Your Health

Testing your antibody levels to get a sense of your COVID-19 protection may be tempting, especially as you wait for a booster shot. But scientists say these widely available tests can't tell you the full story, at least not yet.

Health & Safety

Antibody Tests Should Not Be Your Go-To For Checking COVID Immunity

1:59pm August 28, 2021

by Will Stone

Worries about waning immunity and talk of COVID booster shots has some Americans checking their antibody levels to see if they're protected. But scientists warn blood tests don't tell the full story.

Ely Bair had two medically necessary jaw surgeries. For the first, in 2018, his share of the bill was $3,000. For the second, in 2019 after a job change, he was billed $27,000, even though he had the same insurance carrier.

Same Hospital And Insurer, But The Bill For His 2nd Jaw Procedure Was $24,000 More

12:17pm August 27, 2021

by Phil Galewitz

To realign the man's jaw and ease his chronic pain and high blood pressure, he would need two operations, the surgeon said. Both procedures went well, but the patient was shocked by the second bill.

Artificial intelligence brain by particle form.

In 'Dopamine Nation,' Overabundance Keeps Us Craving More

2:34pm August 25, 2021

by Terry Gross

Psychiatrist Anna Lembke's new book explores the brain's connection between pleasure and pain. It also helps explain addictions — not just to drugs and alcohol, but also to food, sex and smartphones.

Queue Listen Now

First-graders listen to the interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Megan Reilly, read a book at Normont Elementary School in Harbor City on Aug. 16, the first day of school.

Health & Safety

Use These 6 Expert Tips To Find The Best Masks For Your Kids

10:09am August 24, 2021

by Maria Godoy

This year, face masks are on most parents' list of back-to-school supplies. But which ones are most effective? Here's how to choose the right one for your child.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch are helping to test the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine against coronavirus variants.

A Texas Lab Performs Crucial Testing For Pfizer's COVID Vaccine

5:07am August 20, 2021

by Joe Palca

The lab has access to a high-security facility that Pfizer needed to prove its COVID-19 vaccine was working. Now the scientists there are testing the vaccine's effectiveness against viral variants.

Federal health officials are planning ahead to give booster shots in the fall to all U.S. adults, starting with those who were vaccinated early on, like the elderly, health care workers and first responders.

COVID Booster Shots Are Coming. Here's What You Need To Know

10:55am August 19, 2021

If all goes to plan, Americans who got Pfizer or Moderna shots can get a third dose eight months after their last jab. Here's why health officials think you'll need one.

Only kids 12 and older are eligible — so far — to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the U.S. But the shots could be available for younger children as soon as this fall, say researchers studying the vaccine in that age group.

Health & Safety

A Shot Against COVID For Kids Under 12 — Your Questions Answered

4:27pm August 18, 2021

A COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 12 is not yet available, but research is well underway and the first shot for some kids in this age group is expected in the fall, doctors say.

A worker fills a bottle with water on a farm during a drought in Firebaugh, Calif., on July 13.

Outdoor Workers Could Face Far More Dangerous Heat By 2065 Because Of Climate Change

6:11pm August 17, 2021

by Eric McDaniel

A new report warns that outdoor workers are at risk of lost wages and dire health consequences if greenhouse gas pollution continues. People of color are especially vulnerable to harm.

Raiders fans do the wave during last weekend's preseason game in Las Vegas as a stadium sign reminds them to wear face masks. The team now says spectators will have to show proof of vaccination — and that no masks will be required for those who have bee

NFL's Raiders Will Require Fans To Show Vaccine Proof Or Get A Shot At The Gate

1:50pm August 17, 2021

by Bill Chappell

When the Las Vegas Raiders start their NFL season, the team wants its home stadium to look as normal as possible, with stands full of fans. Those who been vaccinated won't have to wear masks.

Demonstrators calling on people to wear masks gather outside school district headquarters in Marietta, Ga., last week. A recent review at pandemic data finds requiring masks, capping the size of gatherings and instituting certain bar, gym and restaurant r

Even Moderate COVID Restrictions Can Slow The Spread Of The Virus — If They're Timely

1:04pm August 17, 2021

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Mask mandates and other interventions can help stop a surge, even where vaccination rates are low, say scientists who've reviewed states' data. When the measures start and how long they last matters.