Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Different Takes: Walmart’s Secret To Persuading The Vaccine-Hesitant; The Future With Omicron
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid and vaccine issues.
All Incoming Flights From US, UK, 6 More Nations Barred By Hong Kong
Incoming flights from Canada, Australia, France, India, Pakistan and the Philippines are also banned under Hong Kong’s “zero covid” restrictions. In Europe, the daily case rate hit a million for the first time, with France alone hitting nearly a third of a million cases Wednesday.
Federal Appeals Court To Hear Case Against Texas Abortion Law Again
The case centers on whether state medical licensing officials can discipline medical personnel for performing abortions after the six-week limit. In other news, contradictory state laws aimed at halting drug overdoses, mental health care after Kentucky’s tornado, National Guard suicides and more.
Research Roundup: Covid; Hospital Infections; Vitamin D; And More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
EPA Expands Dangerous Air Pollutant List For First Time In Over 30 Years
The addition is 1-bromopropane, a dry-cleaning chemical suspected to cause nerve damage and cancer. Also: algorithmic overtreatment for Black heart patients, the “Disney Stress Test”, parental quality time with kids, extra food benefits in Texas and questions over end-of-life planning.
Preeclampsia Discovery Raises Hopes For Future Blood Test
Researchers have shown RNA molecules from a pregnant person’s blood could predict the dangerous condition months before symptoms appear. Separately, hedgehogs have been found to be a source of drug-resistant bacteria, rocking conventional ideas about the risky infections.
Study: If A Male Surgeon Operates On Them, Women Risk Worse Outcomes
The higher risk of an adverse outcome was discovered by a study of over 1.3 million patients in Canada. Nursing homes in Massachusetts are at a “tipping point” from staff shortages, and a Modern Healthcare report warns tensions between medical employers and staff will stay high this year.
Medicaid Expansion Question Makes South Dakota’s November Ballot
South Dakota voters will decide in November whether the state should become the 39th to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a move that would provide coverage to 42,000 low-income residents.
Chicago Schools Shut For Second Day; White House Argues They’re Safe
A tussle between a teachers union in Chicago and Mayor Lori Lightfoot has continued, with in-person teaching vetoed by the union for the second day over covid safety rules. The battle reached the White House, with press secretary Jen Psaki telling reporters schools can open safely.
To Protect Patients Mayo Clinic Fires 1% Of Its Staff: The Vax-Refusers
Around 1% of roughly 73,000 employees were terminated for non-compliance with a covid vaccine mandate, as the Mayo Clinic takes “all steps necessary” to keep “patients, workforce, visitors and communities safe.” Separately, nurses unions sue the Biden admin over lapsing covid protections.
Every Cruise Sailing In US Waters Has Covid Cases Aboard
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show all 92 ships with passengers aboard are due investigation over covid cases. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have already canceled some sailings as fears of the omicron covid variant rise.
When Flu And Covid Collide: Doctors Worry About Potential For ‘Twindemic’
“Flurona.” It’s a snappy term some medical professionals are not fond of (though news editors and social media users clearly are). Yet, doctors are concerned about the rising cases of people infected with both influenza and the coronavirus.
