The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a woman’s right to have an abortion marks a “very dark day in health care” that will leave patients at risk and doctors afraid to act, leaders of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) said Friday. “It is a dark day indeed for the tens of…  read on >

(HealthDay News) – The spread of monkeypox should be closely monitored, the World Health Organization said on Saturday, but it is not a global emergency at this time. Monkeypox is a long-neglected illness, endemic in some African countries, the WHO emergency committee explained. The current outbreak, involving more than 3,000 people in over 50 countries,…  read on >  read on >

Getting a COVID-19 booster shot can significantly increase an at-risk person’s immunity and protect against the contagious Omicron variant. New research focusing on nursing home residents and their caregivers found a third dose of vaccine boosted antibodies by more than 85%, with high levels of Omicron-specific immunity. The study authors said the results underscore the…  read on >  read on >

On Thursday, New York City became the first U.S. city to start offering the monkeypox vaccine to those at high risk for the disease. The announcement follows similar ones issued from the United Kingdom and Canada. Although most cases of the disease have been reported among gay and bisexual men, anyone can get it from…  read on >  read on >

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on Friday signed off on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 6 through 17. It’s the final step to making the shots available to this age group. Pfizer’s two-dose COVID vaccine has already gained approval for use in older children. “Vaccinating this age…  read on >  read on >

Nearly two-thirds of the world’s population has had at least one COVID-19 vaccine, which has prevented nearly 20 million deaths, new research finds. The study from Imperial College London was the first to quantify the impact of vaccines on a global scale. It was based on death records and estimates from 185 countries. “Our findings…  read on >  read on >