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COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe
Covid-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe A new highly transmissible COVID-19 strain that first appeared in Europe is now beginning to spread in the United States. Called XEC, the offshoot of the Omicron strain was initially identified in Germany early this past summer before quickly spreading throughout Europe. It is not causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, but it is causing concern. “The rate of infections from XEC they're seeing in some countries rose pretty quickly compared to previous variants in those same places," Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist said in YaleMedicine.…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
RFK Jr. Considering Dropping Longshot Presidential Bid To Help Trump, Report Says RFK Jr. Considering Dropping Longshot Presidential Bid To Help Trump, Report Says
RFK Jr. Considering Dropping Longshot Presidential Bid To Help Trump, Report Says The chances of seeing another Kennedy back in the White House next year appear to be growing even thinner. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering dropping his longshot presidential bid in an effort to boost former President Donald Trump’s chances of winning, his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, told the Impact Theory podcast. In the interview, which was recorded on Monday, Aug. 19 and publicized the following day, Shanahan said the independent campaign is currently considering two options going forward. Earlier Report: Kennedy Appeals Ruling in NY Ballot Access Residency Case Involving Katon…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Surge In COVID-19, Flu, RSV Hospitalizations Leads To Winter Virus Warning By CDC Surge In COVID-19, Flu, RSV Hospitalizations Leads To Winter Virus Warning By CDC
Surge In Covid-19, Flu, RSV Hospitalizations Leads To Winter Virus Warning By CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sounding the alarm, warning that low vaccination rates for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) could strain healthcare systems across the nation in the weeks ahead. Hospitalizations among all age groups in the last month increased by 200 percent for influenza, 51 percent for COVID, and 60 percent for RSV, the CDC said. Meanwhile, coverage for the seasonal 2023-2024 flu shot is low in all age groups compared with the same period of the 2022–2023 season. Just 17 percent of adults had received the updated COVID vac…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants COVID-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants
Covid-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants Health officials are one step closer to rolling out updated COVID-19 vaccines just in time for a rise in cases heading into the fall and winter months. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new vaccines on Monday, Sept. 11, that are meant to better target currently circulating COVID-19 variants and provide better protection against hospitalization and death, the agency announced. Monday’s move affects vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer. The updated mRNA vaccines are each approved for people ages 12 and older and are authorized under emergency use for children ages 6 mo…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
President Kennedy? RFK Jr. Announces 2024 Bid For White House President Kennedy? RFK Jr. Announces 2024 Bid For White House
President Kennedy? RFK Jr. Announces 2024 Bid For White House There's now a possibility of another Kennedy back in the White House if the political winds blow in the right direction. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - son of the late US Attorney General and New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy - filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for president in the 2024 election, he announced Friday, April 7. The 69-year-old will run as a Democrat, according to his FEC filing. He said that he will officially kick off his campaign in Boston on Wednesday, April 19. “I am grateful for the outpouring of support…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
CDC Issues New Alert As Number Of Pediatric Hepatitis Cases Rises To 100+ Children CDC Issues New Alert As Number Of Pediatric Hepatitis Cases Rises To 100+ Children
CDC Issues New Alert As Number Of Pediatric Hepatitis Cases Rises To 100+ Children The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new health alert as the number of cases of pediatric hepatitis continues to mount across the country, leaving researchers befuddled about its origin. On Wednesday, May 11, the CDC offered an update as it continues to investigate pediatric cases of hepatitis that have an unknown etiology in the US. Earlier story - Cases Of Mysterious Hepatitis Outbreak Now Confirmed In 10 States, Including NY According to officials, the investigation is focusing on "collecting information to describe the epidemiology, etiology, clinical prese…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: New One-Stop Site Launched For Info On Vaccines, Tests, Treatments, Masks COVID-19: New One-Stop Site Launched For Info On Vaccines, Tests, Treatments, Masks
