Covid in US: Free rapid coronavirus tests to begin in schools. Here's why

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

This initiative follows a summer surge in COVID-19 cases that sparked debates about masking in classrooms, leading to varied policies across different districts. Although there has been a slight decrease in COVID-19-related hospitalizations in recent months, there has been an uptick in the last few weeks, as indicated by the latest federal data.

This announcement highlights the enduring impact of the coronavirus on American schools and society. It reflects the evolution from the challenges faced during the height of the pandemic, with limited testing availability, to the current efforts to ensure resources for testing are more widely accessible as schools navigate ways to stay open while prioritizing student safety.

Novavax's updated vaccine has been granted emergency-use authorization by the World Health Organization (WHO) for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals aged 12 and older, the company said on Tuesday.

The updated Novavax shot, which was authorized in the U.S. last month, targets a descendant of the XBB lineage of the coronavirus that was globally predominant earlier this year.

The emergency use listing helps speed up the regulatory approvals to import and administer the vaccines by member states, according to the WHO.

Novavax missed out on the COVID-19 vaccine windfall, which benefited mRNA rivals, due to manufacturing issues that delayed its filing for regulatory approval during the peak of the pandemic.

Its original COVID shot received U.S. authorization in July 2022, long after Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were in use.

Novavax's updated shot uses a more traditional protein-based technology than the mRNA-based vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna.

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Q1. When will free rapid