The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of medical problems that increase risk from the coronavirus includes common conditions like cancer, heart disease and obesity  — plus a recent addition you might not guess: Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome are prone to serious illness — or even death — if they contract COVID-19. “I said, ‘Why…

Protecting children from COVID and getting to herd immunity will depend on children getting vaccinated. But the existing vaccines aren’t designed for most kids. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines can only be given to those 18 and older, and Pfizer’s vaccine can only be given to people ages 16 and older. That’s why volunteers…

Scientists and researchers have been talking about COVID-19 vaccines since last spring when the virus first surged through communities. But the timeline for development was really unknown. “So it was there in my mind, but it wasn’t something I was counting on in terms of protection or timing with pregnancy,” said Samantha Morris. Morris, who…

Editors’ note: Salman Wasti was an immigrant. A professor. A cook. A collector of things. A lover of plants. A homebody. Born in Lahore, Pakistan in 1944, Wasti grew up in Karachi. In his early 20s, he earned a full scholarship to the University of Hawaii. Eventually, he settled in New England, after accepting a…