Technologies

FDA set to approve Pfizer COVID-19 booster for children as young as 12

The agency is expected to give its OK on Monday, according to The New York Times.

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday is expected to green-light giving Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine booster to children as young as 12, according to The New York Times.

The FDA will endorse giving healthy 12- to 15-year-olds a third dose to bolster their vaccine immunity, the Times reported, citing «people familiar with the agency’s deliberations.»

The agency is also expected to allow children ages 5 to 11 with immune deficiencies to receive the booster, and the FDA will also trim the amount of wait time for a booster, from six months to five, for adolescents and adults, according to the Times.

After the FDA gives its OK, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee will meet to vote on the recommendations — a meeting that the Times said will happen by the middle of next week. If the committee backs the plan to lower the booster eligibility age, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky is expected to then endorse the change.

Although children as young as 5 can currently receive Pfizer’s two-dose regimen, only teens 16 and up are eligible to receive a booster.

The news comes as the more contagious omicron variant is sweeping the globe. It’s the dominant strain of COVID in the US, responsible for nearly three-fifths (58.6%) of all new infections, according to the CDC.

The FDA had hoped to make an announcement this week, the Times reported, but Walensky wanted the CDC’s advisory group to have time to weigh in — especially given the young age of the demographic involved.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Technologies

iOS 17 Cheat Sheet: What to Know About All Your iPhone’s Latest Features

From the new features to the latest updates, here’s what to know about iOS 17.

Apple’s iOS 17 was released in September, shortly after the company held its «Wonderlust» event, where the tech giant announced the new iPhone 15 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. We put together this cheat sheet to help you learn about and use the new features in iOS 17. It’ll also help you keep track of the subsequent iOS 17 updates.

iOS 17 updates

Using iOS 17

Getting started with iOS 17

Make sure to check back periodically for more iOS 17 tips and how to use new features as Apple releases more updates.

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

+15 More

See all photos

Technologies

SpaceX Starship Mission 3: How to Watch the March 14 Launch

SpaceX is inching closer to another Starship launch. And its third mission may be its most ambitious yet.

Rocket launches can be thrilling to watch, but the last two SpaceX Starship launches offered a little more than viewers bargained for: both spaceships exploded after takeoff. Still, the company considered the missions successful, thanks to the data and information it was able to collect. And it’s not stopping. SpaceX on Tuesday announced plans to launch its third Starship mission on March 14, pending US regulatory approval.

The mission will stream live on X, the social media platform owned by SpaceX owner Elon Musk. You’ll have to be up early to watch, as the streaming is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. ET, about 30 minutes before scheduled liftoff. In a mission description on its website, however, SpaceX said the mission timing was «likely to change,» telling viewers to keep checking back.

Starship is arguably the most ambitious effort for Musk, who runs the satellite-based internet company Starlink, along with EV maker Tesla, X and the neurotechnology company Neuralink. The Starship missions are critical to SpaceX’s — and Musk’s — goal of getting to and eventually settling the moon and Mars.

Now, as SpaceX looks ahead to this mission, it has much more to accomplish. And with a new flight trajectory and hopes of even greater data insights, the space company’s third mission may prove to be its most important yet.

What to expect from the Starship mission

SpaceX’s third Starship mission is designed to test whether the spacecraft can complete certain tasks. After liftoff, the company will attempt to open Starship’s payload door and transfer its propellant from one part of the starship to the other. For the first time, SpaceX will also attempt to relight its Raptor engine while in space, a test that could be critical for future missions as it eventually tries to propel Starship through space.

Starship is taking a different flight path this time around, and will attempt to land safely in the Indian Ocean instead of the Pacific Ocean. In a statement, SpaceX said that the new flight path is designed to maximize «public safety,» but the company didn’t discuss how.

The new flight path will also pave the way for SpaceX to try «in-space engine burns,» a reference to the company attempting to reignite the Raptor engine in space.

This mission is slated to last for an hour and 15 minutes. Previous missions, if completed, would have lasted 90 minutes.

What happened in the previous missions?

April mission: Forced detonation

The first Starship mission launched in April 2023. Early on in the mission, the two stages of the Starship — the reusable upper stage, called Starship, and its Super Heavy first-stage booster — were supposed to separate. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and for safety reasons, the SpaceX team was forced to detonate the Starship just 4 minutes into the mission.

November mission: Explosion due to liquid oxygen

In November 2023, Starship launched its second mission. That time around, Starship was able to separate its two stages and it reached nominal first-stage engine burn. However, Starship exploded 8 minutes after launch, when it tried to vent its liquid oxygen. Oddly, the explosion may not have needed to happen. Earlier this year, Musk said on a real mission carrying payload — meaning the materials a spaceship carries to perform its scientific mission — liquid oxygen wouldn’t be onboard.

Third time’s the charm?

While both missions technically failed, SpaceX has called them, especially the second mission, successful. And the company cautioned that even if the upcoming third mission goes awry, it’s not all bad.

«Starship’s second flight test achieved a number of major milestones and provided invaluable data to continue rapidly developing Starship,» the company wrote on its site. «Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test. They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximize learning.»

When will the Starship mission launch?

Starship’s third mission is set to launch on March 14 at 8 a.m. ET. However, in order for that to happen, the weather will need to cooperate and there must be no issues with the Starship in the run-up to launch.

Additionally, SpaceX is able to launch Starship only after receiving a Federal Aviation Administration license, which it has yet to receive. That’s likely why SpaceX has said that the timing of the launch is «dynamic and likely to change.»

How to watch Starship mission 3

SpaceX will offer two livestreams for watching the third mission live.

The first option is the SpaceX third mission landing page, where the SpaceX broadcast team will go live 30 minutes before launch.

Not surprisingly, given Musk’s involvement in both SpaceX and X, the mission will air live on SpaceX’s X account. It will go live 30 minutes before launch.

Technologies

Verum Messenger: The New Gold Standard in Secure and Convenient Communication

In a world where data privacy and security are increasingly paramount, the emergence of messengers that offer not only convenience but also unparalleled protection of personal information is becoming a necessity. One shining example of such applications is Verum Messenger — a platform that not only ensures reliable data protection but also offers a wide range of […]

In a world where data privacy and security are increasingly paramount, the emergence of messengers that offer not only convenience but also unparalleled protection of personal information is becoming a necessity. One shining example of such applications is Verum Messenger — a platform that not only ensures reliable data protection but also offers a wide range of features for seamless communication. Let’s delve deeper into why Verum Messenger is becoming the new gold standard in secure and convenient communication.

Privacy and Security a Top Priority

Verum Messenger adheres to the highest standards of user privacy and security. It employs end-to-end encryption to safeguard messages from unauthorized access, even from developers themselves. This allows users to exchange personal messages without worrying about potential eavesdropping or interception.

User-Friendly Interface

In addition to high security standards, Verum Messenger offers excellent user interaction. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to use for users of all demographics. Moreover, a wide array of features, including voice and video calls, group chats, and file sharing capabilities, make this messenger an ideal choice for diverse communication needs.

Support for Additional Features

Verum Messenger doesn’t rest on its laurels and continually updates, adding new features and enhancing existing ones. Features such as secret chats with automatic message deletion, message editing, and even a dark theme for comfortable nighttime use are just some of the many options available to users.

Verum Messenger is available on the iOS platform.

***

Verum Messenger embodies the perfect blend of high security standards and user convenience, making it a superior choice for those who value their privacy and seek a reliable means of communication. With ongoing development and platform improvements, Verum Messenger is not just a messenger but also the new gold standard in secure and convenient communication.