Latest KFF Health News Stories
Becerra Advancing Toward HHS Confirmation After Routine Hearings
A second hearing, this time before the Senate Finance committee, touched on the pandemic, abortion, the Affordable Care Act and other key health policy issues that Xavier Becerra would be tasked with if approved to run the Department of Health and Human Services.
CDC Launches ‘VaccineFinder’ Website
After providing your ZIP code, the portal displays a list of pharmacies and stores nearby that offer covid shots. It also tells you if they are out of stock. Clicking on a particular retailer will allow you to check appointment availability through that store’s website.
Shipments Of J&J’s Shot To States May Start Next Week
The FDA is expected to authorize emergency use of Johnson & Johnson’s covid vaccine this weekend. The White House says initial deliveries of 3 million to 4 million doses would start soon after.
Moderna To Trial Vaccine Booster Against Variant Found In South Africa
Moderna shipped doses of a new experimental covid-19 vaccine to the National Institutes of Health to study if it provides better protection against the variant.
‘Real World’ Use Shows Pfizer Vaccine To Be 94% Effective: Study
A study of 1.2 million people who have received two doses of Pfizer’s covid vaccine shows the shot to be highly effective — just short of the 95% efficacy demonstrated in controlled clinical trials.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on the challenges older people of color face in getting vaccinated and other topics, as well.
As President Joe Biden attempts to fill his cabinet, editorial pages focus on important qualities needed from leaders in those positions.
Will This Be The Year Congressional Democrats Rein In High Drug Costs?
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Perspectives: PBMs Are Key To Solving High Drug Costs; Basic Biopharma Research Helps Everyone
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Ghana Is First Nation To Receive Covid Shots Through Covax Global Initiative
The West African country received 600,000 AstraZeneca shots after proving it could distribute them quickly. Other news is from the U.K., China, Australia and elsewhere.
Pandemic Making You Flabby? Turn Off The TV And Exercise, Experts Urge
“[I’ve] seen a large number of people who have gained 10 to 15 pounds,” said one physician at Kaiser Permanente in San Jose. In other public health news: prediabetes, Zoom fatigue, addiction, food insecurity and more. Also: Golf great Tiger Woods is “responsive and recovering” after a car crash and emergency surgery.
Virginia Repeals Ban On Abortion Coverage Through Exchanges
Also, the Boston Globe looks at ways that President Joe Biden can fulfill a campaign pledge to protect abortion rights. News reports are on legislation in North Carolina related to autism therapy and more.
Biden To Target Ongoing Supply Chain Issues For PPE, Other Health Supplies
President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order that will try to smooth manufacturing limitations for products crucial to managing and containing the pandemic.
As Shortages Ease, HHS Says It Will Stop Allocating Antibody Drugs
Health care providers should now order Eli Lilly and Regeneron’s drugs directly from AmerisourceBergen, the sole distributor. They will still be free, Becker’s Hospital Review reports. Other pharmaceutical and biotech news is on RHB-107, Theranos and glucose monitors.
Ascension Says It’s Expanding Test Of Controversial Google Tool
The tool, dubbed “Care Studio,” brings together patients’ health data from separate systems across inpatient and outpatient facilities and makes it searchable for clinicians, Modern Healthcare writes. Critics have raised concerns about patient privacy protections.
Becerra Defends Experience, Testifies On Insurance Access, Health Costs
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra faces a second committee hearing today for his nomination as Department of Health and Human Services secretary. Stat also reports on a fresh line of attack from Republicans: that Becerra is not sympathetic enough to the pharmaceutical industry.
Stimulus Bill Rolling Toward Friday Vote In House
Meanwhile, a group of business executives endorse the package while Republicans signal that this could be the first covid relief package that receives zero Republican votes of support.
Ray Of Hope: Models For Future Covid Deaths Revised More Optimistically
But a big variable is the impact of coronavirus variants on the trajectory of infections. Disease experts fear the U.S. may be just weeks away from cases spiking back up for a spring surge before falling again by summer.
Highly Contagious California Variant Might Evade Vaccines, Experts Warn
Scientists raise concerns that if B.1.427/B.1.429 combines with the variant identified in the United Kingdom, that mutation could be an even more dangerous strain.