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Covid is here for good, scientists say. The rest remains unpredictable.

Thu, 2021-12-23 10:35 — mike kraft

Covid could take on a similar ebb and flow to the flu, but there is plenty left to figure out about just how severe and disruptive it will continue to be.

SEATTLE — Early in the pandemic, many people seized on the hope that Covid-19 could be stopped in its tracks and buried for good once vaccines rolled out.

But hope for a zero-Covid country fizzled for most scientists long ago.

“Everyone has stopped talking about getting rid of Covid,” Dr. Elizabeth Halloran, an epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said of her fellow researchers. “It’s not going away, and that means it’s going to be endemic.”

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mRNA booster shots provide 'significant increase' in protection against Omicron -- new Danish study

Wed, 2021-12-22 17:40 — mike kraft

'Significant increase' in protection vs Omicron from mRNA boosters, study says Getting a third dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech's or Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine offers a "significant increase" in protection against the Omicron variant in elderly people, according to a Danish study published on Wednesday. Reuters Reuters

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Two studies indicate reduced risk of Omicron hospitalization but WHO says too soon to evaluate severity

Wed, 2021-12-22 17:28 — mike kraft

Early studies suggest a reduced risk of Covid-19 hospitalization when infected with Omicron compared to Delta --CNN overview

(CNN) Two new preprint papers add to the growing evidence that the Omicron coronavirus variant may be less likely to cause severe disease and hospitalization compared to the Delta variant.

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US FDA authorizes Pfizer pill to treat COVID-19 at home, in major advance

Wed, 2021-12-22 17:10 — mike kraft

Pfizer pill becomes 1st US-authorized home COVID treatment | AP News WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus. AP NEWS

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.

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Israel to offer fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people over 60

Tue, 2021-12-21 17:48 — mike kraft

Israel set to offer fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people over 60 Israel announced on Tuesday that it will offer a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people older than 60, amid concern about the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Reuters Reuters

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Biden: 'Dangerous misinformation' on social media, TV, fuels vaccine hesitancy

Tue, 2021-12-21 17:38 — mike kraft

Biden: 'Dangerous misinformation' on social media, TV fueling vaccine Misinformation spreading on social media platforms and cable television is fueling vaccine hesitancy, President Biden said Tuesday. Rebecca Klar TheHill

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Misinformation about COVID. Experts explain why and how to spot false claims

Tue, 2021-12-21 11:40 — mike kraft

The omicron variant is fueling misinformation about COVID. Experts explain why and how to spot false claims. Public health experts say the lack of instant data on the omicron variant is prompting many people to seek out whatever information they can find. Adrianna Rodriguez USA TODAY

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WHO chief warns over festive gatherings because of fasts preading Omicron

Tue, 2021-12-21 11:24 — mike kraft

WHO chief warns over festive gatherings: ‘An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled’ Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says Omicron is infecting people who have been vaccinated and could double its infections every 1.5 to three days Guard

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Analysis: What has been learned so far about the Omicron variant

Tue, 2021-12-21 10:36 — mike kraft

The omicron variant is surging. Here’s what we’ve learned so far Omicron is better at evading virus-attacking antibodies than previous variants, but there are signs booster shots might help curb symptoms. Erin Garcia de Jesus Science News

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Analysis: Minimizing COVID-19 disruption and ensuring the supply of essential health products

Mon, 2021-12-20 19:09 — mike kraft

The Lancet

Minimizing COVID-19 disruption: ensuring the supply of essential health products for health emergencies and routine health services

Leveraging economies of scale and scope through multi-country pooled procurement enables countries to increase access to quality affordable essential medicines and supplies that meet priority health objectives as well as effectively respond to health emergencies.

Strategic partnerships and tools can minimize supply chain disruptions and streamline procurement and deployment in health emergencies, thus mitigating stockouts and ensuring cost efficiencies across various therapeutic areas, including for public health programs at a time when countries may struggle to meet complex needs.

As a means to better respond to health emergencies while maintaining priority public health programs, countries should optimize usage of pooled procurement mechanisms facilitated by multilateral technical cooperation and other regional mechanisms, such as the Pan American Health Organization's Strategic Fund.

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