Cases of BQ.1, BQ.1.1 COVID variants double in U.S. as Europe warns of rise U.S. regulators estimated BQ.1 and closely related BQ.1.1 accounted for 16.6% of COVID variants in the country, nearly doubling from last week, as Europe expects them to become dominant in a month. Manas Mishra,Khushi Mandowara Reuters

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Analysis: Falling demand for COVID boosters puts price hikes on the table With most Americans delaying or skipping new COVID-19 booster shots, analysts and investors are now predicting far fewer will be given each year, pushing the number of shots well below annual flu vaccinations. Michael Erman Reuters

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Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine will cost $110-$130 per dose Pfizer will charge $110 to $130 for a dose of its COVID-19 vaccine once the U.S. government stops buying the shots, but the drugmaker says it expects many people will continue receiving it for free. AP NEWS

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Pfizer executives said the commercial pricing for adult doses could start early next year, depending on when the government phases out its program of buying and distributing the shots.

A common respiratory virus is spreading at unusually high levels, overwhelming children's hospitals. Here's what parents need to know | CNN There's now an "unprecedented" rise in RSV cases among children in the US, some doctors say. Several children's hospitals told CNN that they've been "overwhelmed" with patients at a time of the year when it's unusual to have a surge of RSV patients. Jen Christensen,Raenu Charles CNN

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Cholera outbreak hits Syrian refugees sheltering in camps in Lebanon Syrian refugees in displacement camps are falling victim to a cholera outbreak in Lebanon, already suffering from an economic meltdown that has slashed access to clean water and strained hospitals. Maya Gebeily Reuters

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FDA’s vaccines chief sees possibility of more Covid boosters — sooner than he’d like The FDA’s vaccines chief sees the possibility of more Covid boosters for some people before next fall. Helen Branswell STAT

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Panel votes to add COVID shots to recommended vaccinations NEW YORK (AP) — COVID-19 shots should be added to the lists of recommended vaccinations for kids and adults, a panel of U.S. vaccine experts said Thursday. The panel's unanimous decision has no immediate effect — COVID-19 shots already are recommended for virtually all Americans. AP NEWS

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Biden officials search for backup for key Covid therapy for immunocompromised people Biden officials are bracing for the prospect that the sole preventive Covid treatment for immunocompromised people, Evusheld, could soon be ineffective. Sarah Owermohle STAT

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The state of emergency gave Newsom broad, often controversial, powers to issue masking and vaccination mandates and temporary stay-at-home orders in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. It also enabled the governor to enter into nearly $12 billion dollars worth of no-bid emergency response contracts with testing facilities, personal protective equipment suppliers and temporary workforce agencies. Some of those contracts were with untested vendors who failed to deliver services.

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Chinese capital steps up COVID measures as cases quadruple China's capital, Beijing, has dialled up measures to stop COVID, strengthening public checks and locking down some residential compounds after a quadrupling of its case load in recent weeks, just as a key Communist Party congress entered full swing. Reuters Reuters

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WHO: Uganda Ebola outbreak 'rapidly evolving' after 1 month KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's Ebola outbreak is “rapidly evolving” a month after the disease was reported in the East African country, a top World Health Organization official said Thursday, describing a difficult situation for health workers on the ground. AP NEWS

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Omicron subvariants reflect a 'viral evolution on steroids' A new study suggests that the subvariant BA.4.6 can cause reinfections. A slew of other subvariants on the horizon may do the same. NBC News

An omicron subvariant is once again demonstrating immune-dodging abilities, posing a threat to both vaccinated and previously infected individuals.

Covid-19 appears to affect memory less than other aspects of cognition | New Scientist People who have had covid-19 can have lingering impairments in multiple aspects of cognition, but memory appears to be less affected #author.fullName} New Scientist

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