COVID antiviral pills could be game changer—if you can find them
Supplies of antiviral pills from Pfizer initially will be scarce, with some states getting only 100 courses of treatment.
Pfizer
U.S. COVID cases surge ahead of holidays
New cases of the Omicron variant are spreading rapidly in the U.S. ahead of the holidays. People are dealing with long lines at testing sites across the nation. At-home testing kits are also short in supply and pharmacies are limiting how many customers can buy. CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen reports from New York City. Then critical care physician Dr. Lakshmana Swamy joins CBSN's Debra Alfarone to discuss the latest on the pandemic.
Scientists learn more about risk from Omicron
New studies out of South Africa and the U.K. suggest the Omicron variant is less likely to cause hospitalizations -- but it can still be deadly. The FDA also authorized a new antiviral pill to treat COVID-19. CBS News' Nancy Chen reports on the latest, and then Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, spoke with Jessi Mitchell on CBSN about the Omicron research and how some patients are experiencing different symptoms than earlier strains.
FDA approves second COVID treatment pill
The FDA has authorized the second antiviral pill to treat COVID-19. CBS News' Michael George reports. Then Dr. Jeremy Faust, emergency physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School, joins CBSN to break down how the drugs work. He also explains why he thinks the CDC should implement "circuit breakers," short-term restrictions on high-risk activities to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
New COVID pill offers hope amid grim forecast
The FDA announced that Pfizer's antiviral pills, called Paxlovid, significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization for those at risk of serious illness from COVID-19. These findings come as hospitals and government officials prepare for a spike in infections. Nancy Chen reports.
FDA authorizes Pfizer pill to treat COVID
The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday it has authorized Pfizer's antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 as the new Omicron variant hits all 50 U.S. states. CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen reports on how the new strain is causing disruptions across the country. Then, CBS News correspondent Mark Strassman has the latest on Omicron's impact on travel as tens of millions of Americans hit the road for the holidays. And lastly, Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne, an adjunct assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, joins Elise Preston on CBSN to break down the day's headlines.
Omicron spike collides with holiday travel surge
The FDA authorized the first pill to treat COVID-19. The milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising, with health officials warning of a possible tsunami of new Omicron cases that could overwhelm hospitals. Nancy Chen has the details.
Omicron drives rise in U.S. COVID-19 cases
As COVID-19 cases rise, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized a new tool to help fight the pandemic: Pfizer's COVID-19 pill has been granted emergency use authorization. CBS News' Debra Alfarone reports and Dr. Jerry Abraham, director of vaccine programs at Kedren Health in Los Angeles, joins CBSN's Tanya Rivero to discuss the latest pandemic news and how to stay safe during the holidays.
Omicron variant quickly spreading across U.S.
COVID-19 infections are rising across the country, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical adviser, says the Omicron variant could soon be the dominant strain. Moderna has announced that data shows its booster shot increases antibody levels against Omicron. Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University Of Minnesota, joins CBSN AM to discuss.
COVID variants fuel new infections nationwide
More than 120,000 new COVID-19 cases are being reported every day in the U.S. CBS News' Elise Preston reports on disruptions caused by the Delta and Omicron variants ahead of the holiday season. Then, Dr. Bhavna Lall, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Houston College of Medicine, joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the latest.
Health officials warn unvaccinated Americans
Health officials fear the highly contagious Omicron strain, already detected in 40 states, will become the nation's most dominant coronavirus variant in the coming weeks, and urged Americans to get vaccinated and boosted. Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, joins CBSN to discuss the CDC's decision to no longer recommend Johnson and Johnson's one-dose vaccine to unvaccinated Americans and other coronavirus-related news.
Concerns grow over Omicron
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the Omicron variant now accounts for an estimated 3% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. CBS news correspondent Nikki Battiste has the latest on the new strain. Then, physician Dr. Robert Rock joins Lana Zaka on CBSN to discuss the recent concerns over Omicron and more.
2 Pfizer doses 70% effective against Omicron hospitalization, data show
Preliminary analysis of the latest real-world data from South Africa shows that while two shots of the vaccine alone may not stop an infection, it will help avoid serious illness.
Pfizer seeks FDA authorization for COVID pill
Pfizer has submitted a request for the Food and Drug Administration to provide emergency use authorization for its oral antiviral pill to help fight COVID-19 in high-risk adult patients. Dr. Payal Patel, an infectious disease physician at the University of Michigan, joins CBSN to with more on Pfizer's new pill and the pandemic.
