Laboratory studies released this week suggest that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus will blunt the power of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine to prevent Covid-19 infection after two doses, although a third dose Early BioNTech, Pfizer data suggests boosters may protect against Omicron infection may restore that protection. Data is still needed on how protective Covid-19 vaccines remain in real-world use against the highly mutated Omicron variant. The following is what we still need to know:

Five people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Bangladesh today detected its first cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in two female cricketers of the Bangladesh Cricket Team.

Do your ears really need cleaning? If they do, how to do it without causing damage?

At least 23 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday. Of them, eight are from outside the capital, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

At least 23 dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours till 8:00 am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

One person died of Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8am today, said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Work to start administering booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines to people aged 60 years and above is in full swing, with the rollout expected by early January.

A lot have been said about flossing your teeth. Some say it is as important for your oral health as brushing, whereas others say it is even more crucial.

One more dengue patient died and 31 were hospitalised in 24 hours, till 8:00am today, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

No Covid-19 death was reported in 24 hours (till 8am today), according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

New Zealand plans to ban young people from ever buying cigarettes in their lifetime in one of the world's toughest crackdowns on the tobacco industry, arguing that other efforts to extinguish smoking were taking too long.

China's drug authority has granted emergency approval for the country's first specialised treatment against Covid-19, found in clinical trials to significantly reduce hospitalisations and deaths among high-risk patients.

BioNTech and Pfizer (PFE.N) said on Wednesday a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant in a laboratory test and said they could deliver an upgraded vaccine in March 2022 if needed.

At least 60 dengue patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Six people died from Covid-19 in 24 hours till 8:00am today, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Omicron does not appear to cause more severe disease than previous Covid variants and is "highly unlikely" to fully dodge vaccine protections, a top WHO official told AFP Tuesday.

Up to one million Covid-19 vaccines are estimated to have expired in Nigeria last month without being used, two sources told Reuters, one of the biggest single losses of doses that shows the difficulty African nations have getting shots in arms.

Two more dengue patients died in the last 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday.

Western countries’ monopolistic control over the invention, production and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines will prolong the pandemic, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.