Health

CDC Advisory Panel Recommends Updated COVID Vaccines for All Americans Ages 6 Months and Up

(CTN News) – Updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have been recommended for all Americans 6 months and older by a CDC advisory panel on Tuesday, marking the next step towards the doses reaching Americans in the coming days.

Only one of the fourteen advisors voted against the “universal” proposal for Americans.

That recommendation needs to be approved by CDC Director Mandy Cohen before the new shots can be distributed to pharmacies, local health departments, and clinics across the country.

Shifting to Annual COVID Vaccine Updates

During Tuesday’s advisory meeting, the head of the CDC’s immunization services section, Georgina Peacock, said that the first doses should be ready within 48 hours of that suggestion.

In my opinion, vaccination will undoubtedly protect people of all ages from developing life-threatening diseases and losing their lives to them.

Dr. Beth Bell, a clinical professor at the University of Washington and panel member, emphasized that this was a disease that could be prevented with vaccinations. That’s why I support the widely accepted advice.

Some experts, however, contended that the CDC should advise the shots only for those at high risk of getting very ill with COVID-19, such as the elderly, young children, and those with impaired immune systems.

The two mRNA injections are intended to target the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, and were approved by the Food and Drug Administration the day before the advisory panel’s “universal” suggestion. The FDA is still weighing in on a new protein-based vaccine from Novavax.

Pfizer and Moderna’s new vaccinations for people aged 12 and up have been given the go-light by the FDA. The agency gave the OK for the shots to be used in an emergency for kids aged 6-11.

Similar to the seasonal flu vaccination, the new doses are part of an initiative by public health experts to annually update COVID-19 vaccines to target more recent strains of the virus. The release of the jab coincides with a resurgence of the virus in the United States.

For the week ending August 26, the number of people admitted to hospitals jumped by 15.1%, to 17,418. This is the seventh week in a row that hospitalizations have risen.

This is still significantly lower than the spike in hospitalizations the United States experienced in the summer of 2022, when the number reached well than 40,000.

On the other hand, CDC epidemiologist Dr. Megan Wallace warned at the meeting on Tuesday that the agency “anticipates further increases” as the United States approaches respiratory virus season this autumn and winter, when Covid, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza tend to circulate at greater than average levels.

The modernized vaccines are hoped to reduce the number of persons hospitalized due to COVID-19 infections caused by the most recently emerged strains.

Initial trial data released by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax all point to the new injections’ ability to elicit strong immune responses against the prevailing EG.5, or “Eris,” form.

According to the CDC, as of September 2nd, 21.5% of all cases in the United States were caused by the omicron strain, closely related to XBB.1.5.

Initial trial data from both Pfizer and Moderna have shown that their new injections are effective against another omicron variation dubbed BA.2.86. On Monday, Novavax said that testing of their BA.2.86 vaccine was ongoing.

Due to the high number of mutations found in that strain, health officials worldwide are carefully monitoring the modest but growing number of cases across the United States.

At an advisory meeting on Tuesday, Dr. Fran Priddy, Moderna’s executive director of clinical development for the Covid vaccine program, stated that the company’s XBB.1.5 vaccine “provides a substantial increase in responses to both the variant in the vaccine and cross-neutralization of other variants – and this is regardless of prior infection status.”

New vaccines are expected to become available in the United States several months after the Covid public health emergency ended.

Now that the statement is no longer necessary, manufacturers can sell their improved injections to healthcare practitioners without going through the government. Previously, the government had bought vaccines from producers at a discount and given them out for free to all Americans.

During the meeting, both companies listed their vaccine’s list price; Moderna’s was $129 per dosage and Pfizer’s was $120 per dose. Novavax, meanwhile, claims its pricing per dose is $130.

Private insurance companies and government payers like Medicare will cover the whole cost of the new vaccines for most Americans.

The Biden administration’s short-term “Bridge Access Programme” will allow health centres, clinics, and eventually pharmacies across the United States to provide free vaccinations to the uninsured and underinsured. The program’s free immunizations will end in December 2024, per the CDC’s website.

After the Covid injections enter the commercial market, the Vaccines For Children program at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will offer them free of charge to children whose families or caretakers cannot afford them.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP