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FRIDAY, July 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- New York City's Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the city has launched the first-of-their-kind mobile COVID-19 testing units that will also dispense the antiviral drug Paxlovid to those who test positive for the virus.The "Test-to-Treat" program is part of federal and city efforts to catch and treat infections early and be ready for new waves of the pandemic. Health officials also want to expand access to Paxlovid, especially for people who don't have a regular doctor or insurance, the New York Times reported."New York City may have been at the epicenter of the pandemic at the start, but now we are leading the way in prevention and mitigation," Adams said in his announcement. "By getting lifesaving medications into the hands of New...

FRIDAY, July 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) – At least 23 people in 10 states have been sickened and one of them has died in a listeria outbreak which may have originated in Florida, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. Although the cause of the outbreak remains a mystery, nearly all of the patients either live in Florida or had traveled to the state about a month before they got sick, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.Twenty patients reported living in or traveling to Florida in the month before they got sick. The first cases were reported in January, with the latest cases being reported in June, the CDC said. One of those infected died in Illinois, while 22 were hospitalized. Five women became sick during their pregnancies and one experienced a...

FRIDAY, July 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Fourth of July celebrations often include festive picnics and dazzling fireworks, but these holiday pyrotechnics are causing a growing number of injuries and deaths.Fireworks-related injuries and deaths in the United States have climbed by about 25% over the past 15 years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports. Last year alone, nine people died in incidents involving fireworks while 11,500 were injured. “It’s imperative that consumers know the risks involved in using fireworks, so injuries and tragedies can be prevented. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch the professional displays,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. In addition, he said, “CPSC’s Office of Compliance and Field Operations continues to work...

FRIDAY, July 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Who you voted for at the ballot box may have the most influence over whether you've gotten a COVID-19 booster shot.Researchers studying vaccine hesitancy two years into the pandemic found that political party affiliation was a key determinant of where study participants got their information about the pandemic and vaccines."Survey respondents who described themselves as conservative are the most hesitant toward the COVID-19 vaccine, while those who described themselves as liberal are more likely to have already received the vaccine plus one or both boosters," said lead researcher Agustín Vallejo, a postdoctoral fellow with the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs. He spoke in a school news release.The survey was conducted...