Why Is Omicron So Contagious?
The new coronavirus variant may be better than other versions at avoiding human immune defenses—but that ability may change in different countries -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Israel Says Fourth Vaccine Dose Brings 2X Protection Against Omicron Infection, 3X Against Serious Illness - For Those Over 60
Friday the results of several large studies showed that getting a third Covid vaccine "booster shot" dramatically decreased infections from the Omicron variant. And now the Times of Israel reports that the country's Health Ministry "said on Sunday.....»»
Scientists scrutinise characteristics of new Omicron sub-variant
Image Credit:CIPhotos via Getty ImagesStudies are underway to find out the precise characteristics of the latest Covid-19 variant ‘BA.2’. It already accounts for the majority of most recent cases in a number of countries, including India, D.....»»
COVID Quickly, Episode 21: Colds Build COVID Immunity, and the Omicron Vaccine Delay
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the... -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Our Best Bets against COVID
Early studies show that to fight new variants like Omicron boosters are necessary -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Three Large Studies Show COVID Vaccines Fight Omicron - With Booster Shots
"Three studies released Friday offered more evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are standing up to the omicron variant, at least among people who received booster shots," reports the Associated Press: They are the first large U.S. studies to look at vac.....»»
Unvaccinated 5X more likely to get omicron than those boosted, CDC reports
Real-world data shows booster doses are standing up to omicron. Enlarge / A tray of prepared syringes for booster vaccinations with Moderna's vaccine. (credit: Getty | Picture alliance) Amid the stratospheric rise of the omic.....»»
COVID and schools: Australia is about to feel the full brunt of its teacher shortage
The omicron wave is likely to exacerbate Australia's existing teacher shortages and demanding workloads. As school starts at the end of January and beginning of February across the country, many teachers will be at risk of contracting COVID. They wil.....»»
How a contagious cancer spread among clams
A contagious blood cancer jumped from one species of clam to another and spread among clams living in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, shows a study published today in eLife......»»
Fourth Pfizer Dose Is Insufficient to Ward Off Omicron, Israeli Trial Suggests
A fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was insufficient to prevent infection with the omicron variant of Covid-19, according to preliminary data from a trial in Israel released Monday. Bloomberg reports: Two weeks after the start of the trial o.....»»
China Claims First Omicron Case Arrived Through Foreign Mail
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Insider: Officials in Beijing are telling people to avoid international mail and to open their packages outdoors and with gloves, saying cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant could have spread through forei.....»»
Pfizer and Moderna expect seasonal booster shots after omicron wave
Seasonal COVID boosters may be combined with flu shots in the future, Moderna says. Enlarge / EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - 2022/01/08: A vial containing Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine at a vaccination centre. (credit: Getty | SOPA Images.....»»
Omicron Surge Shows Signs of Easing in States Hit Early by the Fast-spreading Variant
Following weeks of soaring infections, the latest Covid surge is showing signs of slowing in a handful of areas hit earliest by the omicron variant -- offering a glimmer of hope that this wave is starting to ease. From a report: The U.S. has reported.....»»
Scientists: Duck is 1st wild bird flu case in US in 5 years
A duck killed by a hunter in South Carolina had a contagious and dangerous bird flu that has not been detected in the wild in the U.S. in five years, officials said......»»
Garbage and recyclables pile up as omicron takes its toll
The omicron variant is sickening so many sanitation workers around the U.S. that some cities have had to delay or suspend garbage or recycling pickup, angering residents shocked that governments can't perform this most basic of functions......»»
What"s Holding Up New Omicron Vaccines?
Vaccine makers worry yet another variant will start dominating in the months it takes to roll out shots against this one -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Pregnant People Are Still Not Getting Vaccinated Against Covid
Misinformation and muddled public health messaging have failed expectant parents. Now Omicron's surge is putting both carriers and babies at risk......»»
AstraZeneca says third dose helps against Omicron
A test tube labelled with the Vaccine is seen in front of AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken, September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationAstraZeneca said on Thursday that preliminary data from a trial showed that its COVID-19 shot, Va.....»»
Immune system vs. virus: Why omicron had experts worried from the start
How the immune system targets viruses and shapes viral evolution. Enlarge / Illustration of antibodies responding to an infection of SARS-CoV-2. (credit: Getty Images/Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library) Right from omicron's f.....»»
As Omicron Surges, Parents of the Youngest Kids Wait for Vaccines
With vaccine authorization months away and schools in chaos now, families fret over how best to protect their children......»»
Twin panda cubs debut at Tokyo zoo, woo devoted fans
Twin panda cubs made their first public appearance Wednesday before devoted fans in Tokyo, but they will be on display only briefly for now—over three days—due to a spike in COVID-19 cases driven by the omicron variant......»»