- California is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 infections, largely driven by a new Omicron subvariant named 'Stratus' or 'XFG'.
- Public health officials in Los Angeles and San Jose report increased positive test rates, with statewide hospital admissions nearly doubling since early July.
- The approval of new Covid-19 vaccines is facing delays, with the US Food and Drug Administration yet to license updated jabs.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his vaccine skepticism, is impeding the process, and the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, whose members were recently replaced, has not yet issued new guidelines.
- This delay means updated vaccines may become available later than anticipated in September, and current vaccine generations will cease to be available once new regulations are enacted.
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