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Lifestyle
COVID-19: CT Cancer Patient Has Been Infected With Virus At Least 471 Days, Case Study Says COVID-19: CT Cancer Patient Has Been Infected With Virus At Least 471 Days, Case Study Says
Covid-19: CT Cancer Patient Has Been Infected With Virus At Least 471 Days, Case Study Says A Connecticut resident experienced a chronic COVID-19 infection for at least 471 days, researchers reported. Researchers from Yale University found that a patient, who is diagnosed with lymphoma, has been testing positive for the virus for at least 471 days and that the virus rapidly mutated during their infection, according to the Daily Mail. The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, can be found here. Researchers reported that their surveillance system captured 30 nasal swabs from the unnamed individual, and sequenced COVID-19 genomes from day 79 through 471, which was between Feb…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US
Covid-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US With the new “stealth” COVID-19 sub-variant emerging from the shadows in the US and overseas, researchers are concerned that one subset of Americans could potentially lead to a possible new surge of infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron, which is known as B.1.1.529, has three sub-variants: the original BA.1 that remains the dominant strain, the “stealth” BA.2, which is picking up steam, and the more elusive BA.3. The new “stealth” variant - named for its difficulty to identify due to a lack of certain genetic characteristics - has been becoming more of a co…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New 'Deltacron' Variant Identified For First Time COVID-19: New 'Deltacron' Variant Identified For First Time
Covid-19: New 'Deltacron' Variant Identified For First Time A new hybrid COVID-19 strain combining the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus has been confirmed for the first time and is being tracked by the World Health Organization (WHO). Researchers reported that they now have solid evidence regarding the first confirmed case of “Deltacron,” though it is not believed to be considered a cause of concern as the number of vaccines and people with natural immunity continue to rise across the globe. The “Deltacron” variant had previously been suspected in several countries, but scientists in Paris submitted a full genomic sequence on Tuesday, March 8…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Getting Worse, New Poll Says COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Getting Worse, New Poll Says
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Think Pandemic Is Getting Worse, New Poll Says While some Americans have expressed optimism about the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic being over after the post-holiday surge of infections, the majority still believe that the pandemic is getting worse, according to a new poll. Gallup released new data that found that optimism about the trajectory of the pandemic in the US has fallen precipitously in recent weeks and months, to the highest level in a year. The latest Gallup poll depicting how worried Americans are about the pandemic.Gallup According to the latest poll, which was conducted between Monday, Jan. 3 and Friday, Jan. 14 foun…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CDC Reveals If Getting Vaxxed Is More Effective Than Natural Immunity COVID-19: CDC Reveals If Getting Vaxxed Is More Effective Than Natural Immunity
Covid-19: CDC Reveals If Getting Vaxxed Is More Effective Than Natural Immunity Top federal health officials have dispelled the long-standing question regarding the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations versus natural immunity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report of a new study that found that both vaccinations and prior infection help to protect against new COVID-19 infections, though the former has proven far more effective in preventing virus-related hospitalizations. In the study, researchers evaluated more than a million COVID-19 cases in California and New York to analyze the risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalizations among fou…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Wave Of Omicron Cases In US May Be At Turning Point, Virus Expert Says COVID-19: Wave Of Omicron Cases In US May Be At Turning Point, Virus Expert Says
Covid-19: Wave Of Omicron Cases In US May Be At Turning Point, Virus Expert Says The wave of COVID-19 cases in the United States triggered by the highly contagious Omicron variant may be at a turning point, an infectious disease expert says. Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says parts of the nation may be about to pass the peak phase of the outbreak, while other regions will likely soon be hit hard. "f you look what's happening across the East Coast right now in New York City, Washington, DC, Maryland, probably Florida as well have already peaked, maybe Delaware and Rhode Island," Gottlieb said Sunday, Jan. 9 on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation." "You start to see t…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Researcher Discovers 'Deltacron' Strain Combining Parts Of Both Variants COVID-19: Researcher Discovers 'Deltacron' Strain Combining Parts Of Both Variants
