Michaeleen Doucleff
Stories
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Booster longevity: Data reveals how long a third shot protects
Now researchers in the U.K. have the first estimates for how long a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine will last. The findings are mixed.
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Fact check: The theory that SARS-CoV-2 is becoming milder
A look at the data that omicron is less severe. What does that mean for the future of SARS-CoV-2 — and the pandemic?
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All Things Considered
Why omicron may cause less harm — and what it means for the future of the pandemic
There's growing evidence that omicron causes less severe disease than previous variants. Does that mean SARS-CoV-2 is evolving into a more mild virus? Will future surges be less deadly and disruptive?
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What we know about the symptoms — and the severity — of the omicron variant
Researchers are looking at data from U.S. cases to determine if the variant causes milder disease. Even if the answer is yes, they say, rates of hospitalization could be high during the surge.
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Morning Edition
Omicron causes record-breaking COVID cases in the U.S. and globally
The U.S. on Wednesday counted more than 480,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day. Cases increased nearly 70% over the past week, but hospitalizations have gone up only about 12%.
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All Things Considered
Encore: Encouraging collaboration early on can lead to more helpful children
In many cultures around the world, parents don't need chore charts or allowances for kids to pitch in around the house. A new study shows how parents in these cultures teach children to be helpful.
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All Things Considered
Boosters have been shown to restore some of the protection lost with omicron's rise
Scientists know the omicron variant will cause many breakthrough infections. Given that omicron is now the dominant strain in the U.S., maybe it's time to rethink that booster shot.
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A tantalizing clue to why omicron is spreading so quickly
A new study from the University of Hong Kong offers preliminary information that could explain why this new coronavirus variant may be more transmissible.
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Vaccine protection vs. omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe disease
Data from 78,000 South Africans with COVID show the Pfizer vaccine is far less effective in preventing infection by the omicron variant. But there is still significant protection from severe illness.
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Morning Edition
How well does a COVID vaccine hold up against the omicron variant?
Scientists in South Africa have found that the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections has dropped to about 30% for the omicron variant.