Health & Medicine

  1. Health & Medicine

    Here’s what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccines

    There are still important unknowns about how Pfizer’s vaccine and others will work once they get injected in people around the world.

    By Tina Hesman Saey and Jonathan Lambert
  2. Health & Medicine

    The ‘last mile’ for COVID-19 vaccines could be the biggest challenge yet

    The need for cold storage and booster shots could create problems for distributing coronavirus vaccines to nearly everyone in the world.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  3. Health & Medicine

    The U.K. is the first country to authorize a fully tested COVID-19 vaccine

    Pfizer will deliver the first of 40 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine promised to the United Kingdom in the coming days.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  4. Health & Medicine

    Health care workers and long-term care residents should get COVID-19 vaccines first

    With an initial 40 million doses of the vaccines, enough for 20 million people, anticipated by year-end, health officials are setting priorities.

    By Aimee Cunningham
  5. Health & Medicine

    Long-lasting shots work better than daily pills to prevent HIV in at-risk women

    A more discreet HIV prevention method — a shot once every eight weeks —could help to boost use in women at risk.

    By Aimee Cunningham
  6. Health & Medicine

    Coronavirus shutdowns don’t need to be all or nothing

    Governments are implementing more targeted restrictions like limiting restaurant capacity to slow a fall surge. Research suggests they could work.

    By Jonathan Lambert
  7. Health & Medicine

    The FDA has approved the first drug to treat the rapid-aging disease progeria

    Children with a rare genetic disorder called progeria age quickly and often die before they are 15. A newly approved drug may give them more time.

    By Carolyn Wilke
  8. Health & Medicine

    Immunity to COVID-19 may persist six months or more

    Even after recovery, the body continues to improve its antibody response to the coronavirus — perhaps thanks to viral bits hiding in the intestine.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  9. Health & Medicine

    Oxford and AstraZeneca say their COVID-19 vaccine works too

    A third major vaccine, which may be easier to distribute than others, appears to prevent disease and maybe transmission of the coronavirus.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  10. Health & Medicine

    Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer’s need to be kept so cold

    Both Pfizer and Moderna built their vaccines on RNA. Freezing them keeps their fragile components from breaking down.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  11. Health & Medicine

    New Pfizer results show its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95% effective

    With final results – including showing its vaccine is 94 percent effective in the elderly – Pfizer is poised to request emergency use authorization.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  12. Neuroscience

    Psilocybin may help treat depression, a small study finds

    Researchers found that a compound in psychedelic mushrooms eased depression symptoms, but larger studies are needed.

    By Laura Sanders