Latest KFF Health News Stories
All States Meet Deadline To Preorder Kid Covid Shots — Except Florida
The Florida Department of Health says it did not order vaccine supplies from the federal government in part because it doesn’t recommend shots for all kids. The state’s surgeon general is an outspoken skeptic of the covid vaccine. Meanwhile, the other 49 states prepare for the much-anticipated rollout to youngsters.
FDA Advisers Give Go-Ahead On Covid Vaccines For Littlest Kids
All kids over 6 months old are on the verge of being able to receive a covid vaccine. A key hurdle was cleared yesterday when the Food and Drug Adminstration’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended authorization for Moderna and Pfizer’s shots.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Measles Is Making A Comeback; Cancer Clinical Trials Need Older Participants
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health topics.
Opinion writers tackle covid and Roe issues.
West Virginia Allocates $10M For More EMS Training, Equipment
Among the changes, the state will buy mobile ambulance simulators to allow educational programs in all regions. Also in the news: the District of Columbia has named its first director of the new Office of Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing; a federal judge in Nebraska has removed an obstacle for legalizing medical marijuana; and more.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Advances In HIV Treatment And Prevention; Prescription Drug Shortages Are Over In Canada
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Air Pollution Kills Older Black People At Higher Rates: Study
The higher death risk for older Black adults, found as part of a study by consulting group Industrial Economics, is three times higher than for white adults. Also: racial disparities during the baby formula crisis, measles cases in Minnesota, West Nile virus in Texas, and more.
Massive Heat Dome Threatens 100 Million People Across America
Heat advisories, heat warnings or heat watches have been issued from California to Virginia, bringing temperatures of 100 degrees or above to many cities. Public health officials are urging people to take care because extreme heat causes more deaths in American than any other weather-related disaster. In other public health news a water main break creates problems for a Texas town and a hospital in Montana successfully evacuates patients and staff as flood waters threaten the building.
McConnell Gives Nod To Bipartisan Gun Deal
Attempts to tighten federal gun laws gained momentum Tuesday after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell lent support to the deal publicly, though negotiations are ongoing and leading Republicans signaled they would examine the final law in detail. Other gun violence news is also reported.
Drugmakers Set Self-Standards To Curb Antibiotic Waste Discharge
Amid concerns about growing antibiotic resistance among the general population, a coalition of pharmaceutical companies set new guidelines to better control the release of antibiotic waste into the environment.
‘Unsustainable’: Sweeping Report Examines Long-Term Care In US
A National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine panel released a report highlighting the state of U.S. nursing home care, highlighting problems like staffing shortages, training, funding and others.
Paxlovid Doesn’t Cut Severe Covid Effects For Standard-Risk Patients
A study by the drugmaker Pfizer finds that the rates of hospitalizations and deaths among patients with standard risk of developing severe illness is not reduced by the pill, which has been authorized for use in high-risk patients. Also in covid drug news, an FDA advisory panel has recommended that the agency authorize a Moderna vaccine for children over the age of 6.
Potentially Game-Changing Test Can Detect Your Covid Immunity
NBC News reports on a new blood test that measures a body’s long-term immune response to covid, gauging protection levels. The test works no matter a person’s vaccine status, and could benefit the immunocompromised. Separately, the White House is readying future biological threat defenses.
WHO: Monkeypox To Get New, Destigmatizing Name
News outlets report the World Health Organization is convening its emergency committee next week to decide if monkeypox is a globally-concerning public health issue. It will also rename monkeypox to minimize stigma and racism. The WHO is also reportedly discouraging mass vaccination.
With Abortion Ruling Wait On, House Passes Supreme Court Security Bill
Immediate family members of Supreme Court justices would get police protection under the legislation that next goes to President Joe Biden to sign. It comes at a time when several inflammatory court decisions are expected, including one that could roll back Roe v. Wade. Other abortion news is reported from the states.
Abortion Rates Rose For First Time In Decades
The Guttmacher Institute reports that abortions rose between 2017 and 2020, reversing trends from the previous 3 decades. In 2020, 1 of 5 pregnancies were terminated and medication abortion accounted for 54%.
Study Finds Possible Link Between Long Covid And Child Hepatitis
Experts caution that the results don’t fully explain the medical mystery behind the global child hepatitis surge. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that child hepatitis rates in the U.S. aren’t necessarily higher than before the pandemic.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
