Is this year’s COVID booster a good match for new variants? Depending on when you last got vaccinated, that COVID-19 shot may no longer be a good match for the variants expected to dominate this fall and winter. amartichoux The Hill

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While they may not be a perfect match, the latest variants have enough in common with the KP.2 and JN.1 that the boosters should still offer effective cross-protection.

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COVID map update: US states with "high" wastewater viral activity revealed "High" levels still persist in eight states, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Newsweek

Coronavirus levels in wastewater remain "high" in certain states, despite low levels of the virus nationwide. Newsweek has revealed this variability in a map based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Mpox vaccine rollout in Congo slower than expected, health official says

Annual report cites avian flu, mpox as pandemic threats The report said countries will need to adopt a One Health approach. CIDRAP

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), which tracks and monitors global pandemic preparedness, launched its annual report today (Oct. 14).

"Outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 in cattle and its spillover to humans, and a new strain of mpox in Central Africa are the most recent signals of concern," the report begins. "The high likelihood that they will spread further should be a wake-up call for the global community."

As Hospitals Get Bigger, Medical Debt Is Harder for Patients To Shake - KFF Health News If you get sick in America, there’s a good chance you’ll end up in debt. Four in 10 U.S. adults have some form of health-care debt, KFF has found. One surprising risk: living in a community where hospitals have consolidated — an increasingly common development as health systems merge or large systems gobble up smaller hospitals. That’s […] khnerich KFF Health News

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The flu shot is different this year, thanks to COVID A strain of influenza appears to have disappeared from the planet since COVID. As a result, U.S. flu vaccines have been redesigned. NPR

This year’s flu shot will be missing a strain of influenza it’s protected against for more than a decade.

Whooping cough and walking pneumonia cases are up. Here's what to know and how to help keep your family safe. Dr. Jon LaPook talks about the infections on the rise this season, including whooping cough and walking pneumonia. CBS News

Health officials are warning about the rise of multiple infections this season — especially among school-aged children — including whooping cough and walking pneumonia.

Nigeria rolls out new Oxford R21 malaria vaccine Nigeria launched a new malaria vaccine on Thursday that will be freely administered to recipients, its health minister said, marking a significant milestone in its fight against the deadly disease. Camillus Eboh Reuters

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