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Future-proof vaccine candidate protects against wide range of coronaviruses

Studies of a 'future-proof' vaccine candidate have shown that just one antigen can be modified to provide a broadly protective immune response in animals.

25 Sep 2023

TB cases in England increase by 7% in the first half of 2023

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that cases of TB in England increased by 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same timeframe in 2022, with 2,408 notifications compared to 2,251 in the first 2 quarters of 2022.

22 Sep 2023

American Thoracic Society partners with five new health systems to improve vaccination rates

As cities brace for a confluence of flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, and RSV infections this fall, the American Thoracic Society announced that five new health systems have partnered with the Society to improve vaccination rates.

20 Sep 2023

Study finds risk factors linked to lower flu vaccine uptake in people with kidney disease

Among adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC), young age, Black race, and low levels of education and income were associated with lower likelihood of getting an annual flu shot.

19 Sep 2023

Nanoparticle gene delivery system shows promise for treating ARDS

Discovery from the lab of Youyang Zhao, PhD, from Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago offers promising treatment approaches for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the elderly that can be caused by severe COVID-19, pneumonia, flu or sepsis. Currently there are no pharmacological or cell-based treatments for ARDS.

19 Sep 2023

Health workers warn loosening mask advice in hospitals would harm patients and providers

Nurses, researchers, and workplace safety officers worry new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention might reduce protection against the coronavirus and other airborne pathogens in hospitals.

18 Sep 2023

NIH launches Phase 1 trial of new investigational universal influenza vaccine

Enrollment in a Phase 1 trial of a new investigational universal influenza vaccine candidate has begun at the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

15 Sep 2023

Interferon-gamma essential for lung-resident memory B cell development after influenza infection

During a bout of influenza, B cells interact with other immune cells and then take different paths to defend the body.

13 Sep 2023

UC Riverside study uncovers COVID's Achilles heel

New UC Riverside research has revealed COVID's Achilles heel -; its dependence on key human proteins for its replication -; which can be used to prevent the virus from making people sick.

13 Sep 2023

Why the CDC has recommended new covid boosters for all

Everyone over the age of 6 months should get the latest covid-19 booster, a federal expert panel recommended Tuesday after hearing an estimate that universal vaccination could prevent 100,000 more hospitalizations each year than if only the elderly were vaccinated.

13 Sep 2023

Climate change linked to spread of pathogens in humans and animals

A new Europe-wide study investigated the prevalence of protozoans, bacteria and viruses potentially pathogenic to humans and domestic animals in birds and bats in varying climatic conditions.

11 Sep 2023

CDC faces dilemma over recommending new covid booster for all

A small percentage of Americans got the most recent covid-19 booster shot, and even fewer probably realize the federal government is preparing to recommend yet another shot as early as Tuesday.

11 Sep 2023

Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants identified in the UK

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance and assessment technical briefing 53. It contains the latest epidemiological and genomic analysis of the emergent BA.2.86 variant.

8 Sep 2023

Annual NHS flu vaccination program for children is getting underway

The annual NHS flu vaccination program for children aged 2 to 3 years, school age children and children over 6 months with certain health conditions is getting underway. Parents will receive invites from next week.

8 Sep 2023

Mutational changes in Avian flu virus could increase risk of transmission to humans

A new study from researchers in China and Nottingham has discovered that a subtype of avian flu virus, endemic in poultry farms in China, is undergoing mutational changes, which could increase the risk of the disease being passed on to humans.

5 Sep 2023

RSV can be life-threatening for some people: Study

Every year, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) cause countless respiratory infections worldwide. For infants, young children and people with preexisting conditions, the virus can be life-threatening.

4 Sep 2023

Students starting school and college in September are at increased risk of serious illnesses

A leading testing expert fears a perfect storm of infections in September as students start at schools and colleges. School closures during Covid lockdowns mean 1-in-8 students starting university this year remains unprotected against meningitis. Concern is growing early symptoms may be confused with freshers’ flu.

4 Sep 2023

Cracking the code on post-vaccine COVID protection

The study investigates the relationship between antibody levels and behavioral factors in 176 adults vaccinated with Pfizer's BNT162b2, finding that higher levels of specific antibodies correlate with greater protection against symptomatic COVID-19. It also suggests that current commercial assays may need reformatting for better risk prediction.

31 Aug 2023

Flu and COVID-19 vaccine programs to start earlier than planned in England

This year's autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccine programmes will start earlier than planned in England as a precautionary measure following the identification of a new COVID-19 variant.

30 Aug 2023

Comparative mortality rates of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza in France before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers investigate the contribution of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza to hospitalizations and mortality to inform future vaccination and treatment policies.

30 Aug 2023