Moderna seeks emergency authorization for omicron COVID booster for children
Moderna announced Friday that it has requested emergency use authorization for its omicron COVID-19 booster shots for children aged 6-17 years old. Driving the news: The application for the bivalent vaccine for children ages 6 months to under 6 years old is expected to be completed later this year, the company said on Twitter. The Centers for Disease […]
Another new COVID variant is spreading – here’s what we know about omicron BA.4.6
BA.4.6, a subvariant of the omicron COVID variant which has been quickly gaining traction in the US, is now confirmed to be spreading in the UK. The latest briefing document on COVID variants from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) noted that during the week beginning August 14, BA.4.6 accounted for 3.3% of samples in […]
4th COVID-19 vaccine effectively protects elderly against Omicron -study
The fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine is effective in protecting the elderly against the Omicron variant and lowers their risk of death by 72% compared to those who received only three doses, according to a new study conducted by Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in collaboration with the Health Ministry. […]
Against a surging Omicron adept at immune escapism, boosters and masks are Australia’s best weapons
Living with Covid has taken on a whole new meaning in 2022. We had been prepared for the virus remaining in our communities, but Omicron has taken this to a different level. This is what “vaccine-escape” looks like. As we watched the Delta outbreaks in New South Wales and Victoria slowly come under control in […]
What to Know About the New BA.2.75 Omicron Subvariant
Even as BA.4 and BA.5 continue to climb the charts, crowding out earlier Omicron subvariants, scientists are warning about an even newer strain: BA.2.75. Tom Peacock, PhD, a virologist at Imperial College London, tweeted on June 30, “worth keeping a close eye on BA.2.75 — lots of spike mutations, probable second generation variant, apparent rapid growth and […]
Half of Canadians were infected with Omicron in only five months: report
‘Omicron has been a tsunami,’ with an average of 100,000 infections per day from December to May, says the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force Half of the Canadian population — more than 17 million people — were infected with Omicron in only five months starting in December 2021, a report by the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force […]
Philippines detects more cases of Omicron subvariants
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has detected 70 additional cases of fast-spreading Omicron BA.5, BA.2.12.1, and BA.4 subvariants, the Department of Health said. Of the total, 43 were BA.5 cases, 20 were BA.2.12.1 cases, and four were BA.4 cases. Sixty-five of those Omicron subvariant cases are local, the health department said. In total, there […]
Experts predict an omicron wave this summer. Here are the symptoms to look out for
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wear masks indoors and in public spaces if the COVID-19 community levels are high as two new omicron variants gain momentum and are on the path to becoming the dominant strains. Driving the news: The health agency’s data shows that these COVID-19 subvariants, BA.4 and […]
First U.S. omicron patient was fully vaccinated and has mild Covid symptoms, officials say
The person in California who tested positive for the omicron variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 was fully vaccinated, has mild symptoms and is improving, officials said Wednesday. The patient was otherwise healthy when they returned to the San Francisco Bay Area from traveling in South Africa on Nov. 22, developed symptoms three days […]
COVID: First signs that vaccine protects against Omicron – health minister
So far, Israel has registered four cases infected with the new variant, while general morbidity remains low. There are indications that individuals fully vaccinated against corona within six months or with the booster are also protected against the Omicron variant, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Tuesday, after another two cases were identified, bringing the […]
