New Delhi: Genotyping technique can detect new variants of SARS-CoV-2 almost a week more quickly than traditional methods, according to a study published in The Lancet Microbe journal. Genotyping is the process of determining differences in the genetic make-up (genotype) of an individual by examining the individual’s DNA sequence using biological assays and comparing it … Read more
Aug. 31, 2022 – The FDA on Wednesday granted emergency use authorization to Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. The agency cited data to support the safety and efficacy of this next generation of mRNA vaccines targeted toward variants of concern. If you’ve been waiting to get a variant-specific booster shot, you may … Read more
July 18, 2022 – Will Omicron’s newest subvariant, BA.2.75, be the next one to worry about? It was first found in early June in India. As of July 17, it had been found in 15 countries, including seven states in the U.S., according to an Arkansas State University professor who has been tracking the variant. … Read more
June 22, 2022 – Moderna released study results today showing its new Omicron-specific booster increased antibodies against the coronavirus by a factor of 5, even against some of the newer and more worrisome variants. The company also today said it will soon ask the FDA to authorize the use of the vaccine. The company said … Read more
May 13, 2022 — The U.S. will become increasingly vulnerable to the coronavirus in the fall and winter this year if Congress doesn’t approve new funding for more vaccines and treatments, Ashish Jha, MD, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, said Thursday. In an interview with The Associated Press, Jha said booster doses will be … Read more
By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, May 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Since the early days of the pandemic, loss of smell and taste have been tied to COVID-19 infection. But a new study shows those telltale traits are much less likely with the Omicron variant than the earlier Alpha … Read more
Jan. 25, 2022 — A new, highly contagious subvariant of Omicron has emerged, which some have begun calling “son of Omicron,” but public health officials say it’s too soon to tell what kind of real threat, if any, this new strain will present. In the meantime, it’s worth watching BA.2, the World Health Organization says. … Read more
Jan. 13, 2022 — As COVID-19 cases from Omicron in the United States have skyrocketed to what seems like new records every other day, speculation is rising among some experts and scientific novices alike that infection for many seems unavoidable. In a Senate hearing Tuesday, acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, MD, even told the panel, … Read more
Jan. 12, 2022 — The CDC is preparing to update its COVID-19 mask recommendations to emphasize the use of N95 and KN95 masks that better filter the virus, Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, said Wednesday. “We are preparing an update to the info on our mask website to best reflect the options that are available to … Read more
Jan. 12, 2022 — If you’re confused about guidance on the Omicron coronavirus variant — which seems to change almost daily at this point — you are not alone. The widely reported, record-breaking jump in daily cases seems easy to understand. Beyond that, many unanswered questions remain: Are cloth face masks ever OK? How can … Read more