Health

CDC drops quarantine, screening recommendations for COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s top public health agency on Thursday relaxed its COVID-19 guidelines, dropping the recommendation that Americans quarantine themselves if they come into close contact with an infected person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…

US to declare health emergency over monkeypox outbreak

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will declare a public health emergency to bolster the federal response to the monkeypoxoutbreak that has infected more than 6,600 Americans, two people familiar with the matter said Thursday. The announcement will free up federal money and…

First case of Monkeypox identified in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss.- Today, the Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting its first case of Monkeypox in a Mississippi resident. The specimen was tested at the Mississippi State Department of Health Public Health Laboratory. An investigation to identify persons who…

At-home COVID tests available at county health departments

Starting Monday, free at-home COVID-19 tests will be available at all Mississippi county health departments. Each family can receive eight tests (four packages) of BinaxNOW antigen rapid self-tests per month. No doctor’s note or documentation of any kind is necessary.…

New York reports 1st US polio case in nearly a decade

NEW YORK (AP) — An unvaccinated young adult from New York recently contracted polio, the first U.S. case in nearly a decade, health officials said Thursday. Officials said the patient, who lives in Rockland County, had developed paralysis. The person…

CDC advisers endorse more traditional Novavax COVID shot

U.S. adults who haven’t gotten any COVID-19 shots yet should consider a new option from Novavax -- a more traditional kind of vaccine, influential government advisers said Tuesday. Regulators authorized the nation’s first so-called protein vaccine against COVID-19 last week, but…

White House urges caution on COVID variants, pushes boosters

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is calling on people to exercise renewed caution about COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of getting booster shots for those who are eligible and wearing masks indoors as two new highly transmissible variants are spreading rapidly across…

US allows pharmacists to prescribe Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pharmacists can prescribe the leading COVID-19 pill directly to patients under a new U.S. policy announced Wednesday that’s intended to expand use of Pfizer’s drug Paxlovid. The Food and Drug Administration said pharmacists can begin screening patients…

Singing River Health Systems makes Murdock CEO

The Board of Trustees announces that Tiffany Murdock will serve as Chief Executive Officer. Murdock has served as interim CEO since February when Lee Bond left SRHS. She is the first woman CEO of Singing River Health System. “On behalf…

Mississippi AG certifies state's abortion 'trigger law'

  This morning, in according to state law, Attorney General Lynn Fitch published the required certification for what is known as the state’s trigger law. “Mississippi’s laws to promote life are solid and thanks to the Court’s clear and strong…

CDC panel recommends US seniors get souped-up flu vaccines

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans 65 and older should get newer, souped-up flu vaccines because regular shots don’t provide them enough protection, a federal advisory panel said Wednesday. The panel unanimously recommended certain flu vaccines that might offer more or…

Shots for tots: COVID vaccinations start for US kids

By LINDSEY TANNER and ANGIE WANG Associated Press The nation’s youngest children are getting their chance at vaccines for COVID-19. Shots began Monday at a few locations, though they were expected to ramp up after the Juneteenth federal holiday. The…

Officials: Millions of COVID-19 shots ordered for youngest

NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses have been ordered for small children in anticipation of possible federal authorization next week, White House officials say. The government allowed pharmacies and states to start placing orders last week, with…