Kayla Rivas

Johnson & Johnson requested emergency approval of its COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for individuals 18 years and older, the company announced Tuesday.

Johnson & Johnson is preparing to request authorization of its COVID-19 booster vaccine early this week, the New York Times reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.

Merck will request emergency approval for an experimental oral COVID-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir, after a late-stage trial indicated an approximate 50% risk reduction for hospitalization or death among patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Pfizer-BioNTech submitted clinical trial data from a COVID-19 vaccine study among kids ages 5-11 to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the companies announced Tuesday. A request for emergency approval is anticipated to follow in the coming weeks.

An independent committee advising the FDA voted against Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

Federal health officials on Friday announced a $2.1 billion investment to strengthen infection prevention and control measures against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases across the public healthcare sector.

Moderna has begun submitting data on its COVID-19 booster vaccine to the Food and Drug Administration for review.

Moderna has completed a submission filing for full FDA approval of its COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 18 and up.

Johnson & Johnson announced longstanding CEO Alex Gorsky will transition out of the role, with Joaquin Duato set to lead the health care company effective Jan. 3.