Protective immune system antibodies that develop after being infected with COVID-19 last for at least a few months, a new study suggests. And reinfection does seem to be relatively rare. That could have big implications for public health and societies, including allowing people to return to physical workplaces and go to school, the researchers said.…  read on >  read on >

During the pandemic, people with asthma have worried that their respiratory condition might raise their risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19, but new research findings should calm their fears. After analyzing data from 57 studies that included a total of over 587,000 people, scientists discovered that rates of asthma among people with COVID-19…  read on >  read on >

Many older Americans lack knowledge about antibiotics, with some admitting to using leftover medication, a new survey reveals. More than 2,200 adults, aged 50 to 80, were questioned. Nine out of 10 said they’re cautious about using antibiotics, and nearly that number knew that overuse of the drugs can lead to them becoming ineffective, according…  read on >  read on >

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants could require a quick pivot on the part of pharmaceutical and medical device companies, to help stay one step ahead of COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued guidelines Monday encouraging drug and test developers to pay attention to new coronavirus variants and be prepared to make that…  read on >  read on >

In the wake of U.S. recommendations to re-open schools, a new government report indicates that teachers may be key spreaders of COVID-19 in schools and should be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that educators were responsible for recent clusters of COVID-19 in suburban Atlanta schools.…  read on >  read on >

A new combo pill can substantially reduce bleeding caused by uterine fibroids — possibly offering some women yet another alternative to surgery, a new trial finds. The once-daily medication, which combines a drug called relugolix with estrogen and progestin, is not yet approved in the United States. But it is under review by the U.S.…  read on >  read on >

Worried or wondering about COVID-19 vaccines? Many Americans are, so experts at Penn State Health are offering some reassuring insight. “People are approaching this vaccine with more hesitation because it was approved quickly, but that really just speaks to how far we have come in vaccinology,” said Dr. Mohammad Ali, an infectious disease physician at…  read on >  read on >

Pregnant women have high COVID-19 infection rates — especially women of color — and they should be near the front of the line for vaccines across the United States, researchers say. “Our data indicates that pregnant people did not avoid the pandemic as we hoped that they would, and communities of color bore the greatest…  read on >  read on >