KPFA - Corona Calls

Discussed in this episode: H3N2 influenza has picked up a mutation (dubbed “subclade K”) that’s raising concerns for two reasons: 1) it accounts for a growing share of influenza samples that get genetically-sequenced, implying it has some growth advantage, and 2) the mutations emerged after the makeup of this year’s flu vaccine was approved and entered production. A resident of Washington State has died from the first-recorded human infection with H5N5 avian influenza. To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org. Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. The post Corona Calls for 11.24.2025 – the outlook for flu season appeared first on KPFA.

An all-audience-questions episode, including: If I’ve been exposed but haven’t gotten sick, how long until I’m safe to be around other people? Are any of the currently-approved COVID vaccines better than the other ones available? How long until I need to get re-vaccinated for RSV If I’ve had shingles, do I still need the shingles vaccine? To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org. Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. The post Corona Calls for 11.17.2025 – Mailbag appeared first on KPFA.

Discussed in this episode: The government shutdown has deprived us of the statistics the CDC normally aggregates and publishes to track the prevalence of respiratory infections this time of year — but other sources of data suggest this season is off to a mild start To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org. Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. The post Corona Calls for 11.10.2025 – Flying Blind in Cold and Flu Season appeared first on KPFA.

Discussed in this episode: A new study shows the risk of heart attack and stroke shoot up in the immediate aftermath of an infection with influenza or COVID 19, and stay elevated for weeks. Another study, in Nature, shows MRNA vaccines for Covid made cancer patients receiving immunotherapy respond better to treatment, and live longer. To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org. Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. The post Corona Calls for 11.03.2025 – COVID and cardiac events; COVID vaccines and cancer appeared first on KPFA.

Apologies for the delayed posting! Life, fund drive, and staff illnesses conspired to de-rail our normal publication schedule. Discussed in this episode: How the government shutdown, and CDC staff cuts carried out by the Trump administration, are impacting our capacity to respond to public health crises. To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org. Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. The post Corona Calls for 10.14.2025 appeared first on KPFA.