A single booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be given to 5- to 11-year-olds, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today. The third shot can be given at least five months after healthy kids complete the two-dose vaccine series, the FDA said. Its action, which now goes to the U.S. Centers for… read on > read on >
Vaccination against the virus that causes most cervical cancers has spurred a widespread reduction of infections among young Americans — including those who are unvaccinated, a new government study finds. The study, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looked at the impact of the nation’s HPV vaccination program, which began in 2006.… read on > read on >
The manufacture and sale of products known as crib bumpers and sleep incliners — linked with more than 200 infant deaths in the United States — will be banned under a new law signed by President Joe Biden. “This is a long-fought and important victory for babies and anyone who cares about babies,” Teresa Murray,… read on > read on >
Four men in England have been infected with a “rare and unusual” monkeypox virus. Investigators from the United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency are investigating the cases and whether there is any connection between the men, according to the Associated Press. None of the individuals had traveled to the African countries where the virus is endemic.… read on > read on >
Estrogen loss during menopause may worsen women’s pain from a jaw disorder, a new study warns. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) causes pain in the jaw joint and affects an estimated 4.8% of U.S. adults, or about 12 million people. Some estimates suggest that as many as 15% of U.S. adults have at least one symptom of… read on > read on >
A nationwide baby formula shortage continues across the United States, with desperate parents scouring shelves to find nutrition for their infants. Millions of babies rely on formula — the only source of nutrition recommended for infants who aren’t exclusively breastfed. Two prominent pediatricians have advice for parents who are scrambling to find formula, offering a… read on > read on >
“I do not believe that the overturning of Roe v. Wade is where any of this will end.” So warns Rachel Fey, vice president of policy and strategic partnerships for Power to Decide, a contraception advocacy group dedicated to reducing the risk for unplanned pregnancies. Elisa Wells, co-director of Plan C, an organization focused on… read on > read on >
Long-distance travel will likely prove a nearly insurmountable barrier to some women seeking abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned as expected, a new study concludes. Women who need an abortion are more than twice as likely to delay the procedure or decide to continue their pregnancy if they live 50 or more miles from… read on > read on >
If heading back into the water this summer has you concerned about flesh-eating bacteria, an expert offers some advice. “Flesh-eating bacteria refers to an infection that spreads so rapidly that the skin and surrounding soft tissue starts to die,” explained Dr. Stacey Rose, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, in… read on > read on >
Even before the pandemic, the demand for donor kidneys far exceeded supply. That shortfall only worsened when hospitals started refusing to use kidneys from COVID-positive donors. However, new research now suggests that kidneys from deceased COVID-19 patients have almost zero risk of viral transmission to the recipient: In the new study, out of 55 patients… read on > read on >
