The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday endorsed the emergency use of Pfizer’s booster shots for children ages 12 to 17, expanding protection to adolescents and teens as students return to classes and the highly contagious Omicron variant surges across the country. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky backed a recommendation that came hours… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Deaths Linked to High Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women Are Soaring
The number of American women with chronic high blood pressure who are dying during and after pregnancy is up sharply, a new study warns. Of 155 million births in the United States between 1979 and 2018, more than 3,200 mothers died of high blood pressure-related causes— a 15-fold rise over the period. The risk was… read on > read on >
Kroger, Walmart Hike Prices on COVID At-Home Tests
Your at-home COVID-19 test could now come with a higher price tag, depending on where you buy it. Kroger and Walmart stores were selling the test kits at cost or at a discount of up to 35% for 100 days after making a deal with the U.S. federal government, CBS News reported. That ended in… read on > read on >
COVID Vaccine in Pregnancy Won’t Raise Odds for Preemie Birth
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is safe in pregnancy, experts have been saying for months. Now, a new study adds evidence to support that advice. “Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is important for preventing severe illness in pregnant people,” said study author Dr. Heather Lipkind, an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale… read on > read on >
Biden Urges Calm During Omicron Surge, Doubles Order for New COVID Pill
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Be concerned about the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, President Joe Biden urged Americans on Tuesday, but don’t be alarmed. Biden delivered that message to reporters prior to a meeting with his COVID-19 response team, saying he was trying to convey both his administration’s urgency in responding to COVID… read on > read on >
‘Benign’ Adrenal Gland Tumors Might Cause Harm to Millions
Millions of people are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure and don’t even know it, due to a hidden hormone problem in their bodies. As many as 1 in 10 people have a non-cancerous tumor on one or both of their adrenal glands that could cause the gland to produce… read on > read on >
Immune System T-Cells Can Fight Off Omicron
While the Omicron variant appears wily enough to evade people’s antibodies, researchers report that it should have a much harder time slipping past a person’s T-cells. “Despite being a preliminary study, we believe this is positive news. Even if Omicron, or some other variant for that matter, can potentially escape antibodies, a robust T-cell response… read on > read on >
‘Baby Talk’ Could Help Spot Infants With Autism
That sing-song speech parents use when talking to their babies is universal, and infants tend to prefer it. So, when a baby doesn’t seem to engage with this melodic “motherese,” or baby talk, it can be an early sign of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers at the University of California, San Diego used numerous techniques… read on > read on >
CDC Backs Boosters for High-Risk Kids Aged 5-11, Shorter Time Between Shots
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday backed the emergency use approval of Pfizer’s booster shot for high-risk kids between the ages of 5 and 11, along with shortening the time period between a second dose and a booster shot from six months to five months. Both approvals came from the U.S.… read on > read on >
Is the Pandemic Affecting Newborns’ Brains?
Babies born at the height of the pandemic appear to suffer small but significant delays in their motor and social development, a new study reports. Babies were particularly at risk if their mothers were in the first trimester of their pregnancy during spring 2020, when the United States entered lockdowns. “It’s important to recognize these… read on > read on >