Viruses & Vaccinations

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COVID-19 Variant ‘Eris’ Becomes Dominant After 6 Straight Weeks of Rising Hospitalizations

Experts weigh in on EG.5, the latest version of omicron, including symptoms to expect and the level of threat.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/new-covid-19-variant-eg5-may-be-driving-uptick-in-infections/?

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New survey of Floridians: Vast political differences when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 cases are rising steadily in Florida and across the country, and a new COVID booster is expected to be available later this month. But a new survey of 600 Floridians shows that getting regular annual booster shots is likely based on a person’s political voter registration.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/09/06/new-survey-of-floridians-vast-political-differences-when-it-comes-to-covid-19-vaccines/?

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Americans can now get an updated COVID-19 vaccine

Most Americans should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, health officials said Tuesday.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3154749695927-americans-can-now-get-an-updated-covid-19-vaccine?

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Americans can now get an updated COVID-19 vaccine Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the new shots for everyone 6 months and older and the agency’s director quickly signed off Tuesday on the panel’s recommendation. That means doses should be available this week, some as early as Wednesday. Read more.

Why this matters: The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has faded, but hospitalizations have been increasing since late summer. Though the latest data indicate infections may be starting to level off, particularly in the South, experts still worry that immunity from previous vaccinations and infections is fading in many people, and a new shot would save many lives.   According to a survey last month that the CDC cited, about 42% said they would definitely or probably get the new vaccine, but only about 20% of adults got an updated booster when it was offered a year ago. Doctors hope enough people get vaccinated to help avert another “tripledemic” like last year when hospitals were overwhelmed with an early flu season, an onslaught of respiratory syncytial virus, and yet another winter coronavirus surge.   The new vaccine will be available at pharmacies, health centers and some doctor offices, with the list price of a dose of each shot at $120 to $130 according to manufacturers, but federal officials said the new vaccines will still  be free to most Americans through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. For the uninsured or underinsured, the CDC is working with health departments, clinics and certain pharmacies to temporarily provide free shots.

Related coverage ➤ US approves updated COVID vaccines to rev up protection this fall COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US are on the rise again, but not like before COVID-19 took a toll on heart health and doctors are still grappling with how to help

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Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo warns against COVID boosters for people under 65

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo on Wednesday recommended against newly federal-approved COVID-19 boosters for people under 65, expressing safety concerns.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/09/13/florida-surgeon-general-joseph-ladapo-warns-against-covid-boosters-for-people-under-65/?

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COVID, RSV and influenza likely to impact health care system this year: CDC

This year’s respiratory virus season is set to be a repeat of last year’s, with COVID-19 , RSV and influenza impacting the health care system at the same time, according to a modeling forecast released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday.

https://local.newsbreak.com/florida-state/3157735155974-covid-rsv-and-influenza-likely-to-impact-health-care-system-this-year-cdc?

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FL’s state guidance on new COVID boosters isn’t backed by its own references, experts say

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has provided state guidance advising people under 65 not to get the updated COVID-19 booster — but several of the references listed in the guidance document state that boosters help.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/09/14/fls-state-guidance-on-new-covid-boosters-isnt-backed-by-its-own-references-experts-say/?

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Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household — aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months.

https://apnews.com/article/covid-tests-free-online-order-winter-6de740359e7648a85184dcac47aa96fa?

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Booking a COVID-19 vaccine? Some are reporting canceled appointments or insurance issues

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Some people seeking the newest COVID-19 vaccine are running into high demand, insurance headaches and supply delays coast to coast.

https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-delays-cdc-moderna-pfizer-ba66d06cbcc31ba4b22d60e93d3d5024?

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Is It Safe to Get Multiple Vaccines at the Same Time?

Is it really okay to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines together? What about adding in an RSV vaccine or another type of shot? Here’s what the experts have to say.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/is-it-safe-to-get-multiple-vaccines-at-the-same-time/?

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What to know as fall vaccinations against COVID, flu and RSV get underway Updated COVID-19 vaccines may be getting slightly easier for adults to find but they are still frustratingly scarce for young children. Health officials said Thursday the kid shots have started shipping, reminding most everyone to also get a fall flu shot. Read more.

Why this matters: About 2 million Americans have gotten the new COVID-19 shot in the two weeks since its approval despite early glitches and barriers from insurance companies.   Also this year, a vaccine against a virus called RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is recommended for people 60 and older and for certain pregnant women. For babies, a medicine to guard against RSV is expected to arrive next month.   For the first time, the U.S. has vaccines to fight a trio of viruses causing fall and winter misery, but health officials worry shot fatigue and hassles in obtaining them will leave too many people needlessly unprotected.

