Latest KFF Health News Stories
Philadelphia’s Drug Deaths May Top Record This Year
Fatal overdoses were up 10% over 2020 for the fist six months of 2021. Meanwhile, in Michigan the governor seeks $300 million for covid tests in schools, but in Dallas the Children’s Medical Center has disbanded its gender-affirming care program.
EU Could Approve New Shots For Omicron In Months
It could take just three or four months for approval, the EU drug regulator said. Mexico has changed its plans for boosters, a deal is near to make and sell J&J’s shot in Africa, and Israel is mulling mandatory vaccination.
Different Takes: Faith Leaders Important In Vaccine Push; Should We Model Japan’s Covid Regulations?
Opinion writers examine these covid issues.
Authorization Sought For Clever Test That Tells If You Need A Covid Shot
The immunity level-sensing test comes from a Houston startup which is seeking emergency approval from the FDA. Separately, studies link covid infections to myocarditis in college athletes, and long haul covid with chronic fatigue, among other stories.
Study Finds Vast Disparities In Hospital Pricing For Medical Scans
The study, which compares commercial prices among hospital, shows how little influence consumers have over pricing. Another report finds hospital labor costs continuing to increase.
Booming Social Media Drug Trade Is Dangerous Door For Teens
News outlets also cover safe sites for drug users. In other public health coverage: mumps, water safety, wellness trends and covid orphans.
Biden To Unveil Strategy Aimed At Ending HIV Epidemic By 2030
On World AIDS Day, President Joe Biden is set to direct federal efforts toward the ambitious goal. He also wants to direct resources toward aiding an aging population living with HIV. News outlets explore other global progress made against the virus.
With Conservatives At The Helm, High Court Hears Abortion Case Today
The arguments concern a Mississippi law that would restrict abortions after 15 weeks, well before the threshold that the landmark Roe v Wade decision set. Groups opposed to abortion have strong hopes that the court — bolstered with three justices chosen by President Donald Trump — will overturn Roe or curb its scope.
US Announces New Covid Surveillance Measures At 4 Key Airports
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says the enhanced screening at New York, Atlanta, Newark and San Francisco airports will include increased testing for some international travelers. Meanwhile, groups representing pharmacists are asking Medicare officials to make the program’s drug plans pay for counseling patients and dispensing oral antiviral medications that treat covid.
Oxford Scientists Say No Proof Omicron Resists Current Shots
In an optimistic note, the University of Oxford said that even though other covid variants have arrived over the last year, vaccines have offered ongoing protection, and there’s no evidence omicron will be different. Meanwhile, it seems omicron hit Europe earlier than thought.
FDA OKs Merck’s Antiviral Covid Drug
The vote was 13 for and 10 against, so the first-of-its-kind drug was narrowly approved. Merck also said it should be effective against the new omicron variant. Meanwhile, Regeneron’s antibody treatment may not be, according to the company.
As Labs Hunt For Omicron, CDC Director Says US Better Prepared
The CDC’s Dr. Rochelle Walensky noted we have “far more tools” to battle a covid variant than last year. Separately, Dr. Anthony Fauci said it was likely current vaccines would still offer some protection. Meanwhile, testing labs are hunting for signs of omicron’s arrival.
Even Before Omicron Arrives, Covid Surges Again
Arkansas say its biggest one-day jump in covid cases since September (possibly from delayed testing after Thanksgiving), Indiana is seeing a surge and Vermont’s hospitalizations are at a record high. Meanwhile, Amazon is accused of underreporting its covid infection figures.
Federal Vaccine Mandates Hit With Two More Legal Setbacks
The covid vaccination requirement that all health workers at facilities that get CMS funding is now on hold nationally. And in a separate case, a judge granted a preliminary injunction against the rule mandating the shot for all federal contractors. That case impacts Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
First Edition: December 1, 2021
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion writers delve into these covid topics.
UK Steps Up Booster Program; China And India Will Vaccinate Africa
In the face of the new omicron variant, the U.K. government has extended its vaccine booster program to everyone 18 and up. Also, Germany may lock down the unvaccinated, Greece will fine unvaccinated people over 60, and hundreds of millions of shots will go to Africa from India and China.
Viewpoints: Tackling The Rural Doctor Shortage; Collective Intelligence Can Eliminate Medical Bias
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Self-Replicating Robots Created From Frog Bits
Scientists presented studies on the impacts of covid including damage to the brain and central nervous system and covid reinfections, but more attention was focused on scientists who say they created self-replicating robots from the heart and skin stem cells of frogs.
Medicare Patients See General Practitioners Like Private Insurance Holders
A new study says Medicaid recipients were as likely as those with private health insurance to have seen a general practitioner in 2019. In other industry news, a jury said United Healthcare underpaid TeamHealth for emergency services and a South Korean maker of monoclonal antibodies to treat covid signs deals with nine European countries.