The race to an RSV vaccine could soon be over, decades after the first attempt The FDA is poised to approve multiple RSV vaccines this year. The leading candidates are for older adults, but shots to protect infants are in the pipeline. NBC News

Roughly six decades after the first attempt to develop a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, the Food and Drug Administration is poised to approve several shots by next winter.

Omicron hospital illness 54% deadlier than flu hospital cases, study finds Adults hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections in Switzerland died at 1.5 times the rate of those diagnosed as having influenza A or B. CIDRAP

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Analysis of a subgroup of patients hospitalized primarily for COVID-19 or flu found that the risk of death was 2.5 times higher, and the likelihood of ICU admission was 1.7 times higher, among Omicron than flu patients.

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Long-COVID patients report job, money issues in addition to lingering symptoms CIDRAP

Long-COVID patients have higher rates of unemployment and underemployment than their recovered peers and are likely to have persistent or new-onset symptoms, disabilities, and financial problems in the 6 months after hospitalization, according to two US studies published in JAMA Network Open. ...

San Francisco to end COVID-19 public health emergency declaration Feb. 28 San Francisco Department of Public Health announced that the city would end its COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, along with additional health orders on Feb. 28. ABC7 San Francisco

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Asthma patients report worse asthma control after COVID-19 People with asthma experienced worse control of their asthma after they had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19. CIDRAP

People with asthma in Hong Kong experienced worse control of their asthma after they had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19, according to findings yesterday in Respiratory Research.

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$24M committed to helping schools, libraries provide remote learning during pandemic - UPI.com The Federal Communications Commission is committing more than $24 million in funding to help provide students in multiple states with digital services, the agency announced Monday. UPI

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What happens to COVID vaccines and drugs authorized for emergency use when health emergency ends? A pandemic allows the Food and Drug Administration to authorize vaccines and drugs for emergency use, even after the health emergency ends. YahooNews

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Opinion: The COVID 'emergency' is ending. Here's who will be hurt most Dropping protections such as free tests and Medicaid continuous coverage will leave many uninsured and undocumented people without access to care for COVID-19. Los Angeles Times

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U.S. proposes Medicare, Medicaid programs to cut drug costs, including $2 generics The U.S. health department proposed on Tuesday three new pilot projects aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for people enrolled in government health insurance plans, including offering some essential generic drugs for $2 a month. Ahmed Aboulenein Reuters

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Five Priorities For Global Pandemic Preparedness - Health Policy Watch On 27 February, World Health Organization member states will meet to commence formal negotiations on a global pandemic preparedness agreement – unofficially Health Policy Watch

On 27 February, World Health Organization member states will meet to commence formal negotiations on a global pandemic preparedness agreement – unofficially turning the page from responding to COVID-19 to readying ourselves for future health emergencies.

Moderna says its COVID vaccine will remain free for all consumers, even those uninsured Moderna has announced it will provide its COVID vaccine for free to people without insurance, even after government money dries up. ABC News ABC News

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"Everyone in the United States will have access to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine regardless of their ability to pay," the company said in a statement.