covid-19

The KF94 mask has been called out by some media outlets as being a “highly protective” mask option considering the new Covid-19 variants appearing across the globe. KF94 is a South Korean mask that is comparable to the N95. KF stands for “Korean filtration” and 94 represents the efficiency of the…

The deaths in the United States from Covid-19 caused the overall life expectancy to drop by 1.13 years. The life expectancy is now 77.48 years which is the lowest it’s been since 2003. It is also the largest single-year reduction in the past 40 years. This decline is more severe for racial and…

On Saturday Los Angeles County discovered the first case of the new B117 Covid-19 variant. This new strain was first identified in the United Kingdom. The spike protein on the variant has three mutations that have the potential to make vaccines less effective, however, that is not confirmed. The…

British researchers from a biotechnology company, Synairgen, have completed a Phase 2 trial with interferon beta-1a that is typically used to decrease inflammation and reduce multiple sclerosis. The drug was administered to 48 patients using a nebulizer and after 2 weeks, patients who had received…

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made drugs that are meant to mimic natural antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. It is considered a recommended treatment for those who are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, including those over the age of 65. According to Dr. William Fales, medical director f the Michigan…

Vaccine rollout throughout the globe lags behind previously projected progress. First-world countries were the first to obtain vaccines. Since they are struggling with their vaccine rollouts, health officials worry about how soon low- and middle-income countries will receive vaccine doses. In…

Vaccine distribution has begun across the United States. Despite enormous feats made in vaccine development, the vaccine rollout itself has been disappointing. One such state where rollout has been taking a toll on both the public and health officials alike is Florida. Each county manages their own…

A coalition of health and tech companies have formed VCI, which stands for Vaccination Credential Initiative, in order to develop encrypted digital copies of immunization records that can be stored in digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. For those who do not own smartphones, VCI plans…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that the variant coronavirus strain first found in Britain could become the dominant strain in the United States by March. The United States is now in a race to vaccinate as many Americans as possible; however, efforts have been inefficient…

As Moderna is set to deliver at least 600 million doses of vaccine in 2021, there are looming questions over how long will vaccine immunity last. Unfortunately, clinical trials are not effective in predicting the precise longevity of the immunity. However, according to Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel,…

The researchers at Washington University of St. Louis are recruiting 1,100 people to see if a popular anti-depressant drug, Luvox, might keep someone from becoming severely ill with COVID-19. A smaller study in November indicated that modern anti-depressants that work primarily by selectively…

Health officials suggest that the federal government “overpromised and underdelivered” on the coronavirus vaccine expectations. The federal government confused states and the public by promising millions more doses than were actually delivered. This is not to undermine the incredible achievement of…

Before coronavirus hit, few people have heard of mRNA vaccines. Now with COVID-19 raging, companies are scrambling to produce them, pinning their hope on these vaccines. This is the first time that mRNA vaccines have been authorized for use outside a clinical trial. Under the Trump administration,…

With holiday gatherings, there have already been more than 27,000 new Covid-19 deaths in the first 10 days of the new year. Health officials are expecting new records in number of deaths this month. The newly identified more highly contagious variant of the Covid-19 that has been found in at least…