What is herd immunity and why does it matter?
Penn State University professor of biology and infectious diseases Dr. Matt Ferrari explains how herd immunity works.
Vaccines
What's causing measles outbreaks? Experts point to waning herd immunity
Despite a safe and effective vaccine to protect against measles, a decrease in children getting immunized is leading to a comeback of the highly contagious and potentially deadly virus.
How fringe anti-science views infiltrated politics — and what it means in 2024
Opposition to vaccines and mainstream science has become politically charged, making dangerous misinformation harder to fight.
Flu and COVID-19 infections on the rise
An increase in COVID-19 and flu infection rates could get worse in coming weeks, fueled by holiday gatherings and low vaccination rates. CBS News' Lilia Luciano shares what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Vaccination exemptions among kindergartners at record high, CDC reports
Vaccination exemptions among kindergarten children during the 2022-23 school year increased to 3% — the highest exemption rate ever reported in the United States, the CDC says.
3 tips to keep kids healthy this back-to-school season
Back to school can often mean back to germs. But experts say there are ways to keep kids protected — and make vaccinations less scary, too.
What to know about COVID booster shots
A summer uptick in COVID cases has sparked interest in new vaccine boosters. CBS News' Errol Barnett explains when they will be available and who should get one.
Vaccines could be "next big thing" in cancer treatment, scientists say
After decades of limited success, scientists say research has reached a turning point, with many predicting more vaccines for cancer treatment will be out in five years.
How does RFK Jr. factor into 2024 election?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called on the White House to de-escalate tensions with Russia and even suggested the president should meet with Vladimir Putin while speaking in New Hampshire Tuesday night. Kennedy is challenging President Biden for the party's nomination. He is also an anti-vaccine activist and has been accused of spreading misinformation. James Pindell, a political reporter for the Boston Globe, joined CBS News to talk about Kennedy Jr.'s campaign.
What the end of the COVID emergency means
The national COVID-19 emergency order will end on May 11. CBS News' Errol Barnett and Tony Dokoupil talk to reporter Alexander Tin about what will change and how people could be affected.
Pandemic experiences vary from state to state
Each state experienced the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways. CBS News contributor Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist at New York University and editor-at-large for public health at Kaiser Health News, discussed pandemic disparities as well as the latest information on those experiencing long COVID.
Good sleep before a vaccine may boost protection, study suggests
A new study found a link between the amount of sleep you get around the time of a vaccine and the level of antibodies produced, especially in men.
Health authorities race to contain a deadly Marburg outbreak in Equatorial Guinea
Nine deaths have been reported with symptoms of the Ebola virus relative so far.
Future plans for COVID-19 vaccines
An FDA advisory panel is considering changing the COVID-19 vaccine schedule to once-a-year shots, similar to how flu vaccines are offered. CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus joined Anne-Marie Green and Vladimir Duthiers to discuss the potential shift in vaccine recommendations. He also answers questions about the levels of lead in baby food and staying healthy in menopause.
FDA proposes once-a-year COVID shots for most Americans
U.S. health officials want to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the annual flu shot.
Kindergarten routine vaccination rates fell for second straight year, CDC warns
The decline was not accompanied by a rise in exemptions, the CDC says, suggesting many children could still catch up on their shots.
Moderna vaccine could cost over $100 per dose
Drug manufacturer Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine could cost as much as $130 per dose once it switches to commercial distribution. The Biden administration announced last year that the federal government would no longer be paying for the vaccines. Kaiser Family Foundation senior vice president Dr. Jen Kates joins CBS News to discuss the potential new costs for the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines: From nasal drops to a redesign, what 2023 could have in store
Pivotal results on a variety of next generation approaches are expected soon, as a panel of FDA advisers is set to weigh the future of immunization against SARS-CoV-2.
Omicron subvariant rapidly spreading
Health officials are sounding alarms about a new and rapidly spreading COVID-19 subvariant. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder, editor-at-large for public health at Kaiser Health News and an epidemiologist at NYU, explains how XBB.1.5 differs from its predecessors.
U.S. requiring COVID test for China travelers
Travelers from China will need to test negative for COVID-19 prior to boarding a plane to the United States starting next week. The move comes as cases increase in China and new variants that are resistant to the vaccines may emerge. Scott MacFarlane reports from Washington, D.C.
