Gates Foundation to spend $120M on access to Merck’s antiviral COVID-19 pill

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says it will spend $120 million to boost access to generic versions of drugmaker Merck’s antiviral COVID-19 pill for lower income countries, if the drug gets approved by regulators.

COVID-19 cases soar in Czech Republic; new restrictions imposed

The Czech Republic has been hit by a steep rise in coronavirus infections that have reached levels unseen since late April. In response, the government will require everyone to wear face coverings at workplaces.

US details plans to roll out COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11

Kids aged 5 to 11 will soon be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and the White House is detailing plans for the expected authorization of the Pfizer shot.

CDC to continue recommending masks in all schools, Walensky says

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said officials will “continue to recommend masks in all schools for all people in those schools.” The reason: time.

AY4.2 variant: CDC says new delta sublineage of COVID-19 seen in US

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Wednesday the AY4.2 sublineage recently identified in the United Kingdom has also been observed in the United States.

All New York City employees will be required to get COVID vaccine

All city workers, excluding uniformed correction officers, will be required to have at least one dose by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.

School lunch shortages impact MPS, plus 200 food service vacancies

A nutritional lunch is always important for school kids, but when the options become slim, district leaders must adjust. School districts in southeast Wisconsin are dealing with food supply shortages and asking for patience.

Wisconsin eager for kids' COVID vaccine: 'A huge help for us'

Health experts say we are getting much closer to children ages 5-11 being able to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Racism Milwaukee County public health crisis, NYC follows suit

Milwaukee County led the nation in declaring racism a public health crisis. Many other cities have followed suit. New York City is the latest, and the Big Apple credits a Wisconsin woman with launching what's become a national push.

CDC: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 93% effective at preventing hospitalization in ages 12-18

Between June 1 and Sept. 30 of this year, the CDC performed a case-controlled study of Pfizer’s vaccine in adolescents at 19 pediatric hospitals in 16 states, according to the study published on Tuesday.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tests positive for COVID-19

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday morning despite being fully vaccinated, according to a statement from DHS spokesperson Marsha Espinosa.

COVID-19 boosters: US expected to authorize mix-and-match shots

The FDA is expected to authorize the mixing and matching of COVID-19 booster shots this week in an effort to provide flexibility, the AP reports.

FDA unveils proposal for over-the-counter hearing aids

The move follows years of pressure from medical experts and consumer advocates to make the devices cheaper and easier to get.

Salmonella in poultry: USDA announces steps to help reduce illnesses

The USDA on Tuesday announced several steps to control salmonella in poultry plants in the hope of reducing the number of related illnesses each year.

Phthalates: Study finds chemicals in consumer goods linked to early death

Daily exposure to synthetic chemicals called phthalates was linked to roughly 100,000 early deaths each year in older Americans in a new study.