Current vaccine strains show high neutralization against the latest variants, but the LP.8.1 antigen may provide similar or moderately higher cross-reactive antibody response.
Plaque growth can lead to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening cardiovascular events for as long as 1 year.
Post-exertional malaise, or exercise intolerance, was seen in 36% of those with long COVID.
Get weekly COVD-19 updates in your inbox.
Catch the latest episode!
Top COVID FAQs
By CIDRAP & other experts
Read all 7 reports
The virus multiplies 70 times faster in the bronchi than Delta and the original SARS-CoV-2, researchers report.
About half of the deaths have occurred in the past year, when vaccines have been available.
One study finds that 2 doses of Moderna were highly effective against all variants, but Delta protection waned.
Researchers updated a Commonwealth Fund study yesterday, and now estimate that COVID-19 vaccination has prevented 1.1 million US deaths and 10.3 million hospitalizations, up from July's figure of 279,000 deaths and 1.25 million hospitalizations prevented.
Even if Omicron causes less severe disease, sheer numbers could overwhelm hospitals.
The pill cut non-Omicron hospitalization or death 89% if taken early in the disease course, company data show.
Those staying in hotel rooms with medical and social support fared better than those in a shelter.
UK researchers estimate that an additional 2, 1, and 6 cases of myocarditis occur per 1 million people in the week after one dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford, Pfizer/BioNTech, and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, respectively, while a positive SARS-CoV-2 test was tied to much higher odds of that and other serious heart conditions.
"No one should be in any doubt: there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming," Prime Minister Boris Johnson says.
A review of 32 clinical practice guidelines for severely ill patients shows most were of poor quality.