Covid-19: New One-Stop Site Launched For Info On Vaccines, Tests, Treatments, Masks The federal government has set up a one-stop website for all things related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The White House has just launched COVID.gov, a website designed to consolidate information regarding everything from free high-quality masks and antiviral pills to vaccines, tests, and treatments. The launch of the website coincides with President Joe Biden’s promise in his “State of the Union” address, when he announced a “test-to treat program so people can get tested at a pharmacy, and if they're positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot at no cost.” Related story - COVID-1…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing COVID-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing
Covid-19: New Mask Guidance Coming Soon, CDC Director Says At White House Briefing The “new normal” may start to look more like the “old normal” as federal health officials are expected to loosen up COVID-19 mask mandates across the country. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced during a White House briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 16 that the agency will “soon put guidance in place” regarding mask-wearing. The announcement comes as the country continues to recover from the surge of Omicron cases that mounted over several months around the holiday season. Walensky said that the CDC will monitor certain metrics s…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Lamont Announces Recommended Date For End Of Statewide School Mask Mandate COVID-19: Lamont Announces Recommended Date For End Of Statewide School Mask Mandate
Covid-19: Lamont Announces Recommended Date For End Of Statewide School Mask Mandate Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that he's recommending the state school mask mandate be lifted. Beginning on Monday, Feb. 28, the requirement that students, teachers, and staff wear masks inside Connecticut schools will be lifted, the governor announced, touting the state’s improved COVID-19 data. The choice whether or not to continue a mandate beyond that date is up to individual school districts. Earlier story - COVID-19: Positive Infection Rate Dips Below 5 Percent In CT; Latest Breakdown Of Cases, Deaths “I think today with boosters, given vaccines, given the N95 masks, you are …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Pfizer CEO Announces When Vaccine Targeting Omicron Variant Will Be Ready COVID-19: Pfizer CEO Announces When Vaccine Targeting Omicron Variant Will Be Ready
Covid-19: Pfizer CEO Announces When Vaccine Targeting Omicron Variant Will Be Ready A vaccine targeting the highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant could be on the way from Pfizer. On Monday, Jan. 10, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that booster targeting Omicron will be ready as soon as March, as the company has already begun ramping up production of the doses. “This vaccine will be ready in March,” Bourla told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “We (are) already starting manufacturing some of these quantities at risk.” Related story - COVID-19: Fauci Offers New Prediction On When Omicron Wave May Break The vaccine will not exclusively target Omicron, but will also be able to fig…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Predicts When Peak Wave Of Infections Is Possible As Omicron Spreads In US COVID-19: CDC Predicts When Peak Wave Of Infections Is Possible As Omicron Spreads In US
Covid-19: CDC Predicts When Peak Wave Of Infections Is Possible As Omicron Spreads In US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health officials have issued a warning that the Omicron variant could soon cause a large surge of infections across the United States, according to a new report. Health officials said on Tuesday, Dec. 14, that the wave of infections caused by the highly-transmissible variant could reach a peak as soon as January, The Washington Post reported. The CDC reported on Tuesday that it estimates the Omicron variant currently accounts for about 3 percent of the COVID-19 cases in the US. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said genomic sequencing esti…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says
Covid-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says The COVID-19 pandemic is now nearly two years old, and there's still no end in sight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says there are two key signs to look for down the line that are key indicators when the time comes that it does finally wind down. The first is a manageable number of hospitalizations, and the second is a significant drop in the number of daily deaths, she said in an interview with ABC News. To get there, Walensky emphasized the importance of relying on strategies that have proven to be effective, namely vaccines and mask…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Newly Discovered Strain Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant, Scientists Fear COVID-19: Newly Discovered Strain Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant, Scientists Fear
