19 confirmed dead, 6 missing after quarry collapse in Indonesia's West Java
The death toll from a quarry collapse in Indonesia’s West Java province rose to 19, with six people still missing, officials said on Sunday.
The U.S. FDA has approved Moderna’s next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, mNEXSPIKE, for adults aged 65 and older and those aged 12–64 with risk factors, marking a major step under tighter regulations.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna’s latest COVID-19 vaccine, mNEXSPIKE, for people aged 65 and above and for those aged 12 to 64 with at least one underlying risk factor, as defined by the CDC. This is the first approval following the agency’s recent tightening of vaccine requirements.
Moderna expects to distribute the updated mRNA-based vaccine during the 2025–2026 respiratory virus season. Unlike previous versions, mNEXSPIKE can be stored in regular refrigerators, simplifying distribution, particularly in low-resource settings.
“This approval adds an important tool to help protect high-risk groups,” said Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel.
The FDA recently shifted its guidelines, requiring placebo-controlled trials for younger, healthy adults, effectively limiting new COVID-19 boosters to those at higher risk of severe disease. Regulatory tightening comes under the Department of Health and Human Services, now led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long expressed skepticism about vaccines.
Despite concerns over regulatory changes, the CDC reaffirmed that COVID vaccines remain an option for healthy children when deemed necessary by parents and doctors. Analysts say this helps maintain market stability for vaccine makers by preserving demand in core demographics.
The FDA also recently approved Novavax’s protein-based COVID vaccine Nuvaxovid, but similarly restricted its use to older and at-risk individuals. Moderna, meanwhile, is focusing on its newer mRNA pipeline to counter declining interest in its original Spikevax and lower-than-expected uptake of its RSV shot.
Trial data supporting mNEXSPIKE’s approval showed the new vaccine performed equally or better than Spikevax, particularly among adults aged 18 and older.
As the U.S. government pursues agency overhauls and budget cuts, questions remain about the long-term regulatory environment. Still, with 100 to 200 million Americans eligible for boosters under current rules, the market for COVID-19 vaccines - especially next-generation options like mNEXSPIKE - remains significant.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Friday that COVID-19 vaccines are still recommended for healthy children aged 6 months and older—if their doctors agree.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced that COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women — a move that has sparked sharp criticism from public health experts.
On the sun-soaked southern tip of China, a new kind of medical tourism is quietly unfolding. It’s not about cosmetic surgery or wellness spas but about survival.
Pakistan kicked off a nationwide anti-polio campaign on Monday, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five as part of efforts to eliminate the crippling disease—one of the last remaining in the world.
Sudan’s Khartoum State faces a sharp rise in cholera cases, with hundreds infected weekly amid deteriorating conditions following recent conflict.
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