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Booster Shots

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COVID-19: Subvariant XBB Rapidly Spreading Statewide, Prompting NY Health Department Warning COVID-19: Subvariant XBB Rapidly Spreading Statewide, Prompting NY Health Department Warning
Covid-19: Subvariant XBB Rapidly Spreading Statewide, Prompting NY Health Department Warning As the new COVID-19 variant named XBB.1.5 rapidly spreads through New York, officials are urging people to receive their booster shots to protect themselves.  Earlier Report - COVID-19: Subvariant XBB Accounts For 70% Of Tristate NY Cases, Sparking Concerns Of New Wave The variant, which spreads more quickly than other currently circulating strains of the virus, is already making up more than 50 percent of cases in the state, making it the predominant strain, according to the New York Department of Health.  Although it is not yet clear if the XBB.1.5 variant is more se…

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by Ben Crnic
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COVID-19: CDC Expected To Greatly Ease Indoor Mask Guidance, Reports Say COVID-19: CDC Expected To Greatly Ease Indoor Mask Guidance, Reports Say
Covid-19: CDC Expected To Greatly Ease Indoor Mask Guidance, Reports Say The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to significantly ease its indoor mask mandate as the country continues its recovery from the latest wave of COVID-19 infections. According to multiple reports, the CDC is expected to announce a change in its guidance regarding masks, allowing most Americans to ditch their facial coverings indoors. The AP first reported the news, citing “two people familiar with the matter.” The new guidance is expected to be announced as soon as Friday, Feb. 25. It marks the first indoor mask guidance change from the CDC since July 2021. …

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Here's When Fourth Shot May Be Needed, Moderna CEO Says COVID-19: Here's When Fourth Shot May Be Needed, Moderna CEO Says
Covid-19: Here's When Fourth Shot May Be Needed, Moderna CEO Says The chief executive officer of Moderna has gone on record saying when another round of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots could be required. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said this week that due to the efficacy of the vaccine potentially waning over time, a fourth booster could be required before the fall of 2022. Bancel made the proclamation at a Goldman-Sachs-organized healthcare conference, noting that his company is working on a booster shot dedicated to combating the Omicron variant of the virus, which will likely be made available within the next two months. According to recent studies, bo…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: SUNY Purchase Delays Return To Campus Amid Surge Of New Cases COVID-19: SUNY Purchase Delays Return To Campus Amid Surge Of New Cases
Covid-19: SUNY Purchase Delays Return To Campus Amid Surge Of New Cases With the Omicron variant running wild across Westchester, school officials announced that they will be delaying the return of students to campus at SUNY Purchase. Citing a better chance of restarting classes smoothly, officials announced that students will be delayed in their return to school by nearly two weeks as the number of new COVID-19 cases mount. The move comes on the heels of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stating that all students accessing SUNY campuses for the spring semester must be vaccinated and receive their booster shots once they are eligible. There will also be mandatory pr…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: CDC Shortens Waiting Period For Pfizer Booster Shots COVID-19: CDC Shortens Waiting Period For Pfizer Booster Shots
Covid-19: CDC Shortens Waiting Period For Pfizer Booster Shots Americans who received the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can now get a booster shot in a shorter timeframe than originally recommended, according to federal health officials who passed a pair of measures to make the vaccine more readily available. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday, Jan. 4 that booster shots should be made available five months after receiving the second dose of the vaccine, down from the original recommendation of at least six months. Those who received the Moderna vaccine must still wait at least six months after their seco…

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by Zak Failla
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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
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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars Past 6 Percent As Cases Continue To Climb COVID-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars Past 6 Percent As Cases Continue To Climb
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Infection Rate Soars Past 6 Percent As Cases Continue To Climb The Hudson Valley's COVID-19 infection rate has increased past 6 percent in the most recent update from state officials.  New York State officials reported a total of 22,478 additional COVID-19 cases and 267,422 tests in its update on Sunday, Dec. 19. The state also reported 58 deaths from COVID-19 in the past two days, with New York now surpassing 60,000 deaths during the pandemic, with the new total 60,253. State officials said the seven-day average number of cases per 100,000 people in the mid-Hudson region increased from 58.04 cases on Thursday, Dec. 16, to 63.…

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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: FDA Clears Moderna, Pfizer Boosters For All US Adults COVID-19: FDA Clears Moderna, Pfizer Boosters For All US Adults
Covid-19: FDA Clears Moderna, Pfizer Boosters For All US Adults Federal health officials have given the green light for all Americans to get COVID-19 booster shots for all adults. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots for all adults in the US 18 and older, paving the way for expanding the eligibility of boosters in advance of the holiday season. Previously, the FDA had only authorized booster shots for Americans 65 and older, and those who were at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 due to pre-existing conditions of their job. “Authorizing the use of a single booster dose of either the Moderna or Pf…

