Pfizer and BioNTech begin testing an omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine Though people who are vaccinated and boosted appear to be better protected against omicron, the highly contagious variant has still led to breakthrough cases and a surge in infections worldwide. Joe Hernandez
A drug that helps immunocompromised people fight COVID is in short supply Antibody-based drug Evusheld protects immune-suppressed people against COVID-19 for up to six months. The drug is hard to get, and some hospitals are selecting patients by lottery. Pien Huang
Pandemic updates: An omicron-specific vaccine could be on the way Updated news about the coronavirus pandemic in Seattle and Washington state for January 25, 2022. KUOW Staff
Businessman and Mavs owner Mark Cuban launches an online pharmacy for generic drugs The pharmacy says it will bypass healthcare industry "middlemen" and help consumers avoid high drug prices by charging manufacturers' prices plus a flat 15% markup and pharmacist fee. Joe Hernandez
Turmeric poisoned their kids. Four Seattle-area cases show gaps in lead testing Turmeric has been identified as the source of lead poisoning in at least four Seattle-area families recently. Health professionals worry that many more cases haven’t been identified because of inadequate childhood lead testing in Washington state. Anna Boiko-Weyrauch
Pandemic updates: Washington already ran out of free Covid tests Updated news about the coronavirus pandemic in Seattle and Washington state. KUOW Staff
Seniors are at high risk of Covid, but Medicare doesn't pay for rapid tests The laws governing Medicare don't provide coverage for self-administered diagnostic tests, including rapid antigen tests. Here's how older adults can get free tests anyway. Michelle Andrews
The danger of pushing the foreign attack theory for 'Havana Syndrome' NPR's Michel Martin speaks with The New Republic columnist Natalie Shure about "Havana Syndrome," a set of ailments reported by hundreds of American diplomats in recent years.
Los Angeles school district tells students to upgrade from cloth masks Students will have to wear "well-fitting, non-cloth masks with a nose wire." Employees will have to wear surgical grade masks or higher. Joe Hernandez
How colleges are dealing with high Covid case counts on campus Despite the omicron surge, college students are starting the spring semester on campus – and administrators are bracing for the worst. Elissa Nadworny