Study will assess how well special shot built to be Omicron-proof protects against infection; expert says Israel helping lead way in ‘the future of the fight against the pandemic’

US doctor calls BA.5 'hypercontagious' and WHO says pandemic 'nowhere near over' as virus continues to mutate worldwide and cause concern among experts

CEO says US biotech firm intends to submit new vaccine to regulators, will gear up to start supplying shots by August in anticipation of infection spike in the fall

Approval means roughly 18 million youngsters under 5 in the US are now eligible for the shots; shots are expected to start next week but it's unclear how popular they will be

Reviewers say Moderna's and Pfizer's shots appear safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old, with side effects minor and less common than in adults

While data shows it was less effective than in trials on adults, authorities say that because tests were done during highly contagious Omicton wave; likely to be approved next week

Vaccine reportedly triggers increased resistance across prior variants, although it's unclear for how long; study performed on 437 people and is not yet scientifically reviewed

VP at US pharma firm says data showing shot it developed to help counter Beta variant 'really give us hope' that boosters can be adjusted for other coronavirus strains

Peer-reviewed Israeli research likely to be widely noted worldwide as health authorities debate whether to administer 4th doses to the general population

Top US health group finds Pfizer and Moderna shots given to expecting mothers cut the rate of later coronavirus infection among their babies in half