Children and young people have higher risks of rare vascular and inflammatory diseases up to 12 months after a first COVID-19 diagnosis and higher risk of rare myocarditis or pericarditis up to 4 weeks after a first BNT162b2 vaccine, although the risk following vaccination is substantially lower than the risk following infection. These findings are of great importance for national policy makers and caregivers considering vaccination consent for children, and support the public health strategy of COVID-19 vaccination in children and young people to mitigate the more frequent and persistent risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Vascular and inflammatory diseases after COVID-19 infection and vaccination in children and young people in England: a retrospective, population-based cohort study using linked electronic health records
Children and young people have higher risks of rare vascular and inflammatory diseases up to 12 months after a first COVID-19 diagnosis and higher risk of rare myocarditis or pericarditis up to 4 weeks after a first BNT162b2 vaccine, although the risk following vaccination is substantially lower than the risk following infection. These findings are of great importance for national policy makers and caregivers considering vaccination consent for children, and support the public health strategy of COVID-19 vaccination in children and young people to mitigate the more frequent and persistent risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season
Importance SARS-CoV-2 remains a substantial cause of respiratory illness, morbidity, and mortality. Evidence to date has demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe disease, including hospitalization and death. Objective This systematic review identifies and summarizes newly published studies reporting on the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 epidemiology in the US. Evidence Review Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched from August 1, 2025, through June 29, 2026. Studies were eligible if they reported on the effectiveness, efficacy, or safety of a US-licensed COVID-19 vaccine or SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in the US. Findings From 11 829 identified references, 155 publications were eligible (15 randomized clinical trials, 84 observational studies with a comparator group, 38 product safety studies without a comparator group [single group], and 18 descriptive studies of disease burden). Consistent with prior evidence, studies reported that updated COVID-19 vaccines were associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization among both older adults (≥65 years; vaccine effectiveness [VE], 53.0%; 95% CI, 37.0%-65.0%; 2025-2026 season) and adults (18-64 years; VE, 54.0%; 95% CI, 1.0%-78.0%; 2024-2025 season). Maternal vaccination was associated with reduced risk of COVID-19–associated emergency department/urgent care encounters among individuals vaccinated (VE, 58.0%; 95% CI, 24.0%-77.0%) and with fewer COVID-19–related hospital contacts in the first 2 months of life among infants born subsequently (VE range, 50.0%-54.0%), regardless of trimester of vaccination. Vaccination was also associated with a significant reduction in COVID-19–related pediatric emergency department visits (9 months to 4 years; VE, 76.0%; 95% CI, 58.0%-87.0%). Vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of critical COVID-19 illness (intensive care unit admission or death) in immunocompromised adults (VE range, 32.0%-53.0%, depending on condition and other factors). Health care personnel who received 3 to 5 vaccine doses were less likely to develop laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness (VE, 41.0%; 95% CI, 34.0%-47.0%) and postacute COVID-19 symptoms (VE, 57.0%; 95% CI, 46.0%-66.0%) compared with those who received only 2 doses. Across adverse events of special interest (eg, stroke, thrombosis, myocarditis), safety profiles were consistent with those of previous reviews. No identified studies conducted under the updated guidance on extended dosing intervals for the primary series reported an increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis. No new safety signals were reported in the recently published studies eligible for this updated review of US-licensed COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusions and Relevance COVID-19 vaccines were consistently associated with a reduction in the risk of hospitalization and other outcomes, including among individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19, such as infants, and those who were pregnant. No new safety concerns were identified.
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season
This Special Communication aims to identify and summarize the most recently published evidence evaluating the effectiveness and safety of US-licensed COVID-19 vaccines and report on the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the US.
What to Know About New Covid Vaccines for Fall 2026
The shots have been approved for people 65 and older, and for younger people with underlying conditions. Others may be able to get them off label.
Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19
Learn risk factors for severe outcomes from COVID-19 and actions to take.
F.D.A. Approves New Covid Vaccines, and They Should Be Available Soon
The shots have been approved for people 65 and older, and for younger people with underlying conditions. Others may be able to get them off label.
COVID-19 Vaccines Aren’t Causing AIDS
The truth behind a new preprint from a team at Yale
Long COVID may affect up to 5% of healthcare workers in hospitals, new data suggest
Newborns immunized against RSV also had a 36% lower risk of infection with a life-threatening illness called invasive pneumococcal disease.
Opinion | When It Comes to Covid-19, Most of Us Have Risk Exactly Backward (Published 2020)
We aren’t very good at discussing trade-offs, but we need to make some during this pandemic.
Archive: New COVID-19 ‘Citizen Science’ Initiative Lets Any Adult with a Smartphone Help to Fight Coronavirus
The online study would try to help researchers gain insight into how the virus is spreading and identify ways to predict and reduce the number of new infections.
BMJ Group retracts paper on COVID-19 vaccines and mortality featured in Senate hearing
BMJ Public Health has retracted a paper some — including a witness at a recent U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing — have used to link COVID-19 vaccines to deaths. The action comes more than two years…
Researchers link Long COVID to another virus | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Researchers in Japan have released findings showing that COVID-19 after effects, including fatigue, occur when a coronavirus infection activates another virus already inside the body.
Frequent AI chatbot users more likely to believe anti-vaccine myths, poll finds
Poll finds use of AI tools for health advice is correlated with belief in vaccine falsehoods, such as shots causing autism
Measles isn’t just dangerous – it may erase your immune system
The measles vaccine may do more than we thought – and the growing number of outbreaks makes ensuring you’re protected ever more urgent.
Measles isn’t just dangerous – it may erase your immune system
The measles vaccine may do more than we thought – and the growing number of outbreaks makes ensuring you’re protected ever more urgent.
COVID-19 vaccines
Primarily information in the US and Japan
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season
BMJ Group retracts paper on COVID-19 vaccines and mortality featured in Senate hearing
What to Know About New Covid Vaccines for Fall 2026
Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19