Covid-19: Researcher Discovers 'Deltacron' Strain Combining Parts Of Both Variants A COVID-19 strain that combines both the Omicron and Delta variants has been discovered by a researcher, according to a brand-new report. The strain has been labeled “Deltacron” by the researcher, Leondios Kostrikis, a biological sciences professor at the University of Cyprus because of its omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, Jan. 8. Kostrikis told Sigma TV that "we will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail” over Delta and Omicron. To date, 25 cases of Deltacron have been identif…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Study Reveals How Likely Omicron Patients Are To Be Hospitalized Compared To Delta COVID-19: Study Reveals How Likely Omicron Patients Are To Be Hospitalized Compared To Delta
Covid-19: Study Reveals How Likely Omicron Patients Are To Be Hospitalized Compared To Delta While the wildly spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant is believed to be more transmissible than previous strains, a new study found that patients are less likely to be hospitalized with severe infections if they contract it. Researchers found that those who contract the Omicron variant are 80 percent less likely to be hospitalized, compared to other strains, according to a new study released by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Once admitted to the hospital, the risk of severe disease doesn’t differ from other variants; however, the researchers led by scientists Nicole Walter…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Info Released On First US Omicron Death; Biden To Announce 500M Free At-Home Tests COVID-19: Info Released On First US Omicron Death; Biden To Announce 500M Free At-Home Tests
Covid-19: Info Released On First US Omicron Death; Biden To Announce 500M Free At-Home Tests Less than three weeks after the first case of the highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant was identified in the United States, the first death in the nation connected to the strain has been confirmed in the Houston, Texas area. The patient was a man in his 50s who was not vaccinated and had an underlying health condition, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said, according to KHOU-11, a CBS-affiliated television station in Houston. Houston Methodist said on Monday, Dec. 20 that 82 percent of its new cases are omicron after just three weeks of testing for it, KHOU reported. Omicron …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: FDA Expands Booster Vaccine Eligibility To Include Ages 16 & 17 COVID-19: FDA Expands Booster Vaccine Eligibility To Include Ages 16 & 17
Covid-19: FDA Expands Booster Vaccine Eligibility To Include Ages 16 & 17 The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded eligibility for Pfizer's COVID-19 booster vaccines to include 16- and 17-year-olds. The FDA said in an announcement on Thursday, Dec. 9, that it has amended the emergency use authorization of the booster vaccine to include those aged 16 and older at least six months after they've completed their primary vaccination. “Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19,”…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of New US Cases Linked To Delta Variant, CDC Says COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of New US Cases Linked To Delta Variant, CDC Says
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of New US Cases Linked To Delta Variant, CDC Says Amid concern over the brand-new Omicron strain, estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are revealing the percentage of new COVID-19 infections in the United States from the Delta variant. The CDC estimated that in the week from Sunday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 27 that 99.9 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United States were from the Delta variant. The public health agency reported that it uses genomic surveillance to track the proportions of variants circulating. According to the agency, the Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as previous v…

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by Nicole Valinote
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
News
COVID-19: Study Shows Chance Of Winter Surge That Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant COVID-19: Study Shows Chance Of Winter Surge That Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant
Covid-19: Study Shows Chance Of Winter Surge That Could Be Worse Than Delta Variant With the weather cooling down and crowded indoor holiday season gatherings fast approaching, a new study is showing that there could be a winter surge of COVID-19 cases that could rival the earlier emergence of the Delta variant. According to a newly released study, researchers are predicting that there is at least a 30 percent chance that states could experience a surge of new infections that could exceed the numbers seen during the spike in cases in mid-September during the variant. With activities moving indoors, there is expected to be a surge in cases, though with more Americans getti…

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by Zak Failla
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
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
Business
COVID-19: Here's Why Auto Prices Are Expected To Remain High COVID-19: Here's Why Auto Prices Are Expected To Remain High
Covid-19: Here's Why Auto Prices Are Expected To Remain High A shortage of a key part caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to keep automobile prices high until as late as 2023, according to multiple reports. Experts say that computer chip shortages caused car prices to increase in the spring, and delta variant cases in countries that produce the computer chips could lead to even longer wait times before prices lower. Jeff Aiosa, the Connecticut Director of the National Automobile Dealers Association, told WTNH in New Haven that dealers across the United States usually sell more than 17 million new cars, but that number has gone down to 16 mill…

