What happens when a vaccine skeptic leads health policy? Ask Florida Among the names being floated to head the Department of Health and Human Services are RFK Jr. and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. Both are vaccine skeptics, which worries pediatricians. NPR

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Paxlovid cuts COVID hospitalization, death risk and speeds symptom relief, studies find Overall, the risk of developing 28 out of 36 long-COVID symptoms lessened when vaccines were effective. CIDRAP

New findings from two studies have tied use of the antiviral drug nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) to a reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations and death, as well as to faster resolution of symptoms and less use of healthcare resources.

Benefit seen only in older patients

Can you die from long COVID? The answer is not so simple While long COVID may not be immediately or directly life-threatening, it could exacerbate existing conditions. The Conversation

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While long COVID is not usually immediately or directly life-threatening, it’s possible it could exacerbate existing conditions, and play a role in a person’s death in this way.

Surveillance study traces COVID-19's impact on global flu patterns and evolution Seasonal influenza epidemics impose substantial burdens on health care systems and cause >5 million hospitalizations of adults each year. The current approach to influenza vaccine development requires ... University of Oxford Medical Xpress

Seasonal influenza epidemics impose substantial burdens on health care systems and cause >5 million hospitalizations of adults each year. The current approach to influenza vaccine development requires comprehensive surveillance of circulating strains, which are constantly moving from continent to continent....