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Kaiser nurse Marilyn Antonio, left, puts a bandage on Ted Naifeh, right, from San Francisco, after a Moderna booster shot at Kaiser Permanente City Center Vaccine Clinic in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 2022.

Health

These are the new COVID variants that experts say could fuel a winter surge

The BA.5 omicron strain is still dominant in the U.S., but experts are monitoring a new crop of subvariants that they say could drive the next COVID-19 surge. Here’s what you need to know.

Health
Scant data on health impact of heat wave shows Bay Area unready for climate change
Bay Area hospitals reported dozens of people treated for heat-related ailments this week, but tracking the full impact of weather events on public health is tricky and incomplete, health officials say. By Erin Allday
Health
UCSF’s Bob Wachter is still doing all he can to avoid COVID. Here’s why
Dr. Bob Wachter is still doing everything he can to avoid the coronavirus, even though most Americans have decided to move on. By Aidin Vaziri
Health
California’s first potential monkeypox death investigated in L.A.
Los Angeles County health officials said a person diagnosed with monkeypox has died in what may be the first known fatality from the virus in California and second in the U.S. By Aidin Vaziri
Health
CVS, Walgreens are rolling out omicron boosters. Here’s how to know you’ll get the updated shot
With the omicron-specific COVID-19 booster now available, how can you ensure that the booster you sign up for is the new one and not the old one? By Danielle Echeverria
Health
CDC authorizes new omicron-specific booster shots against COVID
The CDC approved omicron-specific boosters for all U.S. adults Thursday, a day after the FDA authorized the Moderna and Pfizer shots. By Erin Allday
Health
San Francisco to start giving second doses of Jynneos monkeypox vaccine
San Francisco will begin administering second doses of the monkeypox vaccine and expand vaccine eligibility starting Tuesday, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said Wednesday. By Catherine Ho
Health
COVID boosters targeting omicron will soon be available. Should you get one right away?
Updated coronavirus vaccine booster shots that target omicron strains will likely roll out within days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized them Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know about the “bivalent” BA.5 booster shots. By Kellie Hwang
Health
COVID Live Updates: Tens of thousands of veterans battling long COVID
A new government report estimates that 24,000 to 42,000 veterans in the U.S. are suffering from lingering medical problems associated with coronavirus infection and urges health care workers to better monitor patients for signs of long COVID. By Aidin Vaziri and Dominic Fracassa
Health
‘He stood his ground’: State Sen. Pan will leave office as champion of tough vaccine laws
California state Sen. Richard Pan, who spearheaded some of the country’s most ambitious vaccine mandate legislation, is leaving office this year because of term limits. A pediatrician, he plans to practice medicine full time but has not ruled out... By Angela Hart
Health
‘This is what equity looks like’: Roving teams deliver COVID vaccines around S.F.’s Tenderloin
For more than a year, teams of medical professionals and volunteers have been roaming the Tenderloin giving COVID shots to homeless and other underserved people. The fall will probably make the teams even busier. By Kevin Fagan
Health
Why San Francisco is ‘cautiously optimistic’ the monkeypox outbreak is slowing
San Francisco may be turning a corner on monkeypox, with early data showing the local epidemic slowing down in recent weeks. By Catherine Ho
Health
In one California county, just 4% of pre-teens are vaccinated against COVID: ‘We can do a lot...
At the start of the new school year,the Bay Area boasts some of California’s highest rates of child vaccination against COVID-19, providing parents some comfort as the virus continues circulating. But there’s room for improvement to keep students... By Aidin Vaziri and Susie Neilson
Health
Do I need a polio vaccine? How to know if you were vaccinated, and how long protection lasts
After a case of polio recently surfaced in New York, experts say it’s unlikely you’re at risk of from the disease in the Bay Area if you’re vaccinated. But how long does protection from polio vaccines last? And what if you’re uncertain about your... By Kellie Hwang
Health
Inmate is 1st in San Francisco jail confirmed with monkeypox
A person in custody at San Francisco County jails is the first inmate with a confirmed case of monkeypox, Sheriff’s Office officials said Monday. By Aidin Vaziri
Health
Bay Area eyes major new shift in monkeypox vaccination: ‘There’s no other choice’
With sky-high demand for the nation’s limited supply of monkeypox vaccine, U.S. officials approved a new injection method to stretch out doses, but that does not mean the pressure for shots in places like San Francisco will ease right away. By Aidin Vaziri