MEDICAL
WHO: No indication new omicron subvariant more severe than original
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that the new BA.2 subvariant of the omicron strain of COVID-19 is no more severe than omicron’s original strain. "There's no indication that there's a change in severity," Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead...
Novavax asks FDA to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine
Novavax on Monday said that it submitted a request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine for adults. The request was based in part on results from two large clinical trials of...
Sweden decides against recommending COVID vaccines for kids aged 5-11
STOCKHOLM, Jan 27 (Reuters) - (This Jan. 27 story corrects headline to kids aged 5-11 from 5-12) Sweden has decided against recommending COVID vaccines for kids aged 5-11, the Health Agency said on Thursday, arguing that the benefits did not outweigh the risks. "With...
Japan shortens interval for COVID booster by a month amid omicron’s spread
Seemingly alarmed by the unprecedented speed with which the omicron variant is spreading across the country, the government has been forced to make another revision to its COVID-19 policies, including shortening the isolation period for close contacts and the...