Pfizer says new trial data confirms high efficacy of its COVID antiviral pills
Early data from the company's experiments suggest the pill will be effective against all variants, including Omicron.
One year since first Pfizer vaccination
It has been exactly one year since the Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer vaccine — the first of three COVID-19 vaccines now in use in the United States. During that time, more than 480 million shots have been administered. But even with those protections, case numbers have gone up 22% in the past two weeks. That sharp increase is a stark reminder that despite the effectiveness of the vaccines, the virus is still able to spread. Michael George has the latest.
COVID-19 cases rising across the U.S.
The U.S. is experiencing a COVID-19 resurgence as new cases increased 37% nationwide this week. Some 40% of Americans remain unvaccinated. Michael George reports.
Delta cases soar as scientists study Omicron
Health officials are identifying more cases of the Omicron variant in the U.S., though the Delta variant continues to be more dominant. Nikki Battiste has the latest.
FDA authorizes boosters for ages 16 and up
The FDA has expanded authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine booster for teens ages 16 and 17. Over 200 million people in the U.S. are now fully vaccinated, but the Omicron variant is raising concerns. CBS News' Bradley Blackburn reports. Then Dr. Jerry Abraham, director of vaccine programs at Kedren Health in Los Angeles, joins CBSN's Tanya Rivero from a vaccination clinic to discuss the latest.
Pfizer booster authorized for ages 16 and up
The FDA authorized Pfizer's COVID booster shots for 16 and 17 year olds. The boosters had already been encouraged for adults. Nikki Battiste has the latest.
CDC recommends Pfizer booster shots for Americans as young as 16
Less than a third of Americans 16 to 17 years old will initially be eligible to receive the additional dose.
Health officials push for COVID boosters
The FDA may soon authorize Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for teens 16 and 17 years old. About a quarter of Americans eligible for the booster have received it. CBS News' Laura Podesta joins "CBSN AM" to discuss the latest in the fight against the coronavirus.
Americans urged to get boosters against COVID
Some teenagers may soon be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. This news comes after Pfizer revealed that three doses of its vaccine are more effective at neutralizing the Omicron variant than two. Dr. Esther Choo, professor of emergency medicine at Oregon Health and Sciences University, joins CBSN to discuss some of the latest coronavirus headlines.
Pfizer says booster protects against Omicron
Pfizer said early research found that two shots of its COVID vaccine appear to be much less effective against Omicron than previous variants, but a booster offers significantly more protection. Nikki Battiste has the latest.
Pfizer recommends boosters to fight Omicron
Pfizer and BioNTech say a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine is needed to fully protect against the Omicron variant. Recent studies show two doses of the shot are "significantly less effective at blocking the virus." John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, joins CBSN's Tanya Rivero to discuss the new variant and the latest vaccine information.
House panel releases more records from Jeffrey Epstein's estate
The new records include a birthday letter to Epstein allegedly written by President Trump, which he has denied writing.
Exclusive
NIH whistleblower details clash over vaccines with Trump officials
A former NIH official says she was removed after clashes over vaccines, accusing RFK Jr. and his deputies of posing "a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety."
Supreme Court allows sweeping immigration stops in Los Angeles area
The Supreme Court froze a lower court order that prevented immigration authorities from stopping people without reasonable suspicion that they are in the U.S. unlawfully.
Florida's decision to end vaccine rules wasn't based on data, state surgeon general says
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said his department did not do any data analysis on how a change in vaccine rules could affect outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio or whooping cough.
DHS announces "Operation Midway Blitz" amid ICE operations in Chicago
President Donald Trump has amplified his promises to send National Guard troops and immigration agents to Chicago by posting a parody image from "Apocalypse Now" featuring a ball of flames as helicopters zoom over the nation's third-largest city.
Americans' confidence in finding a new job is crumbling, survey finds
Americans' confidence in finding a new job fell to the lowest measure on record, a survey from the New York Fed shows.
Economists expect a major downward jobs revision from BLS today
Economists expect the Bureau of Labor Statistics to revise its jobs data downward for the year ended in March 2025. Here's why.
Fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte raises questions about public safety
Police say 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was killed on a Charlotte light rail train on Aug. 22 in an apparently random attack by a man with a long record of criminal charges and psychiatric crises.
Deadly kissing bug disease has spread in the U.S. Here's what to know.
Chagas disease is already endemic to 21 countries in the Americas, and growing evidence of the parasite is challenging the non-endemic label in the U.S., the CDC says.