Fortune Well

As the nation’s biggest summer COVID surge continues, help is on the way. The 2024–25 coronavirus vaccines, initially anticipated this fall, are now hitting U.S. clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers. In considering vaccination for you and your loved ones, keep in mind the protection you’ll be providing your community, says Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “Remember that when you get vaccinated, not only do you give yourself a vaccine that’s going to reduce your risk—short-term for infection, longer-term for severe infection—you’re contributing to a community,” Hopkins tells Fortune. “The more people who are vaccinated, the less likely we’re going to get sustained circulation of that virus in the community. That means you’re less likely to get continued evolution of variants. Read more: bit.ly/3Z5RnsV

Carolyn Baker, clad in a neon pink top and matching sunglasses, smiled as she ran the Falmouth Road Race on the shore of Cape Cod, looking around for friends as she neared the end of a race she’d completed more than a dozen times before. Suddenly, Baker collapsed, as her exertion on a sunny August day sent her internal temperature soaring. As medical volunteers rushed to her aid by plunging her into a tub filled with ice water, they measured it at nearly 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius). Keep reading: bit.ly/3Mpq2un

A magnetic chess game at Walmart poses serious ingestion risks for children. The Consumer Product and Safety Commission posted a warning Thursday that “Magnetic Chess Games” sold by China-based seller JOMO contain magnets that do not comply with U.S. federal safety regulations. As a result, the “loose, hazardous magnets pose a risk of serious injury or death,” according to the warning. The commission urged people to stop using the game and throw it away immediately. Read more: bit.ly/3Z7pCjI

Driving while high on cannabis is illegal and dangerous—but enforcement can be tricky. As cannabis transitions to mainstream acceptance in the U.S., the spotlight has often been on the benefits of legalization, and potential health upsides. What isn’t discussed as much is what happens when people smoke up and get behind the wheel—with catastrophic consequences. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a safety alert about the dangers of driving while stoned last month, after it concluded an investigation that found cannabis played a role in a 2022 car crash that killed six Oklahoma high school students. Read more: bit.ly/3Z2F94b

Emi Perry used to be a runner. Then she broke her spine. And now? She’s a triathlete, preparing to make her Sept. 2 debut at the Paralympics in Paris. What happened in the seven years between is a testament to her strength and resilience. “I definitely had an identity crisis, and it wasn’t until then that I realized how important that identity was for me,” she tells Fortune about being a runner. “And I think that’s where being introduced to adaptive sports so early on was really helpful for me to get that identity as an athlete back. Even though the race chair is different from running, I still was able to get the sense of an athlete.” Perry now competes in the para triathlon, where athletes race in a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride, and a 5K run, half the distance of the Olympic triathlon. Read more about her inspiring journey: bit.ly/4dG5dXB

Sleeping in on the weekends isn’t just an indulgence, it could also be beneficial to your heart health, suggests a new study out of China. Researchers at the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases at Fuwai Hospital in Beijing found that sleep-deprived people who “caught up” on shut-eye by sleeping in on weekends reduced their risk of heart disease by up to 20%. “Sufficient compensatory sleep is linked to a lower risk of heart disease,” study coauthor Yanjun Song said in a news release ahead of the meeting. “The association becomes even more pronounced among individuals who regularly experience inadequate sleep on weekdays.” Read more: bit.ly/476zUlY

Mosquitoes can wreak all sorts of havoc for humans. People in some areas of Massachusetts have been warned to stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active after a rare case of eastern equine encephalitis was discovered. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, was recently hospitalized after he came down with West Nile virus. Both are nasty diseases spread by mosquitoes — though thankfully they are relatively rare. The best way to avoid getting sick is of course to avoid getting bitten, which means taking steps like using repellent, wearing clothing with long sleeves and long pants and staying indoors when the mosquitoes are out. Here’s a look at some common—and not so common—mosquito-borne diseases: bit.ly/3MlbwU6

There is nothing like feeling the warmth of summer sun on your skin—and soaking it up safely means applying sunscreen to protect ourselves from skin cancer. But what about concerns that sunscreen itself could lead to other cancers, due to its chemical ingredients? Fortune spoke with experts to understand how to best keep ourselves safe while enjoying sunlight. Read more: bit.ly/3AINIY0

Many people believe zinc is akin to a magic pill able to keep sniffles at bay and also help with weight loss. That may be why so many people take zinc supplements, despite the fact that most people in the United States get adequate amounts of this mineral from food. But does science back up those immune-boosting and calorie-burning beliefs? Experts suggest there’s some truth to the claims. Read more: bit.ly/3T5PA3m

A deadly food poisoning outbreak has led to the recall of more than 7 million pounds of popular Boar’s Head deli meats made at a plant in Virginia. U.S. health officials are investigating the outbreak of the bacteria listeria that began in May. Nine people have died and about 50 have been hospitalized. Here’s what you need to know: