In a decision that clears the way for schools to reopen safely next fall, U.S. health officials on Wednesday gave their final stamp of approval for Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine to be offered to children aged 12 to 15. The decision, which makes millions more young Americans eligible for immunization, came as COVID-19 cases and deaths… read on > read on >
Researchers say they have developed a rapid test for gonorrhea that could help reduce the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. The test consists of an inexpensive, portable device and a cellphone app that will diagnose gonorrhea in less than 15 minutes. It can also determine whether the strain of the infection will respond to… read on > read on >
Mixing the various COVID-19 vaccines — for example, getting a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine but having your second dose be the AstraZeneca shot — seems to increase the risk of side effects, a new study from Britain suggests. Preliminary data from a study of 850 U.K. patients aged 50 and older that compared… read on > read on >
Contrary to misleading reports spread on social media, a new study finds the COVID-19 vaccine does no damage to the placenta in pregnancy. In a study of placentas from patients who were vaccinated for COVID-19 during pregnancy, researchers found no evidence of any harm. “The placenta is like the black box in an airplane. If… read on > read on >
An ambitious new vaccine effort is taking aim at future coronavirus mutations that may threaten global health down the road. So far, the “pan-coronavirus vaccine” has proven 100% effective in testing among monkeys, investigators reported. “Large outbreaks of coronaviruses have occurred three times in the last 18 years,” explained study author Kevin Saunders, director of… read on > read on >
A microchip implanted in the brain has allowed a paralyzed man to communicate by text — at speeds that approach the typical smartphone user. The achievement is the latest advance in “brain-computer interface” (BCI) systems. Scientists have been studying BCI technology for years, with the aim of one day giving people with paralysis or limb… read on > read on >
In rare cases, people who receive the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may experience a red, itchy patch of skin a few days later at the injection site, a new report finds. They shouldn’t panic: This “COVID arm” reaction, although annoying, was short-lived in all cases and was easily treated with topical steroid creams, according to… read on > read on >
An estimated 9 million Americans turn to prescription pills when they can’t sleep, but a new study of middle-aged women finds taking the drugs for a year or longer may do little good. Comparing a group of about 200 women who were medicated for sleep problems with over 400 women who had sleeping problems but… read on > read on >
Uber and Lyft will start giving free rides to vaccination sites starting May 24, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday as his administration tries to address lingering vaccine hesitancy among Americans. The ride-sharing initiative will last until July 4, a date that Biden has set for getting shots into the arms of at least 70 percent… read on > read on >
(HealthDay News) – When people with low incomes are asked to help pay for their health insurance, some drop their coverage, even when bills as low as $20 per month arrive. That’s the upshot of a new study of Medicaid expansion in the state of Michigan. Leaving the insurance plan means people may miss out… read on > read on >
