Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Record Jump In Black Students Enrolling At Med Schools
The report comes from WBGH, which notes nationally the number of first-year Black students is up 21%, an “unprecedented spike since 2020.” A cardiologists’ lawsuit, Nomi Health buying Artemis Health, a new clinic at Tampa’s Veterans Hospital and more are also in the news.
CDC Tweaks Covid Guidelines For K-12 Schools
Students who are not fully vaxxed and have had close contact with someone with covid should quarantine for at least 5 days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, amid a cluster of other rule updates. Meanwhile, 20% of San Francisco teachers and aides were absent Thursday.
In ‘Major Shift,’ Massachusetts Hospitals Change Covid Reporting
Regional hospitals will soon report whether patients were admitted due to covid, or tested positive after admission for other issues. The goal is to get a better grip on how the latest covid surge is affecting hospital capacity.
WHO Says Omicron Seems Less Severe, But Do Not Call It ‘Mild’
The World Health Organization’s messaging is that while is seems like omicron infections are hitting people less severely, people are still being hospitalized and are dying. News outlets cover other omicron news, including breakthrough infections and how the variant changes risk calculations.
Covid Vaccines Can Briefly Impact Menstrual Cycle: Study
Researchers find that the covid vaccines might temporarily change a person’s menstruation timing or flow. But the shots showed no impact on fertility, as has been falsely linked in disinformation campaigns.
Some prominent experts have started recommending the additional swab in the throat because omicron appears to be more concentrated there. People on social media have begun swapping instructions for how to do that with at-home test kits.
Time To Adjust To ‘New Normal’? Former Biden Advisers Argue For Covid Strategy Shift
A group of transition health advisers to President Joe Biden published journal articles that advocate for learning to live with covid, rather than focusing on eradication, at this phase of the pandemic. When asked about those arguments, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “The president’s ultimate goal continues to be to defeat the virus.”
Moderna CEO Says People Will Likely Need A Fourth Covid Shot By This Fall
Meanwhile, the governor of West Virginia says he’ll ask for permission from the federal government to administer fourth doses now to certain groups of people.
Supreme Court To Review Biden Vaccine Rules For Health Workers, Private Businesses
The Supreme Court justices will hear arguments in a special session Friday that will influence the federal government’s ability to require covid vaccinations and masking. At specific issue are a CMS regulation that mandates vaccinations for most health workers and an OSHA rule that would set a vaccinate-or-test requirement for millions of private workers.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages delve into these public health topics.
