During a 60 Minutes interview aired on September 18, President Biden surprised everyone when he said the “pandemic is over.” He immediately followed up by saying, “We still have a problem with COVID. We're still doing a lot of work on it. It's — but the pandemic is over.”  This communication immediately caused debate among public health professionals. They took to various news outlets to express their viewpoints.  However, before we turn to the debate, let’s consider what marks an “end to a pandemic.”  Lack of Consensus on Definition  The reason there’s such a stir is partly because of a...

On September 1, 2022, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended the first updated COVID-19 booster.  The Updated Booster  The new booster was announced at the beginning of September by the director of the CDC, Rochelle Walensky. This new booster is different from the past booster shots, as it is a bivalent formulation of the vaccine. This means it contains both the original spike protein for the original COVID-19 strain and the secondary spike protein for the more recent omicron subvariants.  This updated form of the vaccine contains two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of the coronavirus...

The recent surge of wildfires scorching the California landscape makes fire safety and wildfire prevention a timely topic. So does the fact that we are entering bonfire season, which can ignite a wildfire under certain circumstances. For example, an unsupervised bonfire, a fire not totally extinguished, a bonfire made in a windy area, etc., can all cause fires. This article focuses mostly on bonfire safety and wildfire prevention from bonfires, but several of the tips offered are applicable to campfires, as well. This definition of each will show you the main differences between the two. Campfires...

In September, you may be preparing to harvest the last crops from your garden or to endure the cascade of holidays looming just ahead. However, September is also the time of year that you should be preparing for another type of possibility: An emergency. In 2004, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared September to be National Preparedness Month.  During September each year, FEMA encourages families to take a moment to consider and create an action plan for the various emergencies that could occur within their homes, businesses, or communities.  Here’s what you need to know...

Aging is a natural part of life, but not everyone ages the same way. Some people can maintain their physical and cognitive health late into their senior years. However, others struggle earlier on with problems related to aging, including Alzheimer’s Disease. Luckily there are many habits that can help you age in a healthy way and avoid chronic aging-related conditions like Alzheimer’s. In honor of September’s status as Healthy Aging Month and World Alzheimer’s Month, here’s what you need to know about healthy aging habits and tips that can help you avoid developing Alzheimer’s disease. What...