Study: Highlighting harms of skipping COVID vaccines more effective than promoting benefits In the personal-benefit group, 65.5% said they will likely get vaccinated. CIDRAP

A new study in the Journal of Public Health suggests that it is more effective to emphasize the harms that come from not getting vaccinated rather than emphasizing the benefits of vaccination at the individual or community level.

...

Analysis: Journalists often didn't communicate uncertainty of evidence on unproven COVID drugs Scientific evidence of the efficacy of the unproven COVID-19 therapies hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and convalescent plasma was often presented in US news stories in the first months of the pandemic, but scientific uncertainty was commonly omitted and only rarely appeared in headlines or ledes, with possible implications for public health, researchers reported yesterday in JMIR Infodemiology. CIDRAP

...

U.S. COVID update (September 1): Deaths remain above 1,000 The COVID summer wave in the U.S. continued this week with nearly 178,000 new cases, along with more than 1,000 new deaths for the third week in a row, according to figures collected by BNO News. Cases however appear to be at or near a peak in most areas. At least 177,573 new cases were reported between August […] BNO News BNO News

The COVID summer wave in the U.S. continued this week with nearly 178,000 new cases, along with more than 1,000 new deaths for the third week in a row, according to figures collected by BNO News. Cases however appear to be at or near a peak in most areas.

...

COVID map update shows states with highest US rates While cases have steadily declined in some states, other areas are seeing a steady rise in infections. Newsweek

New data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the highest rates of infection are found in nine Southern and Central, with nearly 1 in 5 COVID tests coming out positive in these regions. However, the most significant rise in infections has been seen in the Northeast.

...

ALSO SEE: COVID still on the rise in parts of US

FDA authorizes Novavax's updated COVID vaccine targeting JN.1 strain

Aug 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted emergency use authorization for an updated version of Novavax's (NVAX.O)

Mosquito-borne illnesses are rising: Here's how to protect yourself Mosquitos love heat. And as summers get warmer, mosquito-borne illnesses are rising, in the U.S., Europe, and South and Central America. Here are some tips to protect yourself. NPR

...

Here’s what you need to know about protecting yourself from a potentially infectious mosquito bite.

Climate crisis threatens medical blood supply in US amid extreme weather Turnout at blood drives affected as summers get hotter and extreme weather causes cancellations, Red Cross warns The Guardian

...

US tests for bird flu in California dairy cattle The U.S. Department of Agriculture is testing to confirm possible cases of bird flu in dairy cattle in California, the nation's biggest milk-producing state, USDA said on Friday. Reuters Reuters

...

Summer COVID surge shows we may have to return to 2020 pandemic measures As the summer of 2024 draws to a close, the United States finds itself once again grappling with a surge in COVID-19 infections. ckulat The Hill

... where do we realistically go from here, given that it is clear that COVD-19 is far from over? While much progress has been made in terms of vaccination and treatment, the current surge is a stark reminder that complacency is not an option. The road ahead will require a renewed commitment to public health, both from government leaders and from individuals.