Latest KFF Health News Stories
Air Force First To Discharge Service Members For Refusing Covid Shots
Twenty-seven Air Force active duty personnel have been involuntarily discharged for breaking a covid vaccine mandate. Meanwhile, the NFL is now demanding coaches and team staff also get covid shots. In Houston, the Texas Children’s Hospital is aiming at vaccinating 5,000 people this Friday.
FDA Assessing Risk To Pregnancies From Merck’s Covid Pill
Molnupiravir was supported by a Food and Drug Administration expert panel two weeks ago, but regulators are still concerned of DNA mutation risks during pregnancy. And in concerning news from China, a study says 10% of covid patients may have had incubation periods longer than 14 days.
Supreme Court Refuses To Stop Vaccine Mandate For NY Health Workers
Health workers challenged the state covid vaccination requirement because it does not accommodate religious exemptions. As they have done in a previous case, the Supreme Court justices denied the emergency appeal to halt the mandate.
Indoor Mask Requirement Returns In California Over Omicron Fears
California joins New York in bringing back inside face covering rules, as more localities reinstitute covid mitigation strategies. Elsewhere, Philadelphia will require that proof of vaccination to eat inside at restaurants.
Some Hospitals, Watching Lower Court Decisions, Drop Staff Vaccine Mandates
After a federal court temporarily halted an administration requirement that all hospital workers be vaccinated, some hospitals struggling to retain enough nurses, technicians and even janitors are dropping plans to implement the mandate. Meanwhile, hospitals in the Northeast and Midwest report high numbers of covid patients.
‘Breaking Point’: Medical Costs Drive More Americans To Push Off Care
A new survey finds a big spike in the number of people who say they have skipped health care services because of affordability. While the problem impacts low-income families disproportionately, it’s also touching higher income groups too.
Some Health Services Are In Biden’s Plan To Streamline Customer Service
Among the procedures affected by the president’s efforts to improve consumers’ interactions are more telehealth options, better maternal health delivery, improvements in Medicare’s online portal and more coordination for veterans’ health care services.
New Omicron Study Has Good News, Bad News
A study from South Africa released Tuesday showed that two doses of Pfizer vaccine may offer 70% protection from severe illness. It also showed that omicron seems to cause less-severe illness than earlier variants. However, as scientists suspected, the variant is substantially more contagious and appears able to reinfect people who had an earlier variant.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Will A Tobacco Ban Be Successful?; Dealing With The US Mental Health Emergency
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
4 In 10 Covid Infections In London Are Omicron As UK Reports First Death
The spread of omicron in the U.K. has reached “phenomenal” levels in London, and the Health Secretary was reported saying that new school shutdowns couldn’t be ruled out. Separately, a study says poor mental health was the U.K.’s leading reason behind sick days in 2021.
Different Takes: How Many Boosters Will We Need?; What We Know About Omicron
Opinion writers examine these covid issues.
Alzheimer’s Protection May Come From Cancer-Linked Stem Cell Mutations
Meanwhile, news outlets cover developments of CAR-T treatments against lymphomas and multiple myeloma. Bluebird Bio’s gene therapy for beta-thalassemia, Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, and the retirement of Abbott Laboratories’ executive chairman are also in the news.
Flu Rising Across US, Affecting More Age Groups
Flu levels are low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, but warned that numbers were rising. The Salt Lake Tribune reports on calls for vaccinating children against influenza. The rise of extreme poverty around the world, and the link between anger and strokes are also in the news.
To Fight Fentanyl Overdoses, Chicago Is Giving Away Free Tests
In other news, a clampdown on smoking in townhouses and condominiums in a Californian town; failings in the foster care system in Dallas; sanctions against unlicensed ambulance services staff in Omaha; a therapy scheme for Black men in St. Louis; and breast cancer.
Texas Providers Left With Limited Routes To Challenge Abortion Law
A Supreme Court decision Friday allows the state law that bans abortions after six weeks to stand but says clinics that provide the procedures can go forward with their efforts to overturn the law. Meanwhile, California’s governor says he would like to use the same mechanism the Texas law uses to outlaw assault rifles in his state.
Facebook Official Disputes Company Is To Blame For Propelling Covid Myths
Andrew Bosworth, who next year will become chief technical officer for Meta, Facebook’s parent company, said the company has done a lot to dispel false information. Also in the news are reports of a rise in covid cases.
Med School Enrollments Soared In 2021; Diversity Did, Too
For the 2021-22 season, applications to U.S. medical schools jumped 17.8%. But interestingly, underrepresented minorities were better represented than usual. Separately, CBS News covers the efforts of a medical illustrator to include more Black people in illustrations, which are usually white.
Global Bellwethers Signal Winter Covid Tidal Wave Likely On Way To US
There’s some good news from South Africa, which has so far found omicron cases to be milder than delta. But experts say the variant’s quick spread in places like the United Kingdom should serve as a warning sign for the U.S. of a potential wave that could be a back-breaker for health care systems.
Short-Staffed Hospitals In NH, NY Receive Much-Needed Help
But in Michigan, where some hospitals are desperate for more health care workers, federal assistance has run out and personnel are in short supply.