An F.D.A. panel endorses Merck’s Covid pill for high-risk adults.

By BY REBECCA ROBBINS AND CARL ZIMMER from NYT Health The drug, molnupiravir, could be authorized within days for patients at high risk of severe illness. https://ift.tt/3E5iiI1

South African Company Nears License to Sell J. & J. Covid Shot Across Africa

By BY STEPHANIE NOLEN from NYT Health The new agreement makes Aspen Pharmacare the first African company to market a Covid vaccine on the continent. But it stops short of allowing Aspen to make the ingredients in the vaccine. https://ift.tt/3FYzOOL

South African Company Nears License to Sell J. & J. Covid Shot Across Africa

By BY STEPHANIE NOLEN from NYT Health The new agreement makes Aspen Pharmacare the first African company to market a Covid vaccine on the continent. But it stops short of allowing Aspen to make the ingredients in the vaccine. https://ift.tt/3D8Czev

Regeneron says its antibody treatment may not be as effective against Omicron, but testing is underway.

By BY BENJAMIN MUELLER from NYT Health The company said that analyses and modeling of mutations in the variant suggest that they may weaken the effect of the treatment, but that studies using Omicron’s full sequences are incomplete. https://ift.tt/3EaJuoT

A panel of F.D.A. advisers is set to discuss Merck’s Covid pill.

By BY REBECCA ROBBINS AND CARL ZIMMER from NYT Health If an expert committee votes to recommend it, the drug, molnupiravir, could be authorized within days for patients at high risk of severe illness. https://ift.tt/3lnhk2t

Counterfeit Covid Masks Are Still Sold Everywhere, Despite Misleading Claims

By BY ANDREW JACOBS from NYT Health Rising Covid cases have spurred a return to mask-wearing in the U.S. and overseas, at a time when flawed KN95s from China continue to dominate e-commerce sites. https://ift.tt/3o6e1i4

The C.D.C. strengthened its booster recommendations as worries mount over the Omicron variant.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health https://ift.tt/3cYLZ1u

Omicron carries scary mutations. That doesn’t mean they work well together.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health Mutations can work together to make a virus more fearsome, but they can also cancel one another out. This phenomenon, called epistasis, is why scientists are reluctant to speculate on Omicron. https://ift.tt/3lkMmIm

Antiviral Covid Pills Are Coming. Will There Be Enough Tests?

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health The pills must be given early in the course of infection, which means access to timely, accurate test results will be crucial. https://ift.tt/3rkQfAD

Antiviral Covid Pills Are Coming. Will There Be Enough Tests?

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health The pills must be given early in the course of infection, which means access to timely, accurate test results will be crucial. https://ift.tt/31daCVG

Stamping Bar Codes on Cells to Solve Medical Mysteries

By BY GINA KOLATA from NYT Health By tracking every cell in an organism, scientists are working out why certain cancer treatments fail, which could lead to improved medicine. https://ift.tt/3o4ouKV

Scientists are studying whether Omicron leads to severe illness.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health Should the Omicron variant cause severe illness, that will become apparent if there is a significant rise in hospitalizations over the next week or two, one expert said. https://ift.tt/3p2xsaI

Will the Vaccines Stop Omicron? Scientists Are Racing to Find Out.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health A “Frankenstein mix” of mutations raises concerns, but the variant may remain vulnerable to current vaccines. If not, revisions will be necessary. https://ift.tt/3nWiVhn

Does Omicron cause only mild illness? The jury is still out.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health Should the Omicron variant cause severe illness, that will become apparent if there is a significant rise in hospitalizations over the next week or two, one expert said. https://ift.tt/3rf2VsO

As Covid Infections Spread, Nursing Homes Lag Behind on the Rollout for Booster Shots

By BY REED ABELSON from NYT Health Thousands of new cases have been reported among vulnerable elderly residents in the last several months, as the virulent Delta variant fuels outbreaks. https://ift.tt/319zDkJ

A Cure for Type 1 Diabetes? For One Man, It Seems to Have Worked.

