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The Leapfrog Group recognized 115 hospitals with its annual top hospital awards.
Lawmakers agreed to allow language into the National Defense Authorization Act that would repeal the COVID vaccine mandate for U.S. service members. (The Hill)
Booster vaccines performed well against the Omicron BA.5 subvariant in serum tests, but not against BQ.1.1 or XBB.1. (Nature Medicine)
The European Medicines Agency Emergency Task Force said mRNA bivalent vaccines targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and Omicron BA.4/5 subvariants could be used for primary vaccination, but has not issued an official policy.
Some schools are closing to stem flu outbreaks. (ABC News)
Infectious diseases fellowship programs are scrambling for doctors, with 44% not filling their slots during the annual match. (STAT)
A highly anticipated independent report said the FDA's food division lacks leadership and clarity and fosters a culture that doesn't adequately protect public health. (New York Times)
A federal court in Florida tossed out roughly 50,000 lawsuits alleging that ranitidine (Zantac) caused cancer, with the judge saying the claims were not backed by sound science. (Reuters)
Meanwhile, as claims mounted over its marketing practices, e-cigarette company Juul said it settled more than 5,000 lawsuits for an undisclosed amount.
Eli Lilly and pharmacies are tightening access to tirzepatide (Mounjaro), a GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist indicated only for type 2 diabetes, to block individuals seeking the drug for weight loss. (STAT)
Minnesota nurses reached tentative deals with nearly all hospitals to avert a planned strike. (CBS Minnesota)
Cold air damages nasal epithelial extracellular vesicles that have multiple innate antiviral mechanisms, which may help explain seasonal prevalence of colds and flu. (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)
The FDA updated its safety communication on Endologix AFX endovascular grafts for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, approved new labeling about Type III endoleaks with the AFX2 Endovascular AAA System, and is requiring a postmarket study to continue to evaluate the benefits and risks of the AFX2 system.
Twin births rebounded after a larger-than-usual pandemic dip, according to a new CDC report.
A New Zealand court granted health officials guardianship over an infant whose parents refused life-saving heart surgery if vaccinated donor blood was used. (BBC News)
Patient lawsuits against a fugitive doctor accused of performing negligent and unnecessary back surgeries can proceed, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled. (WXIX Fox 19)
A documentary investigated the popularity of plastic surgery for young people, driven in part by influencers on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. (USA Today)
A New York City nurse had murder charges against her dismissed with pro bono help. (Reuters)