WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set to approve the latest COVID-19 vaccines for the ongoing pandemic. CNN reports two sources familiar with the matter say approval could come before the end of next week.
The FDA will likely approve the updated mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna that target one of the latest strains of COVID-19 known as KP.2. Novavax's updated shot targets another strain known as JN.1.
If approved next week, it would come much earlier than last year, when updated vaccines were approved by the FDA on September 11.
The new vaccines come as a surge of COVID-19 cases have been reported in recent weeks across the country. Although detailed monitoring of cases is no longer conducted, an analysis of wastewater levels was found to be at its highest rate during the summer months since 2022.
ER visits, hospitalizations and deaths are also on the rise, with four times the rate of hospitalizations in July compared to May.
Pfizer and Moderna tell CNN they already have plenty of the updated vaccines ready to go once they receive approval, and will ship them out immediately following approval, and available in pharmacies and health care centers in a matter of days after approval.
The World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus Pandemic started in March of 2020 and has not yet ended, as cases continue to spread across every populated continent year-round, unlike more seasonsal epidemics like the flu.
Hold on to those life vests. As COVID-19 joins barbecues and rain showers on the list of Colorado summer staples, this seasons latest nationwide wave is hitting the West the hardest.
Very high levels of SARS-CoV-2 infect the wastewater in nearly all Western states, with high or very high levels being registered in most states throughout the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With no signs of the surge slowing, some experts are predicting it could be the biggest summer swell yet.
What if I or my child heading back to school gets sick? The CDC recommends that people with COVID infections stay home until symptoms have been improved and fever absent for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. Then precautions such as masking in public are recommended for five days.
We are seeing the highest level of positive tests since January of 2022, said Kellie Hawkins, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of infectious disease at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Cases continue to increase in both the clinic and the hospital, although they do not seem as severe as during previous outbreaks, said Hawkins, who practices at Denver Health.
Public health experts hope to keep it that way, as they anxiously await approval of the latest updated COVID vaccines, she said. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTechs mRNA vaccines targeting the KP.2 variant are expected first with the more time-intensive, protein-based Novavax vaccine targeting J.N1 not far behind.
The top three variants currently circulating are KP.3.1.1, KP.3 and KP.2.3, respectively. All are Omicron descendants and members of the FLiRT family, named after the technical names for their mutations.
We expect the vaccines really any day now, so they can get rolled out for the fall vaccination campaign, said Hawkins, who shared more details in the following Q&A. We really want to combine this with flu vaccination and make it as easy as possible on people to get both vaccines.
By Sara McCloskey
As families return from their final trips of summer break before school starts again, an unpopular virus is rearing its head.
COVID-19 is on the rise, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting more than half of the country seeing an uptick in cases in mid-August.
Most COVID-19 cases we are seeing in children who are asymptomatic or are having mild symptoms, said Gonzalo Bearman, M.D., chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at VCU Health. This is certainly not the level we saw at the beginning of the pandemic, but were not headed in the right direction.
This surge has been going on since July and can be attributed to four different COVID-19 variants, as of Aug. 13. It's being traced through testing local wastewater for infectious diseases, which helps health departments and hospitals know if an illness is circulating in an area even if people dont have symptoms yet.
With the newest COVID-19 vaccine being released soon, Bearman spoke with VCU Health News about this current rise in cases and what to watch out for if you are sick.
Patients can have a wide range of symptoms that are mild or severe. We are seeing patients come in with fevers, chills, cough, muscle aches, and increasingly sore throats.
If you or someone in your household, particularly a child, are sick, consider staying at home and getting properly tested. That way, we know if its COVID, another virus or a bacterial infection.
Many pharmacies are still offering COVID-19 testing or have over the counter tests you can buy and take the test at home. You can also call your primary care provider to get tested. After the test, contact your doctor and they can advise you on treatment options or if additional testing is needed.
If youre sick, stay home. Try to avoid being around other people as much as possible. Consider wearing a facemask if you must be near others or go into a crowded public place.
