Roche launches brand for at-home COVID test
The test is the first over-the-counter test distributed in the U.S. by Roche Diagnostics, which has its North American headquarters in Indianapolis.
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Eskenazi, Cummins partner to bring portable market to food-insecure
A former IndyGo bus could start a second life by the end of the year—distributing fresh food, providing nutrition education and troubleshooting problems Indianapolis residents have applying for food stamps.
U.S. clears updated COVID boosters for children as young as 5
The FDA cleared the COVID-19 booster tweaks without requiring human test results—just like it approves yearly changes to flu vaccines.
Large study provides powerful evidence of long COVID’s lasting impact
Between 7 million and 23 million Americans—including 1 million who can no longer work—are suffering from the long-term effects of infection with the virus, according to government estimates.
IBJ Podcast: Program hopes to reduce infant mortality in Indy by focusing on housing
Host Mason King talks with Dr. Cameual Wright and Jack E. Turman Jr. about the Housing Equity for Infant Health Initiative, a program that will provide support for pregnant women and mothers with infants under 1 year old.
Indianapolis aims to get residents eating more fruits and vegetables
Indianapolis and Denver have been selected as two cities that will work with the Maryland-based Partnership for a Healthier America and the International Fresh Produce Association, a Delaware-based trade group, to try to double residents’ consumption of fruit and vegetables.
U.S. watchdog estimates $45.6B in pandemic unemployment fraud
The new estimate is a dramatic increase from the roughly $16 billion in potential fraud identified a year ago, and it illustrates the immense task still ahead of Washington as it seeks to pinpoint the losses, recover the funds and hold criminals accountable.
‘Out of control’ STD situation prompts call for changes
Sharply rising cases of some sexually transmitted diseases—including a 26% rise in new syphilis infections reported last year—are prompting U.S. health officials to call for new prevention and treatment efforts.
COVID shots for young kids arrived in June. Few have received them.
Doctors and public health experts never expected there would be so little interest in vaccines for young children.
U.S. plans shift to annual coronavirus shots, similar to flu vaccine
The federal government has purchased more than 170 million doses of the updated boosters, and doses began shipping last week, following authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.
CDC endorses updated COVID-19 booster shots
CDC’s advisers deemed the updated injections the best option considering the U.S. still is experiencing tens of thousands of COVID-19 cases and about 500 deaths every day—even before an expected new winter wave.
Pfizer seeks OK of updated COVID vaccine booster for fall
Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its combination COVID-19 vaccine that adds protection against the newest omicron relatives—a key step toward opening a fall booster campaign.
CDC drops quarantine, screening recommendations for COVID-19
The changes are driven by a recognition that an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or infected, agency officials said.
Indiana needs to boost spending by $242M a year to modernize public health system, commission says
The commission said more money is needed because the state ranks among the worst in the nation for obesity, smoking, infant mortality and other critical measures, and the life expectancy of Hoosiers has declined in recent years.
New studies bolster theory coronavirus emerged from the wild
The research, published online Tuesday by the journal Science, shows that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market was likely the early epicenter of the scourge that has now killed nearly 6.4 million people around the world.
25M children missed routine vaccinations because of COVID
Experts said this “historic backsliding” in vaccination coverage was especially disturbing since it was occurring as rates of severe malnutrition were rising.
U.S. regulators approve new COVID-19 vaccine option
Novavax makes a more traditional type of shot than the three other COVID-19 vaccines available for use in the U.S.—and one that’s already available in Europe and multiple other countries.
Pandemic fueled surge in superbug infections, deaths, CDC says
The surge reversed years of progress fighting one of the gravest public health challenges in modern medicine, according to a new analysis released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Biden officials push to offer second booster shots to all adults
Virus levels have risen across the country, fueled by ever-more-contagious omicron subvariants such as BA. 5 that evade some immune protections and have increased the risk of reinfections.
Latest variant driving new wave of coronavirus infections
Officials warn of a possible fall or winter wave—perhaps as many as 100 million infections in the United States—that could again flood hospitals with COVID patients.