19 vaccine doses a day in the United States jumped 95% in the past month, new federal government data shows. The daily number rose from 226,209 on July 5 to about 441,198 on Aug. 5. It bottomed out at around 218,696 on July 7, but has steadily climbed in every… read on > read on >
Vaping Just Once Triggers Dangerous ‘Oxidative Stress’
Young, healthy adults who try vaping for the first time may experience an immediate reaction that can harm cells and lay the groundwork for disease, according to a new study. Just 30 minutes of vaping can increase oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals (molecules that damage cells) and antioxidants… read on > read on >
Did Obamacare Expand Access to Insurance for Minorities? In Some U.S. States, Hardly at All
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) reduced the ranks of uninsured Americans, but a recent study shows that many U.S. states did little to close racial gaps in health coverage. Researchers found that in the two years after the ACA came into force, some U.S. states showed large reductions in the number of Black, Hispanic and… read on > read on >
One Key Question Can Help Spot Skin Cancer
When a suspicious skin lesion sends you scurrying to a dermatologist, asking for a full-body skin check could save your life. Dermatologists are twice as likely to find skin cancer with a full-body check, a new study reveals. More than half of the skin cancers discovered were not in the location the patient was concerned… read on > read on >