Its never a bad idea to keep washing your hands with soap and water, for at least 20 to 30 seconds. Use tissue paper or your elbow to cover your cough or sneeze.
Its not uncommon for there to be more COVID-19 cases in the summer; we saw similar trends each summer since 2020. COVID-19 is constantly changing into new variants which makes it easier to spread all year long. Protection from vaccines also declines over time, with most people getting the most updated shots in the fall.
Over the summer months, people tend to spend time inside in the air conditioning because its warm outside or traveling in airports. These closed off, crowded spaces make it easier for illnesses to spread, much like in the winter when people spend more time indoors.
The COVID-19 vaccine that currently exists is outdated, but the new vaccine will be available in the coming two to three weeks and it should cover the new variants.
Similar to flu shots, we are encouraging patients to get the COVID-19 vaccine each year. The best proven way to protect yourself from getting severely sick is by getting vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine also reduces your chances of suffering from Long COVID.
The CDC is recommending everyone who is 6 months old and older get the updated COVID-19 vaccine before the fall and winter, when respiratory illnesses spread the most. You can get the new shot even if youve never had a COVID-19 vaccine. It will be available from Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer.
More COVID-19 news
Tim Walz accepts the Democratic vice presidential nomination. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to drop his presidential bid and endorse Trump. And what to know about the upcoming new round of Covid vaccines.
Heres what to know today.
Tim Walz officially became the Democratic vice presidential nominee last night, delivering a keynote speech on the third day of the Democratic National Convention that hammered home the theme of freedom.
"When Republican use the word 'freedom,' they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor's office, corporations free to pollute your air and water and banks free to take advantage of customers," Walz said. He added that Democrats see "freedom" as the ability to "make your own health care decisions" and "kids' freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot."
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Walz also touted his small-town roots and his experiences as a teacher, football coach, veteran and gun owner, highlighting the passage of gun safety laws, free school lunches and paid family leave while he was governor of Minnesota.
And Walz didnt skip the word that thrust him into the national political zeitgeist just a few weeks ago: weird. Taking aim at the right-wing Project 2025 plan, Walz asked the audience, Is it weird? Absolutely. But its also wrong and dangerous.
Read the full story here.
Third-party presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to drop out of the race and endorse former President Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the plans said. Kennedy announced yesterday that he will give a speech tomorrow in Phoenix addressing the path forward for his campaign. Trump will also be in nearby Glendale, Arizona, for an event.
A group close to Trump including his son Donald Trump Jr., right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson and business executive Omeed Malik worked behind the scenes to pull Kennedy into their corner, the sources said.
Trump suggested in an interview this week that Kennedy would do an incredible job as a secretary of health and human services. Kennedy, a famous anti-vaccine advocate and conspiracy theorist, hasnt shied away from floating his interest in a Cabinet position under Trump. But a position as an HHS secretary, by historical comparisons, would be an odd choice. For one, Kennedy has openly advocated for dismantling offices like the FDA and CDC and rebuilding them with like-minded fringe figures. Heres what else Kennedy has advocated for.
The FDA could approve a new Covid vaccine as early as today, two sources familiar with the agencys planning said, which could see them become available in a matter of days. The updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are designed to target the KP.2 strain, while a third vaccine from drugmaker Novavax will target the JN.1 strain.
However, the CDC says both of those strains have largely faded from circulation. Millions of Americans have already had Covid during the ongoing summer wave, meaning their immunity is bolstered, at least for a while.
So who should get vaccinated and when is the best time to do it? The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get the new shots, but if youve been sick recently, you might want to consider delaying your vaccination. NBC News health reporters explain everything you need to know about the new vaccines.
Hunter Biden: A federal judge presiding over Hunter Bidens tax case laid out the schedule for the impending criminal trial of President Joe Bidens son, starting with jury selection in two weeks.
