The number of major blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine rose to 168, regulators in Britain said. The rate of incidence jumped from 4.9 to 7.9 blood clots per million doses. (Reuters)
Experts are pinpointing certain types of messages and strategies that work best in persuading Americans to get vaccinated. They include making vaccination appear to be part of normal life, having trusted national messengers and eventually making vaccination mandatory to attend certain events. (The Washington Post)
A growing number of companies are developing medical devices to target the vagus nerve to treat disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or asthma-related breathing issues. The Food and Drug Administration has been following that growth, recently clearing devices that treat migraines and opioid withdrawal. (STAT)
Biogen CEO Michel Vounatsos plans to move forward on preparing an aducanumab launch despite its controversial data. The FDA has delayed its decision on the drug, which aims to treat Alzheimer’s and which some experts argue doesn’t have enough evidence to support it works. (Endpoints News)
A new study finds that long-term effects of COVID-19 may increase the risk of death and other chronic health problems, even among people who weren’t hospitalized. Six months after infection, COVID-19 survivors had a 60% greater risk of death than people who didn’t contract the virus. (The New York Times)
