Latest KFF Health News Stories
Nevada To Make Unvaxxed State Workers Pay Extra For Insurance
The fee will be up to $55 per month, and the money is to offset the extra burden of testing all the unvaccinated workers. Meanwhile, in Maine it’s proving a struggle to roll out booster shots due to pharmacy staff shortages.
Covid Spreading At Record Speed In South Africa
Covid’s reproductive number is above 2 in parts of South Africa, meaning each infected person infects at least 2 others. The omicron variant is blamed. Meanwhile, France reports nine omicron cases, and Germany is locking down extra-hard on unvaccinated people.
CDC Data Says Autism Affects 1 In Every 44 US Kids
The numbers don’t necessarily represent a rise in autism, experts noted, and instead reflect greater awareness and availability of services to help. Meanwhile, Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat, raised a warning flag for maternal health problems in the U.S.
Lab-Grown Pre-Embryos Detailed
The blastoids present a more ethical way to study human development, scientists say. In other science news, a study finds what we all suspected: the 6-foot distancing rule is an arbitrary limit.
Nearly Half The States Could Curtail Or Limit Abortions
Twenty-one states are poised to immediately ban or acutely curtail access to abortions if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. That decision could also affect abortion access in more liberal-leaning states.
MRNA Vaccines Found To Give Best Protection As Boosters
A new study in the U.K. found Pfizer and Moderna’s shots were best at lifting antibody levels when given 10-12 weeks after the second dose. Six vaccines show promise as boosters though. A separate study on the overall effectiveness of mRNA shots showed Moderna slightly ahead.
Fights Over Vaccine Requirements Ratchet Up In Parts Of US
While New York City attempts to get religious and other private schools to require vaccinations of employees, mandates are defied in Oklahoma, New Jersey and Louisiana.
Congress Averts Shutdown After Vaccine Mandate Standoff
Both chambers eventually approved an 11-week stopgap bill to fund the government. Not included in the package was any measure to stop pending Medicare cuts. Hospitals and doctors are expected to continue lobbying for it.
Omicron May Carry Greater Risk Of Reinfection Than Other Variants
A previous covid infection may not offer much immunity against omicron. Analysis of cases in South Africa indicate that this latest variant may be least three times more likely to cause a reinfection. Other news on the mutated virus is reported as scientists race to study it.
Delta Still Dominates Covid Outbreaks Across America
News outlets remind us not to forget the threat of the delta covid variant as worries rise over omicron. Hospital admissions are reported up in 39 states, stressing some facilities, and New York is seeing the most covid cases since January.
As New York Confirms 5 Cases, Omicron Discovered Across US
What a difference a day makes: Yesterday’s headlines covered the first detected U.S. case of omicron covid, in California. As of this morning, the latest reports say it’s been found in at least five states.
Biden Lays Out Travel, Testing Measures To Combat Covid This Winter
Calling it a “patriotic responsibility” for Americans to unite behind efforts to fight covid this winter, President Joe Biden announced the latest federal measures that include more international traveler testing, extending mask mandates on public transit and rapid covid tests that insurance companies are supposed to pay for.
First Edition: December 3, 2021
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Shutdown Threat Heightens As Democrats Also Try To Wrap Spending Bill
The New York Times looks at how health care would be reshaped by the massive reconciliation package. Also on the December congressional docket: averting a shutdown, if Democrats can.
Opinion writers examine these covid related issues.
Editorial pages weigh in on these public health matters.
More Drugmakers Avoid 340B Program
Among the top health industry news: Amgen curtails discounts through the federal 340B program, Duke, Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan seek artificial intelligence software that works and barriers to prescription drugs created by insurance companies.
Report: 1,500 Homeless People Died On LA Streets During Covid
In other impactful news from California, some water districts will get none of their requested supplies heading into 2022 other than for critical health and safety needs. Other news is from Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Maine, Colorado and Florida.
Iran Tightens Abortion, Contraception Laws; Delta, Omicron Covid Surge
Also, the European Union is mulling mandatory vaccine rules, Britain approves a covid antibody treatment from GlaxoSmithKline, South Africa’s covid case rate doubled overnight, and countries seem to increasingly favor travel bans to try to stem covid outbreaks.
Study: Higher Risk Of Death After Covid Recovery
More studies on the impacts of covid infections on health: a higher risk of death and of central nervous system complications.