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Vaccine

NJ Pediatrician Breaks Down Most Common Respiratory Illnesses, How To Stay Protected NJ Pediatrician Breaks Down Most Common Respiratory Illnesses, How To Stay Protected
NJ Pediatrician Breaks Down Most Common Respiratory Illnesses, How To Stay Protected You'd hardly know it with the recent streak of summer weather, but we're weeks away from colder days when respiratory viruses will thrive. Daily Voice sat down with Dr. Daniel Rauch, a pediatric physician at Hackensack Meridian Health's Hackensack University Medical Center, to learn about the most common respiratory viruses and how to stay protected. A release from Hackensack Meridian Health says some of the best ways to stay protected are to practice good hand hygiene, disinfect surfaces in your home, avoid contact with people who are sick, rest, and eat a healthy diet to boost your immuni…
COVID-19: NYers Should Order Free At-Home Tests, Officials Say COVID-19: NYers Should Order Free At-Home Tests, Officials Say
Covid-19: NYers Should Order Free At-Home Tests, Officials Say As the season for respiratory illnesses begins, New York health officials are urging residents to take advantage of free COVID-19 test kits being offered by the federal government.  In an announcement on Friday, Oct. 4, the New York State Department of Health advised New Yorkers to order free rapid test kits, which are being offered to US households through the US Postal Service.  Each household can receive four at-home test kits, the government announced on Friday, Sept. 27.  Earlier Report - Covid-19: Free At-Home Tests Are Now Available To Order Online While Supplie…
COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms
Covid-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms A highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as KP.3.1.1 now accounts for nearly 60 percent of infections in the United States. Data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in a two-week period ending Saturday, Sept. 28, the strain made up 58.7 percent of cases nationally, with the KP.2.3 variant second at 9.4 percent. Both KP.3 and KP.2 are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and are members of a newly identified group of variants known as  “FLiRT.” Neither is causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, according to experts.…
COVID-19: Free At-Home Tests Are Now Available To Order Online While Supplies Last COVID-19: Free At-Home Tests Are Now Available To Order Online While Supplies Last
Covid-19: Free At-Home Tests Are Now Available To Order Online While Supplies Last Free rapid tests for COVID-19 are now available to order online. As of Friday, Sept. 27, every American household may order four nasal swab tests through the Department of Health and Human Services program by visiting covid.gov/tests or covidtests.gov while supplies last. After orders are placed, a confirmation email will be sent to the household, with free shipping scheduled to start the week of Monday, Sept. 30, and email delivery updates available if requested. New COVID booster vaccines that became available at the start of September have been updated with a formula…
Ulster County Resident Dies From EEE Virus; State Declares 'Imminent Threat To Public' Ulster County Resident Dies From EEE Virus; State Declares 'Imminent Threat To Public'
Ulster County Resident Dies From EEE Virus; State Declares 'Imminent Threat To Public' A New York resident has died days after contracting the state’s first human case of a rare but serious mosquito-borne virus in nearly a decade. The Ulster County resident died from complications stemming from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office confirmed on Monday, Sept. 23. It marks the first human case of EEE in New York State since 2015. Earlier Report: Human Case Of Severe Mosquito-Borne Virus Confirmed In Ulster County, First In NY Since 2015 “We’ve been informed this patient has passed away from EEE, we extend our sympathies and our hearts go out t…
Alert Issued For Possible Measles Exposure At Arlington Grocery Store Alert Issued For Possible Measles Exposure At Arlington Grocery Store
Alert Issued For Possible Measles Exposure At Arlington Grocery Store The Arlington County Public Health Division has issued an alert after being notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who visited a grocery store earlier this month.  An out-of-state resident reportedly visited Harris Teeter on North Glebe Road between noon and 4 p.m. on Monday, July 1, and the health department is cautioning that some shoppers may have been exposed. The same person may have also reportedly visited CVS and a LabCorp site in the 2200 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW the following day, investigators are warning. "Measles is a contagious vaccine-preventable vi…
COVID-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity COVID-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity
