If you find yourself dealing with airline cancellations and delays, the Department of Transportation has now launched a dashboard to help you better understand the policies of major airlines.
The updated COVID-19 Booster Shot got the go-ahead from the CDC panel ahead of Shot’s fall campaign.
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CDC panel votes 13 to 1 for updated booster
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) commission on Thursday recommended an updated COVID-19 vaccine booster that helped pave the way for a fall campaign of immunizations.
- The vote passed 13 to 1, with one member, Pablo Sanchez of Ohio State University, voting against concerns that there was a lack of sufficient human data on the updated shot.
- Once CDC director Rochelle Wallenski has given final approval (which is expected soon), shots can begin.
The updated shot is designed to specifically target not only the original virus, but also the currently in circulation omicron sub-variants known as BA.4 and BA.5.
By updating with the virus’ latest evolution, the shots are meant to be more effective than current vaccines, but current vaccines still offer significant protection against serious illness.
You are eligible for a new, updated booster as long as you have had your first two doses, have been at least 2 months since your last dose, and are at least 12 years of age.
Timeline to release: The Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday that a campaign to administer new shots from both Pfizer and Moderna will begin “in full swing to eligible people shortly after Labor Day.”
To keep up with changes in the virus, the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved an updated vaccine without waiting for full clinical trials to be completed. This has caused some discussion at CDC meetings.
However, the FDA and some CDC committee members have a strong safety record from millions of doses of the original vaccine already administered, and data from a slightly different, fine-tuned vaccine, and reserves for this vaccine. I pointed out that I have data.
The FDA noted that this vaccine update is similar to the annual process to update influenza vaccines to the latest strains.
Please check this out for details.
Fauci warns of ‘pretty bad flu season’
Outgoing White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci said the U.S. needs to prepare for a “pretty bad flu season” later this year.
In an interview with Bloomberg Row, Fauci noted that a more severe flu season has already been observed in the southern hemisphere, which encounters new annual flu strains earlier than in the northern hemisphere.
“I hope the coronavirus is here to stay, rather than surge again,” Fauci told Bloomberg.
- Despite reports of a more severe flu season from the Southern Hemisphere, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its guidance that this year’s flu vaccination recommendations are similar to last year’s.
- According to the CDC, the majority of people who only need one flu shot will be getting one in September or October.
Two viruses: Fauci hopes the latest shots will help prevent the simultaneous spread of both the coronavirus and the flu virus.
Fauci added he hopes the United States will continue to improve existing vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
“One of the mistakes we made was to focus on the problem at hand and put off paying attention to what might become a problem in the future,” said Fauci. increase.
Please check this out for details.
Unpaid work takes a toll on the mental health of employed women
Employed women around the world spend a disproportionate amount of time in unpaid work compared to men, and unrecognized work negatively impacts women’s mental health.
This is according to a new review published this month in The Lancet Public Health. it was done.
- Researchers who analyzed more than a dozen studies involving thousands of participants around the world found that women reported worsening mental health when the demand for unpaid work increased. .
- At the same time, researchers found only three male studies that detailed negative associations.
The review also “confirms persistent inequalities in the division of unpaid work,” the authors wrote, noting that these inequalities “are more likely for women to suffer from poor mental health than men.” high,” he added.
There is no universally accepted definition of unpaid work, but it usually includes “all responsibilities and work done to maintain a household and its family without explicit financial compensation,” the authors explain. doing.
These include cooking, cleaning, caring for children and the elderly.
Please check this out for details.
Association between ultra-processed foods and colorectal cancer in men
American men who consume more ultra-processed foods have a 29% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to a new study published in The BMJ. However, no association was found among women in this study.
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
Furthermore, “Ultra-processed foods (i.e., industrial ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat processed foods with little or no whole foods) currently account for 57% of the total daily calories consumed by American adults. for the past 20 years,” the author writes.
In recent years, consumption of ultra-processed foods has been associated with many health problems, including coronary heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.
“Processed meats, which mostly fall into the ultra-processed food category, are strong risk factors for colorectal cancer,” explained lead author Lu Wang of Tufts University in a statement.
Please check this out for details.
Watchdog calls for increased cyber surveillance of organ networks
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) needs to improve cybersecurity oversight of critical organ-sharing network services and the nonprofits that oversee them, the Office of the Inspector General, which oversees federal agencies, said this week. .
- The report warns that organ donors and their data may not be adequately protected in the event of a security breach.
- “Because of the critical role of OPTN and the sensitive data it contains, security breaches can have grave consequences for vulnerable patients,” the report reads, referring to the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN). increase.
The Office of the Inspector General said in a new report that the department’s Office of Health Resources Services should develop additional oversight controls for OPTN, which governs organ transplants and testing in the United States.
Congressional scrutiny: Earlier this month, the Senate Finance Committee released a report linking 70 deaths and more than 200 organ diseases to poor OPTN oversight.
The committee details mistakes made in the organ network, such as patients receiving organs with the wrong blood type and organs thrown out due to transportation failure.
Please check this out for details.
what we are reading
- The third fall of Covid has arrived. This is where we stand (Stat)
- Biden administration to streamline Medicaid and CHIP enrollment (USA Today)
- Lowest booster coverage among blacks and Hispanic Americans: CDC (ABC News)
by state
- Judge Rules Strictly Limiting Stays in Some Oregon State Hospitals (The Oregonian)
- Florida health officials set dosage and supply limits for medical marijuana (ClickOrlando.com)
- North Dakota Department of Health releases tobacco dashboard (The Bismarck Tribune)
That’s all for today, thanks for reading. For the latest news and coverage, visit The Hill’s Health Care page. see you tomorrow.
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