US FDA external advisors recommend targeting XFG for next COVID-19 vaccine. WHO recommends targeting LP.8.1 (same as last year). Both are descendants of BA.2.86 and JN.1. The somewhat more different BA.3.2 variant does not seem to be taking over.
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Did COVID-19 infection cause dormant cancers to come back?
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09332-0
But could COVID-19 vaccine be helpful in cancer treatment?
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COVID-19 vaccination is associated with reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in VA study:
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I am very appreciative of you posting the latest developments, research etc. Thank you!
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2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines (against LP.8.1 or JN.1) were about 50% effective against emergency and urgent care needs for COVID-19, and about 55% effective against needing hospitalization for COVID-19, according to this study:
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Son came down with a respiratory illness, started with 102 fever Thursday which settled to 98-100 yesterday. Otherwise just cold like symptoms, including mild cough. He had an old COVID test which theoretically expired 2024; it showed lines in control and COVID windows. I’m sending him new tests, which should arrive later tonight so he can double check. He hasn’t knowingly has the virus, although we are suspicious about a bad flu like illness in February 2020 since they later determined the virus was present in Seattle at that time.
Anyway, poor baby, he’s in the process of moving apartments with a lease overlap so did bring some stuff over today. Otherwise just treating the symptoms because I guess that’s all one can really do these days.
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There’s a lot of COVID out there right now. It tends to peak in the late summer and then again in the winter. I’ve heard, but can’t verify, that if you use an expired test and get a positive, you can be pretty sure it’s COVID, but if you get a negative, it means nothing. Hope he gets over it quickly.
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Isn’t it based on whether the C line shows up?
A “positive test” by definition means both C and Test lines are lit up. If Test is and C is not, it is by definition “inconclusive.”
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Paxlovid?
He has none of the underlying conditions for which Paxlovid would be prescribed. It’s not generally recommended for otherwise healthy adults under 50, as I understand, since there are not proven benefits.
Now me, I would qualify!
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Reporting in that the expired test was indeed accurate.
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So sorry your S has covid, while moving his apartment, no less! Hope he rests and is back to 100% soon! We all have asthma & other health conditions so when we got covid, we all took Paxlovid, including my kids in their 30s.
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FDA approves a new (been available in Japan for a few years) drug for post covid exposure prophylaxis.
Not covered by Medicare. Can be free to the privately insured. Otherwise $1400 per treatment course.
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Interestingly to me, University of Washington actually prescribed Paxlovid to son based solely on his online questionnaire. I can only presume because of the 102 temp. It dropped last night; normal this morning, and he’s been much better today (other than congestion and sore throat). Since it’s day 5 and he has no fever or any underlying conditions, it seems there is no benefit to his starting the meds now.
Generally, you have to take Paxlovid within 48 hours of starting symptoms (sooner is better). We all took it as soon as we started symptoms & tested +. It really helped us and helped me to quickly test negative after 5 days. H and D took about 10 days before they tested - and H had to take 2 courses of Paxlovid.
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We were both wondering why they prescribed it so he was going to ask out of curiosity.
Maybe they neglected to notice that he started symptoms and had a positive test so long ago. The providers (especially in primary care) are very rushed and sometimes miss these details.
Looks like they’ve expanded the time during which you can begin taking Paxlovid to 5-7 days after 1st symptoms.
I am not so trusting of the CDC as I once was.
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Hmmmm, I wonder why? I suspect it’s similar to other antivirals—best taken in 1st 48 hours. That’s when I’ve always taken mine & it was like magic how it really made a difference. Both Tamiflu & Paxlovid worked for me that way, in 1st 24 hours, actually!
My Ophthamologist relative says it’s placebo effect, but for me, it’s magic, when taken PROMPTLY!
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