Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shows 74% efficacy in large U.S. trial
AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated 74% efficacy at preventing symptomatic disease, a figure that increased to 83.5% in people aged 65 and older, according to long-awaited results of the company's U.S. clinical trial published on Wednesday. Overall efficacy of 74% was lower than the interim 79% figure reported by the British drugmaker in March, a result AstraZeneca revised days later to 76% after a rare public rebuke from health officials that the figure was based on "outdated information."
FDA ruling on Pfizer's COVID jab for kids could come in November - Fauci
U.S. health regulators' decision on whether to approve Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 could spill over into November if needed, the nation's top u.s. infectious disease official said on Wednesday. Dr. Anthony Fauci, asked about Wall Street Journal reporting that expanded approval may not come next month depending on when the companies file a formal application, said the Food and Drug Administration was working expeditiously and that "if it goes into November, that's because it's necessary."
U.S. administers nearly 392 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines - CDC
The United States has administered 391,992,662 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the country as of Wednesday morning and distributed 473,954,085 doses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Those figures are up from the 391,152,574 vaccine doses the CDC said had gone into arms by Tuesday out of 472,646,105 doses delivered.
Merck says research shows its COVID-19 pill works against variants
Laboratory studies show that Merck & Co's experimental oral COVID-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir, is likely to be effective against known variants of the coronavirus, including the dominant, highly transmissible Delta, the company said on Wednesday. Since molnupiravir does not target the spike protein of the virus - the target of all current COVID-19 vaccines - which defines the differences between the variants, the drug should be equally effective as the virus continues to evolve, said Jay Grobler, head of infectious disease and vaccines at Merck.
Los Angeles moves toward barring the unvaccinated from most businesses
Los Angeles officials on Wednesday signaled they would vote next week to prohibit unvaccinated people from entering most businesses in the United States' second-largest city, one of the nation's most severe crackdowns so far of the COVID-19 pandemic. All but one of the City Council members present on Wednesday said they supported the proposed "emergency" ordinance, which would require proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars, shopping centers, gyms, and other indoor spaces.
Exclusive - EU to decide on Pfizer booster on Oct. 4 - document
The EU's drugs regulator will decide on Monday whether to approve Pfizer's COVID-19 booster vaccine, but it is unlikely to give precise guidance on who should receive it, according to an internal document and two officials. If the European Medicines Agency (EMA) gives its backing for the jab, the 27-member bloc would join the United States, Britain, and Israel which have already received the green light to deploy boosters, even though there is no consensus among scientists that they are necessary.
Melbourne cases hit record despite two months of lockdown
Melbourne's COVID-19 cases surged to record levels on Thursday with officials blaming illegal home gatherings to watch a key sporting event for the spike as a hard lockdown to combat the spread of the Delta variant neared two months. Authorities in Victoria, home to Melbourne, estimated nearly a third of Thursday's 1,438 new infections could be traced back to home parties last weekend to watch the Australian Rules Football Grand Final on television.
U.S. CDC calls for more COVID-19 vaccinations among pregnant women
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday issued a health advisory to increase COVID-19 vaccinations among women who are pregnant, recently pregnant or trying to become pregnant, to prevent serious illness and death.
The CDC said its data showed https://bit.ly/39VfL5z only 31% of pregnant people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Although more pregnant women are now vaccinated, the CDC said uptake of vaccines for pregnant women has been lower compared to the general population.
Mirum's oral drug becomes the first U.S. approved Alagille syndrome therapy
Mirum Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Wednesday its drug became the first U.S.-approved therapy for treating itching in patients with a rare liver disorder called Alagille syndrome (ALGS). "(Itching) is really devastating for children and families dealing with this disease...and ultimately that itching is a driving factor for liver transplant decisions," Chief Executive Officer Chris Peetz told Reuters.
Factbox - COVID-19 and the U.S. courts: challenges to vaccine requirements
U.S. employers, universities, and local governments are increasingly putting COVID-19 vaccine mandates in place to contain outbreaks of the disease as infection rates remain high.
Workers who fear losing their jobs for refusing the shots are turning to the courts. The following are some of the key cases.
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