The Food and Drug Administration expanded COVID-19 vaccine booster eligibility on Monday to allow 12- to 15-year-olds to receive a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Why it matters: The expansion comes as coronavirus cases soar to record numbers due to the highly contagious Omicron variant, raising concerns over hospitals’

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Effective today, federal law bans many types of out-of-network medical bills and puts the onus on doctors and health insurance companies to resolve their payment disputes. Why it matters: Consumers can breathe a sigh of relief because, in many scenarios, they should no longer face unexpected charges from doctors who

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The CDC said Thursday that passengers should “avoid cruise ships, regardless of vaccination status,” citing an increased threat of COVID-19. Driving the news: The CDC raised its travel health notice to the highest level on Thursday, saying “COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships,” adding that

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday said it is actively investigating or observing 91 cruise ships following COVID-19 outbreaks on board. Why it matters: The Omicron variant has driven up infections across the U.S., upending vacation plans and disrupting travel. The new strain is the latest sign

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The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday told travelers that more flights may be delayed due to the nationwide spike in Omicron cases that has led to staffing shortages, the Wall Street Journal reports. Driving the news: Multiple airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Jet Blue Airways, have had

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The omicron variant and winter storms are prompting fresh waves of U.S. flight cancelations heading into the New Year’s holiday weekend. Driving the news: More than 1,300 domestic flights were canceled as of Friday morning, per FlightAware’s latest tally of flights into the U.S., departing or within the country. The

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The Smithsonian said it will temporarily close four museums for the remainder of the holidays due to a surge in COVID cases among staff. Driving the news: The closures will “allow the Smithsonian to reallocate staff and keep all other museums open for the remainder of the week,” the Smithsonian

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The Omicron variant is threatening the recovery of the fitness industry. Why it matters: January is an extremely important month for the industry, which thrives on New Year’s resolution memberships. But mask and vaccine mandates prompted by Omicron are creating new obstacles going into 2022. Gym groups have urged congressional

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The largest manufacturers of rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests have created a new lobbying group that is urging Medicare to pay for their tests, according to federal lobbying disclosures. Why it matters: Rapid tests have become increasingly important for people to monitor infections as the Omicron variant takes hold, but the

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Seth Berkley, CEO of the Gavi vaccine alliance and head of the global COVAX initiative, wrote in Buzzfeed on Wednesday that focusing on COVID-19 booster shots alone to combat the recent wave of cases is a “dangerous mistake.” Driving the news: Berkley’s op-ed comes at a time when the Omicron

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