Following an approval granted Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday signed off on new COVID boosters for Americans. “We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in an agency news release announcing the approval. “[The] CDC is now recommending updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months and older to better protect you and your loved ones.” Hours earlier, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) had voted to support the boosters for all Americans aged 6 months and older. The COVID shots from Pfizer and Moderna will join the flu shot and newly approved RSV shots as part of a three-pronged public health strategy to tame the spread of all three viruses this coming winter. The updated COVID vaccines are each fully approved for those 12 and older and are authorized under emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years of age. “Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said Monday in an agency news release. “The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness and…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave the green light to new COVID boosters for Americans, setting the stage for the updated vaccines to become available within days. The COVID-19 shots from Pfizer and Moderna will join the flu shot and newly approved RSV shots as part of a three-pronged public health strategy to tame the spread of all three viruses this coming winter. The updated COVID vaccines are each fully approved for those 12 and older and are authorized under emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years of age. “Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release. “The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality. We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated.” One infectious diseases expert said the approvals matter most to vulnerable Americans. “Having an updated booster that more closely matches circulating strains is an important tool for high-risk individuals, who still remain at risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with Johns Hopkins’ Center for Health Security in Baltimore. Next up? The Advisory…  read on >  read on >

Winter months can be a challenge for those trying to keep their high blood pressure in check, new research suggests. In an analysis of more than 60,000 American adults being treated for high blood pressure at six health care centers in the Southeast and Midwest United States, scientists found that systolic blood pressure — the top number — rose slightly in winter months, by up to 1.7 mm Hg. Meanwhile, population blood pressure control rates decreased by 5% in the winter compared to control rates from the summer. These findings were presented Thursday at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2023. “Despite the smaller degree of systolic blood pressure variation in comparison to previous studies on seasonality in blood pressure, we were surprised to observe a large degree of change in blood pressure control between winter and summer months,” said study author Robert Barrett, a software engineer at the American Medical Association. “Individuals with hypertension or values near the range of hypertension may benefit from periodic blood pressure monitoring and improvements in physical activity and nutritional patterns during winter months, to offset adverse effects from seasonal blood pressure changes,” he said in a meeting news release. During the review, each of the participants remained on the blood pressure medication that had been prescribed for them. They were seen at centers ranging from small federally…  read on >  read on >

New COVID-19 booster shots could soon pass the needed hurdles for vaccinations to begin next week. Sources familiar with U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans say boosters could be approved as soon as Friday, NBC News reported. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet on Tuesday. CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen could sign off soon after, allowing vaccinations to begin. The boosters from Pfizer and Moderna target the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant. That’s no longer the dominant variant circulating, but those that are spreading are closely related, and health experts say this booster could still offer some protection. This time, the FDA may grant full approval for the boosters rather than emergency use authorization, according to NBC News sources. If the FDA doesn’t approve the boosters on Friday, it could do so early next week. While protection wanes over time, about 97% of adults have some level of protective immunity from past COVID infections and vaccinations. These shots are expected to boost that coverage. They will, however, come at a price. For the first time, the federal government is not covering costs of the shots. Most people with private and public health insurance should still be able to receive them for free. Those who are uninsured may be able to get them at community health centers.…  read on >  read on >

Groceries cost a lot, but it is possible to eat healthy foods without overspending. Experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham offer tips for healthy eating on a budget. “Maintaining a healthy diet is not only about what you eat but also about making mindful choices,” said Emily Davidson, employee wellness manager at UAB. “A little planning, creativity and smart shopping can help people enjoy a nutritious diet without breaking the bank.” Planning your meals is key. It saves money that you might otherwise spend on impulse buys. Plan for incorporating fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, Davidson suggested. “When planning meals, look for what’s in season,” she said in a university news release. “Notice that some fruits and vegetables are more expensive during different seasons because not all produce grows year-round. Getting fresh fruits and veggies in their off-season is expensive because it requires extra travel and shipping costs.” Make a shopping list to help curb impulse buying. Shopping online and doing grocery pickup can help save money, too. “Before heading to the store, list the items needed for your planned meals and stick to it,” Davidson said. “This will help avoid buying unnecessary items that seem tempting.” Bulk buying of staples offers value for the money, Davidson said. Buy rice, beans, oats and frozen fruits and veggies in bulk. Don’t ignore frozen produce.…  read on >  read on >

THURSDAY, Aug. 31, 2023 (HealthDay News) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug under the Controlled Substances Act, a move that could potentially expand acceptance of the drug. The DEA confirmed receiving an Aug. 29 letter requesting the change and will begin its own review, a spokesperson told Bloomberg News. The move wouldn’t legalize marijuana, but could move it from its Schedule I classification to a Schedule III. Schedule I drugs, which carry a high risk of abuse, include LSD, ecstasy and heroin. Meanwhile, Schedule III drugs can be obtained with a prescription. Last October, President Joe Biden announced initiatives to ease marijuana penalties. He pardoned all prior simple possession offenses charged federally, asking states to do the same. At that time, Biden also asked the HHS and U.S. Attorney General to review marijuana scheduling, its medical use, potential for abuse and dependence and safety. Cannabis advocates have said that rescheduling the drug would be acknowledging marijuana’s legitimate uses, Bloomberg News reported. About 18% of Americans used cannabis at least once in 2019, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Cannabis should never have been scheduled alongside heroin and placed at the center of our nation’s destructive drug war,” Edward Conklin, executive director…  read on >  read on >

Taking cholesterol-lowering statin medication after a bleeding stroke, or intracerebral hemorrhage, may lower the risk of a subsequent stroke caused by a blood clot, according to new research. “Previous research has had mixed results on the risk of stroke in people who are taking statins and have already had a bleeding stroke, so we evaluated this further,” said study author Dr. David Gaist, of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “We looked at whether use of statins after a bleeding stroke is associated with the risk of any additional stroke, including both those caused by bleeding and by blood clots,” Gaist said in an academy new release. “We found that those who used statins had a lower risk of stroke, notably ischemic stroke, while there was no change in the risk of bleeding stroke.” While intracerebral hemorrhage is caused by bleeding in the brain, ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain. Ischemic strokes are by far the most common types of stroke. Researchers studied health records in Denmark, finding more than 15,000 people who had a first bleeding stroke. They followed the patients from 30 days after their bleeding stroke until the occurrence of another stroke, death or the end of follow-up, which on average lasted 3.3 years. The…  read on >  read on >