By BY GINA KOLATA from NYT Health A new treatment using stem cells that produce insulin has surprised experts and given them hope for the 1.5 million Americans living with the disease. https://ift.tt/3nYIb6S

Families Cheer, Some Doctors Worry as Nursing Homes Open Doors Wide to Visitors

By BY PAULA SPAN from NYT Health The federal government recently lifted most visitation restrictions at nursing homes. But concerns linger that a full reopening could leave residents vulnerable to another coronavirus surge. https://ift.tt/3CXbdb2

New Virus Variant Stokes Concern but Vaccines Still Likely to Work

By BY CARL ZIMMER from NYT Health The Omicron variant carries worrisome mutations that may let it evade antibodies, scientists said. But it will take more research to know how it fares against vaccinated people. https://ift.tt/3CXNNm7

Texas Abortion Law Complicates Care for Risky Pregnancies

By BY RONI CARYN RABIN from NYT Health Doctors in Texas say they cannot head off life-threatening medical crises in pregnant women if abortions cannot be offered or even discussed. https://ift.tt/3p5VK3p

Texas Abortion Law Complicates Care for Risky Pregnancies

By BY RONI CARYN RABIN from NYT Health Doctors in Texas say they cannot head off life-threatening medical crises in pregnant women if abortions cannot be offered or even discussed. https://ift.tt/3FQ5o0S

The Smallest Covid Threats Get Their Shields

By BY JENNIFER STEINHAUER from NYT Health Many families with immuno-compromised or vulnerable relatives are racing to get vaccines for their 5-to-11-year-olds — and finally experiencing a long-awaited sense of relief. https://ift.tt/3l7mX4E

CVS, Walgreens and Walmart Fueled Opioid Crisis, Jury Finds

By BY JAN HOFFMAN from NYT Health This is the first jury verdict in an opioid case. The decision embraced a key legal argument that judges in other opioid cases had recently rejected. https://ift.tt/3l3Inj0

Zena Stein, 99, Dies; Researcher Championed Women’s Health

By BY ANNABELLE WILLIAMS from NYT Health She studied the impact of AIDS on women and explored the effects of famine and poverty on health with an “unwavering commitment to social justice.” https://ift.tt/3CJSyQ4

CVS, Walgreens and Walmart Perpetuated Opioid Crisis, Jury Finds

By BY JAN HOFFMAN from NYT Health This is the first jury verdict in an opioids case. The decision embraced a key legal argument that judges in other opioids cases had recently rejected. https://ift.tt/30S55Ua

Concerns Grow Over Safety of Aduhelm After Death of Patient Who Got the Drug

By BY PAM BELLUCK from NYT Health Newly published safety data shows that 41 percent of patients in key clinical trials of the Alzheimer’s drug experienced brain bleeding or swelling, though many cases were asymptomatic. https://ift.tt/30M07J8

Disney puts worker vaccine mandate on pause after Florida ban on restrictions.

By BY VÍCTOR MANUEL RAMOS from NYT Health Iconic brand runs into political headwinds over the pandemic response. https://ift.tt/3nzS1vw

Disney puts worker vaccine mandate on pause after Florida ban on restrictions.

By BY VÍCTOR MANUEL RAMOS from NYT Health Iconic brand runs into political headwinds over the pandemic response. https://ift.tt/2Zd7cBG

A study finds that stillbirths are higher in pregnant women with Covid.

By BY RONI CARYN RABIN from NYT Health The risk increased even more under Delta, but stillbirths overall were still rare, according to the C.D.C. research. https://ift.tt/3rbbNQv

When Can the Covid Masks Finally Come Off?

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health Although the end of mask mandates is in sight, restrictions should remain in place through the holidays, experts say. https://ift.tt/3nxLNfO

A study finds that stillbirths are higher in pregnant women with Covid.

By BY RONI CARYN RABIN from NYT Health The risk increased even more under Delta, but stillbirths overall were still rare, according to the C.D.C. research. https://ift.tt/3CxWXW1

When Can the Covid Masks Finally Come Off?

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health Although the end of mask mandates is in sight, restrictions should remain in place through the holidays, experts say. https://ift.tt/30EXBUs

The C.D.C. endorses Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters for all adults.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health Tens of millions of fully vaccinated people in the United States are a step closer to a third shot. https://ift.tt/3oIR17H

A C.D.C. study finds stillbirths are higher in pregnant women with Covid.