Covid-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity As new highly contagious COVID-19 variants emerge, authorities are reporting that statewide hospitalizations in New York have significantly increased compared to the same period last summer. With social gatherings increasing during the summer months and high temperatures forcing people indoors, New York Gov. Kathy Hocul stated on Saturday, July 6, that New Yorkers should get tested if they have symptoms.  In addition, they should also follow the usual precautions, including current CDC guidance, stay current with COVID vaccines, and seek appropriate treatments if necessary. “While we …
Maryland Animal Shelter To Reopen After 'Strep Zoo' Infection Scare Maryland Animal Shelter To Reopen After 'Strep Zoo' Infection Scare
Maryland Animal Shelter To Reopen After 'Strep Zoo' Infection Scare A Maryland animal shelter is set to reopen its doors months after being forced to shut down due to a rapidly spreading infection that wreaked havoc at the facility. Officials announced that the Prince George's Animals Services and Adoption Center will reopen as of Friday, June 14, after temporarily shuttering its doors earlier this year due to an outbreak of Streptococcus Zooepidemicus, more commonly known as "strep zoo."  "Strep Zoo is a bacterium normally found in horses, cattle, and pigs that rarely causes disease," according to the agency. "When this bacterium infects immunoco…
COVID-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns COVID-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns
Covid-19: New Variant With 30 Mutations May Cause Breakthrough Infections, CDC Warns A newly identified COVID-19 strain with around 30 mutations may cause breakthrough infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BA.2.86 strain, now known as Pirola, has been identified in three states: Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio. The Michigan case, the first in the US, was an older woman who had recently returned from Japan. "BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines," the CDC said in a Risk Assessment Summary. "Scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of the f…
Winter Is Coming: Flu Cases Rapidly Rising Nationwide Just One Month Into Fall Season Winter Is Coming: Flu Cases Rapidly Rising Nationwide Just One Month Into Fall Season
Winter Is Coming: Flu Cases Rapidly Rising Nationwide Just One Month Into Fall Season Flu cases are soaring nationwide just a month into the fall season, and health officials are sounding the alarm now that it could be a dangerous winter. Some are citing the end of many of the COVID-19 pandemic precautions that have been in effect for two-plus years as a possible cause. "Early increases in seasonal influenza activity have been reported in most of the United States, with the southeast and south-central areas of the country reporting the highest levels of activity," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. In the Northeast, New York is already reporting…
Boston School Employee Tests Positive For Monkey Pox: Report Boston School Employee Tests Positive For Monkey Pox: Report
Boston School Employee Tests Positive For Monkey Pox: Report An employee of Boston Public Schools tested positive for monkeypox, a news report said Monday, Sept. 19. The first known case for the school system.  NBC Boston reported the school system wasn't releasing the school where the employee worked or their job. Though, officials contacted parents at that school about the situation. The employee will quarantine via the Boston Public Health Commission guidelines.  "The health and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority,"  the district told NBC Boston in a statement. "We are following the guidance provided by loc…
COVID-19: Here's What New Booster Vaccine's Called, What To Know About It, How To Schedule Shot COVID-19: Here's What New Booster Vaccine's Called, What To Know About It, How To Schedule Shot
Covid-19: Here's What New Booster Vaccine's Called, What To Know About It, How To Schedule Shot Health experts are recommending the use of updated COVID-19 booster vaccines to protect people from the most prevalent subvariants of the virus currently circulating. The newly-approved boosters are officially named "bivalent vaccines" that target the original strain of COVID-19 and what is now the predominant subvariant of Omicron, BA.5., according to a report from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center with Dr. David Tweardy, the head of the Department of Infectious Diseases. “The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating C…
Sun River Health Infectious Disease Specialist Shares Tips On Navigating Monkeypox Sun River Health Infectious Disease Specialist Shares Tips On Navigating Monkeypox
Sun River Health Infectious Disease Specialist Shares Tips On Navigating Monkeypox With news stories on monkeypox cases rising in New York, especially in New York City, many are concerned about how this disease is spread, how to recognize it, and how to prevent it. What is monkeypox? The monkeypox virus belongs to the pox group of viruses. This group also includes smallpox, but it is important to note that monkeypox is not the same as smallpox. Monkeypox also has nothing to do with chickenpox, which is part of a different family of viruses. What are the symptoms of monkeypox? The monkeypox virus incubates for between five and 21 days before presenting with fever, chill…
