The United States plans to purchase 500 million doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine that it will then donate to countries in need around the world. The first 200 million doses will be sent out this year, with 300 million more shared in the first half of next year, three people familiar with the plan told… read on > read on >
Very rarely, blood clots can develop after COVID-19 vaccination, and doctors in Canada describe a new test and treatment for the condition in a case study of three patients. All three developed the condition called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. Two developed blood clots in their legs, and the third… read on > read on >
The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe for people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a new study finds. IBDs — which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — are chronic conditions caused by an overreactive intestinal immune system, resulting in chronic diarrhea and other digestive symptoms. In this study, researchers looked at… read on > read on >
The coronavirus pandemic has affected American smokers in different ways, a new study finds. While some smoked more to help them cope with the crisis, others quit to reduce their COVID-19 infection risk. “Even before the pandemic, tobacco smoking was the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. COVID-19 has given smokers yet… read on > read on >
(HealthDay News) – You’ve heard it often: Don’t get behind the wheel of a car after a night of drinking. Now, a new study confirms that rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are making it easier for people to follow that advice and get home unharmed and alive. Texas researchers saw a marked change in… read on > read on >
COVID-19 could be a much more expensive experience for folks who fall ill this year, thanks to the return of deductibles and copays, new research suggests. Most folks who became gravely ill with COVID last year didn’t face crushing medical bills because nearly all insurance companies agreed to waive cost-sharing for coronavirus care during the… read on > read on >
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine may be linked with rare cases of low blood platelet levels, a new study suggests. Platelets are blood cells that help prevent blood loss when vessels are damaged. Low platelet levels may cause no symptoms, but they can lead to an increased risk of bleeding or clotting. Researchers analyzed data from… read on > read on >
The highly contagious coronavirus variant that brought India to its knees this spring now accounts for 6 percent of new cases in the United States, the Biden administration said Tuesday. Luckily, vaccines appear to work well against this version of the virus, which has spread like wildfire in Great Britain and threatens a full reopening… read on > read on >
Norman Mayer, 86, walks around with a computer chip in his chest and doesn’t think a thing about it. Doctors implanted a tiny heart monitor chip in Mayer’s chest after he suffered a mini-stroke in late 2015, to track his heartbeat and potentially detect an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation (a-fib). “You don’t even… read on > read on >
While some people may be ready and eager to reconnect with family and friends at social gatherings post-pandemic, it’s OK to feel apprehensive. As restrictions loosen because infection rates are plummeting and more people are getting vaccinated, many people are experiencing feelings that they didn’t expect — such as anxiety about returning to social situations,… read on > read on >
