Questions Remain About Omicron Severity, Vulnerability to Vaccines
While there is a lot of speculation that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is more transmissible than Delta but possibly less severe, there is not enough evidence to draw those conclusions yet, according to the World Health Organization. Find out what is and isn't known about the troubling new variant that is circulating widely. Read more.

New Protection Available When COVID-19 Vaccine Isn't an Option
Two groups of concern during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout have been those who have severe allergic reactions to the shots and those who are vaccinated but unable to mount an adequate antibody response. Now, the FDA has granted emergency use authorization for a monoclonal antibody to help provide preexposure prophylaxis for those individuals. Read more.

More Opioids Prescribed During Early Days of COVID-19 Pandemic
For years, efforts to control the opioid epidemic have meant clinicians opted for more nonpharmacologic therapy to control pain. A new study finds that trend was reversed during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more narcotics prescribed for longer durations. Was progress toward reversing the opioid epidemic set back by the pandemic and increasing prescribing of narcotics? Read more.