FDA limits new COVID vaccine boosters to high-risk Americans only

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized COVID-19 vaccines for the fall — but only for high-risk groups.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced the FDA’s most recent actions on Wednesday in a post on X.

"I promised 4 things," Kennedy wrote. "1. to end covid vaccine mandates; 2. to keep vaccines available to people who want them, especially the vulnerable; 3. to demand placebo-controlled trials from companies; 4. to end the emergency."

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"In a series of FDA actions today we accomplished all four goals."

In the post, RFK stated that the FDA has issued "marketing authorization" for high-risk groups for the following vaccines: Moderna (6 months and older), Pfizer (5 years and older) and Novavax (12 and up). 

"These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors," RFK wrote.

High-risk groups include older adults over 65 and those who are more likely to develop severe COVID illness. 

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On its website, the CDC lists conditions that may increase the risk of severe COVID, including asthma, cancer, heart conditions, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, mood disorders, obesity, Parkinson’s, and chronic disease of the lungs, liver or kidneys, among many others.

RFK also announced that the emergency use authorizations for COVID vaccines have been rescinded.

"The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense," RFK went on. "This framework delivers all three."

Before this change, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recommended the vaccine for all Americans 6 months and older.

In May 2025, Kennedy announced that COVID-19 vaccines would be removed from the CDC’s routine immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women. 

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Instead of a universal recommendation, the CDC’s updated guidance calls for "shared clinical decision-making," in which parents and doctors discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination for each individual case.

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) still includes it in its annual immunization schedule, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

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"It should be a conversation between the pediatrician, patient and parent, and should depend on the child’s health as well as the current state of COVID," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, previously told Fox News Digital.

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Mediterranean diet paired with other lifestyle changes slashes diabetes risk

Eating a Mediterranean diet — including lots of produce, whole grains and healthy fats — while also adding a few healthy lifestyle behaviors could lower your diabetes risk by almost a third.

That's according to research published Aug. 25 in Annals of Internal Medicine, which found that following a Mediterranean-style diet along with calorie control, regular activity and professional support cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 31%. 

The findings come from the PREDIMED-Plus trial, a six-year study of nearly 4,800 older adults in Spain who were overweight or obese and at risk of diabetes.

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"In practical terms, adding calorie control and physical activity to the Mediterranean diet prevented around three out of every 100 people from developing diabetes," co-author Miguel Martínez-González, professor at the University of Navarra in Spain, said in a press release.

"That’s a clear, measurable benefit for public health."

"We’re facing a global epidemic of diabetes," co-author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said in the release.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the world's fastest-growing health conditions, affecting nearly 16% of U.S. adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Experts say simple lifestyle changes could help prevent millions of new cases.

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The Mediterranean diet primarily consists of the following ingredients.

This way of eating has been linked to better heart health, improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation.

Registered dietitian and food blogger Lauren Harris-Pincus, based in New Jersey, previously spoke to Fox News Digital about the benefits of whole-food diets like this one.

"Fiber-rich carbohydrates like fruit, veggies, beans/legumes, nuts and whole grains are beneficial to meeting fiber goals, supporting gut health and helping to prevent lifestyle diseases," she said. 

The study looked at nearly 4,800 people in Spain who were overweight or obese and at risk of diabetes.

Half of the group followed a Mediterranean diet while also incorporating additional lifestyle changes, including cutting about 600 calories a day, adding moderate exercise (like brisk walking or light strength training), and receiving professional weight-loss support.

The other half followed a Mediterranean diet without calorie restriction, exercise guidance or extra support.

After six years, the first group had a 31% lower risk of developing diabetes. On average, they also lost 3.3 kilograms (about 7 pounds) and trimmed 3.6 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) from their waistlines.

The control group lost significantly less, only 0.6 kilograms (1.3 pounds), and had almost no change in waist size.

"The best lifestyle strategy to reduce the risk of diabetes is to lose weight by adhering to a healthy, energy-reduced diet and increasing physical activity," co-author Jordi Salas-Salvadó, M.D., PhD, professor at the University of Rovira i Virgili in Spain, told Fox News Digital.