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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: Here's When General Public Likely Will Need To Get Boosters, Dr. Fauci Says COVID-19: Here's When General Public Likely Will Need To Get Boosters, Dr. Fauci Says
Covid-19: Here's When General Public Likely Will Need To Get Boosters, Dr. Fauci Says COVID-19 booster shots could soon be made available to all Americans. Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the country’s foremost authorities on infectious diseases, said this week that Pfizer and Moderna boosters could be coming for all, not just certain groups that are currently eligible. Currently, Americans who are over the age of 65, those who are immunocompromised, and anyone who is frequently exposed to the virus through work is eligible for the COVID-19 booster shots six months after receiving their second dose. According to Fauci, it is expected that everyone will eventually need booster sh…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Immunocompromised People May Need Fourth Dose, CDC Says COVID-19: Immunocompromised People May Need Fourth Dose, CDC Says
Covid-19: Immunocompromised People May Need Fourth Dose, CDC Says Some Americans may require a fourth shot of the COVID-19 vaccine if they are immunocompromised, according to new federal guidance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that adults 18 and older who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get a fourth dose at least six months after getting their third shot, the guidance states. Officials cautioned that Johnson & Johnson recipients “should not receive more than two COVID-19 vaccine doses,” though a second is recommended. The CDC authorized a thir…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FDA Authorizes Moderna, J&J Booster Shots For Millions Of Americans COVID-19: FDA Authorizes Moderna, J&J Booster Shots For Millions Of Americans
Covid-19: FDA Authorizes Moderna, J&J Booster Shots For Millions Of Americans The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of Johnson & Johnson and Moderna COVID-19 booster shots for millions of people across the United States. The FDA made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 20, nearly a month after the agency authorized the use of a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot.  The agency said a single booster dose of the Moderna vaccine can be administered at least six months after the two-dose vaccine series is complete in the following groups of people: 65 years of age and older 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19 18 …

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by Nicole Valinote
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: Weekly Booster Shot Clinics Scheduled In Westchester COVID-19: Weekly Booster Shot Clinics Scheduled In Westchester
Covid-19: Weekly Booster Shot Clinics Scheduled In Westchester With federal officials paving the way for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to be administered to eligible Americans, Westchester is planning to host a series of weekly clinics to get more shots in arms. The Westchester County Department of Health announced that it will be holding Pfizer booster shot clinics weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 6. All booster shots will be administered by appointment only between 9 a.m. and noon each week at 134 Court St. in White Plains. Eligible New Yorkers include: Those 65 years and older; Anyone 18 and older who have underly…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: FDA Panel Recommends Booster Shots For Some Americans COVID-19: FDA Panel Recommends Booster Shots For Some Americans
Covid-19: FDA Panel Recommends Booster Shots For Some Americans COVID-19 vaccination booster shots are now being recommended for some Americans, but not others, a federal advisory group just announced. The Food and Drug Administration's scientific advisory committee held daylong discussions on Friday, Sept. 17 after which it determined that those who are age 65 or older or are at high risk of severe COVID should get booster shots. Earlier, the panel announced it had overwhelmingly voted against approving a Pfizer/BioNTech booster for all people 16 and older. The vote was 16-2. The FDA typically follows the determinations of the panel. A group of …

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by Joe Lombardi
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: 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
News
COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On Immunity For Those Who Were Vaccinated Or Had Virus COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On Immunity For Those Who Were Vaccinated Or Had Virus
Covid-19: New Studies Shed Light On Immunity For Those Who Were Vaccinated Or Had Virus Brand-new studies are shedding light on how long immunity to COVID-19 lasts for those who have had the virus, been fully vaccinated, or both. Most who were infected with COVID and later immunized will not need booster shots, the studies show. Those who were vaccinated after never having the virus will likely need a booster shot as will some people who had COVID but did not have a strong immune response. One of the studies was published this week in the journal Nature. The other study was posted on the biology research site BioRxiv. Many who have been infected with COVID will likely make …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna Release Clinical Trial Results On Response Against Virus Variants COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna Release Clinical Trial Results On Response Against Virus Variants
Covid-19: Pfizer, Moderna Release Clinical Trial Results On Response Against Virus Variants Both Pfizer and Moderna - two of the three COVID-19 vaccines approved for distribution in the US - have seen promising results in combating variants of the virus in recent studies. This week, both pharmaceutical companies released results of clinical trials that show the vaccines are effective in combating COVID-19 variants, including the prominent strains from South Africa and Brazil. Moderna has been testing a 50-microgram dose of its vaccine in previously vaccinated people, which found the booster dose increased neutralizing antibody responses against the original virus as well as the va…

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by Zak Failla