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by Nicole Valinote
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
News
COVID-19: Massachusetts Sees Largest Single-Day Increase In Months COVID-19: Massachusetts Sees Largest Single-Day Increase In Months
Covid-19: Massachusetts Sees Largest Single-Day Increase In Months Massachusetts health officials are reporting the largest number of new single-day COVID-19 cases in months. There was a spike of 2,096 new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts on Thursday, Sept. 9, the highest total since April, before the Delta variant was surging across the country. More than 2,000 new cases have not been recorded in the Commonwealth since Wednesday, April 14. There were 84,745 COVID-19 tests administered in Massachusetts according to the latest update from the Department of Health, bringing the seven-day average positive infection rate to 2.48 percent.…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Cases In Kids At All-Time High; Here's Percentage Of New US Infections In Children COVID-19: Cases In Kids At All-Time High; Here's Percentage Of New US Infections In Children
Covid-19: Cases In Kids At All-Time High; Here's Percentage Of New US Infections In Children With students returning to class for the new school year, the number of children coming down with COVID-19 is on the rise as overall cases continue to climb due to the Delta variant. In the latest data released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children now represent 26.8 percent of new weekly COVID-19 cases nationwide as health officials encourage all eligible parties to get vaccinated against the virus to help curtail the spread of the virus. According to the latest report, more than 250,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported among children in the past week out of nearly 940,000 …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Variant Believed To Be More Transmissible Than Delta Has Been Found In 49 States COVID-19: New Variant Believed To Be More Transmissible Than Delta Has Been Found In 49 States
Covid-19: New Variant Believed To Be More Transmissible Than Delta Has Been Found In 49 States Alarm bells are sounding for some health officials as a new, possibly more transmissible COVID-19 variant has now been identified in 49 states. The mu variant, first discovered in Colombia in January, is threatening to become the dominant strain of the virus, potentially overtaking the Delta variant, as health officials continue to combat the constantly mutating virus. According to reports, the only state in the US that has not recorded a case of the mu virus is Nebraska after the strain it made its presence known in Alaska and Hawaii recently. The new variant is believed to be more trans…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: McDonald's To Close Indoor Seating Areas In Some Parts Of US COVID-19: McDonald's To Close Indoor Seating Areas In Some Parts Of US
Covid-19: McDonald's To Close Indoor Seating Areas In Some Parts Of US McDonald's is preparing to close its indoor seating areas as cases of the delta variant increase across the United States, according to a new report. The fast-food chain had previously announced plans to reopen indoor dining in all of its franchises by Labor Day as long as there wasn't a resurgence of COVID-19, after closing it down in 2020, according to a report from Reuters. The company has now told its locations to close indoor seating areas in places where the virus is spreading quickly.  Reuters reported that McDonald's recommended that restaurants close indoor seating in places …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: FDA Likely To Approve Brand-New Time Frame For Booster Shot COVID-19: FDA Likely To Approve Brand-New Time Frame For Booster Shot
Covid-19: FDA Likely To Approve Brand-New Time Frame For Booster Shot The timeline for COVID-19 booster shots may be accelerated as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to approve booster shots for all Americans after six months, not eight, as previously announced. According to reports, as more data is examined by federal health officials, it is more likely that booster shots will be required sooner than later for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Before they can go into arms, the FDA must authorize booster shots for each vaccine. A spokesperson for the agency said that under its general policy it "cannot comment on or confirm the existence" o…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Brand-New CDC Study Reveals Vaccines' Effectiveness Against Delta Variant COVID-19: Brand-New CDC Study Reveals Vaccines' Effectiveness Against Delta Variant
Covid-19: Brand-New CDC Study Reveals Vaccines' Effectiveness Against Delta Variant A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines at preventing infection may have decreased as the delta variant has become the predominant strain in the United States. Health care personnel, first responders and other frontline workers across six states were tested weekly for COVID-19 over the course of 35 weeks, the CDC reported. The agency reported that throughout the study, full vaccination against COVID-19 was 80 percent effective at preventing infection among the frontline workers "further affirming the …

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by Nicole Valinote
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: CDC Announces Starting Date For Booster Shots COVID-19: CDC Announces Starting Date For Booster Shots
