Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Covid Has Another Impact: Doubling Type 2 Diabetes Issues For Kids
New Orleans Times-Picayune: Type 2 Diabetes In Children Doubled At OLOL Last Year, In Latest Sign Of COVID Impact On Louisiana
A study suggesting a recent increase in Type 2 diabetes in Baton Rouge children is flashing another warning sign related to the coronavirus pandemic's effect on Louisiana children's health. Cases of Type 2 diabetes that required hospitalization more than doubled during the last year — and also increased in severity — according to research presented Friday at a virtual meeting of the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Daniel Hsia, a researcher at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, compared new hospitalizations of children for Type 2 diabetes from Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge from March to December 2019 to the same time period in 2020. (Woodruff, 6/28)
CIDRAP: New 6-Case Salmonella Outbreak Tied To Tainted Shrimp
Late last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new Salmonella Weltevreden outbreak linked to frozen cooked shrimp that has sickened six people in two states. In interviews with five of the patients, all reported eating shrimp before getting sick. Two patients have been hospitalized for their illnesses, but no patient has died. Nevada has recorded four cases and Arizona two, with symptom onsets ranging from Feb 26 to Apr 25. (6/28)
Axios: Misinformation On Adverse Effects A Factor In HPV Vaccine Refusal
More than 25% of parents in 2019 who refused the human papillomavirus vaccine for their child cited concerns of safety or adverse effects, a study in JAMA Pediatrics shows. This type of refusal greatly increased from 5% in 2008, showing "disinformation campaigns aimed at hampering vaccine trust are thriving," the authors write. (Fernandez, 6/29)
In news about worker burnout and returning to the office —
The Washington Post: America’s Workers Are Exhausted And Burned Out — And Some Employers Are Taking Notice
Employers across the country, from Fortune 500 companies such as PepsiCo and Verizon to boutique advertising firms and nonprofit organizations, are continuing pandemic benefits such as increased paid time off and child- or elder-care benefits as well as embracing flexible work schedules and remote work in recognition that a returning workforce is at high risk of burnout. (Youn, 6/28)
CNBC: Return To Office And Vaccines: How Companies Can Drum Up Enthusiasm
As companies design plans to bring workers back into the office, chief human resources officers are contending with a plethora of issues. Do they mandate vaccines or simply urge employees to get them? How should hybrid schedules be decided and does innovation suffer when people continue to work from home? (Cohen, 6/26)
Axios: A New Kind Of Co-Working Space Wants To Focus On Wellness
A co-working space called The Ring is taking the healthy workplace concept up a notch. As people return to work after the pandemic, some office spaces are betting that workers would prefer to spend their days in health-conscious spaces. "Our goal is to be the world's healthiest co-working space," says Christopher Murphy, community manager at The Ring, which occupies two floors of an 11-floor building in downtown Clearwater. (Hart, 6/29)
