Here are some of HealthDay's top stories for Wednesday, Aug. 18:
Booster COVID shots will begin in September. Citing evidence of slowly waning vaccine immunity and the onslaught of the highly infectious Delta variant, experts convened at the White House on Wednesday confirmed that booster shots for Americans will begin rolling out next month. Read more
Big recall of millions of breathing machines affecting patients. The Phillips company is recalling more than a dozen brands of Bi-PAP (bi-level positive air pressure), CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) and ventilator machines used by millions of Americans with sleep apnea and other conditions. Read more
More women are getting a pregnancy-linked form of diabetes. Rates of so-called gestational diabetes jumped 30% between 2011 and 2019, and that can mean dangers for both mom-to-be and baby. Obesity, poor diets and low levels of physical activity may be fueling the trend. Read more
Early data shows rise in breakthrough COVID cases among vaccinated. In a troubling new development, detailed data from seven U.S. states finds that the percentage of people infected with COVID-19 who've already been vaccinated is ticking upwards. Experts say the increase was expected as the total number of vaccinated people rises, and the shots still offer great protection against severe disease.Read more
TSA extends airplane mask mandate to January. Blame the Delta variant for this one: The U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Tuesday said it is extending the mask mandate for airplane passengers and crew to at least January of 2022. Read more
Only 1 in 10 kids with ADHD will outgrow it. Disheartening news for children struggling with ADHD and their parents: A new study of hundreds of kids find that relatively few will see symptoms fade as they mature. Read more
Who's most likely to suffer a diabetes-linked amputation? Complications of diabetes can sometimes lead to amputation of a foot or even a leg. New U.S. data finds that location, race and income could play a big role in an individual's risk. Read more
