One less excuse to avoid that COVID vaccine: The shots don’t affect fertility in either men or women, new research shows, but coronavirus infection could cause short-term fertility problems in men. “Many reproductive-aged individuals have cited concerns about fertility as a reason for remaining unvaccinated,” said lead study author Amelia Wesselink. She is research assistant… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Exposing Kids to Safe Levels of Peanut When Young Might Prevent Allergy
Some kids might be able to get over their peanut allergy if they start immunotherapy while they’re still toddlers, a major new clinical trial reports. In the trial, a group of 1- to 3-year-olds with severe peanut allergies were safely fed gradually increasing daily doses of a peanut protein flour to help accustom their immune… read on > read on >
COVID Rapid Test Makers Struggling to Meet Demand
Shortages of both supplies and workers are wreaking havoc on the efforts of COVID at-home test makers to deliver enough of the tests to Americans, even as the federal government pledges to provide 500 million free, at-home kits. Like many other businesses, test kit manufacturers “have too many of their staff out with COVID. Thus,… read on > read on >
Many Marijuana Vendors Aim Advertising at Kids: Study
Some recreational pot shops are using tricks from the old playbooks of alcohol and tobacco companies to target underage users on social media, a new study reports. Despite state laws restricting such marketing, researchers found marijuana retailers on social media promoting their wares with posts that: Featured cartoon characters like Snoopy, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Rick… read on > read on >
COVID Boosters Keep Older Americans Out of Hospitals: CDC
The risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 among older Americans is far higher for those who are unvaccinated than for those who are fully vaccinated and have had a booster shot, new government data shows. The differences were stark: In December, unvaccinated people 50 and older were 17 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19… read on > read on >
L.A. County Scenario Suggests COVID ‘Herd Immunity’ Is Unlikely
Herd immunity against COVID-19 is unlikely, and coping with the disease will likely hinge on vaccination, treatment and ensuring adequate hospital capacity, a new study conducted in Los Angeles County claims. With herd immunity, most people have antibodies from vaccination or prior infection, so a virus has fewer people to infect and stops spreading. Early… read on > read on >
Spit Test: Saliva Alerts Babies to Close Relationships
Sharing food and smooching are two ways babies can suss out whom they can depend on to take care for them, a new study suggests. The tell-tale clue common to both is a surprising one: saliva. “Babies don’t know in advance which relationships are the close and morally obligating ones, so they have to have… read on > read on >
Visiting a ‘Dental Fear’ Clinic Can Help Improve a Child’s Smile
If the sound of a dental drill sends shivers up your spine, you’re likely in good company: Finnish researchers say that one of every two adults fear the dentist at least a little, while one in 10 are very afraid. But the researchers added that a local dentistry program has found a novel way to… read on > read on >
‘Artificial Pancreas’ Can Help Kids With Type 1 Diabetes
Having a child with type 1 diabetes can be a challenging health condition for parents to manage, but new research suggests an “artificial pancreas” system may beat standard treatment in controlling the blood sugar disease in young children. Forms of the technology — which automatically monitors and regulates blood sugar — are already available for… read on > read on >
Another Study Finds Vaccine Booster ‘Neutralizes’ Omicron
If you need more proof that a third shot of COVID vaccine is needed, new British research confirms that boosters can “neutralize” the virus’ Omicron variant. To arrive at that conclusion, they analyzed 620 blood samples from 364 health care workers and staff at the Francis Crick Institute and the National Institute for Health Research… read on > read on >