Health
Facing slow vaccine rollout, scientists weigh new tactics
Should COVID-19 boosters be delayed? Could the dose levels be reduced by half, and would mixing and matching shots made by different makers work just as well? These are questions now facing governments around the world as vaccine rollout falters and the coronavirus continues to rage, spurred on by new… Read
What we do and don't know about new COVID mutations
The emergence in Britain and South Africa of two new variants of Sars-CoV-2, which are potentially far more infectious versions of the virus, has prompted widespread concern. Here is what we know -- and what we don't -- about the mutations. What are they? All viruses mutate when they replicate… Read
BioNTech founders warn of vaccine supply gaps
BioNTech is working flat out with partner Pfizer to boost production of their COVID-19 vaccine, its founders said, warning there would be gaps in supply until other vaccines were rolled out. The German biotech startup has led the vaccine race but its shot has been slow to arrive in the… Read
Britain will allow mixing of COVID-19 vaccines on rare occasions
Britain will allow people to be given shots of different COVID-19 vaccines on rare occasions, despite a lack of evidence about the extent of immunity offered by mixing doses. In a departure from other strategies globally, the government said people could be given a mix-and-match of two COVID-19 shots, for… Read
How does AstraZeneca's vaccine compare with Pfizer-BioNTech?
Britain on Wednesday became the first country to approve AstraZeneca and Oxford University's home-grown UK COVID-19 vaccine, adding an easy-to-manage shot to the arsenal of a nation desperate for pandemic relief. Even so, scientists - and regulators in Europe, following the Brexit divorce - are skeptical, given confusion over trial… Read
No half measures and mind the gap: UK nod for AstraZeneca vaccine raises more questions
British health officials greenlighted the AstraZeneca and Oxford COVID-19 shot on Wednesday but also rebuffed one of their central claims: that a half-dose followed by a standard dose offered more protection against infection. The reassessment of the best dosing regimen for the vaccine was an unexpected move by Britain’s medicines… Read
Climate risks to health set to worsen inequity, harm children
Rising global health risks driven by climate change will hit the poorest, most vulnerable people the hardest - and failure to prepare for those threats will mean more deaths and suffering, according to a leading environmental health scientist. From impoverished families living in flood-prone homes to women whose cultures require… Read
COVID-19 appears to be suppressing the flu in Japan; number of cases down and decreasing
As we’ve seen time and time again this year, the COVID-19 pandemic sure has a way of shutting things down. From changes to the Olympics to the Santa Train, it’s been near impossible to sneak a good time in all year. However, recent data from the Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare seems… Read
Singapore study sheds light on pregnant women infected with COVID-19
Pregnant women with COVID-19 do not get more sick than the wider population, according to a Singapore study published on Friday, which also found that babies born to infected mothers have antibodies against the novel coronavirus. The small study of 16 women also found no evidence of virus transmission between… Read
Enriching Zen stress relief and hot spring sanctuary at The Spa in Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
When I hear Four Seasons, I automatically imagine the best luxury experience. Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, which opened in September, is a contemporary urban oasis that makes you feel good just being there. But when you try their spa, you rediscover the reason for the hotel’s overall five… Read
