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A study from South Africa released Tuesday showed that two doses of Pfizer vaccine may offer 70% protection from severe illness. It also showed that omicron seems to cause less-severe illness than earlier variants. However, as scientists suspected, the variant is substantially more contagious and appears able to reinfect people who had an earlier variant.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
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The spread of omicron in the U.K. has reached "phenomenal" levels in London, and the Health Secretary was reported saying that new school shutdowns couldn't be ruled out. Separately, a study says poor mental health was the U.K.'s leading reason behind sick days in 2021.
In other news, a clampdown on smoking in townhouses and condominiums in a Californian town; failings in the foster care system in Dallas; sanctions against unlicensed ambulance services staff in Omaha; a therapy scheme for Black men in St. Louis; and breast cancer.
Flu levels are low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, but warned that numbers were rising. The Salt Lake Tribune reports on calls for vaccinating children against influenza. The rise of extreme poverty around the world, and the link between anger and strokes are also in the news.
Meanwhile, news outlets cover developments of CAR-T treatments against lymphomas and multiple myeloma. Bluebird Bio's gene therapy for beta-thalassemia, Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, and the retirement of Abbott Laboratories' executive chairman are also in the news.
For the 2021-22 season, applications to U.S. medical schools jumped 17.8%. But interestingly, underrepresented minorities were better represented than usual. Separately, CBS News covers the efforts of a medical illustrator to include more Black people in illustrations, which are usually white.
Andrew Bosworth, who next year will become chief technical officer for Meta, Facebook's parent company, said the company has done a lot to dispel false information. Also in the news are reports of a rise in covid cases.
A Supreme Court decision Friday allows the state law that bans abortions after six weeks to stand but says clinics that provide the procedures can go forward with their efforts to overturn the law. Meanwhile, California's governor says he would like to use the same mechanism the Texas law uses to outlaw assault rifles in his state.
But in Michigan, where some hospitals are desperate for more health care workers, federal assistance has run out and personnel are in short supply.
There's some good news from South Africa, which has so far found omicron cases to be milder than delta. But experts say the variant's quick spread in places like the United Kingdom should serve as a warning sign for the U.S. of a potential wave that could be a back-breaker for health care systems.
The mandate, which starts today and is in effect until Jan. 15, applies to all patrons and staff in public places. And starting Tuesday in New York City, children ages 5 to 11 will be required to have proof of vaccination for most indoor activities.
President Joe Biden’s top medical adviser says the U.S. is "very well aware of the issue with equity" and is working hard to provide millions of doses of vaccine to poorer countries. In other news, concerns remain about U.S. military members who won't get the shot, and demand for boosters increases in Texas as omicron shows up.
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency says its real-world study found that a third vaccine shot delivers 70-75% protection against severe covid from the omicron variant. Other studies confirm booster benefits, while also determining that just two shots drastically drops efficacy. News outlets report on the flood of data emerging.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The Supreme Court justices ruled that Texas abortion providers can sue over the state’s ban on most abortions but allowed the law to remain in effect during those challenges.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Opinion writers examine these covid issues.
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