Novel Coronavirus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration actually allowed mixing and matching of COVID-19 booster doses starting last year, after it allowed people to get their first booster dose.

Last week, the state reported 68 COVID-positive patients in hospitals around Alaska. This week, there were 37.

Reconfigured shots are safe, but had been delayed amid inspection of an Indiana packaging plant last month.

The impromptu remarks on “60 Minutes” come as officials struggle to secure new funding for coronavirus vaccines, tests and treatments.

Health officials worry that the lackluster vaccination uptake might leave the nation vulnerable to coronavirus clusters in the fall and winter.

The results suggest researchers should be tracking older patients who recover from COVID to see if they go on to show signs of memory loss, declining brain function or Alzheimer’s disease.

Hospitalizations of COVID-positive patients were up slightly from the prior week to 66, according to state health data reported Wednesday.

The World Health Organization said deaths fell by 22% in the past week, with just over 11,000 reported worldwide.

The new shot is for Alaskans 12 and older who are at least two months out from completing their primary two-dose vaccine series or any previous booster shot.

The state health department reported no additional COVID-19 deaths among residents.

Infectious disease experts are guardedly optimistic that the reformulated covid boosters and built-up immunity will prevent a fall covid surge.

Here are some things to know.

Statewide, 68% of Alaskans six months and older had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized its first update to COVID-19 vaccines, and shots could begin within days.

The Biden administration says the U.S. stockpile of tests is running out because Congress hasn’t approved additional funding.

Statewide, 67.8% of Alaskans six months and older had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As omicron-specific vaccines near, scientists debate how “original antigenic sin” will influence immune responses

The analysis found that while risks of many common psychiatric disorders returned to normal within a couple of months, people remained at increased risk for some two years after contracting COVID-19.

Of the 86 people with COVID-19 hospitalized around the state, 10 were on ventilators, according to state data.

The updated guidance puts more of the responsibility for limiting viral spread on individuals, rather than on schools, businesses and other institutions.

Twenty-one additional COVID-19 deaths, occurring mostly between May and July, were reported by the state this week.

Longer isolation periods carry very real effects, such as keeping people away from family and friends and out of work. While it may be disruptive, isolating is intended to stymie the spread of the coronavirus.

Vaccinated and masked college students had virtually no chance of catching COVID-19 in the classroom last fall, according to a sweeping study of 33,000 Boston University students that bolsters standard prevention measures.

The state health department did not report any new COVID-19 deaths.

With the extremely contagious BA.5 variant spreading, and research showing people are often infectious for more than five days, CDC guidance has drawn criticism from some infectious-disease experts.