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A study found that COVID-19 patients from more socially vulnerable neighborhoods—measured by an index that incorporates factors like socioeconomic status, level of education, housing, and minority status—experience worse health outcomes. However, a neighborhood’s Social Vulnerability Index is not associated with…

The Department of Defense (DOD) is developing an algorithm to predict whether someone has COVID-19 days before showing symptoms using data collected from “bio-wearables” such as fitness watches. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to announce new metrics for…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a broad recommendation of second booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. However, this recommendation is unlikely to be made before the fall. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are declining across the country for the fourth week…

A study found that the effectiveness of booster shots wanes over time. Effectiveness against hospitalization fell from 91% two months post-booster to 78% at four months. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continues to develop permanent COVID-19 safety standards. Pfizer postponed…

A study into the infection dynamics of the original strain of COVID-19 conducted on unvaccinated adults found that the incubation period averaged only 46 hours, shorter than current estimate of 5 to 6 days. A study on why some people are more susceptible…

Virologists suggest that individuals who receive positive test results from rapid antigen tests are likely still contagious, even if that test is taken after the five-day isolation period from onset of symptoms recommended by federal guidelines. A new study suggests that pulse oximetry…

A CDC study found that children who contracted COVID-19 were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those who were previously diagnosed with other respiratory infections. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against assuming the Omicron variant represents the…

Pfizer’s CEO predicts people will receive annual COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC updated its website and guidelines including Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their guidance to recommend N95 masks to Americans to help alleviate the spread of COVID-19. The government will distribute 400 million free N95 masks by the beginning of February to pharmacies and health centers…

The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci predicts that “just about everybody” will be infected with COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant. The Biden Administration increased its order for at-home COVID-19 tests from 500 million…

Pfizer says the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimen it tested on children did not consistently provide sufficient immune response in children between the ages two and five. However, the regimen was more effective for children between the ages of six months and two…

New research shows that COVID-19 infection poses a greater risk of myocarditis than the vaccines. The CDC’s ACIP issued a new recommendation for the MRNA vaccines over the J&J vaccine, due to the blood clotting risks associated with the J&J…

The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said preliminary information about the Omicron variant shows it might not cause as severe disease as frequently as expected. However, more data is needed to confirm this information. Even though the…

White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, Jeff Zients said the United States (U.S.) is not planning new lockdowns at this time despite many countries in Europe re-imposing lockdowns to combat new surges in COVID-19 infections. A new study shows that receiving…

The Mayo Clinic reported that monoclonal antibodies reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization by 77%. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering individual clinicians an exemption from Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting for 2021 due to hardships caused…

An appeals court opinion said the federal vaccine mandate for large employers is flawed. This legal challenge temporarily stops the mandate from taking effect while the legal challenge plays out. However, the mandate does not take effect until January 4. The Biden Administration announced…

Beginning next week, states can order COVID-19 vaccines in preparation for efforts to vaccinate children ages 5-11. The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) unanimously voted to recommend Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Johnson & Johnson booster vaccine…

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Union's drug regulator, recently discovered a possible link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and rare blood clotting (venous thromboembolism). J&J will seek FDA authorization of their COVID-19 booster vaccine. An updated Kaiser Family Foundation…

Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson announced that they have all begun working on Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine boosters that should be ready in early 2022. Omicron has not been detected in the U.S., although National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID…

The May issue of Annals is budding with outstanding manuscripts that will help you provide the best possible care for your patients. The theme of this month’s issue is atopic dermatitis, and we have included an excellent editorial by Dr. Donald Leung that…