Latest KFF Health News Stories
Rite Aid To Shut Another 63 Stores; CVS Announces Some Of Its Closures
Rite Aid hasn’t disclosed the locations of the closing stores. Meanwhile, CVS Pharmacy says it will close six San Francisco stores in January, part of a plan to close around 900 stores across the country. In other news, Purdue Pharma’s “ripple effect” on bankruptcies, insider trading accusations over a cancer drug, medical marijuana and autism, and more.
Around 10,000 Containers Of Medical Supplies Stuck In Shipping Delay
The shipping crunch is also affecting the health industry, Modern Healthcare reports, with resources delayed an average of up to 37 days by U.S. supply chain congestion. Meanwhile, Oracle has confirmed it will buy electronic medical records firm Cerner for $28.3 billion.
Houston Crowd Booed Trump After He Admitted He Got A Booster
The New York Times notes Donald Trump had for “years falsely claimed vaccines were dangerous.” The Daily Beast reports he later had to be consoled by journalist Bill O’Reilly. Separately, 97% of vaccinated residents in Massachusetts who got covid avoided the hospital.
Price Of Alzheimer’s Drug Aduhelm Halved To $28,200
News outlets report on Biogen’s reaction to “slower-than-expected” U.S. sales. Hospitals have complained that the controversial drug’s high cost wasn’t worth its benefits. Biogen is also seeking to save $500 million in costs across the company next year.
FDA Authorizes First HIV Preventive Given By A Shot
Instead of daily PrEP pills, an injection would be administered every other month. The oral medication, which can decrease the risk of sexually-transmitted HIV by 99%, is less effective if not taken on schedule.
Biden’s Contractor Mandate Hits Another Roadblock
On Monday, a federal judge in Missouri slapped a preliminary injunction on enforcement of the mandate in 10 states that collectively sued. Also, the NHL has stopped all games, and some say new NFL covid testing rules might become the norm for American society.
CDC Stumbling Over Accurate Covid Case Counts
A report in Politico mentions “embarrassing” issues U.S. health officials are having a they try to fix gaps in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s covid data program. Other covid news includes warnings of a surge in Wisconsin, an outbreak at SpaceX and positive cases among politicians.
The First Omicron-Linked US Death Was In Texas
The Houston Chronicle covers the inevitable news, with the death of a man in his 50s in Harris County. The paper also reports on a doubling of child covid hospitalizations over four days. Meanwhile, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio expects omicron to surge but peak in just a few weeks.
Move Over, Delta: Omicron Is Officially The Dominant Strain In The US
The variant was to blame for 73% of new covid infections last week. Meanwhile, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pleaded for in-person Christmas events to be canceled. “An event canceled is better than a life canceled,” he said.
Biden Tests Negative For Covid After Close Contact Alert
President Joe Biden spent 30 minutes on Air Force One last Friday with an aide who later tested positive for covid. His test yesterday was negative.
White House Escalates Covid Response With 500M Rapid Tests, Hospital Aid
The Biden administration announced a purchase of 500 million rapid covid tests and will start distributing them to the states next month. It will also deploy 1,000 military health workers to some overwhelmed hospitals. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden will ask tired Americans not to let down their guard this winter.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle these public health issues.
Different Takes: Omicron Is Breaking Through Vaccinations; Managing Omicron Threat
Opinion writers examine these covid and vaccine issues.
Israel Adds US, Canada To Covid Travel Ban List Over Omicron
Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey were also included in the decision, driven by surges in the omicron variant of covid. The Netherlands has entered a lockdown during an omicron spike, and covid hospitalizations have jumped in London.
Kentucky Lawmaker Seeks To Boost Limits On Mailed Abortion Pill
In other news, a controversy simmers over a brief shut-off of fluoridation of Anchorage’s water supply; researchers in Utah are working on new ways to screen for breast cancer; a decline in infant mortality in Alabama; and Louisiana adds a new “autism” designator to driver’s licenses.
Red Cross Signals Need For Blood Donors As Supplies Decline
Dallas Morning News reports that donated blood stocks and donor turnout are the lowest ahead of the holiday season in over a decade. Meanwhile, Proctor and Gamble is recalling dry conditioner and shampoos over benzene contamination, and a bill aims to warn parents over artificial food dyes.
Jurors Deliberate In Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes Case
In other pharmaceutical industry news, AbbVie has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate Alvotech, which is planning a biosimilar version of its Humira arthritis drug. And questions are raised over a popular I.V.F. test, which may not be effective for first-time patients.
More Health Data Companies Hacked In 2021 Than Since Records Began
More health care systems were breached by hackers than any year since 2010, but luckily fewer people’s data were affected than in serious attacks made in 2015. Medicare residency slots, more doctors considering retirement and details on Oracle’s plan to buy Cerner are also in the news.
Omicron Threat Pushes Harvard Into Online Learning For Early January
Harvard University said Saturday it would implement remote learning for the first three weeks of 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, said that unvaccinated students exposed to covid can remain in school subject to a testing regime.