NY Declares Monkeypox 'Imminent Threat To Public Health' Amid New Rise In Cases NY Declares Monkeypox 'Imminent Threat To Public Health' Amid New Rise In Cases
NY Declares Monkeypox 'Imminent Threat To Public Health' Amid New Rise In Cases Amid a new increase in cases in New York, the state's health commissioner has declared the monkeypox virus "an imminent threat to public health." "Based on the ongoing spread of this virus, which has increased rapidly and affected primarily communities that identify as men who have sex with men, and the need for local jurisdictions to administer vaccines, I've declared monkeypox an Imminent Threat to Public Health throughout New York State," State Commissioner of Health Dr. Mary T. Bassett said.  The dedication means local health departments will be able to access additional state reim…
Sun River Health Infectious Disease Specialist Shares Tips On Navigating Monkeypox Sun River Health Infectious Disease Specialist Shares Tips On Navigating Monkeypox
Sun River Health Infectious Disease Specialist Shares Tips On Navigating Monkeypox With news stories on monkeypox cases rising in New York, especially in New York City, many are concerned about how this disease is spread, how to recognize it, and how to prevent it. What is monkeypox? The monkeypox virus belongs to the pox group of viruses. This group also includes smallpox, but it is important to note that monkeypox is not the same as smallpox. Monkeypox also has nothing to do with chickenpox, which is part of a different family of viruses. What are the symptoms of monkeypox? The monkeypox virus incubates for between five and 21 days before presenting with fever, chill…
US Releasing Monkeypox Vaccine From National Stockpile For This Group Of Americans US Releasing Monkeypox Vaccine From National Stockpile For This Group Of Americans
US Releasing Monkeypox Vaccine From National Stockpile For This Group Of Americans With the monkeypox virus making its way to the US, officials announced that they will be releasing previously approved vaccines from the national stockpile to help curtail any spread of the disease. There has been one confirmed case of monkeypox in Massachusetts, with several others suspected in the US, which prompted federal health officials to release the vaccine to “high-risk” people. Earlier story - CDC Issues Health Advisory Amid Ongoing Investigation Into Monkeypox In US According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Jynneos vaccine is being released to potent…
COVID-19: Positivity Rate Stays Above 10 Percent In CT, 18 New Deaths Reported COVID-19: Positivity Rate Stays Above 10 Percent In CT, 18 New Deaths Reported
Covid-19: Positivity Rate Stays Above 10 Percent In CT, 18 New Deaths Reported The positive COVID-19 infection rate continues to rise in Connecticut, which reported nearly two dozen new deaths in the past week. In the latest update on Thursday, May 5, the state Department of Public Health reported 18 more COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the total up to 10,858 since March 2020. In the past seven days, there have been more than 62,000 COVID-19 PCR and NAAT tests administered in Connecticut, according to health officials, resulting in 6,420 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus for a 10.35 percent positivity rate, up slightly from the previous day. Last week, the av…
COVID-19: 'Many Variants Are Coming,' Pfizer CEO Warns, Saying Fourth Shot Will Be Needed COVID-19: 'Many Variants Are Coming,' Pfizer CEO Warns, Saying Fourth Shot Will Be Needed
Covid-19: 'Many Variants Are Coming,' Pfizer CEO Warns, Saying Fourth Shot Will Be Needed Warning that "many variants are coming," the chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer says a fourth dose of the COVID-19 -- a second booster shot -- will be needed. Appearing on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, March 13, Dr. Albert Bourla was asked if a COVID booster shot could become recommended each fall - similar to a flu shot. "I think so," Bourla responded. "And I think this is what we are trying now to make." Bourla said Pfizer is trying "very diligently to stay ahead of the virus" because "many variants are coming and Omicron was the first one that was able to evade in a …
COVID-19: Westchester Dropping Mask Mandate For County Buildings COVID-19: Westchester Dropping Mask Mandate For County Buildings
Covid-19: Westchester Dropping Mask Mandate For County Buildings Westchester is rolling back some of its mask mandates as the county continues to see improved COVID-19 numbers following the post-holiday surge of new infections. County Executive George Latimer announced on Monday, Feb. 14 that the mask mandate inside county buildings is no longer required. According to Latimer, the mandate is being lifted at county buildings in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and White Plains, though it remains in effect on Bee-Line buses, as per state requirements. Latimer said that lifting the mask mandate is consistent with state guidance. Earlier story - COVID-19: Mask Off …
