covid-19

A study published Wednesday, May 17th evaluated the role of the immune system in late stage, severe COVID-19 infection. The study team analyzed DNA from 24,000 people and were able to identify 49 DNA sequences associated with severe COVID-19 infection. The team found genetic links associated with…

Throughout the country, the pandemic has caused “educational harm” across all subjects to public school students. Those in lower income communities were affected even more, due to factors such as a higher rate of death from COVID and less access to consistent Internet for online classes. The…

Climate change is causing longer and more intense pollen seasons, leading to more severe allergies and asthma symptoms in adults. These allergies can worsen respiratory conditions such as COVID-19. To protect themselves during pollen season, people with allergies and asthma should stay indoors…

Despite concern from some public health officials, COVID-19 is no longer an official public health emergency. As a result, vaccines will be covered by health insurance rather than being free, COVID-19 data tracking will be less strict, and adjustments to telemedicine will remain in place. As…

Delaware Governor John Carney has announced that the state's Public Health Emergency order, which has been in place since March 13, 2020, will end on May 11, the same day that the federal Public Health Emergency is set to end. The order ensures access to federal emergency assistance and enforces…

Modeled around an already existing childhood vaccine statute, COVID-19 vaccines will remain free for those that are uninsured after they become commercialized later in 2023. Expecting to keep coverage for these shots for about 30 million people, this program will work by partnering with…

The FDA released simplified guidelines for the COVID-19 vaccines to phase out Pfizer/Moderna double dose vaccines, and phase in the single dose bivalent vaccine. For most people, they recommend a single dose of the bivalent vaccines created by Pfizer and Moderna, with the exception of certain high…

President Joe Biden has signed a congressional resolution to end the U.S. national emergency for COVID-19 pandemic after three years, weeks before its expiration along with a separate public health emergency. The national emergency enabled the government to take broad actions to deal with the…

One of the newer Omicron variants, XBB.1.16, has been plaguing India. On Wednesday, the country experienced an increase of approximately 8,000 cases. The IMA, or Indian Medical Association, blames the lack of use of masks and social distancing. As a result, many hospitals have been conducting mock…

Long COVID, a condition with long-term symptoms and health problems following SARS-CoV-2 infection, shows differing likelihoods of diagnoses. A study supported by RECOVER found that from a sample of more than 30,000 with a Long COVID diagnosis, the majority of the patients were White, non-Hispanic,…

An advisory committee to the US health regulator has recommended Pfizer’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for older adults, voting 7-4 in favor of its efficacy and safety in preventing lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in people aged 60 and above. However, some members…

Countries have proposed more than 300 amendments to the WHO International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed amendments were discussed during the second meeting of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations. The 194 member…

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a requirement that people enrolled in Medicaid not lose their coverage. Now, this requirement no longer exists, and millions are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage. Coverage was maintained throughout the pandemic due to increased federal…