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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…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
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…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
News
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 …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
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…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
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…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
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…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Pfizer Expected To Seek Approval For Boosters For All Adults COVID-19: Pfizer Expected To Seek Approval For Boosters For All Adults
Covid-19: Pfizer Expected To Seek Approval For Boosters For All Adults Pfizer and European partner BioNTech are expected to seek federal authorization to administer its COVID-19 booster shot to all Americans over the age of 18. As soon as this week, the biopharmaceutical company is reportedly planning to seek US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for booster shots for anyone 18 and older. Currently, only Americans 65 and older, those who are immunocompromised and anyone whose job puts them at a larger risk for exposure are eligible for Pfizer booster shots. The FDA is considered likely to grant the request, potentially before Thanksgiving and the hol…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Vaccines For Kids Ages 5 To 11 COVID-19: FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Vaccines For Kids Ages 5 To 11
Covid-19: FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Vaccines For Kids Ages 5 To 11 A Food and Drug Administration vaccine advisory panel has voted to recommend Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The endorsement of Pfizer's lower dose vaccine for younger kids was announced on Tuesday, Oct. 26, and it will be considered for authorization by the FDA next. CNBC reported that 17 members of the committee voted to endorse the vaccine, and one person declined to vote. A decision by the FDA could be made within the next few days, CNBC said.  An advisory group with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is scheduled to meet next week to d…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Pfizer Asks FDA To Approve Vaccine For Children Ages 5 To 11 COVID-19: Pfizer Asks FDA To Approve Vaccine For Children Ages 5 To 11
Covid-19: Pfizer Asks FDA To Approve Vaccine For Children Ages 5 To 11 Pfizer has officially asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to children between the ages of 5 and 11. With parents and politicians alike agreeing that keeping children learning in the classroom after a lost year in 2020, Pfizer is pushing to allow its vaccine to be administered among younger Americans. Pfizer tweeted this week that the company had submitted their formal request for Emergency Use Authorization of the vaccine to the FDA. "With new cases in children in the U.S. continuing to be at a high lev…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson To Seek Authorization For Booster Shot COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson To Seek Authorization For Booster Shot
Covid-19: Johnson & Johnson To Seek Authorization For Booster Shot Johnson & Johnson is seeking federal approval for its COVID-19 booster shots, which could make it the latest to be authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On Monday, Oct. 4, a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company announced that they were looking to gain approval to begin administering booster shots for its one-dose vaccine. Last month, regulators authorized a booster shot for some recipients of the Pfizer vaccine and are considering authorization this month for recipients of the Moderna vaccine. In total, according to reports, more than 15 million Am…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Highly Contagious New Virus Strain Could Evade Vaccines, Study Says COVID-19: Highly Contagious New Virus Strain Could Evade Vaccines, Study Says
Covid-19: Highly Contagious New Virus Strain Could Evade Vaccines, Study Says A new variant of COVID-19 might be more transmissible, and it may evade some protection from vaccines, according to a new study. Business Standard reported that researchers in South Africa said the variant was discovered in May.  Since then, the variant, C.1.2, has been reported in China, New Zealand, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and several other countries, the news outlet reported. The researchers reportedly found that the new variant has a mutation rate about twice as fast as that of other COVID-19 variants, and it could evade the antibodies people have developed…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Unvaccinated Are More Than Twice As Likely To Get Virus A Second Time, CDC Says COVID-19: Unvaccinated Are More Than Twice As Likely To Get Virus A Second Time, CDC Says
Covid-19: Unvaccinated Are More Than Twice As Likely To Get Virus A Second Time, CDC Says A new study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that COVID-19 vaccines offer better and more protection against reinfection of the virus than just natural immunity among those who already have been infected. On Friday, Aug. 6, the CDC released the findings of a new study of nearly 1,000 Americans who previously tested positive for COVID-19 but remained unvaccinated. According to the study, those who were unvaccinated proved to be more than twice as likely to become infected for a second time than those who were fully vaccinated against the virus. Researchers …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Concerns Over Delta Variant Grow As US Cases Double In Three Weeks COVID-19: Concerns Over Delta Variant Grow As US Cases Double In Three Weeks