Covid-19: CDC Announces Starting Date For Booster Shots Federal health officials have set a date for when they plan to begin rolling out COVID-19 booster shots to help curtail the spread of new variants of the virus. Citing new data that showed Pfizer and Moderna vaccines’ effectiveness wanes over time, President Joe Biden’s administration announced that beginning the week of Monday, Sept. 20, booster shots would be made available for many Americans. Earlier story - COVID-19: US Expected To Announce Time Frame For All Americans To Get Booster Shots The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sa…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: US Expected To Announce Time Frame For All Americans To Get Booster Shots COVID-19: US Expected To Announce Time Frame For All Americans To Get Booster Shots
Covid-19: US Expected To Announce Time Frame For All Americans To Get Booster Shots Federal health officials have outlined their plans for when most Americans should get COVID-19 booster shots after becoming fully vaccinated. Pending authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a plan still being developed would advise Americans to get a COVID-19 booster shot eight months after becoming fully vaccinated to help stave off variants of the virus. Both Pfizer and Moderna, two of the three shots currently being administered in the US, have already submitted initial data to the FDA regarding their booster doses of their COVID-19 vaccines and are awaiting appro…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FDA Aims To Give Final Approval To Pfizer Vaccine Next Month COVID-19: FDA Aims To Give Final Approval To Pfizer Vaccine Next Month
Covid-19: FDA Aims To Give Final Approval To Pfizer Vaccine Next Month The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to determine whether or not to give full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as soon as next month. As the Delta variant rapidly rages through the country, causing spikes in new COVID-19 cases, the FDA is reportedly accelerating its timeline to fully approve the Pfizer vaccine, which was the first shot available. Currently, the Pfizer - as well as the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna - vaccines have been given emergency use authorization. Under the current timeline, the FDA hopes to have full approval by Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 6). It…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: These MA Counties At 'Substantial' Risk For Spread, CDC Says COVID-19: These MA Counties At 'Substantial' Risk For Spread, CDC Says
Covid-19: These MA Counties At 'Substantial' Risk For Spread, CDC Says The last remaining county in Massachusetts has been upgraded from “moderate” to “substantial” risk for COVID-19 transmission as the country contends with the now-dominant Delta variant of the virus. In its latest update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) upgraded Hampshire County to “substantial,” after being previously dubbed a “moderate” risk for spreading infection. According to the CDC, people in “substantial,” or “high” transmission areas should wear a mask indoors to help reduce the spread of the virus. Anyone who is immunocompromised has also been advised to mask u…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FDA Expected To Authorize Booster Shots For Immunocompromised People COVID-19: FDA Expected To Authorize Booster Shots For Immunocompromised People
Covid-19: FDA Expected To Authorize Booster Shots For Immunocompromised People The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to move forward quickly with authorization of COVID-19 booster shots for some Americans who are immunocompromised, according to reports. Health officials said that the third shot of the current two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccine could be authorized within the next 48 hours, though no official timetable has been set as variants of the virus and COVID-19 mutations continue to cause a surge in new cases. Before a vaccine can be used in new ways outside existing authorization it requires new approval from the FDA. Currently, the Moderna, Pfizer…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Nation's Largest Teachers Union Calls For Educators To Be Required To Get Vaccinated COVID-19: Nation's Largest Teachers Union Calls For Educators To Be Required To Get Vaccinated
Covid-19: Nation's Largest Teachers Union Calls For Educators To Be Required To Get Vaccinated The president of the largest teachers union in the United States has released a statement announcing the association's support for a requirement for educators to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular testing. National Education Association President Becky Pringle released the statement on Thursday, Aug. 12, said the union wants students to safely return to the classroom, and more vaccinations will help combat rising cases of the delta variant.  "NEA has said from the beginning that we need to follow the science, and evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines, combined wi…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy COVID-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy
Covid-19: CDC Issues Strong Endorsement For Vaccines During Pregnancy The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid the rise in cases of the delta variant in the United States. The CDC released new data regarding the vaccine's safety among pregnant people on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and recommended that everyone ages 12 and older get the vaccine. “CDC encourages all pregnant people or people who are thinking about becoming pregnant and those breastfeeding to get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. “The vaccines are safe and effective, and …

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by Nicole Valinote