NPR-COVID19

Health

COVID Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11 Is Safe And Effective, Pfizer Says

Jaclyn Diaz

Pfizer and BioNTech say that early trial results show their vaccine established a strong antibody response against the coronavirus. FDA review is still needed.

A medical worker tests a person for COVID-19 last month in Mobile, Ala. A surge of coronavirus cases in the state has stretched hospital ICUs to capacity, making it difficult for patients with other conditions to find ICU beds.

A Man Died After Being Turned Away From 43 ICUs At Capacity Due To COVID, Family Says

Scott Neuman

Ray DeMonia didn't die from COVID-19, but after the 73-year-old experienced a cardiac emergency, he was turned away from dozens of packed ICUs, his family says.

Weeks after getting sick from COVID-19, Kathleen Hipps is still experiencing symptoms, even though she was fully vaccinated.

What We Know About Breakthrough Infections And Long COVID

Rob Stein

As the delta variant causes more vaccinated people to get "breakthrough infections," concerns are rising that even the vaccinated could develop long COVID symptoms in rare cases.

At the region's biggest hospital, Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene, 97% of COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated and all of the intensive care unit beds are filled.

Idaho's Hospitals Are Overwhelmed, But Many Locals Remain Skeptical Of Vaccines

Nate Hegyi

At least 10 hospitals in the state started rationing care for everyone because they're filled with COVID-19 patients. But there's deep distrust of authority.

The CDC's new research found that those who were vaccinated were nearly five times less likely to get infected, 10 times less likely to get so sick they ended up in the hospital and 11 times less likely to die.

Unvaccinated People Are 11 Times More Likely To Die Of COVID-19, New Research Finds

Vanessa Romo

The COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide powerful protection, even against the delta variant, the CDC said. It also found that vaccinated people were 10 times less likely to be hospitalized.

Megan Alexandra Blankenbiller became sick before she was able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. She spent her final days in the hospital trying to help others avoid the same mistake.

Before Dying, An Unvaccinated TikTok User Begged Others Not to Repeat Her Mistake

Sharon Pruitt-Young

Megan Alexandra Blankenbiller got sick before she was able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and she spent her time in the hospital trying to help others to get the shot.

Getting vaccinated during pregnancy is one of the best ways to make sure your vulnerable newborn benefits from your antibodies to the coronavirus, doctors say.

Babies, The Delta Variant And COVID: What Parents Need To Know

Selena Simmons-Duffin

The rate of new cases of COVID-19 among babies and children under 4 years old in the U.S. recently surpassed the rate of new cases among adults older than 65. Here's how to protect newborns.

The FDA, CDC and American Medical Association have all warned against the use of ivermectin (shown here in India) in treating COVID-19 patients.

An Ohio Judge Reverses An Earlier Order Forcing A Hospital To Administer Ivermectin

Becky Sullivan

Doctors at West Chester Hospital were forced to give ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient after his wife went to court. A judge has reversed the order, citing lack of medical support for the treatment.

Here are the key reasons to get a flu shot — now

Fran Kritz

A mild flu season last year means fewer folks are immune to strains starting to circulate now. Scientists predict 100,000 to 400,000 extra U.S. hospitalizations with the deadly flu virus this year.

ECMO is the highest level of life support — beyond a ventilator, which pumps oxygen via a tube through the windpipe into the lungs. Instead, the ECMO process basically functions as a heart and lungs outside of the body — routing the blood via tubing to a machine that oxygenates it, then pumps it back into the patient.

Across The COVID-Ravaged South, High-Level Life Support Is Difficult To Find

Blake Farmer

ECMO, the highest level of mechanical life support, functions as a temporary heart and lungs for some of COVID-19's sickest patients. But the waitlist is too long for many patients who need it.