"Tripledemic" severely strains children's hospitals
Pediatric hospitals are in crisis mode due to a wave of respiratory illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 45 states are reporting "high" or "very high" levels of influenza. Janet Shamlian is at a children's hospital in Tennessee with the details.
"Tripledemic" hampers hospitals across U.S.
Hospitals across the U.S. are being stretched thin due to an influx of patients brought on by a triple threat of flu, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 cases. Michael George has the details.
Stars share health stories with Dr. Agus
CBS News medical contributor Dr, David Agus joined Anne-Marie Green and Vladimir Duthiers to talk about his new Paramount+ show "The Checkup with Dr. David Agus" and the increase of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
Respiratory virus surge strains hospitals
Hospitals across the U.S. are seeing an influx of patients due to a "tripledemic" of flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID-19 cases. Danya Bacchus has the details.
CDC urges masking in some areas as COVID-19 cases surge
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people in New York City, Los Angeles and other communities to mask up as COVID-19 cases surge amid a spike in other respiratory viruses. Elise Preston has more.
Guns, ammunition flowing from U.S. to Latin America and Caribbean
U.S. guns are fueling conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Trump selects Pam Bondi for attorney general after Gaetz withdraws
President-elect Donald Trump made the announcement Thursday evening after Matt Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration.
Texas to build new border wall section on land offered to Trump administration
The land offer highlights the divide between states and local governments on supporting or resisting Trump's mass deportation plans.
Pete Hegseth meets with GOP senators seeking support for expected nomination
Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was with Vice President-elect JD Vance on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
4 U.N. peacekeepers wounded as Israel, Hezbollah clash in Lebanon
Four Italian soldiers were lightly wounded amid clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
84-year-old Texas man accused of killing roommate and her dog
The man was arrested on an unrelated carjacking warrant and admitted to killing his roommate and her pet.
Replacing JD Vance in the U.S. Senate sets off scramble in Ohio
Sen. JD Vance's election as vice president has opened up one of Ohio's U.S. Senate seats.
Sheriff says Wisconsin man revealed how he faked his death, fled to Europe
Authorities are urging a Wisconsin man accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to come home to spend the holidays with his wife and three children.
Alabama carries out nation's third nitrogen gas execution
An Alabama prisoner convicted of the 1994 murder of a female hitchhiker became the third person executed by nitrogen gas in both the U.S. and Alabama.
U.S.
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Supreme Court tosses Facebook appeal in shareholder lawsuit
The Supreme Court issued its first opinion of the term, a one-line decision dismissing Facebook's appeal.
Sheriff says Wisconsin man revealed how he faked his death, fled to Europe
Authorities are urging a Wisconsin man accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to come home to spend the holidays with his wife and three children.
Replacing JD Vance in the U.S. Senate sets off scramble in Ohio
Sen. JD Vance's election as vice president has opened up one of Ohio's U.S. Senate seats.
84-year-old Texas man accused of killing roommate and her dog
The man was arrested on an unrelated carjacking warrant and admitted to killing his roommate and her pet.
Guns, ammunition flowing from U.S. to Latin America and Caribbean
U.S. guns are fueling conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean.
MoneyWatch
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Supreme Court tosses Facebook appeal in shareholder lawsuit
The Supreme Court issued its first opinion of the term, a one-line decision dismissing Facebook's appeal.
Bitcoin hovers around $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on
While some are bullish, other experts warn of investment risks as what comes next is impossible to know.
Trump's proposed tariffs could raise U.S. grocery prices, analysis finds
Donald Trump's proposed tariffs could raise costs for U.S. consumers, economists say. Here's how much grocery bills could rise.
BJ's Wholesale Club hikes membership fees for first time since 2018
Warehouse chain follows rival Costco in raising amount its 7.5 million members must pay to shop at BJ's stores.
Bezos denies Musk claim that the Amazon founder predicted Trump loss
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos — the two richest people on the planet — are squabbling over social media. No, really.
Politics
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Supreme Court tosses Facebook appeal in shareholder lawsuit
The Supreme Court issued its first opinion of the term, a one-line decision dismissing Facebook's appeal.
Replacing JD Vance in the U.S. Senate sets off scramble in Ohio
Sen. JD Vance's election as vice president has opened up one of Ohio's U.S. Senate seats.
