Brad Broker

By Brad Broker In a significant policy update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that adults receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to combat the growing threat of this contagious respiratory illness. The CDC’s move aims to protect vulnerable populations and curb the spread of RSV, particularly during peak transmission seasons. RSV is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most individuals.

By Brad Broker The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued a formal warning to consumers that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine — the antimalarial drugs touted by President Trump as a cure-all for COVID-19 — should not be used outside of a hospital setting to treat the novel coronavirus. “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19,” said the FDA in its statement.

By Brad Broker A new study conducted by the U.S. Veterans Health Administration found that patients using hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug highly promoted by President Trump as a cure-all for COVID-19, had higher rates of death compared with those not using the drug. “The two primary outcomes were death and the need for mechanical ventilation,” according to the authors of the study, which was posted Tuesday on medRxiv, an online server for medical articles prior to peer review.