Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial pages tackle these public health concerns.
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid and vaccine topics.
UN Covid Summit To Highlight World’s Vaccine Gap, Stir Debate Over Boosters
CNN says U.S. officials fear the United Nations event itself could be a covid superspreader, highlighting the differing access to vaccines across the globe. Bloomberg describes how President Joe Biden’s plans for booster shots could collide with efforts to fix poor access to vaccines in poorer nations.
States Without Medicaid Expansion Have More Emergency Surgeries
A recent paper in the Health Affairs journal notes that gallbladder removal and heart catheterization are the top two surgeries performed on uninsured patients in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid. Overdose deaths, Hurricane Ida and disabilities, California vax rates and more are also in the news.
How Much Is That Doggie In The Window? The One With Drug-Resistant Bacteria
A new study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says strains of extensively drug-resistant bacteria from pet store puppies are continuing to cause illnesses in people. Separately, Facebook pushes back at reports it knew the negative mental health impact of its products.
Pfizer Recalls Chantix Anti-Smoking Drug Over Cancer-Causing Chemical
The voluntary recall was driven by the presence of high levels of nitrosamine, which can increase the risk of cancer. Separately, a study showed a Mirati Therapeutics drug that blocks the KRAS cancer protein shrank tumors in 22% of patients with advanced colon cancers.
School Nursing Staff Burned Out Amid Covid Surges, Staff Shortages
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on exhaustion among the area’s school nurses as their workload has “doubled” during the pandemic. Separate reports in Columbus, Ohio, highlight that over 100 school nurses working for Columbus City Schools have said they’re overwhelmed dealing with the covid crisis.
Religious Leaders Fielding Many Requests For Vaccine Exemptions
Greek Orthodox and Lutheran leaders are mostly saying no to exemptions, while some Catholic jurisdictions have been more accommodating. Meanwhile, missionaries sent into the field will be required to get jabs.
Strike Vote Authorized by Labor Union For 24,000 Kaiser Permanente Staff
United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals covers registered nurses, pharmacists, rehab therapists, midwives and optometrists. Meanwhile, U.S. health authorities are planning to spend $2.1 billion to improve infection prevention in hospitals across the country.
Covid Lab-Test Prices Can Reach 10 Times Medicare’s Rate, Causing Outcry
USA Today reports the fixed Medicare rate for a covid lab test is $51, but some labs are charging that rate times 10 or more, driving outrage in insurers and consumers. Meanwhile, a study shows pre-flight testing for covid can reduce the number of infections among passengers.
Most Health Insurers Have Stopped Waiving Bills For Covid Treatment
The lack of uniformity in covid insurance practices across the country this year is striking, The Washington Post reports. Because of differences in health plan policies, the Post says covid patients in the same ICU units could be facing completely different financial burdens.
Police Officers’ No. 1 Job Risk: Covid
The coronavirus is the leading cause of death among law enforcement so far in 2021, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Meanwhile, the average U.S. daily death toll from covid over the last seven days surpassed 2,000 this weekend, The New York Times reports.
Infrastructure Vote Timeline In Trouble With Spending Bills Up In Air
Axios reports Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, is saying Congress should take a “strategic pause” before it votes on the White House’s $3.5 trillion social spending package. Politico covers other representatives’ warnings that Congress may not vote in time to meet a Sept. 27 target on the companion infrastructure package.
HHS Announces Funds, Protections In Response To Texas Abortion Law
The Department of Health and Human Services awarded $10 million to Every Body Texas, a nonprofit that administers Title X funds to Texas abortion providers. The agency announced available grants for other impacted clinics, as well as protections for doctors and patients. More fallout from the restrictive law is reported from Texas as well as other parts of the nation.
Booster Expansion For General Population Still Likely, Officials Say
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins and Dr. Anthony Fauci both expect that third vaccine doses will be authorized for all eligible Americans but it’s unclear when that may happen.
Pfizer Says Vaccine Drives ‘Robust’ Immune Response In Kids Ages 5 To 11
Pfizer-BioNTech’s trials involved a two-shot regimen with about a third the dosage used in covid shots for teenagers and adults. The two shots led to an anti-covid immune response just as strong as in older people, and the shots were safe, with comparable side effects to adults, according to the drugmaker.
Moderna Covid Shot Offers Strongest Protection Against Hospitalization
A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that Moderna’s covid vaccine is 93% effective against hospitalization over 5 months. The other two shots authorized in the U.S. also offer strong protection — Pfizer at 88% and Johnson & Johnson at 71%.
FDA To Weigh Panel’s Advice To Limit Boosters To Older Or High-Risk People
On Friday, a panel of vaccine advisors to the Food and Drug Administration recommended a third dose of the Pfizer shot for Americans over 65 and those who are considered high risk — but voted against boosters for all. The FDA is expected to make its decision this week.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Steps Required To End The Pandemic; Clarity Needed On Booster Shots
Opinion writers weigh in on covid, booster shots, nursing during a pandemic and more.
