Reported vaccine uptake among children ages 5 to 11 and teenagers ages 12 to 17 has slowed in recent months, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, published on Sept. 30. Almost half of parents of kids ages 5 to 11 now report their child has gotten vaccinated.

Evusheld is the the only monoclonal antibody available, under emergency use authorization, for COVID-19 prevention for people who are immunocompromised or for people who can’t take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDC guidance says people in counties labeled “high” should wear a high-quality mask or respirators in public and those at high risk of getting very sick are to consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where they could be exposed.

The order, issued by Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon on Friday, will be enacted through rulemaking and is subject to public comment before a final decision is made. New Yorkers may email comments to by Dec. 11. If accepted, the wage increase would take effect on Dec. 31.

The World Health Organization has released six policy briefs outlining the key actions governments must take based on the evidence and experience of the last 32 months of what works best to save lives, protect health systems, and avoid social and economic disruption.

On Tuesday, the United States Preventive Services Task Force, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, issued the draft of a proposal that would have adults younger than 65 screened annually for depression. The World Health Organization in March had released findings that, in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, “global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25 percent.”

The goal with the executive orders for both poliovirus and monkeypox, as stated also in the lapsed COVID order, is to help municipalities and counties test for the disease and vaccinate against it “to prevent the disease from continuing to spread.”

“Starting today, masks will be optional,” Kathy Hochul said at Wednesday’s press event, referring to their use in “shelters, correctional facilities, detention centers, and mass transit.” New Yorkers will continue to have to wear masks in hospitals and other health-care settings, in nursing homes, and at adult-care facilities

The National Center for Education Statistics issued what is commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card on Sept. 1, which showed that nationwide, reading and math scores for 9-year-olds fell between 2020 and 2022 by unprecedented levels.

ALBANY COUNTY — The week started with the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, acknowledging that, after a review, the agency found it did not respond adequately to the COVID-19 pandemic.