Covid-19: Newly Discovered Strain Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant, Scientists Fear Updated story - COVID-19: New Variant's 50 Mutations Make It Different From Original Virus, NIH Director Says A new COVID-19 variant that could be worse than the Delta strain is sparking concerns among scientists. The B.1.1.529 strain, now known as Omicron, could become a "variant of concern" as soon as Friday, Nov. 26, when the World Health Organization holds an emergency meeting. It is now spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa after first being detected in neighboring Botswana.  The new variant has already shown a large number of mutations, and scientists fear it…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
COVID-19: People Who Spread Misinfo About Vaccines Are ‘Criminals,' Pfizer CEO Says COVID-19: People Who Spread Misinfo About Vaccines Are ‘Criminals,' Pfizer CEO Says
Covid-19: People Who Spread Misinfo About Vaccines Are ‘Criminals,' Pfizer CEO Says Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has harsh words for the “criminals” who have intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Speaking with Atlantic Council think tank CEO Frederick Kempe this week, Bourla said that a “very small” group of people spreading misinformation has cost millions of lives. “These people are criminals,” Bourla said. “They’re not bad people. They’re criminals because they have literally cost millions of lives.” Related story - COVID-19: Pfizer Expected To Seek Approval For Boosters For All Adults Bourla went on to say that “the only thing that stands betw…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Panel Recommends Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11 COVID-19: CDC Panel Recommends Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11
Covid-19: CDC Panel Recommends Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11 A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel has voted to recommend the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The panel of vaccine advisers voted unanimously in favor of the recommendation on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 2. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is expected to accept the recommendation before the vaccinations can begin for the age group, perhaps as early as Wednesday, Nov. 3. The dose will be much lower than the company's vaccine for teenagers and adults, about one-third of a full dose, according to reports.

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
CVS To Hire 25,000 Ahead Of Flu Season In Nationwide One-Day Virtual Event CVS To Hire 25,000 Ahead Of Flu Season In Nationwide One-Day Virtual Event
CVS To Hire 25,000 Ahead Of Flu Season In Nationwide One-Day Virtual Event CVS Health announced plans to hire another 25,000 employees ahead of flu season. CVS will recruit candidates for clinical and retail jobs during an online, one-day national career event on Friday, Sept. 24, the company said in an announcement on Monday, Sept. 20. The new positions will help CVS respond to community needs during flu season and continue to respond to the demand for COVID-19 vaccines and testing, the company said. "Every flu season we need additional team members," said Neela Montgomery, executive vice president of CVS Health and president of CVS Pharmacy. "But this year…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns
Covid-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns The COVID-19 pandemic may not yet have reared its ugliest head as the number of new infections continues to surge across the US, increasing the chances of a new variant forming even more contagious than the Delta strain, White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci is cautioning. In a new interview with Axios, Fauci said that the COVID-19 infection rate could be unsustainable and is 10 times where it needs to be in order for the pandemic to end. 
“The endgame is to suppress the virus,” Fauci said. "Right now, we're still in pandemic mode, because we have 160,000 new infections a day. That's no…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns COVID-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns
Covid-19: Risk Of 'Monster' Variant Grows With Number Of Cases 10 Times Too High, Fauci Warns The COVID-19 pandemic may not yet have reared its ugliest head as the number of new infections continues to surge across the US, increasing the chances of a new variant forming even more contagious than the Delta strain, White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci is cautioning. In a new interview with Axios, Fauci said that the COVID-19 infection rate could be unsustainable and is 10 times where it needs to be in order for the pandemic to end. 