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While the Mediterranean diet isn’t the only eating plan that could help prevent diabetes, it offers a "highly sustainable, long-term weight-loss option," he added.

Salas-Salvadó noted that no previous trial has assessed the effect of reducing calories in the context of a healthy, relatively high-fat diet.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study but has previously spoken about the effects of the Mediterranean diet.

"The alternative — saturated fats, salts and sugars — are not heart-healthy and increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, all of which increase mortality risks," he told Fox News Digital.

The study’s approach of monitoring diet, physical activity and weight loss makes it difficult to gauge which factor had the most impact, according to Salas-Salvadó.

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He also pointed out that because the participants were older adults in Spain, further studies are needed to assess outcomes in other populations, like younger people and non-Mediterranean populations.

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Man receives world's first pig lung transplant in groundbreaking medical procedure

A man in China became the first recipient of a pig lung.

The genetically modified pig organ was transplanted into the 39-year-old, according to an Aug. 26 report by the journal Nature.

The procedure took place last year, performed by researchers at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangshou Medical University in China.

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Although the man was brain-dead after experiencing a cerebral hemorrhage, the lung survived for nine days.

The left lung came from a pig with six genomic edits, created by research firm Chengdu Clonorgan Biotechnology in China.

Pig organs have been successfully transplanted into humans in the past, and clinical trials for pig liver and kidney transplants in humans were green-lighted in the U.S. this year.

In this first trial, the researchers and doctors aimed to determine how a lung would hold up against the human immune response and the possibility of "hyperacute rejection."

In the Nature journal article, the researchers reported the success of this recent transplant, noting no signs of rejection or infection within the 216-hour monitoring period.

In the first 24 hours, the team observed lung swelling and tissue damage during the procedure.

On days three and six, the team noticed damage caused by antibodies attacking the organ, but this was reduced by day nine.

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The study was then ended at the request of the patient’s family on the ninth day, the report stated.

"Although this study demonstrates the feasibility of pig-to-human lung xenotransplantation, substantial challenges relating to organ rejection and infection remain," the researchers concluded.

"Further preclinical studies are necessary before clinical translation of this procedure."

Muhammad Mohiuddin, a surgeon and researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, who led the first pig–heart transplant into a living person in 2022, told Nature that lungs are the "most difficult organ to transplant," as they’re more prone to being attacked by the immune system.

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Mohiuddin applauded the researchers’ effort and called it a "first step" toward lung xenotransplantation, or the use of organs from other species into humans.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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Eating meat could protect against cancer-related death, study suggests

Eating more meat could be beneficial for the body, a new study suggests.

Recent research from Canada’s McMaster University revealed that animal-sourced foods are not linked to a higher risk of death.

The study discovered that animal proteins could also offer protective benefits against cancer-related mortality, according to a press release from the university.

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Researchers analyzed data from nearly 16,000 adults, aged 19 and older, considering how much animal and plant protein they typically consumed.

They also examined whether these diet patterns were associated with a risk of dying from causes such as heart disease and cancer.

The results revealed no increased risk of death in association with eating more animal protein.

The data also showed a "modest but significant reduction" in cancer-related mortality.

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No associations were found between total protein, animal protein or plant protein and the risk of death from any cause, according to the study.

But when plant and animal protein were analyzed, the results "remained consistent," which suggests that plant protein has a "minimal impact on cancer mortality, while animal protein may offer a small protective effect."

The findings were published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.

"Combined with decades of clinical trial evidence, the findings support the inclusion of animal proteins as part of a healthy dietary pattern," the press release stated.

Research supervisor Stuart Phillips, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University, commented in the same release that there is "a lot of confusion around protein," including how much and what kind to eat, and what it implies for long-term health.

"This study adds clarity, which is important for anyone trying to make informed, evidence-based decisions about what they eat," Phillips wrote.

"It was imperative that our analysis used the most rigorous, gold standard methods to assess usual intake and mortality risk," he continued.

"These methods allowed us to account for fluctuations in daily protein intake and provide a more accurate picture of long-term eating habits."

Lead researcher Yanni Papanikolaou, president of Nutritional Strategies, also commented that when both observational data and clinical research are considered, "it’s clear that both animal and plant protein foods promote health and longevity."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.

