Sep 23 After storms, mental health crisis compounded by COVID looms in Louisiana By Roby Chavez When Ida hit, it wasn't just infrastructure that took a hit. Experts say storm survivors' physical and mental health will continue to be affected long after the clouds have parted, compounded by the region’s high rates of COVID and hospitalizations… Continue reading
Sep 23 CDC panel recommends extra dose of Pfizer vaccine for vulnerable groups By Lauran Neergaard, Mike Stobbe, Associated Press The U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19 stands on the verge of a major new phase: Government advisers on Thursday recommended booster doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for millions of Americans. Continue reading
Sep 23 African country leaders urge U.N. members to increase access for COVID vaccines By Pia Sarkar, Associated Press Several African leaders urged U.N. member states on Thursday to support a proposal to temporarily waive certain intellectual property rights to allow more countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries, to produce COVID-19 vaccines. Continue reading
Sep 23 U.N. health agency sets higher, tougher bar for air quality By Jamey Keaten, Drew Costley, Associated Press Since the last update, better monitoring and science has cleared up the global picture about the effects of six air pollutants on human health. The agency says 90% of the world's people already live in areas with at least one… Continue reading
Sep 23 CDC advisers try to work out the details on booster shots By Lauran Neergaard, Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are set to vote Thursday on how many of the roughly 26 million Americans who had their last Pfizer dose at least six months ago should go ahead and get that… Continue reading
Sep 23 WATCH: CDC advisory committee supports Pfizer booster shots for vulnerable groups By Lauren Neergaard and Mike Stobbe, Associated Press The U.S. vaccination drive against COVID-19 is poised for a major new phase: Government advisers on Thursday recommended booster doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for millions of Americans. Continue reading
Sep 22 FDA backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for seniors, high-risk By Matthew Perrone, Lauran Neergaard, Mike Stobbe, Associated Press The FDA on Wednesday signed off on such shots as a way to shore up protection in those groups. This is not a done deal yet: The CDC has yet to weigh in on who it believes should get boosters… Continue reading
Sep 22 California governor signs privacy laws for abortion patients By Adam Beam, Associated Press One law makes it illegal to film people within 100 feet of an abortion clinic for the purpose of intimidating them. Another law makes it easier for people on their parents' health insurance plans to keep sensitive medical information secret,… Continue reading
Sep 22 Florida makes quarantine optional for exposed students By Mike Schneider, Associated Press Florida's new surgeon general has signed new protocols allowing parents to decide whether their children should quarantine or stay in school if they are asymptomatic after being exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Continue reading
Sep 22 Watch 6:44 U.S. plan to share Pfizer shots globally ‘too little and too late,’ ex-CDC director says By PBS NewsHour The Biden administration announced Wednesday that the U.S. was purchasing an additional 500 million Pfizer COVID vaccines to donate to other nations. The move is what critics and organizations like the WHO have been calling for — a much more… Continue watching