Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Research Roundup: Covid; Cancer Vaccines; Dopamine
Menstrual cycles may lengthen by up to 1 day following COVID-19 vaccination, but the effect is temporary and vaccination makes little difference in cycle regularity, bleed length, heaviness of bleed, or menstrual pain, according to a study yesterday in Vaccine. (Soucheray, 6/6)
Adding an experimental mRNA-based vaccine from Moderna Inc and Merck & Co reduced the risk that the most deadly skin cancer would spread by 65% over treatment with an immunotherapy alone in a mid-stage trial, the companies reported on Monday. (Steenhuysen, 6/5)
A new study brings together two schools of thought on the function of the neurotransmitter dopamine: one saying that dopamine provides a learning signal, the other saying that dopamine drives motivation. (Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - KNAW, 6/6)