Election losses: Nearly half of the 23 DeSantis-backed school board candidates in Florida lost their elections, while six others were forced into runoffs. The results of Tuesdays election indicate the Florida governors reputation is tarnished after a failed presidential bid.
Rule change: People with HIV can no longer be barred from enlisting in the U.S. military, a federal judge ruled, striking down the Pentagons last remaining policy limiting the service of those with the virus.
Want more politics news? Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening.Subscribe here.
Penguins are monogamous creatures, mating for life and proposing to their chosen partner with the gift of a pebble. So when Sydney aquarium staff noticed male penguins Sphen and Magic flirting and building a nest together, they gave the new couple an egg to raise.
The gay power couple was celebrated around the world.
So I was very sad to learn that Sphen, the older of the two penguins, had passed away. Staff at the aquarium brought Magic to see Sphens body so that Magic could process that his partner of 6 years was not coming home. Upon seeing Sphen, Magic started singing, and the 45-strong penguin colony joined him in his mourning song. Sphen may have passed, but the love lives on. Fiona Day, social media editor
Flying can be taxing on your body, especially your skin.These productscan keep your skin from feeling dry and dehydrated when youre traveling. And those with oily or combination skin might benefit from a gel moisturizer, which is thinner and more lightweight.Here are the best ones.
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Thanks for reading todays Morning Rundown. Todays newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If youre a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.
CARY, N.C. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting a spike in COVID-19 cases across most of the U.S. In North Carolina, we are seeing slightly more cases than this time last year, according to data from our states Department of Health and Human Services.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting more recently spread strains of the virus could help decrease the number of cases hospitals are seeing. The Food and Drug Administration could sign off on those updated vaccines as soon as this week.
In the meantime, as the FDA is waiting for the green light. Amanda Chay, who has lupus, said shes happy to learn that new vaccines could be out sooner rather than later.
Im happy to hear that theres a new update because there have been surging COVID cases all around us, Chay said. And I will also of course listen to my rheumatologist as someone who is immuno-compromised because her guidance is what I follow.
Chay was new to being diagnosed with lupus when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.
Amanda Chay, a lupus advocate, is happy to hear that updated COVID-19 vaccines could be coming out soon. (Spectrum News 1/Anissa Lopez)
It was a very rough time for me physically, mentally, just dealing with this disease, diagnosis, and so, we added COVID to the mix, and people were dying all around, it was very frightening, Chay said.
Over the years, shes learned the best safety precautions to take as someone who is immuno-compromised. While she isnt as scared of the virus now, she does take extra measures every time theres a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Wash our hands, if I need to be certainly within enclosed placeslike an airplane or I am going to a hospital I make sure to where a mask as wellso I do what I can do, Chay said.
Right now, we are experiencing a COVID-19 surge in cases. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said hospital admissions for COVID-like illness is up 150% since June. Dr. David Weber, a distinguished professor of medicine, pediatrics and epidemiology at UNC Chapel Hill, said theres a couple of reasons we are seeing this.
We have a new variant to the KP set of variants. They aremost importantly the KP3 type variants we are seeing, and these do escape somewhat from natural immunity, meaning youve had COVID or from vaccine-induced immunity, Weber said. The second reason is waning of vaccine immunity; that is the vaccine coverage with the XBB monovalent vaccine, which is one we are currently using.
Weber said the University of Carolina Medical Center is seeing an increased number of patients and COVID-19 cases, having more than 25 patients on any given day in the last week. But with talks of an updated COVID-19 vaccine rolling out soon, Chay and Weber are optimistic that it will help decrease the number of cases we are seeing.
Im happy to hear that there is something new out there because its been quite a while that I have heard about an update with the COVID vaccine, Chay said.
I do think it will be very effective against the current variant and of course CDC does recommend that unless you have had a recent booster that anyone over six months of age should receive the new KP monovalent vaccine, Weber said.
Weber added that for people who are at high risk that develop respiratory symptoms, similar to COVID, they should get tested.
