Axios

With the holidays approaching, it may be the first time in years that COVID-19 is not a predominant concern – but the Omicron wave of the pandemic is not exactly over.

The big picture: In the two years since Omicron emerged, it has continued to rank as the predominant strain in the U.S., and its subvariants are now driving most of the country's coronavirus infections.

Extreme levels of student absence have spiked in schools across the country since the pandemic began, according to data released Friday by Attendance Works, a nonprofit research initiative.

Why it matters: Students haven't recovered from pandemic learning losses, and widespread absences affect entire schools, not just the missing students.

Over roughly the past two decades, middle-aged adults with lower incomes were more likely to develop high blood pressure, while those with higher incomes were more likely to develop diabetes and obesity, according to a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Why it matters: Progress in preventing death from cardiovascular events like heart attack or stroke has stagnated over time, in large part because of a rise in such deaths among middle-aged Americans. The study helps illuminate how income disparities are contributing to differing risks for heart problems.

The Food and Drug Administration has finalized a long-running effort to require prescription drug ads on TV and radio to clearly lay out potential side effects and when a person should avoid a medicine.

Why it matters: While the number of drug ads has surged and they account for billions of dollars in direct-to-consumer marketing, experts say they primarily rely on emotional appeals and focus on a drug's benefits over potential risks.

Dental care could soon become more widely available to adults who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces under a new federal proposal that aims to narrow a long-standing coverage gap in the 2010 health care law.

Why it matters: Healthy teeth and gums are tied to a person's overall health — for instance, gum disease is linked to cardiovascular issues and diabetes — but dental services are often treated differently than medical care.

We've long said that dogs are man's best friend — but studies finally back it up.

Why it matters: At a time when loneliness has become a serious health concern, recent research suggests there's something special about the way canine buddies boost our mood and longevity.

A mysterious and highly infectious respiratory disease is affecting dogs in at least four states.

Driving the news: The symptoms, which include coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite, and lethargy, are perplexing veterinarians due to the similarities to kennel cough.

Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests from the government starting Monday, less than two months after the Biden administration reopened the at-home testing program.

Why it matters: The release of additional tests comes days ahead of Thanksgiving and the busy holiday travel season, which has corresponded with a surge in coronavirus cases in recent years.

The largest-ever purge of the nation's Medicaid rolls has exposed major cracks in the system for covering the poorest Americans — and is prompting some states to rethink how they connect vulnerable residents to benefits they're entitled to receive.

Why it matters: Millions have been booted from the safety-net program seven months after the expiration of pandemic-era protections, most often due to bureaucratic reasons and not necessarily because they no longer qualify.