Latest KFF Health News Stories
Delta Still Dominates Covid Outbreaks Across America
News outlets remind us not to forget the threat of the delta covid variant as worries rise over omicron. Hospital admissions are reported up in 39 states, stressing some facilities, and New York is seeing the most covid cases since January.
Omicron May Carry Greater Risk Of Reinfection Than Other Variants
A previous covid infection may not offer much immunity against omicron. Analysis of cases in South Africa indicate that this latest variant may be least three times more likely to cause a reinfection. Other news on the mutated virus is reported as scientists race to study it.
As New York Confirms 5 Cases, Omicron Discovered Across US
What a difference a day makes: Yesterday’s headlines covered the first detected U.S. case of omicron covid, in California. As of this morning, the latest reports say it’s been found in at least five states.
Biden Lays Out Travel, Testing Measures To Combat Covid This Winter
Calling it a “patriotic responsibility” for Americans to unite behind efforts to fight covid this winter, President Joe Biden announced the latest federal measures that include more international traveler testing, extending mask mandates on public transit and rapid covid tests that insurance companies are supposed to pay for.
First Edition: December 3, 2021
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Shutdown Threat Heightens As Democrats Also Try To Wrap Spending Bill
The New York Times looks at how health care would be reshaped by the massive reconciliation package. Also on the December congressional docket: averting a shutdown, if Democrats can.
Editorial pages weigh in on these public health matters.
Opinion writers examine these covid related issues.
Iran Tightens Abortion, Contraception Laws; Delta, Omicron Covid Surge
Also, the European Union is mulling mandatory vaccine rules, Britain approves a covid antibody treatment from GlaxoSmithKline, South Africa’s covid case rate doubled overnight, and countries seem to increasingly favor travel bans to try to stem covid outbreaks.
Report: 1,500 Homeless People Died On LA Streets During Covid
In other impactful news from California, some water districts will get none of their requested supplies heading into 2022 other than for critical health and safety needs. Other news is from Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Maine, Colorado and Florida.
More Drugmakers Avoid 340B Program
Among the top health industry news: Amgen curtails discounts through the federal 340B program, Duke, Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan seek artificial intelligence software that works and barriers to prescription drugs created by insurance companies.
The Cause Of Alzheimer’s May Have Been Found
Scientists at University of California-Riverside have been looking at the different forms of the tau protein, and its role in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers. Among other medical innovations: an experimental drug successfully targeted genetic kidney disease.
Study: Higher Risk Of Death After Covid Recovery
More studies on the impacts of covid infections on health: a higher risk of death and of central nervous system complications.
Facebook Blocks Covid Disinformation Network Based In China
The group of over 600 Facebook and Instagram accounts were linked to a China-run influencing operation. Other disinformation networks were also targeted by Meta, Facebook’s parent company. Separately, a Johns Hopkins program aims to fix misinformation that influenced young people.
Living Alone Now More Common For US Adults
Census Bureau data show 37 million people live alone now, up from 33 million in 2011. Trust in scientists and science is also in the news, with global data showing it rising, possibly linked to the pandemic. Separately, Planned Parenthood patient data in California was hacked.
Mask Mandate For Air And Public Transit Travel Likely To Continue
The Biden administration intends to extend the mask mandate for air, train and public transit travel, while it continues to press for more vaccinations. News also on HIV/AIDS.
Biden Launching Winter Booster Boost, Free Home-Test Plan
President Joe Biden’s plan to tackle covid in the winter will include a campaign to improve uptake of booster shots, and access to free at-home testing (with private insurance footing the bill). Travel restrictions, mask recommendations and more are also expected.
Moderna Loses Patent Fight Over Covid Vaccine
Good and bad news for Moderna. Its vaccines work very well, according to a new study. But the company lost a critical patent battle for the covid vaccine to Arbutus Biopharma.
Biden Wants Companies To Implement Vaccine Mandate While It Winds Way Through Courts
Contradictory and shifting court rulings in challenges to federal and local vaccine and mask requirements leave behind a patchwork quilt of policies and bans across the U.S. Meanwhile, covid case numbers are marching back up. In Nebraska, nearly all hospitalized patients are unvaccinated.
Omicron Variant Evolution Studied
Experts suggest omicron may have mutated in a non-human host. Yet the lack of testing and genomic sequencing of test samples hampers efforts in the United States to study the variant the fast-spreading variant.
