Health

U.S. health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19

By Mike Stobbe, Matthew Perrone, Associated Press

U.S. health officials Wednesday recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines' effectiveness is falling.

WATCH: White House COVID task force recommends COVID-19 booster shots

By News Desk and Associated Press

The White House COVID-19 task force will hold a news briefing Wednesday as U.S. officials recommend that all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots.

How health experts are navigating daily life amid the delta variant surge

By Helen Branswell, STAT

With the highly transmissible Delta variant spreading, caution prevails.

Texas governor tests positive for COVID-19, in 'good health'

By Paul J. Weber, Associated Press

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for COVID-19. His office said Tuesday that Abbot is in good health and experiencing no symptoms.

WATCH: How to keep kids safe from COVID-19 in school

By Laura Santhanam

Will everyone wear a face mask? How many children and staff will be present in each classroom? Do school administrators have resources to improve ventilation and air flow?…

Vaccine-skeptic cardinal hospitalized with COVID

By Todd Richmond, Associated Press

One of the Catholic church's top officials and fiercest critics of Pope Francis has COVID-19 and is breathing through a ventilator. His staff tweeted Saturday that he has been hospitalized and is breathing through a ventilator.

U.S. mulls COVID vaccine boosters for elderly as early as fall

By Hope Yen, Associated Press

Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated may be needed as early as this fall, reviewing case numbers in the U.S. “almost daily” as well as the situation in other countries such as…

How the talented Oscar Levant broke taboos by talking about mental health

By Dr. Howard Markel

In today’s socially mediated 24/7 news cycle, it is difficult to imagine just how taboo the topic of prescription opiate addiction was back then, let alone how much courage it took for Levant to bring it to such national prominence.

Who can ask about your vaccine status? Here's what you need to know about HIPAA

By Laura Santhanam

HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects people’s private health information from being shared by certain health care entities without patient consent. But this 1996 law is far more narrowly defined than most people realize.

Federal judge leaves CDC evictions moratorium in place

By Mark Sherman, Associated Press

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich says her “hands are tied” by an appellate ruling from the last time courts considered the evictions moratorium in the spring. Alabama landlords who are challenging the moratorium are likely to appeal her Friday ruling.