“The endgame is to suppress the virus,” Fauci said. "Right now, we're still in pandemic mode, because we have 160,000 new infections a day. That's no…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Increase In Cases Among Children Could Be 'Just The Beginning,' Experts Say COVID-19: Increase In Cases Among Children Could Be 'Just The Beginning,' Experts Say
Covid-19: Increase In Cases Among Children Could Be 'Just The Beginning,' Experts Say With new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations threatening to overwhelm hospitals in some parts of the country, officials are cautioning that the rise in cases among children “is just the beginning.” As the new academic year approaches, top US health experts are cautioning that the rise in new COVID-19 cases among children who are still ineligible to get vaccinated is likely to get worse when classes resume. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 121,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the US among children last week, more than 14 times the weekly number as…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: 'Things Are Going To Get Worse,' Fauci Warns Amid Dramatic Increase In New Cases COVID-19: 'Things Are Going To Get Worse,' Fauci Warns Amid Dramatic Increase In New Cases
Covid-19: 'Things Are Going To Get Worse,' Fauci Warns Amid Dramatic Increase In New Cases The COVID-19 surge fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant is “going to get worse," White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci is now warning. The Delta variant now makes up 83 percent of news cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's up from 50 percent from the beginning of July. Fauci said that he doesn't think the lockdowns that were put into effect last year are likely to return because there are effective vaccines to combat the virus. "I don't think we're gonna see lockdowns," Fauci, the nation's top infectious…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New Variant May Be More Resistant To Vaccines Than Other Strains, Scientists Say COVID-19: New Variant May Be More Resistant To Vaccines Than Other Strains, Scientists Say
Covid-19: New Variant May Be More Resistant To Vaccines Than Other Strains, Scientists Say A new strain of the COVID-19 virus may be more resistant to vaccines than other variants, scientists are now warning. The C.37 strain, known as the Lambda variant, was first identified in Peru in December 2020, when it accounted for less than one percent of new cases. It now accounts for about 80 percent of new infections in Peru and has spread to about 27 countries in the last month, according to a report in the Financial Times. The World Health Organization said the strain carries a number of mutations that may have prompted potential increased transmissibility or possible increased resi…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New Study Reveals How Long Protection From Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines Could Last COVID-19: New Study Reveals How Long Protection From Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines Could Last
Covid-19: New Study Reveals How Long Protection From Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines Could Last Claims that booster shots could be required in several months for those receiving the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may have been overblown, according to new reports. New findings in a study published this week showed that both COVID-19 vaccines have shown a “persistent” immune response to the virus that could potentially last years. The last looming question is how effective the vaccines are against variants of the virus, specifically the more transmissible Delta strain that has become dominant in the US and is present in 49 states. Related story - COVID-19: Parts Of US With Low Va…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: New Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Haven't Changed Mask-Wearing Habits COVID-19: New Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Haven't Changed Mask-Wearing Habits
Covid-19: New Poll Reveals Percentage Of Americans Who Haven't Changed Mask-Wearing Habits When it comes to mask-wearing, just because you can ditch them, should you? A newly released Monmouth University poll found that since vaccines became more prevalent, public anxiety about contracting COVID-19 plummeted, though nearly half of Americans are still choosing to continue wearing facial coverings. Even with one in five adults continuing to refuse to get the shot, the new poll also found that nearly four in 10 Americans have not changed their mask-wearing habits, even with updated guidance not making non-mandatory under the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New US-Made Vaccine Has 90 Percent Efficiency Rate, Can Be Stored In Refrigerators COVID-19: New US-Made Vaccine Has 90 Percent Efficiency Rate, Can Be Stored In Refrigerators
Covid-19: New Us-made Vaccine Has 90 Percent Efficiency Rate, Can Be Stored In Refrigerators An American biotech company announced that it has concluded the latest phase of clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine, which has proven to be highly effective. Novavax announced on Monday, June 14 that its vaccine has an overall efficacy rate of 90.4 percent in a Phase 3 trial that took place across the United States and Mexico. The Novavax vaccine can be stored in standard refrigerators, making it easier to distribute. Additional analysis of the trial is ongoing, according to the company, and will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication. 
