Latest KFF Health News Stories
Biden Ups Vaccine Donations To Other Nations, Will Include All Types
The White House is pledging an additional 20 million doses and will include Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots in the mix. Previously only AstraZeneca’s vaccine was announced, which is not yet approved in the U.S.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Cyclone Impacts Covid-Stricken India, Forcing Evacuations, Vaccine Pauses
Cyclone Tauktae has already killed six in Southern India and now threatens the western coast. The New York Times, meanwhile, reports on a thriving Indian black market for oxygen, medicines and other supplies.
Perspectives: What Will Be The Lasting Effects Of Covid?; Are Mandatory Vaccines On The Horizon?
Opinion writers weigh in on covid, vaccines and masking issues.
Viewpoints: How To Improve Technology In Health Care; Ways To Rebuild Doctor-Patient Trust
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Study Shows Regular Aspirin Doses Are Safe, Can Prevent Heart Problems
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine examined thousands of heart disease patients and found that regular low-dose aspirin-taking was safe and can prevent further heart problems and strokes. Regular dose levels seem safe too, but many study participants quit taking the high doses.
Evacuations As Train With Hazardous Waste Derails, Catches Fire In Iowa
In other news, fresh produce is linked to an E.coli outbreak in Washington state; Georgia has a spate of fentanyl overdoses; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will receive a bill cracking down on covid scam websites; and California lawmakers consider a bill to decriminalize psychedelic drugs.
HHS Redirects $2 Billion To Pay For Migrant Shelter Operations: Report
Politico reports that funds allocated to rebuild the national stockpile and to expanding national covid testing are being diverted by the Department of Health and Human Services to its massive efforts to house a growing number of unaccompanied minors at the Southern border.
Amazon Will Expand Its WorkingWell Program To All US Workers In 2021
The program provides employees with physical, mental and nutritional support. Also in the news: telehealth, children’s mental health, Leapfrog and parking fees for cancer patients.
FDA OKs Zynrelef, New Opioid Alternative For Post-Operative Pain
The drug is a combination of local anesthetic bupivacaine and anti-inflammatory meloxicam. In other news, biomarker blood tests are speeding up drug trials, the Salt Lake Tribune covers the difficulties of pharmaceutical IP, and Stat reports the “Era of the Genome” has arrived.
After Early Setback, Sanofi-GSK Vaccine Finds Better Luck In Phase 2 Trials
The initial Phase 1/2 trial suggested the vaccine wasn’t adequately protective in older adults. But new results show that the companies’ covid vaccine generates strong levels of antibodies for all adults.
Puncture The Vial Just For One Shot: CDC Addresses Vaccine-Giver Hesitancy
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines will mandate its workers get a covid shot. And statistics show 41% of Republicans say they do not plan to get a vaccine, but New York’s Hamilton County — remote, and Republican — has one of the highest vaccine uptake rates in the U.S.
Racism Has ‘Undeniable’ Impact On Health Disparities, Fauci Says
Dr. Anthony Fauci noted that the covid pandemic has highlighted how racism negatively affects health outcomes for African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans. Separately, the Indian covid variant is found in Maine, a study shows most kids with covid don’t get a fever, and authorities accept covid is airborne.
Read The Signs: Many Businesses Drop Mask Rules, Some Not Yet
Retail companies are announcing their plans for also relaxing requirements on face coverings as individual businesses must now navigate shifting state and federal guidance.
Students Should Mask Up, CDC Says
Reopened K-12 schools should require “universal and correct” use of masks, plus social distancing, the CDC says, despite newly relaxed mask-wearing rules for the vaccinated population. Dr. Anthony Fauci agrees and says masks should even be worn in the fall term by unvaccinated kids.
CDC Cites Evolving Science As Sole Driver Of Mask Guidance U-Turn
Neither public or political pressure played a role in the decision to relax mask guidance for fully vaccinated people, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said when answering questions about her agency’s drastic change.
Some Nurses, Health Experts Warn Mask Change Threatens Covid Progress
Both the National Nurses Union and the California Nurses Association slammed the relaxed CDC guidance, saying the protective measures helped keep health care workers safer. Other public health experts worry that the sudden appearance of normalcy will set back efforts to control virus spread.
Confusion Reigns As Some Cling To Face Coverings, Others Feel The Breeze
Americans who ventured out over the weekend faced a patchwork of inconsistent rules.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Should Health Care Workers Be Mandated To Get The Vaccine?; To Mask Or Not To Mask?
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid and vaccine issues.