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At this point, public health officials generally agree that COVID is endemic, meaning it is here to stay in predictable ways. Peter Zelei Images/Getty Images hide caption
At this point, public health officials generally agree that COVID is endemic, meaning it is here to stay in predictable ways.
U.S. health officials now say COVID-19 is an endemic disease. That means it's here to stay circulating regularly like the flu. Even though that changes how public health officials think about managing the virus, they say it doesn't mean being less cautious or vigilant during surges, like the current one this summer. COVID still poses significant risks for older individuals and those with underlying conditions and anyone who gets COVID is at risk of developing long COVID.
Ashish Jha is the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health who served as President Biden's COVID-19 response coordinator. He encourages people to to do what they can to protect themselves.
"If we just say OK, 'Learning to live with it means we're just going to let it do what it's doing,' the burden on our society is going to be very high," he says. "We're going to see, you know, a majority of Americans get infected every year. We're going to see a lot of older Americans die unnecessarily ... We can do better. And we should demand and expect that we do better than that."
People can protect themselves and others by masking in crowded spaces and around high-risk individuals and getting updated vaccines like the updated one the FDA is expected to greenlight later this week.
Read more of science correspondent Rob Stein's story here.
Interested in hearing more health news? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
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This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson, edited by Rebecca Ramirez and fact-checked by Rob Stein. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez.
Millions of U.S. children have had long Covid, estimates suggest, but less is known about their symptoms than those of adults.
A large, national study offers new insights into what the post-viral illness looks like in kids and teens, suggesting that they experience a markedly different set of symptoms from adults. Although Covid itself has historically been milder in kids, the results indicate that many have debilitating, long-term side effects that make it difficult to attend school, participate in extracurriculars or spend time with family or friends.
This is a public health crisis for children, said Dr. Rachel Gross, the studys lead author and an associate professor of pediatrics at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine.
Experiences of chronic illness affect them as they grow, and it impacts the health of the adults that they become, she said.
The study is part of the RECOVER initiative, one of the worlds largest investigations into long Covid, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers behind the new study, published Wednesday in the journal JAMA, asked the caregivers of more than 3,800 children about their kids symptoms at least 90 days after Covid. They also surveyed the caregivers of around 1,500 children without a history of Covid and compared the responses.
The results showed that among children ages 6 to 11, headache, trouble with memory or focus, trouble sleeping and stomach pain were most commonly associated with long Covid.
Adolescents common symptoms were more similar to those in adults, which previous RECOVER findings identified as post-exertional malaise (worsening symptoms after exercise), fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, gastrointestinal issues and heart palpitations. The new research showed that those ages 12 to 17 were more likely than young kids to experience daytime sleepiness or low energy, and body, muscle or joint pain.
Headaches and trouble with memory or focus were still common in this age group. A change or loss in the sense of taste or smell another characteristic symptom of long Covid in adults was also prominent in adolescents but not in young kids.
We have to look for these differences, Gross said. Otherwise, we may be missing children who are experiencing long Covid.
Long Covid overall seems to be less common in children than in adults, but a February review in the journal Pediatrics estimated that 10% to 20% of children who got Covid developed post-viral symptoms within six months.
The spectrum of symptoms in children and teens is wide, according to the new study. In total, 14 symptoms were more prevalent in children with a history of Covid than those without.
The study has a few limitations, however: Since caregivers reported their childrens symptoms, its possible they missed some or overestimated others. The caregivers also reported their childrens Covid infections they werent confirmed by tests. The researchers did, however, test to make sure the uninfected group didnt have Covid antibodies.
The findings align with what doctors are observing in long Covid clinics, said Dr. Amy Edwards, director of the pediatric Covid recovery clinic at UH Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, who wasnt involved in the new research.
Edwards said some kids in her clinic have dropped out of school, dropped out of all their extracurricular activities and are barely functioning. For others, she added, its not so bad that they cant go to school, but their grades are slipping. They may have used to be A, B students, and now theyre really struggling to pass.
