Latest KFF Health News Stories
US Troops Restricted To Base After Spreading Omicron In Japan
Bloomberg reports on an omicron outbreak in Japan which local officials blame on U.S. troops spreading covid into the community. More developments in the Novak Djokovic case in Australia, China’s reaction to omicron, pushback against 4th doses in the U.K. are also reported.
South Dakota Makes It Even Harder To Get A Medication Abortion
Women seeking medication-based abortions must now receive drugs at a licensed abortion facility, instead of just meeting with a physician in person once. Grants for West Virginia health centers, fentanyl seizures on Texas’ Mexican border and more are also in the news.
Cataract Removal Linked To 30% Lower Risk For Dementia
New research suggests that cataract removal to improve vision may also be linked to lower risk for older patients developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s. In other fascinating news, a study finds exercise boosts production of a protein that may also delay potential dementia.
Medicare Decision On Aduhelm Looms, Triggering Worries Over Funding
Stat reports on worries over Medicare’s upcoming ruling over cover for controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm, and if it will impact state Medicaid funding. The Biden administration’s plan to empower pharmacies by cutting middlemen fees is also in the news, along with its impact on Medicare costs.
Maryland’s Digital Health System Remains Broken After Cyberattack
“Unusual behavior” was detected on Maryland’s Health Department network on Dec. 4 and subsequently was found to be a cyberattack. The Washington Post says many systems are still unusable more than a month later, affecting the pandemic response as well as routine care.
Blame Game Heats Up As Chicago Public Schools Remain Closed
Meanwhile, schools in California, Maine, New York City, Georgia, Baltimore and elsewhere in the Northeast struggle to cope with sick kids, sick teachers and online learning.
People Are Desperate For Covid Tests — But Florida Throws Away 1M Of Them
After a state official said Thursday that the tests had expired, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday tried to explain why the state didn’t distribute them.
States Receiving Antibody Treatments That Might Be Useless Against Omicron
Patients have been clamoring for monoclonal antibodies, but the Biden administration says two of the three treatments available don’t work against omicron. To make matters worse, there’s a severe shortage of the one that does work: sotrovimab.
First, There Was ‘Flurona’; Now There’s ‘Deltacron’
Leondios Kostrikis, a scientist at the University of Cyprus, says 25 cases of the combination delta-omicron strain have been found, but Kostrikis predicts it won’t last globally. (And with any luck, “fludeltachron” won’t become a thing, either.)
Omicron Shakes Up Pandemic ‘Normal,’ Leaving Americans Uncertain, Weary
As scientists rush to understand omicron’s impact on vaccines and testing, while officials debate revisions to health guidance, an anxious public is left wondering how to cope with skyrocketing covid infections.
If You’re A Hospital Worker In Arizona With Covid, You Could Still Go To Work
One major health provider in the state has decided that employees with mild or asymptomatic covid can still attend work without quarantine. AP reports on the “conundrum” caused by omicron, with a debate over working or staying home. Other news outlets cover burnout in over-worked health staff.
US Averaging 700K Daily Covid Cases; Short-Staffed Hospitals Can Be Easily Overwhelmed
The latest omicron-driven wave continues to break records for daily infections and the number of children hospitalized. While for many — especially the fully vaccinated — symptoms are less severe, the sheer numbers are still hitting medical facilities hard. Especially when their workers are also out sick.
Supreme Court Justices Voice Skepticism Over Federal Vaccine Mandates
In a special session Friday, the justices heard arguments in two cases related to the Biden administration’s efforts to require covid vaccinations in the workplace. Based on their questions and remarks, there are signals that the conservative-led Supreme Court may allow the health care worker mandate to go forward as legal challenges play out, but that it may block the vaccinate-or-test rule for many private businesses.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Opinion pages delve into these public health issues.
Perspectives: CDC Messaging Causes Skepticism; Analyzing The Supreme Court’s Vaccine Mandate Cases
Opinion pages tackle these covid and vaccine issues.
To Beat Omicron, Europe Clamps Down On The Unvaccinated
In parts of Western Europe, vaccine-hesitant or vaccine-refusing people are controversially coming under pressure from governments to get covid shots. Meanwhile in Quebec, the government is trying a new tactic to combat covid hospitalizations: Requiring vaccination proof to buy wine or weed.
Universal Health Care Bill Gets Another Chance In California
State Democrats try to revive efforts to create the U.S.’s first universal health care system, as other reports underline that in this election year, the California ballot will be “heavy” on health care. Meanwhile, the state is also pushing to not prosecute stillbirths as murders.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on getting healthy for the new year, medical implants, aquamation, covid and more.
CDC Warns Of Rabies Risk, With 2021’s Death Rate The Highest In A Decade
While the number seems low, five rabies deaths in 2021 was actually the highest in around 10 years. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study linked three cases to bats. In other news, a new cause for Down syndrome is suggested by a study, linking the genetic disease to cells related to aging.
