Recent changes to federal COVID vaccine recommendations mean fewer people, including children, pregnant women and people under 65 are likely to be vaccinated. Some worry this could lead to more people with long-term complications.
At the World Health Assembly, 193 members nations voted to adopt a treat calling for better preventive measures and global cooperation. But there are still details to hash out.
Very few humans have gone up against bird flu. But we've all dealt with seasonal flu for years. Some of our immune systems might be primed to fend off a worse case, research finds.
Five years after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, there has been progress — and backsliding in the way the world responds to infectious disease.
The COVID-19 lockdown "felt like solitary confinement," a San Diego resident tells NPR. Even after many pandemic rules lifted, American society remains deeply fractured.
When Donald Trump returns to the White House, he's expected to issue a series of orders with far-reaching impact on global health — from abortion services to support for the World Health Organization.
The World Health Organization has issued a report updating terminology and explanations regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus. See if you're up on the latest vocab.
The Biden administration has launched a new effort to improve the ability of the U.S. to prevent, detect and respond to global health threats. Some experts say the new strategy doesn't go far enough.
Oregon schools are struggling more than others across the country to recover academic learning losses. Experts say one likely reason is a lack of statewide consistency in tutoring interventions.
A team of scientists argue that new vaccines and treatments wouldn't be critical if humans could figure out how to stop viruses from spilling over from animals in the first place.
Physician Céline Gounder traveled to India and Bangladesh to bring back unheard stories from the eradication of smallpox, many from health workers whose voices have been missing from the record.
"Long COVID has affected every part of my life," said Virginia resident Rachel Beale said at a recent Senate hearing. "I wake up every day feeling tired, nauseous and dizzy. I immediately start planning when I can lay down again." Beale is far from alone. Many of her experiences have been echoed by others dealing with long COVID. It's a constellation of debilitating symptoms that range from brain fog and intense physical fatigue to depression and anxiety. But there's new, promising research that sheds light onto some symptoms. NPR health correspondent Will Stone talks with Short Wave host Regina G. Barber about the state of long COVID research — what we know, what we don't and when we can expect treatments or even cures for it. Have more COVID questions you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you.
