Many Americans can now get updated Covid-19 vaccinations thanks to the US Food and Drug Administration.
Pfizer, BioNTech and other companies announced Wednesday that the FDA had approved Covid, a mRNA vaccine based on mRNA. It is for adults aged 65 years and older as well as those ages 5-64 who have underlying conditions that increase their risk of serious illness. The vaccine is aimed at the LP.8.1 coronavirus strain.
Moderna announced Wednesday it received approval for two mRNA vaccines. Spikevax is for those aged 6 months to 64 years with an underlying disease, and for anyone over 65. mNexspike is for anyone aged 12 to 64 and has an underlying illness. The two formulations are both designed to target the XFG variant of the JN.1 strain coronavirus.
Novavax, the drugmaker, said that Nuvaxovid is the only Covid protein vaccine in the US. It was approved by the FDA on Wednesday, for all 65-year-olds and those aged 12 to 64 with underlying medical conditions. The JN.1 virus is targeted.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and kidney, lung, or liver disease can all increase the likelihood of a severe illness.
The federal government, under the Trump administration has changed its recommendation for the Covid vaccine from universal to more limited. It is now recommended that anyone 6 months or older consult a health care provider prior to getting the shot.
The FDA’s independent vaccine committee voted in May to recommend XFG as the variant targeted for this year’s vaccinations.
Insurance companies continue to pay for the vaccine, even though the CDC is yet to issue an official recommendation. The vaccines are expected to be available in pharmacies and doctor’s offices by September, according to experts.
The number of Covid cases isn’t particularly high at the moment, nor are hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. The CDC data shows that the rate of test positives for the week ended August 15, which is the last one before early February, has risen in all states.

ABC News reported Thursday that the Federal Aviation Administration was looking at firing two LaGuardia Airport Air Traffic Controllers. They had gone home on March 22, when two pilots were killed in a crash between a Port Authority Fire Truck and a plane.
The agency is looking into allegations that the unidentified controllers left about an hour early before the Air Canada Express jet and the rescue-and-firefighting vehicle collided, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the FAA’s push to fire the controllers.
Two pilots, Capt. Antoine Forest, First Officer Mackenzie Gunther and 39 other people were injured, including two Port Authority employees in the truck.
Solange Tremblay was injured when she fell from the plane. She fractured her leg.
According to the NTSB, there were two controllers working in the LGA Tower the night of crash. However, one was also doing two other jobs at the same time while the second controller coordinated a separate emergency. A NTSB April report noted that two controllers was standard at this time and shift.
Many controllers leave work early due to staff shortages.
The investigation is still ongoing and the final report should be available in between 12-24 months.
Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary, said that the vast majority of air-traffic controllers were patriots. They showed up to work every day, completed their shifts, then came back again and did it all over.
In the statement, it was stated that “but when a few individuals exploit the American taxpayers, add unfairly more work to fellow controllers and affect the airspace, we are forced to act.” “We will not tolerate any fraud and are taking the appropriate actions to prevent illegal practices from disrupting travelers.”
In a press release, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated that they are “discussing” these allegations with FAA leaders.
In a statement, the union stated that “we believe these discussions are an appropriate forum to address the issue”.

Federal health officials announced Thursday that parasitic illness cases associated with recalled iceberg salad have been confirmed in at least 20 states. This is the biggest outbreak of this kind to date in the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration scientists confirmed cyclosporiasis in Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. The outbreak has also affected Arkansas, Iowa Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Massachusetts Maine Michigan Missouri Nebraska New Hampshire North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania West Virginia West Virginia
According to the FDA, the number of sickened by the parasite Cyclospora has now risen from 10,900 last week. Two deaths have been reported, both in Michigan. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, both residents suffered from “significant health issues”.
According to the FDA, state officials, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have concentrated their investigations on a lettuce farm operated in central Mexico by Taylor Farms. Taylor Farms is a U.S. major produce supplier. CBS News found that the FDA had last checked Taylor Farms de Mexico seven years prior to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis.
In cooperation with Mexican officials, the FDA stated that its employees continue to test and inspect produce on the farm. According to the U.S. government agency, it is “confident that all of the recalled iceberg salad related to this particular cyclospora epidemic has been taken off the market.”
According to the CDC, Cyclospora causes diarrhea with frequent and explosive bowel movements. Most outbreaks occur in late spring or summer.
Heat-loving parasites infect the bowels, and then spread through feces. The illness called cyclosporiasis is much less common than other foodborne diseases caused by germs such as salmonella or E. coli. Many cases of cyclosporiasis are not linked to any specific foods or sources.

According to people with knowledge of the situation, two air traffic controllers left their post early at LaGuardia Airport. This could have led to a shortage in the tower before the March crash between a jet and a firetruck that killed two people.
The Federal Aviation Administration has taken steps to terminate these controllers, according to the sources, while it investigates timecard inconsistencies at various locations throughout the United States. Timecard fraud is considered to be early departures which are not noted.
F.A.A. The F.A.A. is crackingdown on this practice, which raises the question of whether towers that are already understaffed have fewer employees than their official statistics indicate.
F.A.A. moves coincide with the National Transportation Safety Board’s ongoing investigation into the accident between an Air Canada Express plane and a Fire Truck on March 22, 2009. N.T.S.B. spokesperson A spokesperson for the N.T.S.B. The F.A.A.’s findings were not commented on, but the board said it was working hard to find the cause of the accident.

Sound Transit’s Board approved Thursday a pilot project to test and install fare gates in up to fourteen stations along the Link 1 and 2 Lines. Installation preparation is underway, and plans are to begin operations by 2029-2030.
According to the agency, this program aims to increase the recovery of fareboxes and improve compliance with fares as the network grows.
Sound Transit considers fare gates at busiest light rail stations to boost fare collection
Since its opening, Link’s Proof-of-Payment system operates without turningtiles or gates.
Sound Transit 3, which will expand to West Seattle and Everett as well as Tacoma and Ballard, is planning 39 new stations.
Nine stations will be affected by the new fare gates, including those in the core of the system, serving the 2 and 1 Lines. These stations are: International District/Chinatown (International District/Chinatown), Pioneer Square, Westlake Station, Capitol Hill Station, University of Washington station, U District and Roosevelt stations.
The list also includes the line terminus station Lynnwood City Center and Downtown Redmond as well as SeaTac/Airport Station, Bellevue Downtown Station, and Federal Way Downtown Station.
Sound Transit says that earlier studies showed the costs of installing gates to be greater than the potential revenue gain when the system is smaller and serves more stations at street level.
Sound Transit reported that a study released earlier in the year showed that fare gate installation could achieve a break-even financial point within two to three months.
According to the preliminary estimate of the agency, gates can increase net revenue between $32.8 and $82.7 millions annually.
Sound Transit policy requires that Link fare revenues cover 22 percent of the operating costs.
Despite the continuing pressure on costs, it is crucial to meet this target.
Pilot will examine if gates can improve the passenger experience by increasing safety, cleanliness and wayfinding during large events.
Sound Transit has cited the fare gates programs of SEPTA BART LA Metro, and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
It will then begin to contract with manufacturers, suppliers and installers of the gates. The agency will also plan public engagement work and technological developments ahead of its roll-out.
The staff is required to submit a framework for evaluating the fare gates pilot, with goals and metrics to the board by 2027.