NewsBreak Original

Since the arrival of SARS-CoV-2 in Puerto Rico in March 2020, epidemic waves of COVID-19 have occurred on the island during the emergence of several variants of concern. Genomic surveillance conducted by partnered public health and academic groups reported an epidemic wave caused by the Alpha variant in April 2021, which coincided with the vaccination campaign for adults.

In a disconcerting turn of events, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has chosen to withhold updated information on reported cases of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination, leaving the public and healthcare professionals in the dark about a critical health concern.

The Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDoH) COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is an Annex of Puerto Rico Pandemic Preparedness Plan. The primary purpose of this plan is to establish the strategy to reduce COVID-19-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths and to help restore societal functioning. The strategic and implementation has been delegated to the Under-Secretary of Health which has already established direct communications with top officials, external organizations and community partners. Both, internal and external committees have been appointed and execution planning will start as early as next week. The PR the Immunization Program Director to establish the organization and operational procedures for a rapid and organized response of the components of the vaccination system in Puerto Rico.

People across at least 10 states have now been infected by BA.2.86, a highly mutated variantof the virus that causes COVID-19 that authorities have been closely tracking. According to data talliedfrom the global virus database GISAID, labs have reported finding BA.2.86 in samples from Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

New York and New Jersey had the highest rates of people testing positive for COVID-19 last week, according to the latest CDC data. With a test positivity rate of 16.1 percent, these states exceeded the national average and saw an increase of 0.9 percent compared to the previous week. Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska also experienced high positivity rates of 15.4 percent, albeit a decrease of 1.2 percent from the previous week. On the contrary, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia had a positivity rate of 7.9 percent, down by 2.4 percent from the previous week.

Sept. 22, 2023 -- A real-world study published in JAMA Open Network found that Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid is now less effective at preventing hospitalization or death in high-risk patients as compared to earlier studies. But when looking at death alone, the antiviral was still highly effective.

Today, CDC recommended the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant people to protect their newborn from severe RSV illness. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for U.S. infants. This new vaccine, Pfizer’s bivalent RSVpreF vaccine (trade name Abrysvo TM), has been shown to reduce the risk of RSV hospitalization for babies by 57 percent in the first six months after birth.

The next major pandemic is approaching, and experts Kate Bingham and Tim Hames predict that it could be more deadlier than COVID-19. Global health experts stress that it is not a matter of "if" but "when" this future threat will materialize, despite the fact that its precise nature is still unknown.

In a groundbreaking development, scientists from the esteemed Yale University have discovered a revolutionary technology focusing on the delivery of mRNA vaccines directly through the nose. This innovative research, published last month, is a beacon of hope in our ongoing battle with notorious infectious diseases like COVID-19 and others that we might face in the future.

Disclaimer: You may wish to click on any referenced links cited in the article to get more information, their are no affilate links. Due to my disabilities, I employ AI as an assistive tool in the writing process of this article.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (LAI) - As the nation prepares for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases during the colder months, the Biden administration has announced a significant initiative to address the situation. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests. This funding effort is complemented by the reopening of the website COVIDTests.gov, allowing Americans to order up to four free tests per household, starting September 25.

In light of the escalating cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory ailments, Cincinnati Children's Hospital has announced a new safety measure. Starting Monday, all staff members will be mandated to wear masks while on the premises.

I'm cruising in two weeks and I've been glued to every COVID update like it's the latest Netflix binge-watch. But, who isn't anxious about COVID these days? So the latest news of Biden's administration resuming the delivery of Covid tests caught my eye, and honestly, it's making me breathe a bit easier as I count down the days to my cruise departure.

New Testing Data Reveals Long-Lasting Effects of COVID-19 on Oregon Student Performance. The latest release of annual statewide assessment results by the Oregon Department of Education paints a concerning picture of the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' academic achievements. Despite a surge in federal funding, academic performance has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, as the 2022-23 school year results indicate.

In the wake of ongoing discussions and debates on the utility of another shot of COVID-19 booster, it’s common to compare the healthcare policies between the United States and other countries.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to affect many children and families. The COVID-19 pandemic brought disruptions to early ASD identification among young children. These disruptions may have long-lasting effects as a result of delays in identification and initiation of services. Findings from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network show a need for timely and equitable access to early identification and support services.

Starting next week, every US household can request four free at-home Covid tests. The initiative is part of a $600 million project to prevent a winter surge of cases. The program comes as some areas in the US see declining Covid infection rates.

Beginning September 25, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. The COVIDtests.gov program has distributed over 755 million tests directly to more than two-thirds of American households, 310 million of which went to households in underserved communities. The U.S. government will continue to make COVID-19 tests available to uninsured individuals and underserved communities through existing outreach programs. Please contact a HRSA health center, Test to Treat site, or ICATT location near you to learn how to access low- or no-cost COVID-19 tests provided by the federal government.