Covid-19

Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca—three of the world's top coronavirus vaccine manufacturers—have paid out a combined $26 billion in dividends and stock buybacks to their shareholders over the past year, a sum that could fully fund the cost of inoculating Africa's entire 1.3 billion-person population.

That's according to an analysis released Thursday morning by the People's Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of advocacy organizations campaigning to end massive inequities in the distribution of life-saving coronavirus vaccines.

An unvaccinated worker infected with a Covid variant sparked an outbreak at a US nursing home where nearly all the residents had been inoculated, said a study out on Wednesday.

The dozens of cases, including 22 among fully vaccinated residents and staff, highlighted the importance of broad vaccine coverage and prevention measures, according to the research released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday hailed his government's "stunning" achievement in administering 200 million Covid-19 vaccine shots across the United States ahead of schedule.

Biden said the landmark had been reached a week before he hits his administration's 100-day mark -- the deadline he'd announced for meeting the 200 million doses challenge.

Fox Business host Neil Cavuto refuted Dr. Ben Carson on Wednesday after the former neurosurgeon recommended hydroxychloroquine for fighting COVID-19.

Carson brought up the controversial drug during a discussion about COVID-19 vaccines on Fox Business.

There's been a correlation between poor health and support for Donald Trump since his improbable election, and that link threatens to undermine efforts to achieve herd immunity.

The rate of diabetes, alcohol consumption, obesity and other predictors of public health strongly predicted 2016 support for Trump's campaign, and conservative writer David Frum warned the "grim relationship between Trump and sickness" is playing out again as the nation races to vaccinate as many Americans as possible.

More than half of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccines, but public health officials worry that supply will outstrip demand before the nation reaches herd immunity.

A recent focus group found many Republicans would rather have a fake vaccination card than a real dose of the vaccines, and elected officials, business leaders and public health experts are trying to find ways to persuade skeptics and hesitant Americans to get the shots before COVID-19 variants find ways around those protections, reported the New York Times.

North Caronlinians seeking COVID-19 vaccines at one Walgreens received a saline solution instead, according to a new report.

"A Walgreens pharmacy in Monroe gave a small number of people an injection of saline instead of a COVID-19 vaccine last month, the company said Monday. Erin Loverher, a Walgreens spokesperson, said 22 people at one location were affected by the mix-up on March 20 at the pharmacy and were scheduled to receive their second shot over the past weekend," WSOC-TV reported Monday.

Federal investigators are taking steps to stop a company linked to Steve Bannon from misleading consumers about the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Former Trump adviser and former Breitbart News chief Steve Bannon does not radiate 'pinnacle of health.' The portly, cigar-smoking, possibly former alcoholic is not known for his workout ethic. But like many a far-right media figure, including Trump himself (once upon a time), Bannon is now hawking vitamins as a 'Wellness Warrior.' People have called Bannon a lot of things over the years. Wellness Warrior is not one of them. Yet Bannon now appears in ads on his website for 'The War Room Defense Pack,' a collection of zinc and Vitamin D3, with the slogan, 'You can't fight if you're sick!' Anyone ordering a free sample is treated to a complimentary 'War Room Viral Defense Guide,' which doesn't come right out and say it's offering a COVID cure, lest Bannon run into trouble with the FDA. But the savvy consumer will be able to read through the lines," Mother Jones reported in March.

A Norwegian conspiracy theorist has died from the coronavirus he insisted was no big deal.

Hans Kristian Gaarder had gained notoriety by claiming COVID-19 was no worse than a cold or mild case of the flu before dying from the virus on April 6, just days after hosting illegal gatherings March 26 and 27 at his barn, reported Metro.