1 lawmaker stops South Carolina health care consolidation bill that had overwhelming support

1 lawmaker stops South Carolina health care consolidation bill that had overwhelming support

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A bill that would have consolidated six South Carolina heath care agencies and was overwhelmingly passed by both chambers of the General Assembly died on the session’s final day Thursday in a procedural move by a member angry he was mocked by his colleagues. Republican Rep. Josiah Magnuson has been against the … Read more

Countries struggle to draft ‘pandemic treaty’ to avoid mistakes made during COVID

Countries struggle to draft ‘pandemic treaty’ to avoid mistakes made during COVID

GENEVA — After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak. A ninth … Read more

European Medicines Agency pulls authorization for AstraZeneca’s COVID shot, at company’s request

European Medicines Agency pulls authorization for AstraZeneca’s COVID shot, at company’s request

LONDON — The pharma giant AstraZeneca has requested that the European authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine be pulled, according to the EU medicines regulator. In an update on the European Medicines Agency’s website Wednesday, the regulator said that the approval for AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria had been withdrawn “at the request of the marketing authorization holder.” AstraZeneca’s … Read more

A doctor whose views on COVID-19 vaccinations drew complaints has her medical license reinstated

A doctor whose views on COVID-19 vaccinations drew complaints has her medical license reinstated

An Ohio doctor who drew national attention when she told state legislators that COVID-19 vaccines made people magnetic has had her medical license reinstated after it was suspended for failing to cooperate with an investigation. The Ohio State Medical Board recently voted to restore Sherri Tenpenny’s license after she agreed to pay a $3,000 fine … Read more

Venezuela broke its HPV vaccine promises, and there’s barely any sex ed. Experts say it’s a problem

Venezuela broke its HPV vaccine promises, and there’s barely any sex ed. Experts say it’s a problem

PUTUCUAL, Venezuela — Some of the 10 women and teenage girls who recently came to a medical clinic in eastern Venezuela for free contraceptives fidgeted a bit when a community health worker taught them how to use an IUD, condoms and birth control pills correctly. The health worker also asked what they knew about HPV, … Read more

UN approves an updated cholera vaccine that could help fight a surge in cases

UN approves an updated cholera vaccine that could help fight a surge in cases

The World Health Organization has approved a version of a widely used cholera vaccine that could help address a surge in cases that has depleted the global vaccine stockpile and left poorer countries scrambling to contain epidemics. WHO authorized the vaccine, made by EuBiologics, which also makes the formulation now used, last week. The new … Read more

West Virginia Gov. Justice vetoes bill that would have loosened school vaccine policies

West Virginia Gov. Justice vetoes bill that would have loosened school vaccine policies

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Republican Gov. Jim Justice on Wednesday broke with West Virginia’s GOP-majority Legislature to veto a bill that would have loosened one of the country’s strictest school vaccination policies. West Virginia is only one of a handful of states in the U.S. that offers only medical exemptions to vaccine requirements. The bill would … Read more

Moderna moves three vaccines into final stage trials

Moderna moves three vaccines into final stage trials

Nikos Pekiaridis | Lightrocket | Getty Images Moderna has more to offer beyond its Covid vaccine. The biotech company Wednesday announced positive clinical trial data on three experimental vaccines against other viruses. The company is moving those shots to final stage studies, it said. The update brings Moderna a step closer to having multiple products … Read more

West Virginia lawmakers OK bill drawing back one of the country’s strictest child vaccination laws

A doctor whose views on COVID-19 vaccinations drew complaints has her medical license reinstated

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s GOP-controlled state Legislature voted Saturday to allow some students who don’t attend traditional public schools to be exempt from state vaccination requirements that have long been held up as among the most strict in the country. The bill was approved despite the objections of Republican Senate Health and Human Resources … Read more

U.S. health officials drop 5-day isolation time for COVID-19

U.S. health officials drop 5-day isolation time for COVID-19

NEW YORK — Americans who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days, U.S. health officials announced Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its longstanding guidance, saying that people can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it’s been … Read more