Coronavirus

A booster vaccination increases protection against COVID-19 whether homologous or heterologous with the primary vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compared 2-dose mRNA vaccination to third dose booster and to unvaccinated, against both Omicron and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Before children were authorized to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, living with 1-2 fully vaccinated parents significantly reduced children’s risk of COVID-19 infection during the Alpha and Delta periods.

A new study sought to address how we approach treatments for these patients.

The expectation of COVID-19 vaccination side effects may be leading some placebo recipients to report adverse events in vaccine trials.

In a JAMA viewpoint, authors stressed the need for a US national strategy for a “new normal” of living that includes COVID-19.

Company announced it had administered its first shot to a participant for its extension of an earlier phase 2 study.

Key opinion leaders provide some advice for the public regarding COVID-19 booster shots and look to the future of the pandemic.

Drs Angela Rasmussen and Donald Alcendor detail the roadblocks facing COVID-19 booster shots.

Experiencing myocarditis after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination is rare, but more likely among persons under 24 years and male.

BA.2, Omicron’s “cousin” variant, has been detected in the US. It initially appears to be more contagious, but not more dangerous.

With fewer monoclonal antibody treatments effective against the Omicron variant, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) now recommends direct-acting antivirals.

The trend follows predictions that COVID-19 mitigation would lead to case reduction.

The FDA cited monoclonal antibodies as being less effective against the Omicron variant in their decision to rescind their earlier approval of the COVID-19 treatment.

The companies said the vaccines will be examined in adults 18-55 years old.

The virus was third-leading cause of death nationally, CDC reports.

Nearly 75% of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU were symptomatic 1 year later, most commonly reporting weakened condition and musculoskeletal problems.

Omicron is less effective at antagonizing host cell interferon response, explaining why it causes less severe disease than prior COVID-19 variants.

Casirivimab/imdevimab protected uninfected contacts from COVID-19 and reduced symptomatic infections in trials before Omicron emerged.

Booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were shown to provide greater protection against infection than the 2 dose primary regimen alone, according to a study of health care workers in Israel.

Gilead’s remdesivir was granted expanded FDA approval to treat non-hospitalized adult and adolescent patients at high risk of severe or fatal COVID-19 disease progression.

A third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca mRNA COVID-19 vaccines produced sufficient neutralizing antibody titers against the Omicron variant.

Former members of the Biden transition team recommend accepting that the virus is here to stay.

Donald Alcendor, PhD, and Angela Rasmussen, PhD, explain how to discuss the importance of COVID-19 booster shots with patients.

Jeff Goad, PharmD, MPH, and Angela Rasmussen, PhD review the population trends of COVID-19 booster shots.

The CDC reported that post-infection immunity paired with COVID-19 vaccination was very protective against the Delta variant.

“Memory” CD4+ and CD8+ T cells may explain why Omicron causes less severe disease than previous COVID-19 variants.

For already-vulnerable cancer patients, a COVID-19 diagnosis is especially concerning. A new study reveals that when it comes to disease outcomes, geographical location is not a factor—but individual cancer centers can make a difference.

As global health leaders discuss the best long-term strategy for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, consensus is emerging that repeated boosters of current vaccines within short intervals is not sustainable.

An Israeli study is the first to administer 4 COVID-19 shots, but the boosted antibodies may still not be enough to prevent Omicron breakthrough infections.