Top in ID: Moderna vaccine approval, efficacy of N95 and KN95 masks

The FDA recently approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which will be branded in the U.S. as Spikevax. The announcement was the top story in infectious disease last week.

Another top story covered real-world data that showed N95 and KN95 respirators offered more protection against SARS-CoV-2 than other masks in public indoor spaces.

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:

FDA approves Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine

The FDA approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, making it the second fully approved COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. Read more.

N95 or KN95 masks offer best protection, real-world study shows

In a real-world study of face masks conducted before the omicron surge, people who reported wearing N95 or KN95 respirators in public indoor spaces were 83% less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 than people who never wore a mask. Read more.

Hospitalization rate 23 times higher for unvaccinated vs. boosted during omicron

Data from Los Angeles County during the omicron surge showed that the COVID-19 hospitalization rate was 23 times higher among people who were unvaccinated compared with people who had received a COVID-19 vaccine series and booster. Read more.

Novavax asks FDA to authorize its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine

Novavax announced that it has submitted an emergency use authorization request to the FDA for its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged 18 years or older. Read more.

‘Early warning system’: CDC begins reporting SARS-CoV-2 wastewater data

The CDC announced that it has begun adding wastewater surveillance data to its online COVID-19 data tracker. Read more.