Coronavirus / COVID

Why have “long COVID” cases become less frequent and less severe over time?

The 2023 changes include vaccines for influenza, pneumococcal disease, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and COVID-19.

Spherical hydrogel inhalation for enhanced lung defense (SHIELD) is an investigational inhalable that coats the airways and serves as a physical barrier against COVID-19.

The antiviral did not modify SARS–CoV-2 RNA clearance, and did not increase the risk of adverse events.

After an 18-month study, investigators determined none of the diseases examined were more frequent among the vaccinated than among the non-vaccinated.

A single-dose of peginterferon lambda demonstrated efficacy in a largely vaccinated cohort and the therapy accelerated clearance of the virus.

Chinese investigators said genome analysis suggests 2 existing Omicron sub-variants, BA52 and BF7, were among the most dominant variants in Beijing.

Infectious disease outbreaks will continue to increase and trying to find strategies to ensure providers are cared for to prevent burnout and shortage staffing is essential if another pandemic arises.

Women who made healthy lifestyle choices prior to contracting COVID-19 had a 49% reduced risk of long COVID.

New research suggests the majority of people hospitalized with influenza also had a chronic illness.

The biggest COVID-19 news from the past week.

The vast majority of COVID-19 infections are diagnosed at home, with rapid antigen tests. How has this affected public reports of COVID-19 prevalence?

The agency said it was revising the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for Lagevrio and Paxlovid in order to protect public health.

University of Missouri investigators found people experiencing post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID) are susceptible to developing 7 health defects in the year following infection.

The declaration set for May is a wind-down to allow health care and patients the time needed to adjust for the emergency to be over.

COVID-19 mortalities tend to be lowest in children, but the virus is still the #8 cause of death in children and young people 0-19 years old.

Patients suffering from post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, or “long COVID,” had virus-specific T cells that were more than 100 times higher than patients who fully recovered from COVID-19 infection.

A new report tracking patients suggests that even those who return to work experience persistent symptoms.

In the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, authors offer some strategies to avoid SARS-CoV-2 infection in this patient population as well as the US government changes course on COVID-19 vaccine policy.

The week's most-clicked COVID-19 stories included vaccine updates, new variants, and a pivotal FDA advisory committee vote.

Novavax will update its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, but maintains the current vaccine is effective against current and future variants.

The federal agency does not want clinicians utilizing this neutralizing antibody as newer, circulating COVID-19 strains and efficacy against them is limited.

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted to move toward a unified strain composition for COVID-19 primary and booster vaccines.

In the CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, investigators reported the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech updated vaccines helped prevent acute infection from the latest Omicron mutations.

The data may help explain why COVID-19 patients experience dangerous secondary infections.