Georgia fires review board members after info leaked on 2 maternal deaths
Georgia's top health official dismissed all members of a state committee that investigates pregnancy-related maternal deaths after the leak, presumably by a committee member, of information about two such deaths.
Israel stands by as aid convoys come under attack in Gaza
A truck driver claims Israeli tanks and an Israeli drone watched as the aid convoy he was with was attacked in Gaza. But Israel's military says it is not responsible for protecting the aid.
Pete Hegseth meets with GOP senators to secure support for expected nomination
Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was with Vice President-elect JD Vance on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
HealthWatch
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Anti-fraud efforts meet real-world test during ACA enrollment period
The federal government put guardrails in place to limit unauthorized plan sign-ups and switches. But the changes could prove to be a burden to consumers.
Life expectancy gap in the U.S. widens to 20 years: "Truly alarming"
Life expectancy in the United States varies by more than 20 years depending on race and ethnicity and where you live, according to new research.
RFK Jr. weighing FDA crackdown on food additives under Trump
Kennedy's team is weighing a significant rewrite of the FDA's rules.
Why the latest bird flu case has experts worried about pandemic potential
A new potential case of bird flu in a California child without known contact with infected animals is raising concerns about a potential pandemic. Dr. Céline Gounder explains what to know.
New cases of bird flu in U.S.
CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss the latest on bird flu as new cases raise alarms among health officials. There have been 53 confirmed human cases across seven states this year. Health officials in California are reporting a possible case in a child who had no known contact with an infected animal.
World
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4 U.N. peacekeepers wounded as Israel, Hezbollah clash in Lebanon
Four Italian soldiers were lightly wounded amid clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
2024 is deadliest year for humanitarian aid workers, U.N. says
Bloodshed in the Middle East has been the single biggest cause of the 281 deaths among humanitarians globally this year, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Iran says it will boost uranium enrichment after IAEA rebuke
A rebuke of Iran led by the U.S. and its close allies at the global nuclear watchdog agency has drawn a vow by the Islamic republic to further ramp up uranium enrichment.
Emperor penguin found on Australian beach released at sea after 20 days of care
The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia was released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach.
Guns, ammunition flowing from U.S. to Latin America and Caribbean
U.S. guns are fueling conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Ridley Scott on his vision for "Gladiator II"
Nearly 25 years after the original "Gladiator" won five Academy Awards, Ridley Scott returns with "Gladiator II," out today. Elizabeth Palmer speaks with the director about bringing his epic vision back to life.
Melissa Etheridge to perform at NWSL Championship
Grammy-winning artist Melissa Etheridge will sing the national anthem at the 2024 NWSL Championship in Kansas City. Known for her hit "Come to My Window," Etheridge shares her excitement about the honor and the big game.
Connie Nielsen on returning to "Gladiator" after 24 years
Connie Nielsen opens up about returning as Lucilla in "Gladiator II," reuniting with director Ridley Scott and exploring her character's emotional journey.
Shelby Lynne on how personal struggles and friendships impacted her music
Singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne opens up about her new album and how her friendships helped save her when she thought her recording career could be over.
Malcolm Washington on "The Piano Lesson"
Making his feature directorial debut, Malcolm Washington brings August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning play to the screen with help from his father, Denzel Washington and siblings John David and Katia
Technology
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Technology
Australia could ban social media for kids
Australian legislators introduced a landmark bill Thursday to ban social media for children under 16. CBS News London's Leigh Kiniry reports on what this could mean for social media companies.
DOJ targets Google's search engine monopoly
The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed a motion calling for Google to sell its Chrome search engine, arguing in court documents that "the playing field is not level." The Justice Department is also recommending dissolving any contracts in which Google is the default search engine on devices such as iPhones. Kelly O'Grady explains.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
Bitcoin hovers around $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on
While some are bullish, other experts warn of investment risks as what comes next is impossible to know.
Bezos denies Musk claim that the Amazon founder predicted Trump loss
Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos — the two richest people on the planet — are squabbling over social media. No, really.
Science
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Emperor penguin found on Australian beach released at sea after 20 days of care
The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia was released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach.
Iceland volcano flares in region's 7th eruption in one year
A volcano erupted in southern Iceland, near the town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon spa, marking the region's seventh eruption in a year.
