Disease Prevention

Moderna says updated COVID vaccine is effective against newer variant Moderna on Wednesday said clinical trial data showed its updated COVID-19 vaccine will likely be effective against the highly-mutated BA.2.86 subvariant of the coronavirus that has raised fears of a resurgence of infections. Patrick Wingrove Reuters

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More COVID-19 studies suggest BA.2.86 may be less immune-evasive than feared iLexx / iStock CIDRAP

Two more lab groups—one from Sweden's Karolinska Institute and the other from Harvard University—have reported results of antibody neutralization lab experiments, which suggest vaccination or previous infection offer some protection against the highly mutated BA.2.86 SARS-CoV-2 variant.

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Biden tests negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday, will mask around others President Biden tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday and will wear a mask while around others indoors after first lady Jill Biden tested positive for the virus a day earlier, the White House sai… kwadington The Hill

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Fauci presented with study challenging effectiveness of masks

In a recent interview on CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, responded to a study that raised doubts about the effectiveness of face masks in curbing the spread of COVID-19. The study in question was released by The Cochrane Institute and received attention earlier this year when it suggested that face masks made little to no difference in preventing the spread of the virus. This led to headlines claiming that masks don't work.

However, Fauci emphasized that there are other studies that show the advantages of wearing masks, particularly at the individual level. ...

ALSO SEE: Fauci ‘concerned’ people won’t mask up again as COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to rise in the U.S.

AND:  Link to CNN interview