Carnival Cruise Line removes pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests, unvaccinated guests welcome to sail

In a release Friday, the cruise line said they're making it easier for more guests to sail with simplified vaccination and testing guidelines, including no testing for vaccinated guests on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminating the exemption requests process for unvaccinated guests.

NIH: COVID-19 booster-induced antibody response to omicron significantly decreases over time

Researchers found that while COVID-19 booster vaccinations create a strong antibody response against omicron initially, within three months post-boost, those levels decrease.

CDC endorses more traditional Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for adults

Health officials say U.S. adults who haven’t gotten any COVID-19 shots yet should consider a new option from Novavax.

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine: FDA authorizes new shot for adults

Novavax makes a more traditional type of shot than the three other COVID-19 vaccines available for use in the U.S. -- and one that’s already available in Europe and multiple other countries.

White House updates response plan for infectious COVID variants; pushes boosters

“If you’re over 50 and you haven’t gotten the shot this year, you should go get a shot," said White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha. "It’s going to save your life.”

EU urges second COVID-19 boosters for people ages 60 to 79

The European Union said Monday it's “critical” that authorities in the 27-nation bloc consider giving second coronavirus booster shots as a new wave of the pandemic sweeps over the continent.

New vaccine could protect against COVID-19 variants before they emerge

The vaccine works by using spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — and seven other related animal viruses with the potential to cause a pandemic in humans.

US health officials grapple with whether to offer new COVID-19 booster shots this fall

"This is science at its toughest," FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Mark said of whether to offer modified COVID-19 booster shots this fall due to the changing coronavirus.

V is for vaccine: Sesame Street's Elmo gets COVID-19 vaccine

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, announced that Elmo had gotten vaccinated in public service announcement posted to YouTube.

FDA advisers recommend updating COVID booster shots for fall

Some U.S. adults are a step closer to getting updated COVID-19 boosters this fall, as government advisers voted Tuesday that it’s time to tweak shots to better match the most recent virus variants.

Biden visits COVID-19 vaccine clinic as kids 6 months and up receive their 1st shot

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.

COVID-19 vaccine: CDC approves 1st shots for US kids under 5

With the CDC's final sign-off, roughly 18 million children under 5 will be eligible for COVID-19 shots beginning next week.

COVID-19 vaccine: FDA authorizes 1st shots for kids under 5; CDC review next

The CDC recommends how to use vaccines and its vaccine advisers are set to discuss the shots for the youngest kids Friday and vote on Saturday.

Florida surgeon general disagrees with FDA on COVID vaccines for kids under 5; state does not pre-order doses

Parents are in the home stretch with COVID-19 vaccines for babies and their youngest children after Wednesday’s FDA advisory panel meeting. But once those vaccines are approved, parents in Florida who want their kids to get inoculated may face a longer wait. That's because Florida's surgeon general Dr. Joseph Ladapo says he does not support giving the COVID vaccine to babies and children under the age of 5 – so Florida is the only state that did not pre-order any doses.

Moderna says updated COVID shot boosts omicron protection

Moderna’s study results revealed people given the combination vaccine shot had higher antibody levels to fight omicron and other variants.