Health Highlights, Nov. 5, 2021

New pill shows great promise in fighting COVID-19. An experimental pill reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 89 percent in high-risk people infected with the coronavirus, Pfizer announced Friday. The results were so impressive that the company said it is rushing data to regulators "as soon as possible." Read more

COVID breakthrough infections in vaccinated are typically milder. A new study of 780,000 veterans reaffirms that all vaccines being used in the United States work very well to keep recipients from dying from COVID-19. Read more

How to prepare a needle-phobic child for their COVID shot. Most kids are afraid of getting a needle, but simple preparation, changes in language and even the promise of a reward afterwards can help ease the vaccination process, experts say. Read more

Sleep experts make the case against daylight savings time. With clocks falling back again this weekend, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is calling for an end to DST, arguing that permanent adoption of standard time is best for improving people's health. Read more