Related coverage ➤ Booking a COVID-19 vaccine? Some are reporting canceled appointments or insurance issues Babies should get recently approved drug for RSV, CDC says Vaccine skeptics dominate South Carolina pandemic preparation meeting as COVID-19 cases rise

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Drew Weissman, Jewish immunologist, wins Nobel Prize for his work on COVID vaccines

(JTA) — Drew Weissman, a Jewish scientist who identified the technology that made possible the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, has won the 2023 Nobel Prize in medicine. Weissman shared the prize with Katalin Kariko, his Hungarian-born research partner at the University of Pennsylvania.

https://www.jta.org/2023/10/02/health/drew-weissman-jewish-immunologist-wins-nobel-prize-for-his-work-on-covid-vaccines?

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💉 Vax views harden

Data: Ipsos polling provided to Axios. Chart: Alice Feng/Axios Party affiliation remains the strongest predictor of whether someone will seek out a COVID vaccine, health care editor Jason Millman writes from Ipsos polling provided to Axios. Why it matters: There aren't "a lot of Americans who are in the middle," Ipsos' Mallory Newall says. 🧮 By the numbers: 70% of Democrats indicate they'll get the latest COVID shot, including 8% who say they already have. That compares to 28% of Republicans who plan to get vaccinated (4% have already received it).

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How Misinformation About COVID Vaccines and Pregnancy Took Root Early On and Why It Won’t Go Away

Even before the COVID-19 vaccine was authorized, there was a plan to discredit it.

https://www.propublica.org/article/covid-misinformation-pregnancy-vaccine-testing?

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Health report: More dengue infections in South FL; another case of West Nile virus in Panhandle

Dengue cases are still rising in Miami-Dade County, while West Nile virus is making rounds in North Florida and Tampa Bay, according to the Florida Department of Health.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/10/25/health-report-more-dengue-infections-in-south-fl-another-case-of-west-nile-virus-in-panhandle/?

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2% of kids and 7% of adults have gotten the new COVID shots, US data show

NEW YORK (AP) — A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot.

https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-a478c45025a2d403b022bd05c07dd85e?

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Novavax is partnering to ensure public health

It’s cough/cold/COVID-19 season.

What’s new for 2023: Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is available nationwide.

Why you should care: You can help protect yourself, loved ones and colleagues by getting your COVID-19 vaccine.

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🦠 Viruses rise as we gather

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Virus activity is picking up again as millions of Americans crisscross the country for Thanksgiving, taking fewer precautions to protect themselves against illness as concerns about COVID fade away. Why it matters: Indoor holiday gatherings are expected to fuel a spike in cases of COVID-19, RSV and the flu. With vaccinations against all three respiratory viruses lagging, health experts worry hospitals could be slammed again this winter, Axios' Tina Reed reports. Keep reading ...

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As flu, RSV spike in Orlando, health care stats show people skipping vaccines

Cold and flu season has officially arrived in Orlando, and it looks like it’s going to be a big one.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/11/29/as-flu-rsv-spike-in-orlando-health-care-stats-show-people-skipping-vaccines/?

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Flu is on the rise while RSV infections may be peaking, US health officials say

NEW YORK (AP) — Flu is picking up steam while RSV lung infections that can hit kids and older people hard may be peaking, U.S. health officials said Friday.

https://apnews.com/article/flu-season-covid-e89147cb8da5580dd470f75ab6526e45?

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‘Long flu’ has emerged as a consequence similar to long COVID

Study shows patients hospitalized for flu or COVID-19 face increased risk of long-term health problems, death

https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/long-flu-has-emerged-as-a-consequence-similar-to-long-covid-19/?

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Flu and COVID infections are rising and could get worse over the holidays, CDC says

NEW YORK (AP) — Look for flu and COVID-19 infections to ramp up in the coming weeks, U.S. health officials say, with increases fueled by holiday gatherings, too many unvaccinated people and a new version of the coronavirus that may be spreading more easily.

https://apnews.com/article/flu-covid19-variant-cdc-f382233d2d15301c75c7d3b3ba82c800?

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'Triple threat' alert issued in United States as RSV and Covid-19 cases surge

Health officials are once again trying to remind the public about the triple threat of respiratory illnesses this winter as cases of Covid-19, RSV and the flu all continue to rise . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent out an alert this week about an uptick in emergency room visits attributed to the illnesses this week.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3288190638239-triple-threat-alert-issued-in-united-states-as-rsv-and-covid-19-cases-surge?

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Holy hell! Florida Surgeon General goes "Antichrist" on COVID vaccines

It’s impossible to overstate the level of medical quackery that is being unleashed on Floridians. 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/01/11/fla-surgeon-gen-ladapo-says-covid-vax-antichrist-of-all-products/72174068007/

ps: the level of bull manure is amazing!!

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Why are COVID-19 infections high in North Texas right now? Blame new variant JN.1

COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths have been steadily climbing in Texas since December. The latest data from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) show there were more than 19,000 new COVID-19 cases for the week of Jan. 7.

https://www.keranews.org/health-wellness/2024-01-23/coronavirus-variant-texas-spike?