Covid

• Public health officials are warning of a rising landscape of respiratory viruses for 2025, including Flu, RSV, and COVID-19. • The current situation emphasizes the critical need for timely public information to ensure effective health responses and prevent outbreaks from escalating. • Pharmacists are identified as key figures in patient education, promoting prevention strategies such as proper hand hygiene and staying current with vaccinations.

David Morens confessed to concealing government documents linked to grant research fundingA former adviser to infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring to evade public records laws and conceal government documents related to ​grant research funding and the Covid-19 pandemic.David Morens, who had worked under Fauci ‌as a senior official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the pandemic, entered his plea, to a conspiracy charge during a hearing in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland. Continue reading...

New findings further call into question scientific judgment of current health leaders in the Trump administrationA French researcher whose work was praised by Donald Trump and Dr Mehmet Oz during the Covid-19 pandemic published hundreds of papers with “substantial” ethical and legal concerns, according to a new analysis.An international team of scientists found concerns in 853 articles published by the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, or the IHU, hundreds more than previously flagged by past investigations into work at the large research hospital. Of those, institute founder Didier Raoult was listed as co-author on 758 of them, according to one of the researchers behind the new analysis. Continue reading...

• A new oral antiviral drug called Xocova has been developed to prevent COVID-19 infections in individuals who have been exposed to the virus. • Unlike treatments administered after symptoms appear, Xocova is specifically designed as a post-exposure prophylactic to reduce the likelihood of contracting the illness. • This medication addresses a critical gap in pandemic care by offering a preventative option for those who have had close contact with positive cases.

• The FDA has approved mFLUSIVA, the first flu vaccine to utilize mRNA technology similar to that used in COVID-19 vaccines. • Clinical trial data published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that 2% of mFLUSIVA recipients developed flu-like illnesses, compared to 2.8% for those receiving a standard-dose vaccine. • This approval marks a significant shift in vaccine technology, offering a relative efficacy advantage of approximately 26.6% over traditional flu shots.

Konstantin Kontis and Vicky Kos were compelled to testify at a coronial inquest resuming on the sixth anniversary of the tragedyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQuiet sobs could be heard in Melbourne’s coroner’s court, as several families attended to finally hear from the pair who were the most senior managers when, throughout July and August 2020, almost a quarter of the 188 residents at St Basil’s aged care home died from Covid-19 or neglect.Following multiple failed legal bids to avoid giving evidence after 50 residents died in the Victorian aged care home they managed, Konstantin Kontis and Vicky Kos were compelled to testify at a coronial inquest resuming on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy. Continue reading...

• Health officials have approved mFLUSIVA, the first mRNA-based flu vaccine developed by Moderna, which is expected to be available by the next flu season. • Clinical data indicates the shot may be 27% more effective than traditional vaccines, though side effects like fatigue and headaches occurred in up to two-thirds of patients. • The rollout follows a severe winter flu season characterized by a virulent strain that led to record-high case numbers across multiple US states.

The mFlusiva vaccine for older people is first made with mRNA platform key to ending coronavirus pandemicThe Food and Drug Administration has approved a new kind of flu vaccine for older people, the first made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the Covid-19 pandemic, Moderna, the manufacturer, said.The shot, named mFlusiva, is intended for adults aged 50 or older. Other brands of flu shots already have begun arriving in pharmacies ahead of fall vaccination season, and Moderna said late on Wednesday that it expected some of its new version to be available soon at select retailers. Continue reading...

Anthony Fauci invoked fifth amendment dozens of times to parry hostile Republican inquisition over Covid responseUS politics live – latest updatesA Republican-controlled US Senate committee voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after the veteran public health official repeatedly pleaded the fifth amendment to parry a hostile inquisition into his stewardship of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.Fauci, the former director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Niaid), who led the agency for 38 years before retiring in 2022, gave the same response to multiple questions while refusing to give clarifying answers during a tense hearing last week, citing his constitutional protections. Continue reading...

• Since the initial reporting of the novel coronavirus, medical understanding of Covid-19 has evolved significantly regarding transmission and prevention. • In December 2020, the US FDA granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines after clinical trials showed over 90% effectiveness. • These early findings were critical in establishing a baseline for preventing symptomatic disease during the first wave of vaccinations.

• Since the initial reporting of Covid-19, medical understanding has evolved significantly regarding the virus's behavior and the effectiveness of countermeasures. • In December 2020, the US FDA granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines after clinical trials demonstrated over 90% efficacy in preventing symptomatic disease. • These findings highlighted the critical role of rapid vaccine development in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus during the height of the pandemic.

• COVID-19 dominated the global landscape throughout 2020, evolving from an emerging health crisis to a pandemic that concluded the year with the arrival of vaccines. • Overwhelmed hospitals struggled with severe resource shortages, specifically lacking enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to maintain standard operations. • The crisis delayed the start of new clinical trials and hindered the launch of recently FDA-approved drugs, as medical facilities prioritized emergency care over new treatments.

US former top health official, who was subpoenaed to appear at a Senate hearing into Covid-19, says Markson’s reporting about virus’s origin ‘does not make any sense’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDr Anthony Fauci, the US’s chief medical adviser at the start of the pandemic, has described a book by News Corp investigative journalist Sharri Markson backing the “lab leak” theory of Covid-19’s origins as a “bunch of nonsense” in his newly released diaries.This week, Fauci, 85, was subpoenaed by the Republican senator Rand Paul to appear at a Senate hearing into Covid-19 and his handling of the pandemic. Continue reading...

• Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. • He declined to answer more than 100 questions from senators regarding his management and decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. • This refusal to testify highlights ongoing tensions and legal disputes between public health officials and lawmakers over pandemic accountability.

Veteran medical adviser likely to face questions over disputed ‘lab leak’ theory in investigation seen by scientists as ‘vilification and harassment’ of 85-year-oldSign up for US Breaking News emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Senators are expected to question Anthony Fauci, the former veteran director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Niaid), about whether the Covid-19 virus began as a “lab leak” in a high-profile hearing later today. Continue reading...

Hearing is part of a longtime Republican investigation into pandemic’s origins, led by Senator Rand PaulAnthony Fauci, the former veteran director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Niaid) who served as a key adviser to Donald Trump and Joe Biden on the Covid-19 pandemic, is due to testify on Wednesday at a high-profile US Senate hearing.Senators are expected to question Fauci about whether the Covid-19 virus began as a “lab leak”, a claim virologists have argued is unlikely. The testimony is part of a longtime Republican investigation into the origins of the pandemic, led by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. Continue reading...

• Morning Rounds reports on several critical health updates, including the legal and administrative status of service members who refused the Covid-19 vaccine. • The briefing highlights a current Ebola outbreak, which is described as the fastest-growing in history, signaling an urgent public health crisis. • These stories underscore the ongoing tension between military mandates and personal health choices, as well as the volatility of global infectious disease containment.

• Indicators suggest a summer COVID-19 wave is currently underway across the United States. • The South and West regions are showing the most definitive signals of increasing cases, though potential outbreaks are appearing nationwide. • Despite the rise, current infection levels remain very low compared to previous summers due to a lower-than-average lull during the spring.

Campaigners feel vindicated by some of report’s conclusions but are unconvinced by its verdict on VIP laneIn the slightly incongruous setting of south London’s splendid Kia Oval cricket stadium, Naomi Fulop gathered her strength to give the assembled British media her response to the damning findings of Heather Hallett’s latest Covid inquiry report.Reading a statement from her mobile phone, her voice quivering just a little, as fellow members of the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) group stood alongside her, Fulop recalled the terrible time when her mother died from coronavirus in January 2021. It was in the second lethal wave of the pandemic, a vaccine still a far-off aspiration, during the third national lockdown. Like so many other people, Fulop believes her mother died because those caring for her did not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), a belief supported by the findings of Lady Hallett, a former court of appeal judge. Continue reading...

Chair criticises use of ‘VIP lane’ to prioritise PPE contracts for companies with Tory connections in damning reportBoris Johnson’s Conservative government wasted public money on a “vast” scale with flawed buying of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded.The Covid-19 inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, also criticised the then government’s controversial “VIP lane”, which gave high priority for PPE contracts to companies with political connections to the Tories. Continue reading...

• CDC surveillance data indicates that parainfluenza virus and human metapneumovirus levels are currently elevated across the United States this summer. • Because no vaccines exist for these two respiratory viruses, parents are advised to monitor symptoms and understand the risks associated with these infections. • In separate medical updates, a June 2026 trial suggests probiotics may enhance antidepressant efficacy for seniors, while two 2026 trials indicate Paxlovid may not significantly reduce hospitalizations for vaccinated high-risk adults.

• The FDA approved the updated COVID-19 vaccine strain in May, but official guidance on who should receive it remains unavailable. • A critical lack of a quorum since March has stalled the committee responsible for determining eligibility and insurance coverage for the fall rollout. • This administrative gap creates uncertainty for healthcare providers and patients regarding the timing and necessity of booster shots.

• A new review published in The Lancet on Tuesday confirms that mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are safe and effective. • Led by Manish Sadarangani of B.C. Children's Hospital, researchers analyzed laboratory data, clinical trials, and real-world surveillance from January 2020 through December 2025. • The findings are significant because they validate the scientific and public health impact of mRNA technology during the pandemic.

• JAMA Network Open has published a taxpayer-funded study on COVID-19 vaccines that federal officials at the CDC previously declined to release. • The study examines vaccine efficacy and safety, raising questions about why the CDC initially squelched the data and whether the decision was based on political motivations or a desire to protect public confidence. • This controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding government transparency and the potential suppression of scientific data during the pandemic response.

• The CDC canceled the publication of a COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness study originally scheduled for its flagship Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) in April. • CDC leadership blocked the report citing "methodologic weaknesses," though the study has since been released for public review. • Dr. F. Perry Wilson of the Yale School of Medicine highlighted the incident, raising questions about transparency and the potential suppression of data by health officials.

• A study confirming the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines was published Tuesday by JAMA Network Open after being blocked by a CDC journal. • The research found the vaccine was approximately 55% effective against hospitalizations and reduced emergency department and urgent care visits by 50%. • The publication gained significant attention because political appointees from the Trump administration previously prevented the findings from appearing in a government health publication.

• A study examining COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness was finally published after being blocked from inclusion in a weekly federal government report by the CDC. • The publication follows a separate effort by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who petitioned the FDA to revoke the authorization of all COVID-19 vaccines. • The FDA denied Kennedy's petition three months later, maintaining that vaccines are safe and effective based on clinical trials involving tens of thousands of participants.

• The article alleges a cover-up regarding the origins of SARS-CoV-2, specifically highlighting the role of the DEFUSE project. • This project involved scientists from the U.S., foreign entities, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology who proposed modifying spike proteins of coronaviruses to model disease spread among U.S. Pacific forces. • The research is described as high-risk, "gain-of-function" dual-use research focused on vaccine vectors and dispersal development.