Vaccines
COVID Vaccine Makers Prepare for a Variant Worse Than Delta
Companies are updating vaccines and testing them on people to prepare for whatever comes next in the pandemic
"The Coronavirus Outbreak"
Vaccines
COVID Quickly, Episode 17: Vaccine Lies and Protecting Immunocompromised People
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.You can listen to all past episodes here...
Ethics
Will Giving COVID Booster Shots Make It Harder to Vaccinate the Rest of the World?
Wealthy countries have bought up most of the available vaccine doses for booster shots but still have far more than they need
Vaccines
Who Needs a COVID Booster Shot? Experts Answer Common Questions
Now that the FDA has authorized the shots for a broad range of Americans, many people want to know if they need a booster dose. Here’s what we have learned so far
Pollution
Assessing COVID Risk and More with Air Quality Monitors
The consumer devices track pollutants as well as CO2—a proxy for potentially virus-laden human breath
Health Care
The Smartest Way to Use Rapid At-Home COVID Tests
The self-administered tests are sold over the counter, holding out the promise of safer gatherings. But interpreting results requires savvy
Public Health
Pandemic Year One Saw a Dramatic Global Rise in Anxiety and Depression
In hindsight, 2020 witnessed a disproportionate mental health burden on women and young people
Public Health
COVID Quickly, Episode 16: Vaccines Protect Pregnancies and a New Antiviral Pill
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.You can listen to all past episodes here...
Behavior
How Pandemic Life Mimicked Pioneer Times
Sourdough, seeds, shovels and other basic survival needs made a comeback
Reproduction
Vaccination Protects Pregnant People and Their Babies from Severe COVID
Studies show the vaccines against the disease not only can be safely given to people who are expecting but can also save lives
Vaccines
Pregnant and Unvaccinated: Delta’s Deadly Toll
The number of pregnant people suffering from severe COVID is preventable tragedy
Public Health
Why We Need to Upgrade Our Face Masks—and Where to Get Them
High-quality respirators such as N95s and K95s are now widely available and provide the best protection against COVID, according to experts. Why aren’t more people wearing them?
Pharmaceuticals
Fringe Doctors’ Groups Promote Ivermectin for COVID despite a Lack of Evidence
The organizations touting unproved protocols for the antiparasitic drug may be harming vaccination efforts
Epidemiology
Closest Known Relatives of Virus Behind COVID-19 Found in Laos
Studies of bats in China and Laos show southeast Asia is a hotspot for potentially dangerous viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2
Medicine
Do Monoclonal Antibodies Help COVID Patients?
Experts explain what this treatment involves, who needs it and how to get it
Epidemiology
Even Mild Cases of COVID May Leave a Mark on the Brain
The new findings, although preliminary, are raising concerns about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19
Behavior
Unvaccinated Workers Say They’d Rather Quit Than Get a Shot, but Data Suggest Otherwise
The actual number who resign rather than get the vaccine is much smaller than the survey data suggest
Public Health
COVID, Quickly, Episode 15: Booster Shot Approvals—plus Vaccines for Kids?
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.You can listen to all past episodes here...
Vaccines
When Will Kids’ COVID Vaccines Be Available?
Pfizer expects to have safety and efficacy data on five- to 11-year-olds by the end of the month, but federal authorities must still review it
Vaccines
Third COVID Vaccine Shot Boosts Protection in Israeli Study
The risk of severe disease dropped by factor of almost 20 in people over 60—but some dispute the benefits of offering an additional dose
