Latest KFF Health News Stories
Delta Variant Tears Through Missouri
The state has become the nation’s latest cautionary tale for the unvaccinated. Meanwhile, Europe and Australia make an urgent call for more people to get vaccinated in order to squelch the variant.
‘Horrific Decrease’: US Life Expectancy Tumbles By Nearly Two Years
Largely due to the covid pandemic, the nation’s life expectancy plummeted between 2018 and 2020 — the largest decline since 1943, when U.S. troops were dying in World War II — according to a new study. The alarming drop is even worse for Black and Hispanic Americans.
17 Million Americans Likely Had Covid In Early 2020 And Didn’t Know It
Antibody testing on undiagnosed adults suggests that there may have been five times more cases than officially reported.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Americans Have A Right To Health Care; Missourians At Risk Of Losing Medicaid
Editorial writers delve into these public health issues.
Opinion writers tackle these Covid and vaccine issues.
India Reports Another New, More Transmissible Covid Variant
The new variant is confusingly dubbed “delta plus” locally, and nearly two dozen cases have been identified so far. Meanwhile, New Zealanders worry over an infected Australian visitor; pressure builds to open Canada’s border; and a case of H3N2v flu is found.
With Olympics A Month Away Japan Reaches Daily 1 Million Shot Target
The 1 million covid shots per day target was set by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and was reached June 14. Meanwhile, Japan has banned alcohol at Olympic venues, Ugandan team members test positive, and a weightlifter is set to be the first openly trans Olympian.
Defense Chief Supports Major Shift In Handling Of Military Sex-Assault Cases
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will recommend to President Joe Biden that the cases be handled by independent military lawyers instead of the chain of command. The seismic change requires amending the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which no other defense chief has been willing to do.
CMS To Grant $20M To State-Based ACA Exchanges For System Updates
The funding is intended to help state-based marketplaces comply with federal requirements and to speed up insurance signups. In Medicaid news, states are expected to soon review new enrollments and Missouri’s governor schedules a special session on a proposed tax to fund Medicaid.
Iowa Judge Blocks Law Requiring 24-Hour Wait Before Abortions
The law was permanently blocked on the grounds it was unconstitutional. Separately, Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp will lift the state of emergency on July 1; Missouri’s covid case rate tops the nation; and Houston paid $1.7 million for fake N95 masks early in 2021.
Study Links Drinking 3 To 4 Cups Of Coffee Daily To Lower Liver Cancer Risk
The study involved data from nearly half a million people and showed most pronounced effects for ground coffee (even if decaffeinated). In other news, “morning people” could be at lower risk of depression than night-time people according to new research.
US Births Crashed 8% In The Ninth Month After Lockdown
The overall yearly decline in birth rate was down 4% over 2019’s figure — the biggest drop since 1973. Meanwhile, worries about asthma and prenatal exposure to ultra-fine particles, and a call for all kids to get heart health screening are also in the news.
Hospital Vaccine-Mandate Battle Ends With 153 Employees Fired Or Resigning
Previously a judge had dismissed an employee lawsuit against Houston Methodist Hospital’s covid vaccine mandate. Nursing staffing shortages, persistent blood supply shortages, and group homes for people with developmental disabilities are also in the news.
FDA Pulls Back Curtain On Alzheimer’s Drug Approval Process In Wake Of Uproar
Details on internal meetings are revealed in documents released by the Food and Drug Administration Tuesday. The agency is trying to calm criticism of its accelerated review of the contentious Alzheimer’s disease treatment, Adulhelm, but the new information may set off a fresh wave of concerns, news outlets report.
UK Researches Anti-Parasite Drug Ivermectin As Possible Covid Treatment
Ivermectin is known to have antiviral properties, but a large study at Oxford University will test its value against covid. Separately, English studies look at rare cases of post-covid vaccine Guillain-Barre syndrome; and the CDC will examine heart inflammation in young people.
Adult Covid Deaths Are Now ‘Entirely Preventable,’ Walensky Says
“This new virus forced too many of our families to accept death as an outcome for too many of our loved ones, but now this should not be the case,” the CDC director said Tuesday. Still, several regions of the U.S. are reporting surges in covid cases as the vaccination effort slows.
Students File Lawsuit Challenging Indiana University’s Covid Vaccine Requirement
Indiana’s attorney general had already issued an opinion that the school’s mandate goes against a new state law. Now eight students are fighting it in court. Meanwhile, financial giant Morgan Stanley bars unvaccinated employees from working in its New York-based offices.
White House Concedes That Goal Of Vaccinating 70% By July 4 Is Out Of Reach
Adults over 30 have already met the mark. But lagging adoption by younger Americans will keep the nation from reaching President Joe Biden’s Independence Day challenge, the White House acknowledged Tuesday.
Delta-Driven Infections Quickly Jump To Over 20% Of New US Covid Cases
“The Delta variant is currently the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate covid-19,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a White House briefing Tuesday. The numbers are even higher in some states like Colorado.