The new research validates these experiences, she said especially for some of her pediatric patients who faced skepticism from adults when they reported their symptoms.
School nurses were mocking them for faking it, Edwards said. These are teenagers and kids, and people are telling them to their face that theres nothing wrong with them.
Knowing that a symptom may be related to long Covid could help kids find appropriate treatments, said Christine Koterba, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, who also wasnt part of the study.
Theres no broadly effective treatment for long Covid, but many clinical trials are underway. In the meantime, Koterba said, doctors have turned to interventions used for other long-lastingillnesses like post-concussion syndrome, which is similarly characterized by headaches and memory or concentration problems.
Theres a lot that we can draw on from other, similar populations to help kids get back to functioning, she said.
Edwards said that for many kids with long Covid, she recommends sleep and a healthy diet consisting of anti-inflammatory foods, as well as managing other conditions like allergies that can further aggravate the immune system.
Anecdotally at least, young kids tend to recover more quickly from long Covid than teens or adults, she said.
What we see in our school-age children is virtually 100% recovery within one to two years. Thats pretty universal and for a lot of them, even shorter than that, Edwards said, adding, The pediatric immune system is structured toward dealing with novel viruses, because all the viruses are novel for a kid.
Most teens recover eventually as well, she said, though it may take them longer.
Gross said there isnt enough research to back up those assumptions yet, but the RECOVER researchers plan to follow up with the children in their study to find out whether their symptoms improve over time.
Mpox is "not the new Covid", because authorities clearly know how to control its spread, a leading World Health Organization expert has said.
Despite real concern about a new variant of the virus, and a global alert, Europe regional director Dr Hans Kluge told journalists, together we could - and must - tackle mpox.
And strong action now - including ensuring vaccines reach the areas most in need - could stop another cycle of panic and neglect.
A case of the new variant, Clade Ib, was confirmed in Sweden last week and linked to a growing outbreak in Africa.
Mpox has killed at least 450 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the former Zaire, in recent months, linked to Clade Ib.
There is still a lot to learn about the new variant, experts say, but it may be spreading more easily, causing more serious disease.
No Clade Ib cases have been seen in the UK - but experts warn it can spread unless international action is taken.
A different variant, Clade II, was behind the 2022 outbreak that initially affected Europe and continues to circulate in many parts of the world.
But experts know how to control mpox, regardless of the variant - through non-discriminatory public-health action and equitable access to vaccines, Dr Kluge says.
The virus, which causes a fever and rash, can be spread by skin-to-skin contact with lesions, including during sex.
Dr Kluge said the risk to the general population was low.
"Are we going to go in lockdown in the WHO European region, it's another Covid-19? The answer is clearly: 'no'," he said.
"Two years ago, we controlled mpox in Europe thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have sex with men," Dr Kluge said.
"In 2022, mpox showed us it can spread quickly around the world.
"We can, and must, tackle mpox together across regions and continents.
"Will we choose to put the systems in place to control and eliminate mpox globally or will we enter another cycle of panic, then neglect?"
About 100 new Clade II cases were now being reported in the European region every month, Dr Kluge added.
Travellers to affected areas in Africa have been advised to consider vaccination.
WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said the WHO was not recommending the use of masks.
"We are not recommending mass vaccination. We are recommending to use vaccines in outbreak settings for the groups who are most at risk," he added.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said it has a "clear plan" to get 10 million doses of vaccine for the continent.
The DRC and Nigeria will begin vaccinating from next week.
Danish vaccine manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic, will transfer its technology to African manufacturers so the vaccine can be made locally in order to increase the supply and reduce the cost, it added.
Speaking in a press briefing, Director General of Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya, also pleaded countries not to punish Africa with travel bans.
"I clearly request our partners to stop thinking about travel bans against Africans, that one will bring us back on the unfair treatment that we had during the Covid time.
"Solidarity means we need you to provide appropriate support in terms of medical counter-measures," he said.
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