Latest KFF Health News Stories
Scammers Selling Unauthorized Rapid Tests Or Have Zero Inventory
News outlets cover how fraudsters are taking advantage of people searching for at-home tests and even leveraging the launch of the new government site for free tests. In San Francisco, the city has subpoenaed records from an unauthorized covid testing operator suspected of fraud.
Strained Health Providers Brace For Looming Vaccine Mandate Deadline
Already short-staffed, hospital and clinic administrators ready their facilities for another potential wave of staffing losses as the federal covid vaccine mandate for health workers starts going into effect in a few weeks.
Sputnik Vaccine Might Be Significantly Better Against Omicron Than Pfizer
A small lab study of just 68 people was conducted jointly between Russia and Italy and has not been peer-reviewed. The study found that three to six months after participants received two doses of vaccine, omicron-specific neutralizing antibodies were detected in 74.2% of Sputnik recipients compared with 56.9% of Pfizer recipients, Reuters reported.
California Bill Proposed That Would Let Older Kids Get Covid Shot Without Parent
The proposed state legislation would allow adolescents 12 and older to get vaccinated against covid without parental consent. From around the rest of the country, news outlets look at the “special kind of hell” that parents and caregivers of kids under 5 are living in, until their charges are eligible for a covid vaccine.
HHS Funds Target Health Worker Burnout; Hospitals Plead With Public
As some U.S. health care systems edge toward collapse with staff shortages and exhausted medical workers, the Department of Health and Human Services is awarding $103 million to address mental wellness. Meanwhile, hospitals urge the public to take more covid precautions — like vaccines.
Omicron Rages Through Many Nursing Homes, Forcing Shutdowns
Record high covid infections are reported among nursing home residents and staffs, according to CDC data. Deaths have also risen, though not as badly as before vaccines were available. Separately, new research finds that unvaccinated people 65 or older are 49 times more likely to be hospitalized for covid than fully vaccinated and boosted seniors.
Possible Last Anniversary Of Roe V. Wade Already Shaping Courts, Laws
The Supreme Court denied another request to step into the Texas abortion law challenge by providers. And today’s 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade has advocates on both sides of the debate preparing for a drastically altered landscape where the law could be reversed by June.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Opinion writers tackle these covid and vaccine issues.
CIA Says Most ‘Havana Syndrome’ Cases Likely Not Malicious
A CIA investigation into a mysterious illness claimed to affect multiple U.S. officials working overseas showed the majority of cases were environmental or caused by prior medical conditions. But the probe is ongoing and it is still possible some cases were caused by foreign action.
In The Belief Omicron Peaked, England Will Drop Nearly All Restrictions
Meanwhile, in Mexico daily covid cases rose to a record level over twice the previous amount seen in earlier waves. But in New Zealand, which has avoided omicron so far, the government says it won’t impose restrictions when omicron hits. And a Czech singer who caught covid deliberately died.
Research Roundup: Covid; Hydroponic Greens; Frostbite; Cannabis; And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Planned Parenthood Files Suit Against South Dakota Abortion Pill Rule
South Dakota has plans to become one of the hardest places in the U.S. to get abortion pills, but Planned Parenthood is suing to try to prevent the in-person doctor visit rule from coming into force. An assisted suicide bill in Delaware, a law helping Texans with disabilities, and more are also in the news.
In 2019, HIV, Malaria Killed Fewer People Than Drug-Resistant Infections
Bloomberg reports on the dangers of drug-resistant bacteria. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Times-Picayune covers a surge in cases of drug-resistant yeast infections in hospitals. Other reports cover a rise in the number of attempted suicides, with few of the people concerned receiving mental health care.
8 In 10 Authors In Prestigious Medical Journals Didn’t Disclose Payments
An analysis of authors in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association found 81% didn’t properly disclose payments that came from drugmakers or medical device manufacturers. A different report says “negative” language is more common in Black patients’ medical notes.
Mark Cuban Launches Low-Cost Prescription Drug Store
Entrepreneur Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company is said to cut out middlemen in the drug distribution business, and offers affordable prices through direct negotiations with makers and pharmacies. Also: Bristol Myers Squibb, PrEP, UCB and Zogenix, a new RNA drug startup, and more.
Covid And Vaccines Shift Nursing Moms’ Timetables
New research finds that live virus does not transmit to a baby through breast milk. Separately, some mothers are extending the time they nurse their kids in hopes of passing along some protection gained from the covid vaccine.
Pfizer May Soon Get Approval For Shots For The Under-5s, Fauci Says
Dr. Anthony Fauci said the FDA may make the approval decision in the next month. Meanwhile, a mistake by health care provider Kaiser Permanente in California may have seen 4,000 people get slightly lower-dose covid shots than recommended. Affected people are being alerted.
Over Two Dozen Generics-Makers Sign Deal To Produce Merck’s Covid Pill
Drugmakers across the world have signed a pact to manufacture and supply Merck’s covid pill to more than 100 lower-income countries. Meanwhile, there’s promising news about antiviral drug remdesivir’s impact on the need to ventilate covid patients, and an old drug, fluvoxamine, may be useful.
