Latest KFF Health News Stories
Reaching ‘Herd Immunity’ Might Be Easier Than Thought, Researchers Say
Scientists are now suggesting that herd immunity is achievable if 50%, not 70%, of a given population becomes immune through vaccination or surviving the infection. In other scientific news: is there a weekly COVID pattern?; a new mutation may be less deadly; and more.
Common COVID Test Can Provide False Results, FDA Warns
The FDA has alerted doctors and labs that they must use updated instructions with Thermo Fisher’s TaqPath or the test could yield inaccurate results. In other testing and tracing news: rapid tests, an Iowa data glitch, long wait times for results and more.
One Vaccine Begins Phase 2 Trials; Oleandrin Treatment Is ‘Remote’
Novavax tests will be done in South Africa, which is experiencing a winter surge of COVID.
White House Aide Slams Kodak For ‘Dumbest Decisions … In Corporate History’
Kodak is accused of violating insider-trading laws for disclosing a $765 million loan it won from the federal government to make pharmaceutical ingredients.
Trump Ad Blitz Touts Efforts To Tackle High Drug Prices
With health care a top issue of the 2020 presidential contest, the social media ads signal how President Donald Trump will position his record. And the Trump campaign unveils branded face masks.
House Democrats Push Bill To Provide $25 Billion To Postal Service
Meanwhile, Republican Senate leaders are putting together an alternative coronavirus relief package that would also include funds for the U.S. Postal Service. Mail-in voting during the pandemic continues to be a hot-button issue.
Medicare Inspections Of Nursing Homes Halted By Pandemic To Resume
Onsite inspections of by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of providers and suppliers will resume for the first time since March 23.
‘He Cannot Meet This Moment’: Convention Speakers Excoriate Trump’s Ability To Handle Pandemic
“He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is,” said former first lady Michelle Obama in the keynote speech of the first night of the virtual Democratic National Convention. Other speakers who made waves are Govs. Gretchen Whitmer (Mich.) and Andrew Cuomo (N.Y.), as well as a woman who’s father died from COVID-19: His “only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump.”
Trump’s Transgender Health Rule Paused By Federal Judge
U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block issued a temporary injunction against an HHS regulation, scheduled to take effect Tuesday, that would roll back Obama-era protections for transgender people seeking health care.
In Just 8 Months, COVID-19 Rises To No. 3 Cause Of Death In U.S.
Coronavirus only lags behind heart disease and cancer. Meanwhile, nursing homes infections reach record levels and Texas joins a grim group of states that have reported more than 10,000 deaths.
Trump Nixes Pentagon Plan To Slash Billions From Military Health Care
“A proposal by Pentagon officials to slash Military Healthcare by $2.2 billion dollars has been firmly and totally rejected by me,” President Donald Trump tweeted, after the plan was reported by Politico.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
GOP Senate Ad Misrepresents Montana Governor’s Stance
The race between Steve Bullock and Steve Daines reflects a trend in campaigns nationwide. Republicans often paint Democrats as left of the general public and health care has often been one of the issues the GOP highlights in that effort. In this case, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is leaping to conclusions with its claims.
Teen Artist’s Portraits Help Frame Sacrifice of Health Care Workers Lost to COVID
A 15-year-old high school student in New Jersey is memorializing doctors, nurses and others who died after tending to coronavirus patients.
Isolation, Disruption and Confusion: Coping With Dementia During a Pandemic
COVID-19 has upended the lives of people with dementia, limiting their interactions with others and complicating matters for their caregivers.
La política frena el flujo de fondos a las agencias para detener la pandemia
Desde que comenzó la pandemia, el Congreso ha reservado miles de millones para aliviar la crisis. Pero parte de ese dinero no se ha distribuido, o gastado, apropiadamente.
Confianza, miedo y solidaridad marcarán el éxito de una vacuna contra COVID
Cuando una vacuna contra el coronavirus esté disponible, ¿la recibirán con una gran ovación, como la vacuna contra la polio, o con cierto letargo, como la vacuna contra el sarampión?
Politics Slows Flow of US Pandemic Relief Funds to Public Health Agencies
Congress has allocated trillions of dollars to ease the coronavirus crisis. A joint KHN and AP investigation finds that many communities with big outbreaks have spent little of that federal money on local public health departments for work such as testing and contact tracing.
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and others.
Opinion writers express views about school issues created by quarantines and collecting data on the pandemic.