By BY RONI CARYN RABIN from NYT Health The risk increased even more under Delta, but stillbirths overall were still rare. https://ift.tt/3HDTDfH

C.D.C. Panel Endorses Covid Vaccine Booster Shots for All Adults

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health As infections rise, Americans over 18 will be permitted to get extra doses. But it’s not clear boosters really are needed by so many people, or that the shots will turn back the pandemic. https://ift.tt/3x3qiqa

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters for all adults endorsed by a C.D.C. panel.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health It comes just as Americans are preparing to spend holidays with family and friends, gatherings likely to add to rising rates of new cases. https://ift.tt/32cHtu5

Ahead of the holidays, a C.D.C. panel is set to weigh Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters for all adults.

By BY APOORVA MANDAVILLI from NYT Health It comes just as Americans are poised to travel, likely in record numbers, to spend the holidays with family and friends. https://ift.tt/3oGU3t7

The first known Covid case was a vendor at a Wuhan market, a scientist claims.

By BY CARL ZIMMER, BENJAMIN MUELLER AND CHRIS BUCKLEY from NYT Health https://ift.tt/3nsyz3J

First Known Covid Case Was Vendor at Wuhan Market, Scientist Claims

By BY CARL ZIMMER, BENJAMIN MUELLER AND CHRIS BUCKLEY from NYT Health A new review of early Covid-19 cases in the journal Science will revive, though certainly not settle, the debate over how the pandemic began. https://ift.tt/3x3SiKy

Pfizer will allow its Covid pill to be made and sold cheaply in poor countries.

By BY STEPHANIE NOLEN AND REBECCA ROBBINS from NYT Health https://ift.tt/3wQG3k9

Pfizer Will Allow Its Covid Pill to Be Made and Sold Cheaply in Poor Countries

By BY STEPHANIE NOLEN AND REBECCA ROBBINS from NYT Health The company announced a deal that could help significantly expand access to the Covid-19 treatment, but the agreement excludes a number of countries hit hard by the pandemic. https://ift.tt/3CfiN0s

Why Don’t We Have a Covid Vaccine for Pets?

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health Scientists have developed vaccines for cats and dogs, but vaccinating companion animals is not necessary, experts said. https://ift.tt/3wMziQl

What to Know About the Coronavirus in Pets

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health Scientists have developed vaccines for cats and dogs, but vaccinating companion animals is not necessary, experts say. https://ift.tt/3niDlRC

The U.S. surgeon general says blocking vaccine rules creates a ‘setback’ for public health.

By BY JAN HOFFMAN from NYT Health The Biden administration’s attempts to compel Covid vaccinations for workers at large companies have met with considerable resistance. https://ift.tt/3wNyhYq

The U.S. surgeon general says blocking vaccine rules creates a ‘setback’ for public health.

By BY JAN HOFFMAN from NYT Health The Biden administration’s attempts to compel vaccination for workers at large companies have been met with considerable resistance. https://ift.tt/3ndkN4R

Colorado’s governor says he is ‘frustrated’ with federal regulators about booster eligibility.

By BY JAN HOFFMAN from NYT Health Federal regulators are considering a request to make all adults eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid boosters. Colorado and two other states decided to broaden access anyway. https://ift.tt/3crLtJj

School nurses battle Covid-19, and angry parents.

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health https://ift.tt/3FjW59v

For Terminal Patients, the Barrier to Aid in Dying Can Be a State Line

By BY PAULA SPAN from NYT Health Complex restrictions are preventing patients from accessing medical aid in dying, even in states where it is allowed. New legal and legislative efforts are pushing to change that. https://ift.tt/3wHNzhi

‘They See Us as the Enemy’: School Nurses Battle Covid-19, and Angry Parents

By BY EMILY ANTHES from NYT Health School nurses, who were already stretched thin before the pandemic, say that they are overworked and overwhelmed. https://ift.tt/31ZgUIQ

Bariatric Surgery May Lower Risk for Severe Liver Disease, New Study Finds

By BY RONI CARYN RABIN from NYT Health Obesity is a leading cause of fatty liver condition. Patients who had weight-loss surgery showed fewer signs of the disease progressing. https://ift.tt/3c0BESn

The Core Legal Strategy Against Opioid Companies May Be Faltering

By BY JAN HOFFMAN from NYT Health Two recent rulings rejected the “public nuisance” argument being used in thousands of cases against the industry, with more trials and settlement talks underway. https://ift.tt/3D8DqMT