COVID-19: FDA Changes Course On Vaccine Authorization For Kids Under 5 COVID-19: FDA Changes Course On Vaccine Authorization For Kids Under 5
Covid-19: FDA Changes Course On Vaccine Authorization For Kids Under 5 Federal health officials delayed a planned public meeting to review Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children under five. Citing the need to see more data as part of its rolling application process, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday, Feb. 11 that it would be delaying the planned meeting, raising questions about how soon children should get the COVID-19 shot. The FDA’s outside experts had been set to meet on Tuesday, Feb. 15 to discuss if children under the age of 5 could safely receive a low dose of the vaccine safely. Pfizer said on Friday that it will be waiting fo…
COVID-19: Pfizer Asks FDA For Emergency Use Authorization Of Vaccine For Children Under 5 COVID-19: Pfizer Asks FDA For Emergency Use Authorization Of Vaccine For Children Under 5
Covid-19: Pfizer Asks FDA For Emergency Use Authorization Of Vaccine For Children Under 5 New York-based Pfizer and its European partner BioNTech has requested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expand the use of its COVID-19 vaccine to include children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old, officials announced. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, citing a host of clinical trials, the pharmaceutical company announced it is seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) to admit the vaccine to a wider range of children. Currently, the vaccine is only approved for children 5 years old and older. Pfizer said that it plans to complete its EUA submission “in the coming days,” and has alre…
COVID-19: Here's Percentage NY Cases Have Dropped Since First Week Of Month COVID-19: Here's Percentage NY Cases Have Dropped Since First Week Of Month
Covid-19: Here's Percentage NY Cases Have Dropped Since First Week Of Month The COVID-19 numbers in New York continue to show marked improvement as the state distances itself from the post-holiday seasons surge of new infections. After peaking on Friday, Jan. 7, COVID-19 cases in New York have dropped 90 percent, according to the latest update from the Department of Health, which is reporting improved virus-related data across the board. In the past 24 hours, the number of COVID-19 patients being treated for the virus in state hospitals is down by more than 550, and each of New York’s 10 regions has seen its average seven-day positive infection rate drop since the …
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Seeing Trend Of Less Positive Cases, Lower Infection Rates COVID-19: Hudson Valley Seeing Trend Of Less Positive Cases, Lower Infection Rates
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Seeing Trend Of Less Positive Cases, Lower Infection Rates The Hudson Valley has seen relief from the post-holiday surge of new COVID-19 infections as the positivity rate of those being tested for the virus dipped closer to 20 percent. For three straight days, the seven-day average percentage of positive test results in the Hudson Valley dipped from 22.59 percent on Sunday, Jan. 9, to 21.96 the following day, and down to 21.09 percent on Tuesday, Jan. 11, still among the highest in the state. Statewide, the positivity rate is also on the decline, to 20.22 percent on Jan. 11, as most of the state's 10 regions have seen COVID-19 either plateauing or …
COVID-19: Dozens Of NY Hospitals Halt Elective Surgeries COVID-19: Dozens Of NY Hospitals Halt Elective Surgeries
Covid-19: Dozens Of NY Hospitals Halt Elective Surgeries New York State officials have ordered dozens of hospitals experiencing lower bed capacity to temporarily halt elective surgeries in an effort to free up space amid the winter surge in COVID-19 cases. The state Department of Health ordered 40 hospitals to stop surgeries that aren't essential or urgent for at least two weeks, according to ABC 7. Most of the facilities are located in the western and central regions of the state, and the complete list of hospitals can be viewed here. The news comes as cases continue to increase across New York. In a daily update posted on Saturday, Jan. …
COVID-19: Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren Tests Positive COVID-19: Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren Tests Positive
Covid-19: Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren Tests Positive Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced that she has tested positive for COVID-19. The 72-year-old Massachusetts Democrat said in a tweet that she received her positive test result on Sunday, Dec. 19 after testing negative earlier last week. I regularly test for COVID & while I tested negative earlier this week, today I tested positive with a breakthrough case. Thankfully, I am only experiencing mild symptoms & am grateful for the protection provided against serious illness that comes from being vaccinated & boosted. — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 19, 2021 Warren said she…
