Latest KFF Health News Stories
UK Studies Show Vaccines Protect Against Long Covid
A separate pair of studies from Israel also showed that one or more Pfizer/BioNTech covid shots offer durable protection against recurring infection. Media outlets report on the ongoing vaccine rollout across the states, and both Pfizer and Merck’s covid pills are in the news again.
Ukraine Tension Prompts Warnings Of Cyberattacks Against US Hospitals
The alerts came from federal officials, covering other sectors as well as health care — but the strain of the pandemic may mean hospitals are particularly vulnerable. Separately, Stat reports that health tech companies are joining a call for nationwide patient data privacy standards.
White House Has Earmarked All Covid Funds, Will Need More For Future Response
HHS documents obtained by Bloomberg reveal that all approved funding has already been allocated to combat the covid pandemic, leaving nothing to protect against future developments like new variants or vaccine stockpiling. But congressional lawmakers may not have the appetite to appropriate much more, Politico reports.
Endemic Vs. Pandemic: California Is First State To Shift Its Approach
Going forward, California’s covid policy measures will move more toward prevention and outbreak response, instead of requirements around masks and shutdowns, Gov. Gavin Newsom says: “We are moving past the crisis phase into a phase where we will work to live with this virus.”
‘Stealth’ Omicron Could Be Nasty — But Will Anyone Listen?
New research suggests that the omicron subvariant may cause more severe illness than its parent and more along the lines of the delta variant. Even so, many Americans are moving on, virus or not, and are shutting their ears to anyone who says different.
FDA Probes Recalled Formulas After Infants Fall Sick And 1 Dies
The FDA is investigating the cases of four babies hospitalized with bacterial infections. One of the children died. The agency is warning parents against using three powdered infant formulas produced by Abbott at a Michigan plant. The company has voluntarily recalled the products.
6.7M Children Could Lose Medicaid Or CHIP Coverage In July
A congressional provision prevents states from disenrolling children during a public health emergency. That emergency declaration could be revoked by July, although the Department of Health and Human Services has promised to give states 60 days notice, CNN reports.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations. Note to readers: KHN’s First Edition will not be published Monday, Feb. 21, in celebration of Presidents Day. See you Tuesday!
Different Takes: Show Covid’s Lung Damage To The Vaccine-Hesitant; Is It Time To Unmask?
Editorial pages discuss these covid topics.
Viewpoints: UK’s NHS Has Massive Backlog; Covid-Style Partnership Needed For New Cancer Drugs
Opinion writers tackle these public health issues.
Research Roundup: Covid; Gene Editing; Alzheimer’s
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Florida Moves Ahead With 15-Week Abortion Bill
The Florida House vote approving an abortion ban was achieved along party lines, driven by Republican lawmakers. Next it will go before the state Senate. But in Arkansas, efforts to pass a Texas-style abortion ban seem to have been stymied, at least for this year’s Senate session.
BioNTech’s Modular African Vax Factory Plan Gets Mixed Reaction
Stat says BioNTech’s plan for making covid and other shots in Africa, shipping preconstructed factory elements in shipping containers, snubs efforts by the World Health Organization. Meanwhile, the WHO is also cautioning that a global slide in covid cases may be linked to lower testing rates.
Seeing Medical Specialists In Vermont Means Long Waits: Report
The AP reports on a new state probe into wait times for patients needing to see some medical specialists, with waits averaging 61 days during the pandemic. Meanwhile, in Chicago, nine hospitals’ eating facilities failed food inspections last year.
Share Of US Adults Identifying As LGBTQ+ Rises To 7.1%
The record figure is double that reported by Gallup in 2012, and up on 2021’s 5.6% figure. The opioid epidemic in North Carolina, mild flu season in Dallas County, a study linking being attractive and a better immune system, and a Victoria’s Secret model with Down syndrome are also in the news.
2021 Saw Record Organ Transplants In US: Over 41,000
This was the first year the U.S. ever exceeded 40,000 transplants. Researchers, separately, found altering the blood type of lungs could lead to universal transplants. And Axios reports on the awful situation where “bionic” eye transplants go obsolete as the company behind them faltered.
Omicron Vaccine Booster Plans Slowed, May Not Be Needed
Moderna says an omicron-specific booster may be ready by August, but it was still gathering data to see if the shots actually provide better protection for omicron. Pfizer and BioNTech said slow data-gathering delayed their plans for an omicron-specific shot and also said it may not be necessary.
Doctor Survey Suggests Faltering US Drug Supply Chain
Seven in 10 physicians questioned as part of the new US Pharmacopeia survey said the pandemic has worsened drug supply chain problems. Separately, an AHIP survey found some specialty pharmacy drugs can cost twice as much in hospitals for the same product.
White House Mulls Overhaul Of Trump Direct-Contract Medicare Program
The Trump-era program allows private companies to participate in Medicare in an attempt to limit government costs. Progressive Democrats are said to be pressuring the White House to overhaul it. In Montana, federal inspectors placed the state psychiatric facility under serious sanctions.
Ga. Judge Intervenes With Air Force Officer Seeking Religious Exemption
The judge temporarily blocked the U.S. military from enforcing its vaccination mandate against the officer, who is Christian and against “receiving a vaccine that was derived from or tested on aborted fetal tissue.” As reported previously, the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been accused of being “morally compromised” because fetal cells were used in their development. However, none of the three shots have fetal cells in the actual vaccine.