Omicron booster shots provide some protection against mild illness from Covid XBB subvariants, CDC says
The CDC study published Wednesday provides the first estimate of the omicron shots' real-world effectiveness against the XBB family of subvariants. For people ages 18 to 49, the omicron booster reduced the risk of mild illness by about 48% two to three months after receiving the shot. The shots provided 38% protection against mild illness for those ages 50 to 64 and 42% protection for people ages 65 and older, according to the study. They had very little protection against mild illness due to waning immunity observed with the old vaccines, Link-Gelles said. It's too early to draw conclusions about how the protection from the omicron boosters holds up over time, she said.
cnbc.comUtah doctor charged with destroying COVID-19 vaccines, giving fake shots to children at their parents' request
A Utah plastic surgeon charged in an alleged scheme to distribute bogus CDC vaccine cards is accused of being part of a secret group that seeks to "liberate" the medical profession.
foxnews.comSome people are experiencing 'Paxlovid rebound' after taking the COVID antiviral pill. Here's what you should know.
“Paxlovid rebound,” as it’s known, received a lot of media attention when President Biden, first lady Jill Biden, as well as Drs. Scientists are not sure why this rebound effect occurs when taking Paxlovid, but here are a few things we do know. Those who are vaccinated but who are at risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19 can also benefit from taking Paxlovid. Experts have said concerns about suffering from potential Paxlovid rebound is one of the reasons this may be happening. The CDC encourages doctors and patients to report Paxlovid rebound cases to Pfizer's portal for adverse events associated with the drug.
wftv.comSome people are experiencing 'Paxlovid rebound' after taking the COVID antiviral pill. Here's what you should know.
When the antiviral medication Paxlovid was approved in 2021 to treat COVID-19, doctors began noticing a perplexing trend among some of the patients who took the medication: a rebound case of the virus. After treatment, some people would recover and test negative for the virus, only to test positive or have symptoms come back a few days later.
news.yahoo.comUS kindergarten vaccination rate dropped again, data shows
NEW YORK — (AP) — Vaccination rates for U.S. kindergarteners dropped again last year, and federal officials are starting a new campaign to try to bring them up. The vaccination rates dropped below 94% in the 2020-2021 school year, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Falling vaccination rates open the door to outbreaks of diseases once thought to be in the rearview mirror, experts say. CDC data reflected that: The chickenpox vaccination rate fell more sharply than the rate for shots against measles, mumps and rubella. Thursday's CDC study was based on public school kindergarten vaccination reports from 49 states, and reporting on private schools from 48 states.
wftv.comAs COVID surges in China, US begins testing more travelers
So when he cleared customs at Newark Liberty International Airport and saw people offering anonymous COVID-19 testing, he was happy to volunteer. The airport testing is part of the government's early warning system for detecting new variants, which began expanding recently in the wake of a COVID-19 surge in China. But one reason for new testing requirements, according to the CDC, is a lack of adequate and transparent information from China on viral strains infecting people there. The latest expansion of the traveler surveillance program aims to capture more flights from China. Recently, Canada announced an expanded wastewater pilot program and Belgium said it would test wastewater from airplanes coming from China.
wftv.comNew COVID omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is ‘spreading like wildfire’ in US: Health experts reveal why
A new COVID-19 subvariant, XBB.1.5, is picking up speed nationwide. Dr. Marc Siegel and University of Arizona medical professor Dr. Shad Marvasti reveal what's worrisome about the contagious strain.
foxnews.comFlu starting to wane in US after brutal start to season
NEW YORK — (AP) — Flu is decreasing in many parts of the U.S. after an alarmingly early and strong start to the season. “It looks like for this first wave of (flu) activity, maybe we've seen the worst of that,” said the CDC's Lynnette Brammer, who leads the government agency’s tracking of flu in the United States. CDC data indicates flu activity last week was high or very high in 45 states. The annual winter flu season usually doesn't get going until December or January, but this one took off in early November. Though flu activity remains high, officials said they've seen some decline in most parts of the country — including in the Southeast, where flu hit early and hard.
wftv.comFinal tally: Nearly 107,000 US overdose deaths last year
NEW YORK — (AP) — Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, according to final figures released Thursday. That's nearly 16% higher than the nearly 92,000 overdose deaths in 2020. Earlier, provisional data suggested there were more than 107,000 overdose deaths last year. Also, provisional data includes all overdose deaths, while the final numbers are limited to U.S. residents, he noted. The CDC on Thursday also released a final report for overall U.S. deaths in 2021.
wftv.comHealth officials revise tool to track severe obesity in kids
U.S. health officials have revised a tool to track the rising cases of severe obesity among children who were previously off the charts. The CDC charts are the most widely used tool in the U.S. to track growth and development in kids. Unlike adults, children are not classified as obese or severely obese based on a strict BMI cutoff, Inge noted. Instead, kids are described as obese based on percentiles — where they fall compared to other kids their age. We clinicians are not going to be providing any new information with that.”But Erika Alcala, Bryan’s mother, said she was glad the new growth charts will include kids like her son.
wftv.comCruise lines can decide whether to join CDC COVID-19 case reporting program
Cruise lines operating in U.S. waters will choose to opt in or out of a new, voluntary COVID-19 case reporting program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, designed to replace its Conditional Sailing Order that expired Jan. 15.
Thousands reject CDC advice, board cruise ships for vacations amid rise in COVID cases
Cruising into the new year, thousands of passengers are rejecting the CDC's advice not to sail as COVID-19 cases reach record numbers. The CDC issued this guidance despite every passenger 12 and older being required to be vaccinated.
CDC is investigating more than 80 cruise ships for COVID-19 cases. Here’s what that means
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has color-coded dozens of cruise ships according to how many COVID-19 cases are reported on board, placing at least 89 under investigation or observation ahead of the new year.