Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: February 22, 2022
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Safer Covid Pills Are On The Horizon; Is It Time To Relax Covid Restrictions?
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid topics.
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues:
Toxic Forever Chemicals Found In Neighbors Of Delaware Air Base
Samples from residents near to the Air National Guard base have significantly higher than average levels of toxic PFAS chemicals. School water supplies in Philadelphia, meanwhile, tested positive for lead contamination, with nearly 2 in 3 water outlets in 65 schools showing high levels.
Africa Suffered More In Pandemic Than Was Thought
New studies suggest both infection counts and death figures have been undermeasured across Africa, leading to the impression the continent was doing better against covid than it really was. To support vaccinations in Africa, the U.S. is spending $250 million to help poorer nations.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds stories worth your time reading over the long weekend. This week’s selections include stories on covid, antidepressants, racism, transgender athletes, mifepristone, and more.
Controversial PBM Practices Will Go Unprobed By FTC
The Federal Trade Commission had been planning a study to see if pharmacy benefit managers’ work poorly affects independent and specialty pharmacies, but ultimately voted to not investigate. BestCo, Agios’ anemia drug, the Purdue Pharma opioid settlement and more are also in pharmaceutical news.
Military Academy Sexual Assaults Reported Sharply Up In 2021
In other news, to beat a storm, Southwest Airlines recently flew a pair of donor lungs to St. Louis; Sure and Brut deodorant sprays are being recalled due to benzene contamination; worries about the CoolSculpting beauty procedure; and a fatal police shooting of a man in mental health crisis.
One Of Life’s Little Annoyances Solved: iPhones Will Recognize You In A Mask
The updated Face ID feature, part of iOS 15.4, is expected to be released in early March, Bloomberg and other news outlets reported. Meanwhile, states, cities and schools across the U.S. continue to lift mask mandates, and big companies are reconsidering their vaccine mandates.
UK Studies Show Vaccines Protect Against Long Covid
A separate pair of studies from Israel also showed that one or more Pfizer/BioNTech covid shots offer durable protection against recurring infection. Media outlets report on the ongoing vaccine rollout across the states, and both Pfizer and Merck’s covid pills are in the news again.
Ukraine Tension Prompts Warnings Of Cyberattacks Against US Hospitals
The alerts came from federal officials, covering other sectors as well as health care — but the strain of the pandemic may mean hospitals are particularly vulnerable. Separately, Stat reports that health tech companies are joining a call for nationwide patient data privacy standards.
White House Has Earmarked All Covid Funds, Will Need More For Future Response
HHS documents obtained by Bloomberg reveal that all approved funding has already been allocated to combat the covid pandemic, leaving nothing to protect against future developments like new variants or vaccine stockpiling. But congressional lawmakers may not have the appetite to appropriate much more, Politico reports.
Endemic Vs. Pandemic: California Is First State To Shift Its Approach
Going forward, California’s covid policy measures will move more toward prevention and outbreak response, instead of requirements around masks and shutdowns, Gov. Gavin Newsom says: “We are moving past the crisis phase into a phase where we will work to live with this virus.”
‘Stealth’ Omicron Could Be Nasty — But Will Anyone Listen?
New research suggests that the omicron subvariant may cause more severe illness than its parent and more along the lines of the delta variant. Even so, many Americans are moving on, virus or not, and are shutting their ears to anyone who says different.
FDA Probes Recalled Formulas After Infants Fall Sick And 1 Dies
The FDA is investigating the cases of four babies hospitalized with bacterial infections. One of the children died. The agency is warning parents against using three powdered infant formulas produced by Abbott at a Michigan plant. The company has voluntarily recalled the products.
6.7M Children Could Lose Medicaid Or CHIP Coverage In July
A congressional provision prevents states from disenrolling children during a public health emergency. That emergency declaration could be revoked by July, although the Department of Health and Human Services has promised to give states 60 days notice, CNN reports.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KHN’s First Edition will not be published Monday, Feb. 21, in celebration of Presidents Day. See you Tuesday!
Different Takes: Show Covid’s Lung Damage To The Vaccine-Hesitant; Is It Time To Unmask?
Editorial pages discuss these covid topics.
Viewpoints: UK’s NHS Has Massive Backlog; Covid-Style Partnership Needed For New Cancer Drugs
Opinion writers tackle these public health issues.
Research Roundup: Covid; Gene Editing; Alzheimer’s
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.