One-third of US child COVID deaths happened during Omicron surge Since the beginning of the year, 550 children in the US have died from COVID-19, compared with 1,017 kids over the preceding 22 months. New York Post

As many as a third of all child deaths from Covid in the US have occurred during the Omicron surge of the pandemic.

Children seem to be facing increasing risks from Covid-19 even as mask mandates drop across the country, and vaccination rates among children stall out at alarmingly low rates.

Long Covid patients, in search of relief, turn to private company

NBC News

A full two years into the coronavirus pandemic, long-haul Covid patients remain sick and in desperate search of answers. They've lost jobs. They've lost their sense of self. Many say they have lost faith in the medical community.

Despite multiple studies, the launch of dozens of specialized long Covid clinics and $1.15 billion in federal funding for the National Institutes of Health to study the condition, there remains a dearth of proven treatments for people who are suffering from lingering illness after their infection. 

"There is no one right answer for many of our patients," said Dr. Ben Abramoff, director of the Post-COVID Assessment and Recovery Clinic at Penn Medicine, which has seen more than 1,100 long Covid patients.

France lifts COVID-19 rules on unvaccinated, mask wearing PARIS (AP) — France lifted most COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, abolishing the need to wear face masks in most settings and allowing people who aren’t vaccinated back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues. AP NEWS

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Pfizer plans to submit data on a 4th Covid shot to FDA Federal health officials are continuing to monitor whether another booster dose will be needed and, if so, when. NBC News

Pfizer is close to submitting data to the Food and Drug Administration on a fourth dose of its Covid-19 vaccine, according to CEO Albert Bourla.

Health of Ukranian citizens under threat from conflict and displacement

The Lancet:

2 years into pandemic, world takes cautious steps forward PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — With COVID-19 case numbers plummeting, Emily Safrin did something she hadn’t done since the pandemic began two years ago: She put her fears aside and went to a concert. The fully vaccinated and boosted restaurant server planned to keep her mask on, but as the reggaeton star Bad Bunny took the stage and the energy in the crowd soared, she ripped it off. AP NEWS

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How COVID treatments evolved over time from monoclonal antibodies to antiviral pills It's hard to imagine a time when treatments weren't available for COVID-19. Now, two years later, there are many treatments both for patients who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms and those who end up hospitalized. On the second anniversary of the WHO's declaration, doctors reflected on the evolution of COVID treatments and the variety that are accessible. YahooNews

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A 2nd booster may come this fall. It might not be the same shot you got last time. Moderna is developing a so-called bivalent vaccine that combines an omicron-specific shot with the company’s original Covid-19 vaccine. NBC News

If another Covid-19 booster shot is needed this fall, it might not be the same shot you got the last time.

U.S. health officials say that coronavirus cases could pick up again in the colder months, and scientists are continuing to evaluate whether another dose will be needed.