Covid-19 vaccines

France's pharmacists' union is warning about an early resurgence of Covid-19 and is calling on the government to move forward the vaccination campaign scheduled for mid-October. Hospitals are already feeling the strain: emergency room visits are reported to have jumped 67% among adults and 16% among children. The union's appeal puts pressure on health authorities to speed up autumn booster plans as infections climb sooner than expected.

Moderna has begun a Phase 1 clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine targeting the Zaire strain responsible for the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The trial marks the first human testing of the candidate, which uses the same mRNA technology behind Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Coverage is highlighting the company's growing pipeline and the urgent need for new Ebola countermeasures in central Africa.

Reports say the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first mRNA-based flu vaccine, marking a new application of the technology widely used in COVID-19 vaccines. The trending term reflects news headlines about the decision. Beyond the headline itself, the available posts contain no further details on the vaccine's maker, availability, or public reaction, so what people are saying beyond sharing the news is not clear from the posts.

A new survey from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases finds that most US adults support vaccines, yet many remain unclear about current recommendations for respiratory vaccines, such as those for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. The findings highlight a gap between general trust in vaccination and public understanding of which shots are advised and when.

Public health officials are telling people to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines before the end of October, so protection builds up before respiratory virus season peaks in the winter months. The advice applies broadly as both viruses circulate at the same time each year, and officials stress vaccination remains the best way to reduce severe illness and hospital stays.

The Berlin Buyers Club has published an open letter calling on Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), the Federal Joint Committee and Health Minister Nina Linnemann to make adapted COVID-19 vaccines accessible now. The group is demanding science-based vaccination recommendations and faster availability of updated shots for those who want them, framing access delays as a public health problem.

The updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine has rolled out in the United States, with people booking Moderna booster appointments at pharmacies such as Walgreens. The news comes as a COVID update reports a 13th wave underway, with outbreaks in 40 states and territories and an estimated 3.8 million new infections, prompting renewed calls to get the latest shot.

Essentia Health is running vaccine clinics ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season, offering shots as hospitals and clinics prepare for a rise in flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in the fall and winter months. The clinics give residents in the health system's service areas a chance to get vaccinated early, with health providers encouraging timely immunization before case numbers climb.

The McHenry County Department of Health has dropped its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees, according to Shaw Local reporting. The move means unvaccinated staff will no longer need shots as a condition of employment. It follows a broader trend of government and health agencies rolling back pandemic-era workplace rules as the emergency phase of the pandemic has faded.

The Cattaraugus County Health Department in western New York will begin running influenza and Covid-19 vaccination clinics for residents. The announcement signals the start of the respiratory illness season vaccination push, giving residents local access to both seasonal flu shots and updated Covid vaccines as health officials prepare for fall and winter illness.