COVID-19

Researchers discovered that a common anti-inflammatory drug could lower the number of patients on ventilators from COVID-19, increasing the likelihood of survival by more than 50%.

Pharmacists can help familiarize young patients with the vaccinations appropriate for pediatric use.

Hearing and vision may not be considered hierarchically superior senses anymore, as a new study sheds light on the importance of taste and smell for quality of life.

Health care providers’ recommendations will make a difference, results of a new poll from the University of Michigan show.

A recent study suggests that homologous and heterologous vaccines protect against the Omicron variant of COVID-19, but the heterologous appears more durable.

Health care workers who got 4 total doses against COVID-19, 2 doses of which are boosters, experienced more than 10% lower breakthrough infection rate than those with only 3 total doses.

A new neutralizing monoclonal antibody could become an inhaled cocktail for long-term COVID-19 prevention.

The CDC published a new study, which found that a second mRNA booster shot would be effective against the Omicron variants of COVID-19.

In addition to expanding patient access to Paxlovid, the recent authorization of pharmacists to prescribe the drug marks a step toward provider status.

With limited supply to immunization options for monkeypox, polio, and influenza, the future of vaccine distribution will have to change.

While the vaccines continue to provide critical, evidence-based protection against the coronavirus, rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported.

The suggested wave 4 of the opioid crisis saw high opioid-involved overdose death rates in urban counties and high acceleration of overdose deaths in rural counties, indicating that the opioid crisis worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delays in anticancer drug therapy, radiation, and surgery were found to be associated with factors such as race and ethnicity, multimorbidity, COVID-19 vaccination, and severity of COVID-19, suggesting disparities in cancer care.

Increasing population immunity decreased transmission of COVID-19 and allowed for reductions in quarantine and testing, encouraging 2-dose vaccine and booster uptake.

The next-generation vaccine candidate, BNT162b5, consists of RNAs encoding enhanced prefusion spike proteins for the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain and an Omicron variant.

Health care facilities in counties with higher Black populations and in rural areas were less likely to serve as COVID-19 vaccination facilities during May 2021, indicating disparities in vaccine distribution.

Researchers found high levels of childcare stress among female and racial minority health care workers, supporting new programs and wellbeing initiatives.

A majority of long-term care patients who received a fourth vaccination against COVID-19 were found to have increased protection against the omicron variant.

The pandemic saw reductions in the supply of methadone but no disruption to the supply of more easily accessible buprenorphine, though disparities in supply were observed across states.

People who are afraid of shots or feel lightheaded and dizzy while near vaccine injection sites are less likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The immune responses to the Omicron variant waned substantially with neutralizing antibody levels decreasing 2.4- to 5.3-fold by 3 months after the booster dose.

After a second booster dose, efficacy against COVID-19 Omicron subvariants rose to 80% within the first 6 months, according to results of a study by the CDC.

No differences were found among placenta health indictors, birth weights, or well-being scores between vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant women, indicating that COVID-19 vaccination is safe for use in pregnant women.

SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with post-COVID-19 conditions for children, with associated risk factors including length of hospitalization, number of acute symptoms, and older age.

Study findings coincide with the US government considering recommendations of a second COVID-19 booster dose for adults under 50 years of age.