This research was funded by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), although the researchers noted that NCBA was "not involved in the study design, data collection and analysis or publication of the findings."

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Cannabis gummy poisonings surge among vulnerable group, experts warn

Cannabis gummies have grown in popularity in recent years, as more people turn to them to relieve pain, inflammation, anxiety and sleep issues, among other uses.

There is also a growing concern, however, about the THC-containing gummies getting into children’s hands — and mouths.

Reports of cannabis poisoning among children soared from 930 in 2009 to more than 22,000 in 2024 — and last year, more than 75% of all cannabis poisonings involved minors, according to America’s Poison Centers.

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Melissa Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker and the senior clinical director at Victory Starts Now in Los Angeles, said she is not surprised by the uptick in gummy cannabis poisonings among children.

"Companies are advertising gummy cannabis the same way they would sell candy to children," she told Fox News Digital.

Dr. Darria Long, M.D., an emergency physician in Atlanta, Georgia, and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board, confirmed that she’s aware of multiple children per week seeking medical attention for this issue.

"Gummies are particularly dangerous because kids don't just eat one — they can eat an entire bag," she told Fox News Digital. "So they’re ingesting somewhere around 10 adult servings in the body of a 30-pound child."

Long said she has seen instances where someone bought cannabis gummies and unintentionally gave them to a child, not realizing they contained THC. 

"Some parents think, ‘but it’s natural, it can't be dangerous,’ or ‘it’s just a little pot, it can't be dangerous.’"

A child who has consumed cannabis gummies could come in lethargic or not breathing, and may have experienced seizures, Long told Fox News Digital.

In many cases, the child’s heart rate drops, and they may even go into cardiac arrest and require CPR. 

Treatment for gummy overdoses depends on how severe the situation is, according to Long. 

"Sometimes children need to be intubated and put on a respiratory machine, and sometimes they need electrical pacing of their heart because their heart rate is too slow," she said.

They may also need IV medication, including epinephrine to keep them from going into cardiac arrest or other drugs to stop seizure activity.

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In severe cases, cannabis gummy poisoning can cause coma, death or long-term side effects, including problems with memory, attention and problem-solving skills, experts agree.

"Especially if they have periods during which their brain is not getting enough oxygen, they could have hypoxic brain injury, among other potential complications," Long warned.

Dr. Margret Chang, a pediatrician at UMass Memorial Health’s Tri-River Family Health Center in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, said it would be "highly unlikely" for these severe effects to develop in a child after just one exposure, as long as they get appropriate medical monitoring and care.

"However, if a child were to come in contact with a cannabis gummy from an illicit source that just happened to contain fentanyl or cocaine, the consequences of consuming that gummy would be far more deadly, and the long-term effects far more powerful," she told Fox News Digital.

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THC can stay in a child's system much longer than an adult’s, experts agree.

"It depends on what they have taken and how large a quantity was ingested, but I’m aware of cases where children took 24 to 36 hours or more just to become stable," Long said.

Parents should watch out for symptoms such as sedation, difficulty breathing and confusion, Johnson advised.

"Parents should make sure to educate themselves on signs that their child may have ingested THC, so care can be administered as soon as possible," she said. "If you think your child has ingested THC, get them to the nearest hospital or call 911 for immediate care."

To keep children safe from toxic ingestion, experts agree that it’s best not to keep THC-containing products in the home.

"If you do keep these in the home, they need to be treated the exact same way you would treat all prescription medications, which could be life-threatening if a child ingests them," Long said.

"That would include using a baby-proof or child-proof container, and keeping them out of reach and out of sight."

She added, "If parents do use these types of products, they should avoid having them in forms that are at all tempting to children, like gummies, candy, brownies or cookies."

People should only use sources of cannabis gummies that come from registered dispensaries, Chang added.

"Failure to do so can lead to the acquisition of cannabis supplies that are contaminated with illicit substances such as fentanyl, cocaine and benzodiazepenes, which are added to products to make them more appealing to consumers."

Riana Durrett, director of the Cannabis Policy Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said that while it’s "chilling" to hear stories about children seeking medical attention for cannabis gummy poisoning, "it doesn't seem like the whole story."

