COVID Vaccines: What You Need to Know

COVID-19 vaccines are one of the most effective tools to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The vaccines can prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. They can also reduce the spread of the virus in the community.

There are four approved or authorized vaccines in the United States:

- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines. They use messenger RNA (mRNA) to teach your cells how to fight the virus. They require two doses given 3 or 4 weeks apart.
- Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine. It uses a harmless piece of the virus's spike protein to trigger an immune response. It requires two doses given 3 weeks apart.
- Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. It uses a modified version of a different virus to deliver instructions to your cells to fight the virus. It requires one dose.

All four vaccines are safe and effective, and have undergone rigorous testing and monitoring by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They have been shown to reduce the risk of COVID-19 by more than 90% in clinical trials and real-world studies.

The vaccines are also free and available to anyone who wants one, regardless of their insurance or immigration status. The Biden administration and drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna have announced programs that aim to help uninsured Americans access COVID shots for free even after the public health emergency ends.

The public health emergency, which was first declared in January 2020 to combat the novel coronavirus, ended on Thursday, May 12, 2023. This means that some of the restrictions and benefits related to COVID-19 testing, treatment, data reporting, health coverage, and telemedicine will change.

For example, international travelers entering the country are no longer required to be vaccinated, removing the last of the restrictions on travel put in place beginning in 2020. However, they still need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure or recovery from COVID-19 within the past 90 days.

Consumers can still order free home tests through COVIDtests.gov , but access might change because the Biden administration has paused buying tests and supply may be limited. Medicaid enrollees will continue to receive free tests until Sept. 30, 2024; Medicare enrollees will no longer receive free at-home tests, but lab tests are covered; private insurers are no longer required to pay for eight home tests a month; and uninsured people may be able to get testing through pharmacies and community-based sites under a CDC program.

People who have received a COVID-19 vaccine should continue to follow CDC's recommendations for protecting themselves and others from COVID-19. These include wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, washing hands often, and staying home when sick.

People who are eligible for a booster dose should get one as soon as possible to increase their protection against COVID-19 variants. Booster doses are recommended for people aged 12 years and older who completed their primary series of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least five months ago, or J&J/Janssen vaccine at least two months ago.

People who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine should get one as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available at pharmacies, clinics, health departments, and other locations across the country. People can find a COVID-19 vaccine near them by visiting Vaccines.gov , calling 1-800-232-0233 , or texting their ZIP code to 438829 .

COVID-19 vaccines are a safe and effective way to end the pandemic and return to normal life. By getting vaccinated and following public health guidelines, we can all do our part to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.

Cashews: A Nutritious and Versatile Seed

Cashews are one of the most popular and widely consumed seeds in the world. They are native to South America, but are now grown in various tropical regions across the globe. Cashews have a rich, buttery flavor and a crunchy texture that make them a delicious snack and a versatile ingredient in many dishes.

Cashews are not only tasty, but also nutritious. They are rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber, and minerals, such as copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, and selenium. Cashews also contain antioxidants, plant compounds that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Cashews have been linked to several health benefits, such as:

- Improving heart health. Cashews are high in unsaturated fats, which can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Cashews also contain arginine, an amino acid that helps relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
- Supporting weight loss. Cashews are low in sugar and high in fiber and protein, which can help you feel full and satisfied for longer. Cashews also have a low glycemic index, which means they do not cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels after eating.
- Enhancing blood sugar control. Cashews can help regulate blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing oxidative stress. Cashews also contain compounds called anacardic acids, which may have anti-diabetic effects.
- Promoting bone health. Cashews are a good source of magnesium and manganese, two minerals that are essential for bone formation and maintenance. Magnesium also helps regulate calcium levels in the body, while manganese prevents bone loss and fractures.
- Boosting brain function. Cashews provide copper, iron, zinc, and selenium, which are important for brain health and cognitive performance. Copper helps produce neurotransmitters and protect brain cells from oxidative stress. Iron supports oxygen delivery to the brain and prevents anemia. Zinc and selenium play roles in memory formation and mood regulation.

Cashews can be enjoyed raw or roasted, salted or unsalted, whole or chopped. They can also be processed into cashew butter, cashew cheese, cashew milk, or cashew cream. Cashews are commonly used in South Asian cuisine, whole for garnishing sweets or curries, or ground into a paste that forms a base of sauces for curries (e.g., korma), or some sweets (e.g., kaju barfi). It is also used in powdered form in the preparation of several Indian sweets and desserts.

Cashews are also widely used in vegan and gluten-free recipes, as they can provide a creamy texture and a nutty flavor to dishes such as soups, salads, dips, spreads, desserts, and baked goods. Cashews can also be sprouted to increase their nutritional value and digestibility.

Cashews are generally safe to eat for most people, but some may have an allergic reaction to them. Cashews belong to the same family as poison ivy and poison oak, and contain a substance called urushiol that can cause skin irritation and rashes. The urushiol is mostly found in the shell of the cashew seed, which is removed before consumption. However, some traces of urushiol may remain on the cashew kernel or be transferred during processing.

Therefore, people who are allergic to cashews should avoid eating them or any products that contain them. Symptoms of cashew allergy may include itching, swelling, hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis. If you experience any of these symptoms after eating cashews or products containing them, seek medical attention immediately.

Cashews are a nutritious and versatile seed that can offer many health benefits when consumed as part of a balanced diet. They can be eaten as a snack or used as an ingredient in various dishes. However, people who are allergic to cashews should avoid them or any products that contain them..

Elon Musk's Controversial Views on Russia and Ukraine Spark Outrage

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recently stirred up controversy with his views on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The billionaire tech mogul has posted a Twitter poll suggesting a possible peace deal that would involve Ukraine giving up Crimea and some of its eastern regions to Russia, and remaining neutral in world affairs. He also claimed that this was "highly likely to be the outcome in the end" and warned of the risk of nuclear war. Musk's proposal was met with harsh criticism from Ukrainian officials and supporters, who accused him of siding with Russia and betraying Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Some even told him to "f--- off" and vowed to boycott his products. On the other hand, Musk's poll was welcomed by the Kremlin and Russian state media, who praised him for looking for a peaceful way out of the situation and called him "Elon Muskovsky". Musk defended his poll by saying that he was only trying to "reduce suffering" and that he had no personal stake in the matter. He also denied having any recent contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite a claim by a political analyst that they had spoken directly about Ukraine. He said that he had only spoken to Putin once, about 18 months ago, and that the topic was space. However, Musk's relationship with Russia has raised some eyebrows, especially after he was spotted at Qatar's World Cup final on Sunday with a pro-Putin Russian TV presenter named Nailya Asker-Zade. Asker-Zade is one of the hosts of a show called 60 Minutes on Russia's state-owned channel Rossiya 1, which has been sanctioned by several Western countries for spreading propaganda and misinformation. She has also expressed support for Russia's annexation of Crimea and its intervention in Syria. Musk has not commented on his appearance with Asker-Zade, but some observers have speculated that he may be trying to improve his business ties with Russia or gain access to its space program. Musk has previously expressed interest in launching rockets from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and has invited Putin to join him for a chat on Clubhouse, a social media app. Musk's controversial views on Russia and Ukraine have sparked a debate on social media and among experts about his motives and influence. Some have praised him for being a visionary and a peacemaker, while others have condemned him for being naive and irresponsible. Some have also questioned his credibility and reliability as a source of information and inspiration.