COVID-19: First Omicron Cases Identified In Nassau County COVID-19: First Omicron Cases Identified In Nassau County
Covid-19: First Omicron Cases Identified In Nassau County The first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant that has been spreading across New York have been identified in Nassau County on Long Island. Over the weekend, the number of Omicron cases on Long Island rose to six, as two cases of the variant were reported in Nassau to join the four in Suffolk County. The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus remains the dominant strain in the US, accounting for approximately 99 percent of all new cases, though nearly half of the states in the country have reported cases of the Omicron variant. In Suffolk, there have now been a total of 267,652 confirmed CO…
COVID-19: Fourth Shot May Eventually Be Needed, Pfizer Says COVID-19: Fourth Shot May Eventually Be Needed, Pfizer Says
Covid-19: Fourth Shot May Eventually Be Needed, Pfizer Says The CEO of Pfizer said in an interview that he believes a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose will eventually be needed.  Albert Bourla said on CNBC that real-world data will help determine how well three doses of the vaccine protect against the Omicron variant and how long protection lasts. "And the second point, I think we will need the fourth dose," Bourla told CNBC on Wednesday, Dec. 8. "I’ve said that multiple times. With the previous, I was projecting that that will be on 12 months after the third dose. With Omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little informat…
COVID-19: First Findings Released On Vaccine Effectiveness Against Omicron Variant COVID-19: First Findings Released On Vaccine Effectiveness Against Omicron Variant
Covid-19: First Findings Released On Vaccine Effectiveness Against Omicron Variant The first findings on the effectiveness of vaccines against the COVID-19 Omicron variant have been released. Pfizer and its European partner BioNTech said that a booster shot offers significant protection against Omicron and "neutralizes" the strain. Two vaccine doses "show significantly reduced neutralization titers" but could protect against severe disease from COVID, the companies said. The findings come from an initial laboratory study. According to the companies’ preliminary data, "a third dose provides a similar level of neutralizing antibodies to Omicron as is observ…
COVID-19: Second Case Of Omicron Variant Identified In CT COVID-19: Second Case Of Omicron Variant Identified In CT
Covid-19: Second Case Of Omicron Variant Identified In CT The Connecticut Department of Public Health has confirmed a second case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Tuesday, Dec. 7 that the second case of the more-transmissible variant has been identified in the state, with sequencing performed by the Yale School of Public Health. Earlier story - COVID-19: Half Of Group Who Attended NYC Convention With Omicron-Infected Man Now Have Virus According to the Department of Health, the man who contracted the Omicron variant is in his 20s from Fairfield County and began developing mild symptoms on Thursday, De…
COVID-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant COVID-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant A day after the first case of the new COVID-19 variant was identified in the United States, it has been announced that a man from the Midwest who attended a conference in New York City has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 strain. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday, Dec. 2 that the Department of Health in Minnesota alerted her that a constituent tested positive for the variant after spending time at the conference held at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Earlier story - COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States Hochul noted that the pe…
COVID-19: Pfizer CEO Says New Vaccine May Be Needed For Omicron, Anti-Viral Pills Are Effective COVID-19: Pfizer CEO Says New Vaccine May Be Needed For Omicron, Anti-Viral Pills Are Effective
Covid-19: Pfizer CEO Says New Vaccine May Be Needed For Omicron, Anti-Viral Pills Are Effective Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that his company is preparing to tackle new COVID-19 variants, and that he expects the company’s treatment pill will be effective in helping avoid severe illness or possibly death if one get infected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron poses a “very high” global risk, with the likelihood it is more transmissible than previous strains. The new variant has nearly three dozen mutations that reportedly decrease antibody protection. WHO described Omicron as a “highly divergent variant with a high number of mutations ... some of which are conce…