BioNTech SE said Monday it had started work on a vaccine tailored to Omicron, the worrying new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, though it was not yet clear if it would have to rework its established COVID-19 shot.

BioNTech SE said on Friday it expects more data on a worrying new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa within two weeks to help determine whether its vaccine produced with partner Pfizer Inc would have to be reworked.

The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19 vaccines that have hit the market and COVID-19 vaccines that are in development. The research covers prevention and treatment of the virus, as well as how to overcome it in the long-run.

Federal health officials are imploring Americans to get vaccinated as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations start to climb just ahead of the holidays.

North American companies ordering for robotic "workers" in record numbers to alleviate the continuing labor shortage in hopes of keeping their operations competitive, according to a trade group involved in the robotic industry.

Britain's GSK and partner Vir said on Friday their antibody-based COVID-19 therapy met the primary goal of a late-state study assessing intramuscular administration of the drug as a treatment for the illness in its early stages.

In a deviation from national recommendations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Thursday that allows any resident 18 or older access to a COVID-19 booster shot, another step to prevent hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed by the state's surge in delta infections.