Latest KFF Health News Stories
HPV Vaccination Campaigns Are Effective: Study
And a new, unbranded TV ad from Merck reminds parents to get their 9-year-old children vaccinated against human papillomavirus.
Army Responds To Troops’ Mental Health Crisis In Alaska
Also, news about nursing home conditions in Indiana, another hospital superbug outbreak, respiratory illness among Houston children, and more.
Long Covid Risks Could Be Spotted By Machine Learning
A new study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, found that machine learning models were able to spot patterns in patient data that pointed to higher risks of developing long covid. Other reports highlight the sometimes overlooked symptoms of long covid, and its impact.
Ariz. Lawmakers Pass More Restrictions On Public Health Officials
Arizona’s legislature passes two bills, expected to be signed by the governor, restricting responses to public health crises; mask mandates rejected in Iowa by a federal court; and the Mayo Clinic is sued for its restrictions.
Michigan’s 1931 Anti-Abortion Law Blocked By Injunction
The old law, which bans most abortions unless the pregnancy itself could be fatal, would be the primary law in Michigan if Roe v. Wade is overturned. But a court said a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood alleging it violates the state constitution has legal merit. Other abortion news, including what a Founding Father said about it.
Pfizer Boosters For 5- To 11-Year-Olds Win FDA Authorization
The Pfizer/BioNTech covid vaccine is the only one approved for this age group, and a typical two-dose regime hasn’t conferred much protection to these younger recipients. Separately, the World Health Organization agreed a second booster may benefit vulnerable people.
Covid Surge Expands, But Gauging Risks Is Difficult
The very highly transmissible omicron variant, BA.2.12.1, has exploded across many parts of the country. Reports look at increases in cases in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and the San Francisco area. Meanwhile, Eric Clapton — a prominent opponent of vaccination mandates — has tested positive. Apple is delaying the return of employees to the office.
Democrats Want $28 Million To Boost Baby Formula Supplies
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Energy and Commerce Committee will seek answers from executives of Abbott Nutrition and other formula makers as to why the U.S. is experiencing such a crippling shortage. Lawmakers have warned criminal charges may be in play.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Ignoring Long Covid Is Dangerous; Omicron Infection Does Not Protect Against Variants
Opinion writers delve into these covid-related issues.
Editorial writers examine these public health issues.
Despite A Mandated Psych Eval, Accused Buffalo Shooter Bought A Gun
The Buffalo shooting suspect bought a gun just a few months after a police-mandated psychiatric evaluation that followed a shooting threat. Separately, Illinois will cover funeral expenses for child gun violence victims.
British Study of Hepatitis In Children Near Completion
Progress on the child hepatitis outbreak may come from the U.K., and monkeypox infects four men in London who had not traveled to Africa. Meanwhile, in North Korea, the military is deployed to fight the covid pandemic.
Impact of Hospitals’ Covid Relief Funds Assessed
Federal relief money to hospitals during the earlier stages of the pandemic bolstered the finances of most hospitals. But four studies found that the temporary federal funding may have made many rural hospitals appear more financially stable than they really are.
Employer Plans Pay Hospitals At More Than Double Medicare Rates
A report in Modern Healthcare shows disparities between payments for the same services depending on whether costs are met by Medicare or private employer health plans. Also: a simmering dispute over the federal drug discount program, a ransomware attack at Christus Health, and more.
Cerebral Stops Prescribing Most Controlled Substances
The online mental health company was under scrutiny for stimulants prescribed for attention-deficit disorders. Other news is about research on cancer, Parkinson’s and memory loss.
Starbucks Joins List Of Companies Covering Abortion Travel Costs
The coffee company said it will pay for travel expenses for U.S. employees seeking abortions if they’re unavailable within 100 miles of home. It will pay, similarly, for access to gender-confirmation procedures. Payments extend to dependents of employees on the company health care plan.
Studies: Omicron Infection Protects As Well As Booster Shot
An omicron covid infection might leave you with more protection than a second booster, say two new studies. German biotechnology company BioNTech and the University of Washington in collaboration with Vir Biotechnology placed the results on a preprint server. And in other covid vaccination news, an Ohio university approved 94% of its vaccine exemption requests.
Now It’s Tragically Official: A Million Americans Have Died From Covid
The number is hard to imagine: AP says it’s equal to a 9/11 attack every day for 336 days. The Wall Street Journal notes that disproportionately many of the dead are in some nonwhite groups.
FDA OKs At-Home Combined Test For Covid, Flu, And RSV
The new tests, made by Labcorp, are the first non-prescription tests permitted to test for covid, influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus. Meanwhile, in a somewhat surprising move, the White House again offered a round of free regular at-home tests for covid.