Latest KFF Health News Stories
Avoiding Holiday Parties This Year Is Not Being A Grinch. It’s Being Safe
Dr. Michael Osterholm, who is one of President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus advisers, warned people to stay away from large celebrations this year. Also, several outlets look at how groups are scaling back their celebrations or deciding how to travel safely.
Now, When Does The Vaccine Roll Out?
And how much will roll out? Two questions that the Trump administration is still unclear about.
Australian COVID Vaccine Trial Stopped
Engineering a fix could take a year. The episode shows why governments seek multiple sources of vaccines.
After Major Setback, GSK/Sanofi Vaccine Will Be Delayed To End Of ’21
The vaccine failed to trigger the desired immune response in people ages 50 and older, forcing the company to rethink its antigen formulation. The news is a blow for many governments who had ordered millions of doses of the shot, including the United States.
Daily Death Toll Likely To Exceed 9/11 Fatalities For Many Weeks, CDC Says
The messaging has been wrong, CDC director Robert Redfield said: “It’s very disappointing when I have governors who basically feel that masks don’t work.” His agency predicts a death toll of 362,000 in the U.S. by Jan. 2.
FDA Panel Endorses Pfizer Vaccine For Those 16 And Older
The benefits outweigh the risks, a committee of experts advised Thursday in a 17-4 vote, with one person abstaining. The FDA is likely to sign off soon; shots could begin going into arms in just days.
Moderna Begins Testing Vaccine On Kids, Has 2021 School Year In Its Sights
The company announced Thursday that it has begun dosing children as young as 12 with its mRNA vaccine. The 3,000 healthy participants will receive two doses, 28 days apart.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
I Found My Secret to Feeling Younger and Stronger. The Pandemic Stole It Away.
What’s a 67-year-old to do when COVID-19 shuts down the volunteering gigs that were his personal fountain of youth?
Going Home for the Holidays? For Many Americans, That’s a Risky Decision
Public health officials have urged Americans to hunker down, but people are still planning trips and contemplating ways to mitigate the risk of catching or spreading the coronavirus.
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Farmworkers, Firefighters and Flight Attendants Jockey for Vaccine Priority
Everyone — from toilet paper manufacturers to patient advocates — is lobbying state advisory boards, arguing their members are essential, vulnerable or both — and, thus, most deserving of an early vaccine.
Viewpoints: Lessons On Getting More People To Agree To Take Vaccines
Editorial pages focus on topics related to vaccines and their distribution.
Perspectives: Finally, Nationwide Hospital Data; Relief Or No Relief?; What’s A Restaurant To Do?
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic issues and other public health issues, as well.
Research Roundup: COVID; Stillbirths; Appendicitis; Universal Flu Vaccine
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Pennsylvania’s governor is the latest. In other state news, Baltimore shuts down all dining and Anchorage gets a monoclonal antibody infusion center.
No. 4: Saudi Arabia Joins Other Countries In Approving Pfizer Vaccine
Canada also approved it and expects to authorize Moderna’s vaccine soon. Other global news includes concerns of vaccine hoarding by rich countries and a directive for China’s airline pilots to wear diapers rather than risk COVID infection using aircraft bathrooms.
COVID Complicates Other Health Needs
Fewer Black children getting flu shots and postponed diagnosis of cancers are among the concerns in a year of rampant COVID infections.
More States Apply Mask Mandates
And yet, as COVID deaths rise ever higher, some jurisdictions are still pushing back against requiring people to wear a mask.
J&J Cuts Enrollment For Single-Dose Vaccine Trial, Eyes Feb. Authorization
Media reports look at protection from one shot of Pfizer’s vaccine and more vaccine news.