The Biden Administration on Monday announced a $70 million program to help the makers of rapid at-home COVID-19 tests get U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval more quickly, in a move meant to boost availability of the tests and cut their cost. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) program will help manufacturers produce the data… read on > read on >
Smokers who kick the habit before age 45 can nearly eliminate their excess risk of dying from lung or other cancers, a new study estimates. It’s well-established that after smokers quit, their risk of tobacco-related cancers drops substantially over time. Researchers said the new findings underscore the power of quitting as early as possible. Among… read on > read on >
Moderna announced Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine safely triggers a strong immune response in children aged 6 to 11. Company data shows that a month after receiving both doses of the vaccine, children’s antibody levels were 1.5 times higher than those in young adults. The company did not release the full data on the shots… read on > read on >
It’s well-known that COVID-19 pandemic restrictions pretty much quashed the 2020-2021 flu season, with influenza cases falling to never-before-seen lows in the United States. So little flu circulated, in fact, that some scientists now suspect that one of the major strains of influenza might have gone extinct, for lack of humans to infect. Influenza B/Yamagata… read on > read on >
MONDAY, Oct. 25Walmart has recalled an aromatic room spray sold nationwide after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified the presence of a “rare and dangerous” bacteria in the spray that’s linked to four illnesses, including two deaths. The retailer sold about 3,900 bottles of Better Homes and Gardens’ Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy… read on > read on >
COVID-19 vaccines don’t increase the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy, according to a study that adds to previous research showing the vaccines are safe for pregnant women. An international team analyzed data from several Norwegian health registries to assess the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester among women vaccinated against COVID-19. Information from… read on > read on >
A significantly increased risk of self-harm and suicide among people with autism shows the need for programs to reduce that risk, researchers say. For their study, the investigators analyzed 31 studies on the link between autism and self-harm/suicide that were posted to five databases between 1999 and 2021. Overall, children and adults with autism had… read on > read on >
As COVID-19 continues to grip the United States, parents need to plan ahead to keep their children safe on Halloween, experts say. Kids aged 12 and older are eligible for COVID shots, but many haven’t been vaccinated. Those under 12 aren’t yet eligible for vaccination. “Some families organized a family movie night, held virtual costume… read on > read on >
Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 91% effective in preventing symptomatic illness in young children and brings no unexpected safety issues, according to a study posted Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Late Friday, the agency posted its analysis of data from Pfizer’s pediatric study and said that in nearly… read on > read on >
Your Jack-o’-Lantern may be more than scary — it could be dangerous. Pumpkin carving is the leading cause of injuries associated with Halloween, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Between October and November 2018 in the United States, 44% of Halloween-linked injuries were connected with pumpkin-carving activities. More than one-quarter of Halloween-related injuries… read on > read on >
