Pfizer asks FDA to authorize COVID-19 booster shot for all adults over age of 18

Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday submitted a request to the FDA to broaden its emergency use authorization for a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine to all U.S. adults aged 18 and older.

Over 25K tons of pandemic-related plastic waste polluting oceans, study finds

New research estimates that more than 8 million tons of pandemic-related plastic waste have been generated globally, including 25,000 tons in the ocean.

Report: 100,000 NYC students were homeless in 2020-2021

A new report says more than 100,000 New York City schoolchildren were homeless at some point during the 2020-2021 school year — a 42% increase since 2010.

International travelers arrive in New York after U.S. lifts travel ban

For the first time in 600 days, the U.S. is welcoming tourists from more than 30 countries who had been shut out because of the pandemic. That means international visitors are pouring into New York City.

With travel restrictions lifted, grandma meets grandson for 1st time

Suman Singh touched down at San Francisco International Airport, weary from travel but weeping with joy that she could finally meet her newest relative: Her grandson.

Schools playing major role in youth vaccination effort

Many elementary schools around the U.S. are preparing to offer COVID-19 shots that educators see as key to keeping students learning in person and making the classroom experience closer to what it once was.

Federal workers offer first test of Biden vaccine mandates

About 4 million federal workers, from FBI agents to Bureau of Prisons guards to U.S. Food and Drug Administration workers, are to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 under the president’s executive order aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

CDC warns against giving kids pain relievers before COVID-19 vaccine

“It is not recommended you give pain relievers before vaccination to try to prevent side effects,” the agency said on its website.

City reaches vaccine agreement with unions, but not FDNY

New York City and four unions representing city workers reached an agreement on COVID-19 vaccinations, but no deal was reached with the FDNY.

October jobs report: US hiring rebounds with 531,000 jobs added

The October 2021 U.S. jobs report showed employers stepped up their hiring, adding a solid 531,000 jobs — the most since July.

Iowa study: 82.5% of deer tested positive for COVID-19

When researchers in Iowa first began testing deer for COVID-19 in April of 2020, they didn’t find any signs of the virus for months. That changed in the fall when the first positives popped up in September and October.

Florida to sue Biden administration over COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Hours after the Biden administration set a January 4 deadline for COVID-19 vaccines, the governor and state attorney general Ashley Moody announced plans for a lawsuit against the federal government.

Food drive helps restock Long Island nonprofit devastated by fire

A summer fire where NOSH housed its inventory of thousands of pounds of food left volunteers scrambling to find ways to continue feeding families. A food drive showed how Long Islanders step up to help their neighbors.

US mandates COVID-19 vaccines or tests for big companies by Jan. 4, 2022

U.S. regulators say Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested weekly.

NY begins COVID vaccine rollout for kids between 5 and 11

28 million children are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and many pediatricians across our area are already giving out the shots.

NIH launches ‘When to Test’ for COVID-19 calculator

The calculator uses a mathematical model to determine a person’s relative risk of having or getting COVID-19 and the risk of spreading the virus to other people — and whether they should get tested.