Gates Foundation to spend $120M on access to Merck’s antiviral COVID-19 pill

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says it will spend $120 million to boost access to generic versions of drugmaker Merck’s antiviral COVID-19 pill for lower income countries, if the drug gets approved by regulators.

US details plans to roll out COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11

Kids aged 5 to 11 will soon be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and the White House is detailing plans for the expected authorization of the Pfizer shot.

CDC to continue recommending masks in all schools, Walensky says

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said officials will “continue to recommend masks in all schools for all people in those schools.” The reason: time.

AY4.2 variant: CDC says new delta sublineage of COVID-19 seen in US

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Wednesday the AY4.2 sublineage recently identified in the United Kingdom has also been observed in the United States.

CDC: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 93% effective at preventing hospitalization in ages 12-18

Between June 1 and Sept. 30 of this year, the CDC performed a case-controlled study of Pfizer’s vaccine in adolescents at 19 pediatric hospitals in 16 states, according to the study published on Tuesday.

COVID-19 boosters: US expected to authorize mix-and-match shots

The FDA is expected to authorize the mixing and matching of COVID-19 booster shots this week in an effort to provide flexibility, the AP reports.

FDA unveils proposal for over-the-counter hearing aids

The move follows years of pressure from medical experts and consumer advocates to make the devices cheaper and easier to get.

Salmonella in poultry: USDA announces steps to help reduce illnesses

The USDA on Tuesday announced several steps to control salmonella in poultry plants in the hope of reducing the number of related illnesses each year.

Older adults are more susceptible to severe breakthrough COVID-19, studies show

Health officials say older adults are more at risk for severe COVID-19 breakthrough cases due to underlying medical conditions and less robust immune systems.

September was worst month for child COVID-19 infections, AAP says

The American Academy of Pediatrics also said the overall COVID-19 infection rate is 8,035 cases per 100,000 children in the population.

Fauci: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas gatherings safe for vaccinated people

Dr. Anthony Fauci said it is OK for vaccinated people to attend the upcoming Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, but he has a warning for the unvaccinated population.

Nursing school applications rise amid COVID-19 burnout among staff

Nurses around the U.S. are getting burned out by the COVID-19 crisis and quitting, yet applications to nursing schools are rising.

How to choose the right health plan for you
video

Medicare enrollment has begun. FOX 26 Consumer Reporter has some Smart Sense on choosing a plan.

90,000 US COVID-19 deaths since June were preventable, Kaiser Family Foundation says

The analysis estimated how many COVID-19 deaths were among unvaccinated adults and could have been prevented since June 2021 “when safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines became widely available to all adults in the U.S.”

CDC issues 2021 holiday COVID-19 guidance urging vaccination ahead of gatherings

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance urges people to get vaccinated ahead of the holidays if they haven't done so already.

J&J COVID-19 booster: FDA panel endorses extra dose at least 2 months later

An FDA panel on Friday voted to recommend a booster dose of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least two months later.

Italy's mandatory COVID-19 pass for all workers prompts protests

All workers across public and private sectors in Italy are required to show a COVID-19 health pass to get into their place of employment.