The company said that the vacc…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Pfizer Seeks FDA Approval To Give Vaccines To Kids In New Age Group COVID-19: Pfizer Seeks FDA Approval To Give Vaccines To Kids In New Age Group
Covid-19: Pfizer Seeks FDA Approval To Give Vaccines To Kids In New Age Group Pfizer is seeking federal approval to expand the use of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15. The company announced that it is asking the Food and Drug Administration to amend its emergency use authorization, which was granted for people ages 16 and up late last year. Now, Pfizer is looking to expand its usage to adolescents as they work to get students back to full in-person learning for the fall semester. Clinical trials of the Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine have shown that it has a 100 percent efficacy in adolescents and is well-tolerated in minors betw…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Cases Of More Contagious South African Strain Have Now Been Reported In These States COVID-19: Cases Of More Contagious South African Strain Have Now Been Reported In These States
Covid-19: Cases Of More Contagious South African Strain Have Now Been Reported In These States The more transmittable COVID-19 variant from South Africa continues to make the rounds across the country, with newly confirmed cases of the strain being reported throughout the Northeast. The South African COVID-19 strain has now been reported in nine states, including New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and one territory, as the country works to vaccinate as many people as possible to prevent the spread of the virus. Other states reporting confirmed cases of the South African strain include: California; Texas; Illinois; Virginia; South Carolina; Maryland; The District of Col…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Discovery Of New Variant In New York City Sparks Concern COVID-19: Discovery Of New Variant In New York City Sparks Concern
Covid-19: Discovery Of New Variant In New York City Sparks Concern A new COVID-19 variant discovered in New York City that may reduce the effectiveness of vaccines has some concerned there could be a new surge in cases. Researchers announced this week that a new variant has been discovered in New York City and elsewhere in the Northeast that has mutated and may be more resistant to vaccines. According to researchers, the variant, dubbed B.1.526, has appeared in diverse neighborhoods in New York City and “is scattered in the Northeast.” The new variant is reportedly similar to the strain first seen in South Africa, which appears to evade some of the body…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: First CT Resident Diagnosed With South African Variant COVID-19: First CT Resident Diagnosed With South African Variant
Covid-19: First CT Resident Diagnosed With South African Variant A Connecticut resident is being treated in New York City after being diagnosed with the South African strain of COVID-19. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont made the announcement on Monday afternoon, Feb. 15, noting the person was transferred from Connecticut to a hospital in New York after the diagnosis. The South African variant, like the highly contagious United Kingdom strain, contains a mutation called N501Y which is believed to make it more contagious than older variants.  Dr. Anthony Fauci, appearing Sunday, Feb. 14 on NBC's "Meet the Press," warned that…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
COVID-19: Instagram Pulls Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Account Due To False Anti-Vaccine Claims COVID-19: Instagram Pulls Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Account Due To False Anti-Vaccine Claims
Covid-19: Instagram Pulls Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Account Due To False Anti-Vaccine Claims Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will no longer be a fixture on Instagram after the conspiracy theorist spread anti-COVID-19 vaccine rhetoric over social media. Instagram announced this week that Kennedy’s account has been suspended after he spread misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. At the time of the ban, Kennedy, a former resident of Northern Westchester County, in Bedford, had more than 800,000 followers on the platform. Kennedy had been active on social media stating that some COVID-19 vaccines have been untested and could cause serious health problems, despite a lack of evidence, leadi…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Family Feud? Kennedys Blast RFK Jr. Over His View On Vaccines Family Feud? Kennedys Blast RFK Jr. Over His View On Vaccines
Family Feud? Kennedys Blast RFK Jr. Over His View On Vaccines Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been taken to task by three members of his famous family for his views on vaccines, which have been debunked by health officials. Although the country is mired in one of the worst measles outbreaks in years, Kennedy, a former Bedford resident, has been known to spread conspiracy theories about vaccines causing autism and other impairments on social media, prompting his family to respond in an essay posted on Politico. The World Health Organization has reported a 300 percent increase in the number of measles cases around the world as compared to this time last year,…

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by Zak Failla
News
College Student In Connecticut Diagnosed With Meningitis College Student In Connecticut Diagnosed With Meningitis
College Student In Connecticut Diagnosed With Meningitis A college student in Connecticut has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, the university announced on Monday. Late on Sunday, Dec. 2, Central Connecticut State University announced that a student had fallen ill, and was receiving treatment for a suspected case of bacterial meningitis, school officials said. That diagnosis was confirmed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health on Monday. “We are working with CCSU officials and local health departments to investigate what thus far is a single case of meningitis in a CCSU student and to ensure that people who have come into close co…

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by Zak Failla