COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On Moderna Vaccine's Effectiveness Against Variants COVID-19: New Studies Shed Light On Moderna Vaccine's Effectiveness Against Variants
Covid-19: New Studies Shed Light On Moderna Vaccine's Effectiveness Against Variants Researchers have found that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has proven effective in fighting off more contagious variants of the virus. A pair of new studies found that the Moderna vaccine, which is one of three approved by the FDA for administration in the U.S., is effective against the California variant that has recently been rapidly spreading, with protection lasting for at least six months. In one study, researchers from Duke University found that antibodies generated by the Moderna dose had approximately two times less neutralizing power against the California strain. While it showed a …
COVID-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US COVID-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US
Covid-19: First Case Of 'Double Mutant' Variant Detected In US A new “double mutant” variant of the COVID-19 virus that could potentially be more infectious has been confirmed for the first time in the United States, raising red flags for researchers. The Stanford Clinical Virology Lab identified one case of the new variant — which first emerged in India — in California, officials announced to the San Fransisco Chronicle over the weekend. At least seven other purported cases of the same variant are also under investigation in the Bay Area. According to officials, the new strain has been dubbed the “double mutant” because it carries two mutations in…
COVID-19: Here's What We Know Now About Three Virus Strains CDC Calls 'Variants Of Concern' COVID-19: Here's What We Know Now About Three Virus Strains CDC Calls 'Variants Of Concern'
Covid-19: Here's What We Know Now About Three Virus Strains CDC Calls 'Variants Of Concern' As millions more American receive the COVID-19 vaccine each day, the key question now in the now more than year-long battle against the novel coronavirus comes down to this: Do the three approved vaccines being administered in the United States work against the new strains of the virus that have been confirmed, especially the highly contagious Brazil, United Kingdom, and South Africa variants? As of now, the answer is unclear because the variants first surfaced in the United States either in late December 2020 or in January 2021. "So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through v…
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…
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…
COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson Releases Trial Results For One-Dose Vaccine COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson Releases Trial Results For One-Dose Vaccine
Covid-19: Johnson & Johnson Releases Trial Results For One-Dose Vaccine Some relief may be on the way for the millions of people awaiting their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Johnson & Johnson has been developing a single-dose vaccine for COVID-19, which has an efficacy rate of approximately 72 percent, potentially bringing another provider into the mix as vaccines for the virus have become a valuable and scarce commodity. If it is ultimately approved by federal health officials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would join Pfizer and Moderna on the market, both of which require two doses administered approximately three weeks apart. However, the ef…
COVID-19: First Cases Of Highly Contagious South African Mutant Strain Identified In US COVID-19: First Cases Of Highly Contagious South African Mutant Strain Identified In US
Covid-19: First Cases Of Highly Contagious South African Mutant Strain Identified In US The highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 first identified in South Africa has now made its way to the United States. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced late Thursday morning, Jan. 28 the detection of two cases associated with the variant that first emerged recently in South Africa, the first such cases in the US.  Neither patient has traveled recently, meaning the variant is likely already spreading in the community following an undetected introduction. "At this time, there’s no evidence to suggest that the B.1.351 (South African) variant c…
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Unclaimed Funds Email Scam Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Unclaimed Funds Email Scam
Don't Fall For It: Police Issue Alert For Unclaimed Funds Email Scam Police in the area are cautioning local residents of a recent email scam that has been making the rounds throughout the region. One police department, located in Rockland County, reports it just received a scam email from “Rupnarain Kamal” stating that the recipient of the email was due a payment of $22,583,112.00 as a beneficiary for an unclaimed fund at a South African bank. “Back in January, we posted about a scam email we received in the (police department’s) General Email Account Mailbox,” the Ramapo Police Department posted online. “Well, on (Monday), July 22, we received the same ema…
Search Continues For Renowned Researcher Who Drowned In Swim Between Tappan Zee, GWB Search Continues For Renowned Researcher Who Drowned In Swim Between Tappan Zee, GWB
Search Continues For Renowned Researcher Who Drowned In Swim Between Tappan Zee, GWB UPDATE: The long-distance swimmer believed drowned during the next-to-last-leg of a 120-mile marathon was an internationally-recognized AIDS researcher, activist and former professor at the University of North Carolina. A spotter saw Charles Van der Horst, 67, of Chapel Hill go under and not reappear near the foot of the "Little Red Lighthouse" at Fort Washington Park near the George Washington Bridge just after 3 p.m. Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Van der Horst, a native of the upstate New York town of Olean, was participating in a 15.7-mile leg of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim from…
Swimmer, 67, Confirmed Drowned In Long-Distance Event Between Tappan Zee, GWB Swimmer, 67, Confirmed Drowned In Long-Distance Event Between Tappan Zee, GWB
Swimmer, 67, Confirmed Drowned In Long-Distance Event Between Tappan Zee, GWB UPDATE: The long-distance swimmer believed drowned during the next-to-last-leg of a 120-mile marathon was an internationally-recognized AIDS researcher, activist and former professor at the University of North Carolina. A spotter saw Charles Van der Horst, 67, of Chapel Hill go under and not reappear near the foot of the "Little Red Lighthouse" at Fort Washington Park near the George Washington Bridge just after 3 p.m. Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Van der Horst, a native of the upstate New York town of Olean, was participating in a 15.7-mile leg of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim from…