Latest KFF Health News Stories
Many Teens Excited For Covid Vaccine On First Day Of Expanded Rollout
Youths ages 12 to 15 lined up with their parents Thursday, eager to get their “freedom” back. Dr. Anthony Fauci also encouraged parents to get their children vaccinated.
Dwindling J&J Vaccine Supply Means No New Doses To States Next Week
The Biden administration’s next weekly shipments of covid vaccines will not include any Johnson & Johnson doses, according to CDC reports. The early production issues at a Baltimore plant are largely blamed for the disruption.
Fauci, Prominent Teachers Union Chief Say Schools Should Fully Reopen In Fall
Infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said schools should be open “full blast” five days a week. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten echoed that sentiment: “There is no doubt: Schools must be open, in person, five days a week, with the space and facilities to do so.”
Some Businesses, Stores Keep Mask Rules Despite CDC Guidelines
Companies are also considering how to respond to the CDC’s new recommendations, Bloomberg reports, with stores like Home Depot saying they’ll stick twith their current mask rules — pitching workers into an even trickier battle with non-mask wearing customers. NPR notes that that maskless shopping rules depend on where you live.
Don’t Celebrate Yet: Covid Cases Hit Reverse, Go Up Again
The U.S. reported more than 38,000 new cases and 802 deaths Thursday. Meanwhile, new research suggests that coronavirus may contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Masking Turnabout Met With Glee, Some Anxiety And A Whole Lot Of Questions
The CDC’s sudden announcement prompted the fully vaccinated to ask if the pandemic is over for them. Others worry that it will create more confusion — and continued confrontations — over who is vaccinated and who is not.
Bipartisan Smiles Revealed As Biden, Harris And Lawmakers Peel Off Masks
The White House was quick to demonstrate public support for the relaxed CDC guidance. President Joe Biden and a group of senators first took off their face coverings during an Oval Office meeting. And then he and Vice President Kamala Harris marked the “great milestone” in Rose Garden comments.
Startled States, Cities Scramble After Abrupt CDC Masking Pivot
Some states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania, immediately adopted the new CDC guidance. Other states and cities are taking a wait-and-see approach, like Massachusetts and New York who say they will maintain existing rules for now.
Fully Vaccinated People Can Skip Masks In Most Indoor, Outdoor Places: CDC
In a big step toward returning to “normal” life in the U.S., the CDC announced new guidance that any person who is fully vaccinated may stop wearing face coverings, for the most part. At a Rose Garden ceremony marking the moment, President Joe Biden summed it up this way: “Get vaccinated — or wear a mask until you do.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Family Doctors Role In Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy; Should Kids Unmask Outdoors?
Opinion writers tackle Covid, vaccines and outdoor masking.
Viewpoints: Student Depression Needs Urgent Attention; How Covid Has Altered Abortion Access
Editorial pages delve into teenage mental health, abortion access, hospice care and medical terminology.
Research Roundup: Covid; New Ways To Treat Wounds; Weight Loss; More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
WHO Report Says Covid Was ‘Preventable Disaster’
An independent review of global responses to the coronavirus pandemic ordered by the World Health Organization found many faults, including a slow reaction in early stages. Meanwhile, India’s covid crises continues, with over 4,000 recorded deaths today.
Dying In The US? It’ll Cost You More Now Than Pre-Pandemic
The average “cost of dying” grew over 14% during 2020. Separately, “covid nails” are in the news, and reports say fewer new prescriptions for the addiction drug buprenorphine were issued during the pandemic, despite a spike in overdose deaths.
Wisconsin Residents With Disabilities Slam GOP Voting Bills
In other news, Ohio’s plans for distributing anti-overdose drugs is accused of racial bias, North Carolina moves to bar shackling of pregnant prisoners, and a woman’s death in Nevada is tied to the Real Water liver illness issue.
Pfizer Asks UK To Approve Vaccine For 12- to 15-Year-Olds
As the United Kingdom moves toward relaxing covid restrictions, Pfizer has sought official approval to use its vaccines for younger people in the nation, and reports say the U.K.’s covid app was effective. In other news, postpartum depression is linked with covid lockdowns.
More Hospitals, Health Care Investors Pull Out Their Pocketbooks
Industry names in the news include the Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Piedmont Healthcare, HCA, Ginkgo Bioworks, the Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund, Aetna, Cityblock Health and more.
America’s Fourth Favorite Company Is Moderna; Pfizer Is Seventh
While you may expect to spot SpaceX and Amazon in the top of Axios/Harris’ top 100 company reputation poll, Moderna and Pfizer’s rankings might surprise you — the companies are riding the vaccine approval wave. Not true for J&J, slipping to 72nd place this year.
HHS May Push Deadline For Hospitals To Spend Pandemic Relief Funds
In other news: 32 hospitals have sued the Department of Health and Human Services, alleging that Secretary Xavier Becerra is discriminating against states that did not expand Medicaid.