Covid-19: Concerns Over Delta Variant Grow As US Cases Double In Three Weeks While much of the country is settling into the “new normal” following the rise and fall of the COVID-19 crisis, the Delta variant is proving to be the one variable Americans still have to contend with. Concerns are rising across the country about the variant after the US has seen a spike in daily COVID-19 cases from approximately 11,300 in late June to nearly 24,000 as of Monday, July 12, according to Johns Hopkins University. According to health officials, the reason for the rise in cases is largely due to the Delta variant, which now makes up the majority of new COVID-19 infections, large…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Mixed Messaging About Booster Shots From CDC, Pfizer Causing Confusion COVID-19: Mixed Messaging About Booster Shots From CDC, Pfizer Causing Confusion
Covid-19: Mixed Messaging About Booster Shots From CDC, Pfizer Causing Confusion Pfizer has announced plans to submit data on a COVID-19 booster vaccine it is developing to regulatory agencies in the coming weeks.  However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are pushing back, saying booster vaccines are not needed at this time. Confused? You're not alone. On Thursday, July 8, Pfizer and European partner BioNTech said in a news release that the companies are working on a third vaccine dose to combat COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant. The companies said they expect clinical studies will begin in A…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Moderna Asks FDA To Approve Vaccines For Those Ages 12 To 17 COVID-19: Moderna Asks FDA To Approve Vaccines For Those Ages 12 To 17
Covid-19: Moderna Asks FDA To Approve Vaccines For Those Ages 12 To 17 Moderna has requested an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17. The company announced that clinical trials have shown that the vaccine has a 93 percent efficacy rate among adolescents, and has been proven to be safe. If approved, it would be the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized for adolescents, joining the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was given the green light for use earlier this month. In their study, Moderna found no cases of COVID-19 in participants who received two doses of th…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Vaccine 'Safe, Highly Effective' In Kids 12-17, Moderna Says, Will Seek FDA Approval COVID-19: Vaccine 'Safe, Highly Effective' In Kids 12-17, Moderna Says, Will Seek FDA Approval
Covid-19: Vaccine 'Safe, Highly Effective' In Kids 12-17, Moderna Says, Will Seek FDA Approval Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has proven effective and safe for adolescents and teens between the ages of 12 and 17, the company announced, as it prepares to seek federal authorization. The company announced that clinical trials have shown that the vaccine has a 93 percent efficacy rate among adolescents, and has been proven to be safe. Moderna officials said that they plan to apply for federal approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use the vaccine in that age group in June. If approved, it would be the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized for adolescents, joining the Pfizer-Bi…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Time Frame Provided For When Vaccine Booster Shots May Be Necessary COVID-19: New Time Frame Provided For When Vaccine Booster Shots May Be Necessary
Covid-19: New Time Frame Provided For When Vaccine Booster Shots May Be Necessary Executives and experts at the center of COVID-19 pandemic response are now providing a more specific possible time frame for when Americans who were first to receive a vaccine dose may need to take a booster shot. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, speaking during an Axios event, said that the data he has reviewed supports the notion "that likely there will be a need for a booster somewhere between eight and 12 months" after the initial vaccination regime. That means those who were among the first to get a vaccine shot in mid to late December 2020 or early January 2021 would likely need a booster sh…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Pfizer Seeks Federal Approval To Market Vaccine Directly To Consumers COVID-19: Pfizer Seeks Federal Approval To Market Vaccine Directly To Consumers
Covid-19: Pfizer Seeks Federal Approval To Market Vaccine Directly To Consumers Pfizer and European partner company BioNTech are seeking full approval from the federal government to market their two-dose COVID-19 vaccine directly to people age 16 and over, as well as businesses and schools. The vaccine has been available in the United States since mid-December under an Emergency Use Authorization waiver by the Food and Drug Administration. Since then, the companies have delivered more than 170 million doses of the vaccine across the United States. “We are proud of the tremendous progress we’ve made since December in delivering vaccines to millions of Americans, in col…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Stop & Shop Now Offering Same-Day Vaccinations COVID-19: Stop & Shop Now Offering Same-Day Vaccinations
Covid-19: Stop & Shop Now Offering Same-Day Vaccinations Stop & Shop has become the latest to begin offering walk-in, same-day COVID-19 vaccines. In an effort to expand vaccination efforts, the grocery giant announced that it has the supply to begin offering either the two-dose Moderna or one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at its more than 250 pharmacies to all eligible customers. Customers can still schedule an appointment online, but they are no longer required to receive an immunization. Anyone who gets a first dose of Moderna will have their second appointment scheduled on location following the administration of the shot. Related …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: One Vaccine Dose May Be As Effective As Two For Those Who've Had Virus, Report Says COVID-19: One Vaccine Dose May Be As Effective As Two For Those Who've Had Virus, Report Says
