Vaccination Rates Decline Worldwide
Vaccination rates have significantly decreased around the world from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to a 2023 immunization coverage report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF last month. The report, released on July 14, 2024, is the world’s most extensive dataset on vaccination trends targeting 14 diseases. This report analyzed estimates from 185 […]
Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic and Wegovy Linked to Vision Loss
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs sold under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, has been linked to a condition that causes vision loss, according to a new study published on July 3, 2024 in JAMA Ophthalmology. In the study, patients who were prescribed semaglutide were more likely to develop non-arteritic anterior […]
U.S. Government Gives Moderna $176 Million to Develop mRNA Bird Flu Biologic
On July 2, 2024, the U.S. government awarded a $176 million contract to Moderna, Inc. for the development of an mRNA H5N1 avian influenza biologic labeled a “vaccine,” as the media reports concerns about bird flu in dairy cows and farm workers in multiple states. The funds from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development […]
Study Finds That Millions Who Take Statins May Not Need Them
A new study has determined that millions of people currently taking widely prescribed statin drugs to prevent heart disease may not need them. Statins, which are sold under brand names like Lipitor, Crestor, and Zocor, are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. They are used to lower LDL cholesterol, a primary driver […]
Low-Dose Aspirin Use Linked to Increased Internal Bleeding
A new survey published on June 25, 2024 in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found that tens of millions of adults aged 60 and older are unknowingly putting themselves at increased risk for internal bleeding by routinely taking low-dose aspirin. The survey results suggest that the drug’s potential risks may outweigh the drug’s potential […]
Former CDC Director Warns of Imminent Bird Flu Pandemic
The former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Robert Redfield, MD, has issued a warning that a bird flu pandemic is imminent because the H5N1 virus is spreading among cattle herds in the United States and there are reports of H5N1 virus infections in humans. The CDC is currently investigating […]