Pfizer Seeks Kid Booster EUA; Travel Mask Mandate Extended; BA.2 Subvariants in N.Y.

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Pfizer/BioNTech announced that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 increased neutralizing antibody levels against Omicron; the companies plan to seek an FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) in the coming days.

An uptick in cases prompted the CDC to extend the federal travel mask mandate by another 15 days — it now expires May 3 barring any other extensions.

At the same time, HHS extended the COVID-19 public health emergency by at least another 3 months.

Speaking of which, most states don’t plan to use texting to warn Medicaid enrollees that their coverage is at risk of expiring when the emergency declaration ends. (KHN)

As of Thursday at 8:00 a.m. EDT, the unofficial COVID toll in the U.S. reached 80,551,977 infections and 988,759 deaths, increases of 58,891, and 1,057, respectively, since this time a day ago.

New York health officials warned that two new Omicron BA.2 subvariants — BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1 — are spreading rapidly across the state.

The CDC plans to drastically reduce the number of nations on its travel avoidance list over COVID-19 activity. (Reuters)

U.K. regulators have authorized Moderna’s COVID vaccine for kids ages 6 to 11 years.

They also authorized the Valneva COVID-19 vaccine for use, though the government recently canceled its order for 100 million doses of the inactivated whole-virus vaccine. (BBC)

Also in the U.K., scientists are investigating a puzzling spike in liver disease in children. (AP)

Prices are soaring, but healthcare inflation is hovering around its historical trend of 2%. (CNN)

A Chicago hospital CEO is out of a job amid reports he authorized improper COVID-19 vaccinations. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

In an effort to boost clinical trial diversity, the FDA issued new guidance that calls on companies to submit plans on how they will boost enrollment among underrepresented groups early on in clinical development.

As of today, the FDA now has the authority to regulate synthetic nicotine, opening the door to a potential complete ban on flavored nicotine products. (Daily Mail)

At a town hall with voters, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) suggested that Republicans won’t try to repeal the Affordable Care Act if they retake the Senate. (Washington Post)

Kentucky lawmakers overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and includes no exceptions for incest or rape. (Axios)