Latest news with #COVD
United News of India
3 days ago
- Health
- United News of India
COVID cases spike in India, inches towards 4,000 mark, 4 deaths reported in 24 hrs
Chennai, June 2 (UNI) The incidence of COVID cases in India inched towards the 4,000 mark with 203 fresh cases reported and four deaths recorded, including one in Tamil Nadu, during the last 24 hrs. In an update on its COVID dashboard, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday said the number of cases surged to 3,961 with 203 fresh active cases reported. The four deaths were reported in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, which is witnessing higher number of cases, and Delhi. With the death of one more person tested positive, the number of deaths in Tamil Nadu rose to two, after one person, who too tested positive during treatment, which was termed accidental, succumbed a few days back due to co-morbidities. It said in Tamil Nadu 25 year-old male with bronchial asthma and severe acute tubular injury and incidental Covid positive died in Salem district. Details of the person died in Kerala was awaited, while in Maharashtra a 44-year-old male died due to severe ARDS with dilated aortic regurgitation with Covid-19 positive. In Delhi a 22-year-old female with old treated pulmonary Koch's/ post tuberculosis lung disease/ Bilateral lower respiratory tract infection died after testing positive. In Madhya Pradesh which has a total 23 cases (four reported in last 24 hrs) two cases were cross notified from Gujarat state. Of the total 3,961 cases in India, Kerala topped the list with 1,435 cases, followed by Maharashtra 506, Delhi 483, Gujarat 338, West Bengal 331, Karnataka 253, Tamil Nadu 189 (10 fresh cases in 24 hrs), Uttar Padesh 157. The Union Ministry appealed to the people not to get panic and advised them to follow COVD SOPs like wearing masks while moving in crowded places and maintain social distancing as a precautionary measure, though no official order was issued making it mandatory. UNI GV 2348
29-05-2025
- Health
Why healthy children may need vaccination as RFK Jr. cuts COVID shot recommendation for some kids
Earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a video posted on X that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would no longer be recommending COVID-19 vaccines for "healthy children and pregnant people." In the video, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said there is no evidence that healthy children "need" the vaccine. National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya also appeared in the video. Public health experts said they were surprised by the way the decision was announced. "The risks are real of COVID but, in general, for an otherwise healthy kid, the bad stuff is thankfully on the low side," Dr. Gregory Poland, a vaccinologist and president and co-director of the Atria Research Institute, which focuses on disease prevention, told ABC News. "But you have to keep remembering that the risks of the vaccine are lower still," he continued. "You can get the vaccine and get infected, but your infection will be much less severe, or you cannot get the vaccine and get infected and have far higher rates of illness and complications and even a risk of death." Risks of COVID in children The current COVID-19 vaccine, the updated 2024-25 shot, was until recently recommended for all Americans ages 6 months and older. While those with one or more underlying conditions are at higher risk of severe COVD, anybody who becomes infected with the virus can be hospitalized, develop severe disease and die. When the CDC's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), which provides advice and guidance on the control of vaccine-preventable diseases, presented data at its last meeting, it "showed that 152 children died last year of COVID. 40% of those children were perfectly healthy," Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told ABC News. "So when [Kennedy] says he's not recommending the vaccine for healthy children, that flies in the face of data," he added. Offit explained that usually it's the ACIP that discusses if there is a benefit to a yearly vaccine and who should get it. The independent advisory committee then makes recommendations to the CDC, which has the final say on who should get what vaccine. "That's not the way this played out. You basically had three men standing up in a little Twitter event making this declaration … without any input from the public, without any input from experts, just these three people, specifically RFK Jr. at the center," Offit said. There is also a risk of long-term side effects even in otherwise healthy children, according to experts. As of 2023, more than 1 million U.S. children may have been affected by long COVID at some point, a CDC study published in February found. At the time the survey was being conducted, approximately 293,000 children were experiencing the condition. "About a million U.S. kids, it's estimated, have [had] long COVID," Poland said. "If you get the vaccine, you can reduce that risk. Getting the vaccine decreases ER visits and hospitalization by about 40%." A CDC-led study, published in February found that COVID mRNA vaccination lowered the risk of having at least one or two long COVID symptoms in children ages 5 to 17. Poland and Offit said there is also a community benefit from being vaccinated. When otherwise healthy children are vaccinated, it protects vulnerable members of the community from infection. Although immunity wanes, COVID-19 vaccines do, at least temporarily, provide some protection against transmission. "I would say the primary benefit is to the actual child who gets immunized. There's a secondary, but admittedly transient, benefit to the community," Poland said. "The protection against transmission is short-lived. It's there for a period of time. It's there, but it's transient. But when you do it across a community, you get added benefits." Questions remain on new policy Offit said it's unclear if Kennedy's announcement means the CDC will no longer recommend COVID vaccines to healthy children who are previously vaccinated or up to date on vaccines or if the announcement applies to all children regardless of vaccination status. "I assume what he's saying is that otherwise healthy children who have been fully vaccinated don't necessarily benefit from a yearly vaccine," Offit said. "If that's what he means, that's what he should say. He didn't say yearly dosing. He said 'healthy children.'" Federal health officials also did not elaborate on what "healthy" children means, which the experts said is bound to lead to some confusion. Poland said this is because Kennedy has made previous public comments on the growing rate of chronic disease in children, which could mean that he considers many children "unhealthy." For example, in the White House's Make America Healthy Again Commission report on chronic disease, which was published last week, it cited an unnamed study that allegedly found 77% of young Americans are ineligible for military service due to chronic conditions. "That's saying, in effect, that 77% of the U.S. childhood population is not healthy," Poland said.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why healthy children may need vaccination as RFK Jr. cuts COVID shot recommendation for some kids
Earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a video posted on X that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would no longer be recommending COVID-19 vaccines for "healthy children and pregnant people." In the video, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said there is no evidence that healthy children "need" the vaccine. National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya also appeared in the video. Public health experts said they were surprised by the way the decision was announced. MORE: Why are more than 300 people in the US still dying from COVID every week? "The risks are real of COVID but, in general, for an otherwise healthy kid, the bad stuff is thankfully on the low side," Dr. Gregory Poland, a vaccinologist and president and co-director of the Atria Research Institute, which focuses on disease prevention, told ABC News. "But you have to keep remembering that the risks of the vaccine are lower still," he continued. "You can get the vaccine and get infected, but your infection will be much less severe, or you cannot get the vaccine and get infected and have far higher rates of illness and complications and even a risk of death." The current COVID-19 vaccine, the updated 2024-25 shot, was until recently recommended for all Americans ages 6 months and older. While those with one or more underlying conditions are at higher risk of severe COVD, anybody who becomes infected with the virus can be hospitalized, develop severe disease and die. When the CDC's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), which provides advice and guidance on the control of vaccine-preventable diseases, presented data at its last meeting, it "showed that 152 children died last year of COVID. 40% of those children were perfectly healthy," Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told ABC News. "So when [Kennedy] says he's not recommending the vaccine for healthy children, that flies in the face of data," he added. Offit explained that usually it's the ACIP that discusses if there is a benefit to a yearly vaccine and who should get it. The independent advisory committee then makes recommendations to the CDC, which has the final say on who should get what vaccine. "That's not the way this played out. You basically had three men standing up in a little Twitter event making this declaration … without any input from the public, without any input from experts, just these three people, specifically RFK Jr. at the center," Offit said. There is also a risk of long-term side effects even in otherwise healthy children, according to experts. As of 2023, more than 1 million U.S. children may have been affected by long COVID at some point, a CDC study published in February found. At the time the survey was being conducted, approximately 293,000 children were experiencing the condition. MORE: What we know about the safety, efficacy of mRNA vaccines amid recent scrutiny "About a million U.S. kids, it's estimated, have [had] long COVID," Poland said. "If you get the vaccine, you can reduce that risk. Getting the vaccine decreases ER visits and hospitalization by about 40%." A CDC-led study, published in February found that COVID mRNA vaccination lowered the risk of having at least one or two long COVID symptoms in children ages 5 to 17. Poland and Offit said there is also a community benefit from being vaccinated. When otherwise healthy children are vaccinated, it protects vulnerable members of the community from infection. Although immunity wanes, COVID-19 vaccines do, at least temporarily, provide some protection against transmission. "I would say the primary benefit is to the actual child who gets immunized. There's a secondary, but admittedly transient, benefit to the community," Poland said. "The protection against transmission is short-lived. It's there for a period of time. It's there, but it's transient. But when you do it across a community, you get added benefits." Offit said it's unclear if Kennedy's announcement means the CDC will no longer recommend COVID vaccines to healthy children who are previously vaccinated or up to date on vaccines or if the announcement applies to all children regardless of vaccination status. "I assume what he's saying is that otherwise healthy children who have been fully vaccinated don't necessarily benefit from a yearly vaccine," Offit said. "If that's what he means, that's what he should say. He didn't say yearly dosing. He said 'healthy children.'" Federal health officials also did not elaborate on what "healthy" children means, which the experts said is bound to lead to some confusion. Poland said this is because Kennedy has made previous public comments on the growing rate of chronic disease in children, which could mean that he considers many children "unhealthy." For example, in the White House's Make America Healthy Again Commission report on chronic disease, which was published last week, it cited an unnamed study that allegedly found 77% of young Americans are ineligible for military service due to chronic conditions. "That's saying, in effect, that 77% of the U.S. childhood population is not healthy," Poland said. Why healthy children may need vaccination as RFK Jr. cuts COVID shot recommendation for some kids originally appeared on
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iconic Burbank restaurant Chili John's in danger of closing after 79 years
The Brief Established in 1946, Chili John's is the oldest restaurant in Burbank and a local landmark, featured in movies and TV shows. The restaurant reports drastically reduced sales post-COVID, with current revenue at only 10% of pre-pandemic levels. Despite its historical value, owner Steve Hager emphasizes the need for increased business to sustain operations. BURBANK, Calif. - Chili John's, a historic restaurant in Burbank, is facing the threat of closure due to a significant drop in business. What we know Chili John's has been serving multiple generations of families since 1946 and is a landmark on W. Burbank Blvd, known for its appearances in movies and TV shows. The restaurant is the oldest dining establishment in Burbank. Despite its historical significance and popularity, the restaurant has struggled to recover from the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the onset of COVD, sales have plummeted to about 10% of pre-COVID levels, putting the business in jeopardy. What they're saying Owner Steve Hager expressed his concerns, stating, "It's just been super slow. We're not even making enough to pay our staff, our taxes, or our mortgage. We're going to be gone quick." Customer Christopher Drake emphasized the importance of the restaurant, saying, "It's a piece of history. The reason to keep it alive is the food is good and the people who work here are excellent." What you can do Hager has set up a fundraising page to help keep Chili John's open. He appreciates the donations received but hopes to continue serving customers at the restaurant. You can donate online here. The Source Information for this story is from an interview with the owner of Chili John's on March 22, 2025.