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"Data is showing that youth use is going down in states where cannabis legalization is occurring cannabis legalization is occurring — so in order to properly react and address increases in accidental consumption, I think we need to know more about where the product is coming from and why it wasn't kept away from a child," she told Fox News Digital.

"For example, if it is a product from an unlicensed source (which is likely if it is marked ‘kid-friendly’), then turning our attention to the licensed cannabis industry fails to address the actual problem and would fail to increase protections for children."

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According to Durrett, connecting these incidents of child poisonings with cannabis legalization seems like an "insufficient explanation." 

"I think more details about the source of the products and how the child accessed the product would be helpful in identifying more effective responses or policy changes," she added. 

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Flesh-eating parasite case detected in US traveler returning from Central America

The first case of a travel-associated human screwworm infection has been detected in Maryland.

Andrew Nixon, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the patient had recently returned from a trip to El Salvador, a country affected by a screwworm outbreak.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Health to investigate the case.

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The CDC confirmed the diagnosis on Aug. 4 after experts reviewed larvae images.

"The risk to public health in the United States from this introduction is very low," Nixon said.

New World screwworm, also known as myiasis, is a parasitic infestation of fly larvae that feeds on live flesh, according to the CDC.

A person can contract myiasis when females drop their eggs on or near a person's wound, nose or ears.

It can also be transferred through ticks and mosquitoes after the fly attaches its eggs to the insects, per the above source.

In the case of an infection, a lump will develop in the person’s tissues as the larvae grow and eat flesh. It can be fatal if not treated at an early stage, health experts warn.

"Myiasis is not common in the U.S.," the CDC states on its website. "Most people diagnosed with myiasis in the U.S. were infected when traveling to tropical areas where myiasis most often occurs." 

Livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats are highly vulnerable, making it a significant economic pest, according to the CDC.

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Reuters reported last week that the CDC had confirmed a case of New World screwworm in Maryland from a person who traveled from Guatemala.

The discrepancy in the reports regarding the origin of the case has not been confirmed.

This summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a plan to build a sterile fly facility in Texas to combat the pest.

It is estimated that a screwworm outbreak in Texas could cost the state’s economy $1.8 billion in livestock deaths, labor costs and medication expenses, according to Reuters. 

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There have not been any confirmed animal cases this year.

Fox News Digital reached out to USDA for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Young lawyer dies after routine medical scan triggers fatal allergic reaction

A 22-year-old law graduate recently died after suffering a rare but catastrophic allergic reaction during a routine CT scan, shining a spotlight on the risks of a procedure millions undergo every year.

Jam Press reported that Letícia Paul, who had recently earned her law degree and was pursuing postgraduate studies in real estate and business law, went into anaphylactic shock moments after receiving an iodinated contrast dye.

The incident occurred at Hospital Regional Alto Vale in Rio do Sul, in Santa Catarina, Brazil.

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Doctors intubated the young woman and placed her under intensive care, but she died on Aug. 20, less than 24 hours later.

Paul had originally visited the hospital for a scan linked to her history of kidney stones.

In a statement, the hospital said it "regrets the loss and extends its condolences to the family," adding that all procedures followed recommended clinical protocols, per Jam Press.

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According to one study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, approximately 93 million computed tomography (CT) examinations are performed on 62 million patients annually in the U.S.

Contrast-enhanced CT scans are often performed with iodinated dye, helping doctors capture sharper images of organs and tissues. 

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The procedure is generally considered safe, but in rare cases, the contrast can trigger allergic reactions.

"Although rare, medical problems or allergic reactions can happen with contrast material," Mayo Clinic warns. 

"Most reactions are mild and result in a rash or itchiness. More rarely, an allergic reaction can be serious, even life-threatening."

Studies show that severe reactions occur in roughly one in 5,000 to one in 10,000 scans.

While hospitals are typically equipped to handle such emergencies, in some cases, even immediate intervention may not be enough.

Paul’s funeral was held on Aug. 21 in Rio do Sul, followed by cremation in Balneário Camboriú, as reported by NeedToKnow.

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While most people experience only mild symptoms, experts advise patients to alert a healthcare professional if they notice a reaction to contrast material.

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