How collecting pine cones helps renew Oregon forests after wildfires
Conservationists are teaming up with the U.S. Forest Service and logging companies to clear scorched land and make room for new reforestation projects.
Restoring forests decimated by wildfires
Large wildfires fueled by climate change have destroyed tens of millions of acres of forests in the Pacific Northwest in recent years. Jonathan Vigliotti explores a major effort underway to restore those forests.
Giraffes need endangered species protection, U.S. officials say
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed new protections for giraffes, saying their populations are threatened by poaching, habitat loss and climate change.
Crime
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84-year-old Texas man accused of killing roommate and her dog
The man was arrested on an unrelated carjacking warrant and admitted to killing his roommate and her pet.
Georgia woman convicted of killing her toddler gets life in prison
Leilani Simon was spared the maximum punishment of life without a chance of parole.
Guns, ammunition flowing from U.S. to Latin America and Caribbean
U.S. guns are fueling conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Alleged LA County drug distributor charged with dealing opioid more powerful than fentanyl
The U.S. Department of Justice filed charges in what could be the nation's first death-resulting criminal case involving a synthetic opioid that is possibly more dangerous than fentanyl.
Mexican cartel leader who faked own death arrested in California
Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa — the son-in-law of Jalisco New Generation cartel leader "El Mencho" — was arrested in Riverside, California, officials said.
Space
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Space
Trump, Musk attend SpaceX launch
President-elect Donald Trump attended SpaceX's sixth flight test of its Super Heavy-Starship on Tuesday with CEO Elon Musk. The burgeoning friendship between the two men played a key role in Trump's reelection, with Musk now set to run a government efficiency agency in the coming months. CBS News political reporter Jake Rosen and Politico aviation reporter Oriana Pawlyk join "America Decides" with more.
SpaceX launches Super Heavy-Starship, with Trump there to watch
President-elect Donald Trump was on hand with Elon Musk for the sixth test flight of SpaceX's huge Super Heavy-Starship rocket.
Far side of the moon once had erupting volcanoes, lunar soil shows
Researchers analyzed lunar soil brought back by China's Chang'e-6, the first spacecraft to return with a haul of rocks and dirt from the little-explored far side.
When you can see the Beaver Moon, 2024's final supermoon
November's full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, is the last supermoon of 2024. Here's when it peaks and why it's called the Beaver Moon.
Astronauts decline to answer questions about post-flight medical issue
Medical issues aside, the astronauts described a water leak in June that triggered a blizzard in the International Space Station's airlock.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2024
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Serial killer Rodney Alcala's secret photos
See some of convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala's photographs that were discovered by detectives in a Seattle storage locker.
The troubled marriage of Ashley and Doug Benefield
The seesaw marriage between the former ballerina and her much older husband only lasted four years, until she shot him on Sept. 27, 2020.
Evidence in "The Dexter Killer" case
A look at the evidence in "The Dexter Killer" case; plus, newly revealed letters from the man police say wanted to be like fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan.
Summer music heats up 2024
Live performances are in full swing this summer. Scroll through our concert gallery, featuring pictures by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
NWSL commissioner on future of women's soccer
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman joins "CBS Mornings Plus" to talk about the NWSL's record-breaking season with over 2 million fans and discusses plans to build on the league's success. Despite pay disparities with men's sports, Berman says women's soccer is on a rapid upward trajectory.
Federal protection proposed for giraffes
U.S. wildlife officials have proposed federal protections for giraffes under the Endangered Species Act for the first time. According to environmentalists, habitat loss and climate change-driven drought are causing alarming population declines for the African mammals.
"The Dish": The story of Dixon's Famous Chili
Omar Villafranca visits Dixon's Famous Chili, a historic Missouri restaurant that has been loved by diners, including a former president, for more than 100 years.
Sarah McBride on anti-transgender sentiments
Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, who is set to become the first transgender member of Congress, responded to a Republican-led effort to restrict bathroom use on Capitol Hill. In an exclusive interview with Scott MacFarlane, McBride shared the need to focus on legislative priorities amid growing anti-transgender rhetoric.
Eye Opener: Storms batter both U.S. coasts
As the Northeast is hit with a major winter blast, the Pacific Northwest braces for another powerful storm. Meanwhile, Trump announces a new pick for attorney general. All that and all that matters in today's Eye Opener.