Latest KFF Health News Stories
Texas Governor Sues Over Federal Vaccine Mandate For National Guard
Pockets of the U.S. military and National Guard are continuing to fight against the Biden administration’s requirement that they receive the covid vaccine in order to serve.
Police, Local Governments Step In As Testing Sites Careen Out Of Control
To combat line-cutting, fights, traffic jams and shortages, some cities are setting up security at covid testing locations while others are limiting the number of tests available. In other news, Walmart and Kroger are upping the price of BinaxNOW tests.
Study: Infants Born In Early Pandemic Have Slight Lag In Motor, Social Skills
The study, in JAMA Pediatrics, followed 255 babies born from March to December 2020 in New York City, NBC News reports. The authors stressed that the results may not indicate long-term delays in development.
Biden Admin Buying More Of Pfizer’s Covid Pill As Hospitals Clamor For It
The goal is to have enough courses of Paxlovid for 20 million people. Still, Pfizer says it will take months to ramp up supply because of the complexity involved in making the pill.
CDC Reduces Booster Shot Gap To Five Months For Pfizer Vaccine
On Monday the Food and Drug Administration authorized the change to 5 months from 6, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quickly agreed. An Israeli study, meanwhile, shows a fourth dose of Pfizer’s covid vaccine causes a fivefold rise in antibodies a week after the shot.
Biden Tells Vaccinated: Be Concerned, ‘Not Alarmed’ Over Omicron Spike
For those who have not had the covid vaccine yet, President Joe Biden pleaded with them to reconsider during his pandemic remarks. He urged all to wear masks and take precautions during the “challenging” weeks ahead, but said that in-person schooling should continue.
As Omicron Dominates New Cases, Strain On Some ICUs May Be Easing
While covid infections remain at record levels, the number of people hospitalized is fortunately not following the same trend line, as it’s done previously in the pandemic. Health officials say that’s due to vaccinations and that omicron appears to be causing less severe illness than previous variations of the virus.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Should Medicare Pay For Aduhelm?; Learning From Past Abortion Bans
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Texas Abortion Providers Seek To Untangle Supreme Court Appeals Case
Providers say a federal appeals court is blocking their challenge to Texas’ strict anti-abortion law. Meanwhile, in California, a large-scale sewage spill has cleared enough for some beaches to reopen, but in Wisconsin another town has drinking water challenges after finding “forever” chemicals.
Different Takes: Houston’s Corbevax Vaccine Is A Game-Changer; CDC’s New Guidance Concerns Many
Opinion writers tackle these covid and vaccine issues.
Jury Finds Blood Testing Firm Founder Elizabeth Holmes Guilty
Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty in 4 of 11 charges against her as a jury decided she misled investors over the promise of blood testing tech startup Theranos. The New York Times reports on what will happen to her now, as AP reports it’s “unlikely” Silicon Valley investors will learn anything from the case.
Ten-Month Nurse Strike Ends At Massachusetts’ St. Vincent Hospital
A new contract was signed with hospital parent Tenet Healthcare, ending the longest nursing strike in state history. In other news, telehealth declined in 2021 after 2020’s boom; five things to know about CMS’ proposed rules for exchange plans; racism in medicine; and more.
Diapers, Baby Products In Short Supply As Births Boom
Fox News reports that a recent pandemic-related surge in births (against a background of declining birth rates) is complicating access to vital baby goods. Separately, a report says home births in Connecticut are rising as people seek alternative solutions to covid-hit hospitals.
Judge Temporarily Bars Pentagon From Taking Action Against Unvaccinated Sailors
Challenges against covid vaccine mandates continue to make their way through the courts and statehouses while regional governments and businesses mull additional requirements.
Biden Targets Meat Industry To Tackle High Food Costs
The new plan includes tighter regulations for meatpackers, with an assumption the industry has been inflating the nation’s food bills. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture’s new rules for consumer labels on genetically modified food products have gone into effect.
Prices Jump 5% For 2022 On More Than 450 Prescription Drugs
A report in Stat shows drug prices for some products jumped a median of 5% over 2021’s numbers, in line with recent year-end increases. In other news, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is disposing of a Trump-era policy fixing drug prices relative to other wealthy nations.
In Face Of Confusion And Pushback, CDC May Add Testing To Isolation Guidance
Dr. Anthony Fauci signaled that a negative covid test may be added to the recommendation. It would be yet another shift to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines about when someone with covid can come out of isolation. And tests are still hard to come by.
Parents Fret As Kids Return To School
Some experts — including Education Secretary Miguel Cardona — insist it’s safe for children to be in the classroom. But what about schools without requirements for masking, vaccines or physical distancing? Many parents are left with no choice but to wait and see.
Study: Antibodies From Covid Infection Can Later Attack Healthy Organs
The research showed persistent antibodies after six months, even if the patient had not been severely ill with covid. Other news is on covid among deer, “flurona” in unvaxxed pregnant women and more.