CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and from Moderna for people ages 18 years and older.
Updated COVID-19 boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading.
In the coming weeks, CDC also expects to recommend updated COVID-19 boosters for other pediatric groups, per the discussion and evaluation of the data by ACIP on Sept. 1, 2022. When data are available and FDA authorizes these other types of COVID-19 boosters, CDC will quickly move to help make them available in the United States.
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of updated COVID-19 boosters, and CDC’s recommendation for use, are critical next steps forward in our country’s vaccination program—a program that has helped provide increased protection against COVID-19 disease and death.
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CDC Report Says This Season’s Flu Vaccine Has Been 48% Effective So Far
The flu vaccine has been 48% effective so far this season, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brendan Flannery, an epidemiologist at the CDC’s influenza division, said, “The 48 percent overall is not as good as we would like to see for flu vaccine, but the protection we see is significant.”
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Cases Of The Seasonal Flu Have Reached Epidemic levels
This is according to a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC also reported that eight pediatric deaths have been reported due to seasonal influenza and that 10 states have experienced high amounts of people with flu-like symptoms. Widespread influenza activity was reported in 37 states.
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Study suggests hallucinogen in magic mushrooms could help smokers quit
A study published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse suggests that psilocybin, the hallucinogen found in magic mushrooms, can help smokers quit smoking.
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Study Finds Connection Between Proximity To Tobacco Retailer, Chances Of Quitting Smoking
A Finnish study published online in JAMA Internal Medicine found that “found that every 500-meter (about one third of a mile) increase in distance to the nearest tobacco shop increased an individual’s odds of quitting by 20 percent to 60 percent.”
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A new research indicated “an implantable pacemaker-like device that controls breathing muscles during sleep by electrical stimulation of a phrenic nerve proved effective in patients with moderate to severe central sleep apnea.”
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FDA Approves AspireAssist Device to Treat Obesity
The FDA has approved a surgically implanted weight-loss device that drains the contents of the stomach after meals. The AspireAssist device is intended for those aged 22 and older with a body mass index of 35 to 55.
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Smokers are more likely to try quitting and succeed with graphic warnings on cigarette packs
Smokers are more likely to try quitting and more successful at quitting if they are given cigarette packs with graphic warnings compared to smokers given cigarette packs with only text warnings, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Medical Errors Now Are The Third Leading Cause Of Death In The US
An average of 251,454 deaths per year in the United States are caused by medical error.
Even that figure probably underestimates the actual number, because it includes only deaths in hospitals, not in out-patient surgery centers, nursing homes, or other health care settings.
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Immunotherapy Tablets For Dust Mite Allergy Reduce Asthma Risk
Are allergy shots going out of favor. This is good news for patients and bad news for allergist who make most of their income out of allergy shots for at least 3 years. The tablets are much more convenient however the price might be very high!
In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration approved Oralair for grass allergies. It was the first sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet approved for use in the United States. It then approved Grastek, also for grass allergies, and Ragwitek, for ragweed allergies.
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