Latest KFF Health News Stories
Study: Covid Shots Don’t Reduce Fertility, But Getting Covid Might
Researchers looking at the impact of covid vaccines on fertility say there’s no reduction in chances of becoming pregnant. But some evidence for short-term reduction in male fertility after a covid infection was found. Meanwhile, another study shows Moderna outperforms Pfizer against delta.
Walensky Says CDC Is ‘Pivoting The Language’ On Vaccination Definitions
While those who has completed their original covid vaccine protocol will still be defined as “fully vaccinated,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky says the agency will start emphasizing the need to be “up to date” with a booster shot. Walensky also spoke about the state of the U.S. public health system during an interview with Politico.
Short-Staffing Forces Some Hospitals To Limit Beds Even With Patient Surge
Hospital administrators face difficult choices as a spike of covid patients seek treatment in their overtaxed facilities. Meanwhile, nurses, doctors and other health workers try to cope with the latest surge.
CDC: Booster Shots 90% Effective At Preventing Omicron Hospitalization
The three studies published Friday are by far the most comprehensive and reliable assessments of the role booster shots are playing in the U.S. pandemic, The New York Times reported, noting that the researchers reviewed millions of cases and tens of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths.
As Cases Fall In Some States, Fauci Says Omicron Will Peak By Mid-February
While cautioning that this covid virus has “surprised” us in the past, Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC “This Week” that the case trends “are looking good. We don’t want to get overconfident, but they look like they’re going in the right direction right now.”
In Other States Like Arkansas And Alaska, Omicron Cases Are Climbing
Both states smashed records over the weekend. Meanwhile in Houston, the city is poised to hit 400,000 covid cases Monday, just a month after hitting 300,000.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Weighing The Benefits Of Doctor-Hospital Integration; Will Roe V. Wade Survive?
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on food poisoning, toxic waste, dementia, exercise, covid and more.
All US Olympians Are Fully Vaccinated; No One Requested Exemptions
Every one of the 200-plus athletes going to the Beijing Winter Olympics is reported to be fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities are limiting the traditional torch relay to just three days. In France, covid restrictions are due to be lifted soon, and Austria mandated shots for adults.
Opinion writers break down the future of covid and the effects on our health care work force.
Not So Fast: Lawmakers Criticize CIA’s Report On Causes Of Havana Syndrome
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) revealed that the intelligence community’s expert panel on Havana Syndrome will wrap up its work “in about 10 days,” and he questioned why the CIA would release its assessment ahead of that group’s work, Politico reported.
Some Health Providers Are Getting Paid To Answer Emails
In other news, Florida’s health providers and insurers have been given permission to use their own dispute resolution process instead of the federal No Surprises Act system. Florida’s orthopedic surgeons are also in the news for suing HCA, alleging anticompetitive conduct.
Florida Workers Pay Among The Most For Health Insurance
A study from the Commonwealth Fund found Florida employees paid more for health insurance than in nearly every other state. A different report sheds light on why Chicago’s air quality didn’t get as much as a reprieve during the pandemic as other places: It’s diesel fuel’s fault.
Scammers Selling Unauthorized Rapid Tests Or Have Zero Inventory
News outlets cover how fraudsters are taking advantage of people searching for at-home tests and even leveraging the launch of the new government site for free tests. In San Francisco, the city has subpoenaed records from an unauthorized covid testing operator suspected of fraud.
Study Says Early Intervention Could Stop Kids’ Peanut Allergies
Scientists gave increasing doses of peanut protein powder to toddlers and found that after two and a half years, nearly three quarters could tolerate as much as 16 peanuts without allergic reactions. A pacifier recall, the impact of sugar on kids’ development, and more are in the news.
Another Human Xenotransplant Success Achieved, With Pig Kidneys
The organ transplant success saw genetically altered pig kidneys functioning inside a patient, who was already brain dead, for over 70 hours. In other news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a quarter of U.S. adults are too sedentary to protect their health.
Sputnik Vaccine Might Be Significantly Better Against Omicron Than Pfizer
A small lab study of just 68 people was conducted jointly between Russia and Italy and has not been peer-reviewed. The study found that three to six months after participants received two doses of vaccine, omicron-specific neutralizing antibodies were detected in 74.2% of Sputnik recipients compared with 56.9% of Pfizer recipients, Reuters reported.
Strained Health Providers Brace For Looming Vaccine Mandate Deadline
Already short-staffed, hospital and clinic administrators ready their facilities for another potential wave of staffing losses as the federal covid vaccine mandate for health workers starts going into effect in a few weeks.
Omicron Rages Through Many Nursing Homes, Forcing Shutdowns
Record high covid infections are reported among nursing home residents and staffs, according to CDC data. Deaths have also risen, though not as badly as before vaccines were available. Separately, new research finds that unvaccinated people 65 or older are 49 times more likely to be hospitalized for covid than fully vaccinated and boosted seniors.