Covid-19: One Vaccine Dose May Be As Effective As Two For Those Who've Had Virus, Report Says New studies have found that Americans receiving the first dose of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may be protected against the spread of the vaccine. According to a Bloomberg report, out of more than 1,000 staff members tested at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, many responded to the first dose so robustly that their results were similar to co-workers who received both doses. Research leader Susan Cheng, who co-authored a study published in the Nature Medicine journal, said that those who have already contracted the virus, immune responses after one vaccine have …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Moderna Seeks Full FDA Approval For Vaccine COVID-19: Moderna Seeks Full FDA Approval For Vaccine
Covid-19: Moderna Seeks Full FDA Approval For Vaccine With six months having passed since Moderna began clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical company is seeking full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Moderna, which currently has emergency use authorization from the FDA to distribute its vaccine, reported in its latest trial data that it has proven 90 percent effective in preventing the symptoms of COVID-19, and 95 percent effective in the most severe cases of the virus. Currently, no COVID-19 vaccine is fully approved by the FDA, but three - Moderna, Pfizer, and the currently questionable Johnson & John…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Pfizer CEO Reveals When Vaccine Booster Shot Likely Will Be Needed After Second Dose COVID-19: Pfizer CEO Reveals When Vaccine Booster Shot Likely Will Be Needed After Second Dose
Covid-19: Pfizer CEO Reveals When Vaccine Booster Shot Likely Will Be Needed After Second Dose Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is cautioning that patients will likely need a third dose of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine within the next year to maintain the shot’s efficacy. During a recently aired interview, Bourla said that patients will “likely” need an additional dose of the vaccine within 12 months of becoming fully vaccinated with the two required doses. Bourla said that they are continuing to monitor the situation, and as more COVID-19 variants arise, the company may be forced to shift gears. “We need to see what would be the sequence, and for how often we need to do that, that remains…

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by Zak Failla
News
CDC, FDA Call For Pause On Johnson & Johnson Vaccine CDC, FDA Call For Pause On Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
CDC, FDA Call For Pause On Johnson & Johnson Vaccine The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration are calling for a pause on the use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine due to six cases of "rare and severe" blood clot cases reported. All six cases occurred among women between 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination, FDA officials said in a joint statement. More than 6.8 million doses of the one-dose vaccine had been administered in the U.S. All Pennsylvania teachers and administrators were given the J&J vaccine. Out of the 200,000 offered the vaccine a…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: Closure Of J&J Vaccine Clinic, Supply Glitch Both Causing Concerns COVID-19: Closure Of J&J Vaccine Clinic, Supply Glitch Both Causing Concerns
Covid-19: Closure Of J&J Vaccine Clinic, Supply Glitch Both Causing Concerns The mass rollout of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has hit enough roadblock as a vaccination site was forced to close due to people suffering adverse reactions to the shot. A vaccine clinic administering the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Colorado was forced to shut down, and the federal government announced it will be shipping fewer of the company’s doses around the country due to production issues. The company did not say how many people had reactions but said it amounted to 0.8 percent of those who received a vaccine dose Wednesday, April 7. Health officials in Co…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Millions Of J&J Doses Thrown Away After Factory Mixup COVID-19: Millions Of J&J Doses Thrown Away After Factory Mixup
Covid-19: Millions Of J&J Doses Thrown Away After Factory Mixup Millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine had to be destroyed after there was a dosage mix-up at a production lab, prompting a delay in shipments to states. According to reports, employees at Emergent BioSolutions, a production facility in Baltimore that produces the vaccine, mixed up two ingredients, ruining approximately 15 million doses of the vaccine. Emergent is one of several companies that Johnson & Johnson enlisted to speed up manufacturing of its recently approved vaccine, the company said. The Baltimore factory where the tainted vaccine ingredient was fou…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Improving, New Poll Shows COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Improving, New Poll Shows
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Improving, New Poll Shows Americans are feeling more optimistic about the nation’s ability to bring the pandemic crisis to an end, according to a new survey. On Friday, March 5, about one year after the pandemic began, Gallup released the outcome of its latest national COVID-19 opinion poll. The survey looked into what American adults are thinking about COVID-19 trends, access to vaccines and tests, and how the pandemic is affecting their lives. Here are some of the survey’s highlights: COVID-19 Gallup found that 60 percent of Americans said the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. is improving. This is the most upbeat…

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by Kristin Palpini