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From the CDC Updated Dec. 14, 2021, People with Certain Medical Conditions: Older Adults Are More Likely to Get Severely Ill From COVID-19. More Than 81% of COVID-19 Deaths Occur in People Over Age 65
COVID-19 vaccines (initial doses and boosters) and preventive measures for COVID-19 are important, especially if you are older or have multiple or severe health conditions. Learn more about CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, including how medical conditions and other factors inform recommendations. If you have a medical condition, learn more about Actions You Can Take. Older adults are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. More than 81% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65. The number of deaths among people over age 65 is 80 times higher than the number of deaths among people aged 18-29. more »
Updated Once More: The Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope Into Orbit Dec. 25, 2021: The Premier Deep Space Observatory for The Next Decade.“Webb is an exemplary mission that signifies the epitome of perseverance”
Once more an updated launch of the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit Dec. 25, 2021, to serve as the premier deep space observatory for the next decade. The Webb telescope’s revolutionary technology will explore every phase of cosmic history – from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, and everything in between. Webb will reveal new and unexpected discoveries, and help humankind understand the origins of the universe and our place in it. more »
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes First Oral Antiviral for Treatment of COVID-19
“Today’s authorization introduces the first treatment for COVID-19 that is in the form of a pill that is taken orally — a major step forward in the fight against this global pandemic,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “This authorization provides a new tool to combat COVID-19 at a crucial time in the pandemic as new variants emerge and promises to make antiviral treatment more accessible to patients who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.” For a complete list of drugs that should not be taken in combination with Paxlovid, see the fact sheet for healthcare providers. more »
The National Institutes of Health Report Details 20 Years of Advances and Challenges of Americans’ Oral Health Which Plays a Central Role in Overall Health
"Healthy behaviors can improve and maintain an individual’s oral health, but these behaviors are also shaped by social and economic conditions. Oral and medical conditions often share common risk factors, and just as medical conditions and their treatments can influence oral health, so can oral conditions and their treatments affect other health issues. Substance misuse and mental health conditions negatively affect the oral health of many. Group disparities around oral health, identified 20 years ago, have not been adequately addressed, and greater efforts are needed to tackle both the social and commercial determinants that create these inequities and the systemic biases that perpetuate them." more »