Latest KFF Health News Stories
Biden Aims A Shot At The Unvaxxed, Lays Blame For Ongoing Crisis
The Hill suggests President Joe Biden is done “pussy-footing around” ongoing covid vaccine hesitancy. Axios says “the enemy” is unvaccinated Americans. The AP, using familiar rhetoric, calls moves to mandate vaccines for 100 million people the latest in “Biden’s war on the virus.”
Who Pays? Vax-Or-Test Order Raises Questions Over Implementation
Reactions among the private sector are mixed, with many business groups praising President Joe Biden’s actions while some unions vow to challenge them in court. But all want more details on how the orders will be carried out and what it’s going to cost.
Republican Governors Plan ‘Pushback’ And To Fight Executive Orders In Court
Calling President Joe Biden’s actions “unconstitutional” and “overreaching,” many Republican governors, as well as the Republican National Committee, pledged to sue over the new federal measures.
Vaccine Rules That Cover 80M Workers Lead Biden’s New Covid Strategies
With a six-step plan, President Joe Biden released Thursday the more aggressive measures of his administration to date to try to control the pandemic still raging in the U.S. due to the highly contagious delta variant and remaining unvaccinated populations.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle these public health topics.
Perspectives: Why Are People Taking Ivermectin For Covid?; Australia Struggling With Delta
Opinion writers deal with these covid and vaccine issues.
Research Roundup: Covid; Vaccines; Nano-Capsules; Happiness; HAIs
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs. Today, we’ve included stories from the past two weeks.
UK To Boost Taxes To Highest-Ever Levels To Fund Health, Social Care
Meanwhile, India says it is better prepared against future covid waves; covid hits nearly 100 children in an orphanage in the Philippines; the McDonald’s Happy Meal inventor has died; and France will offer free contraception to all women up to 25.
EPA Eyes Federal-Funded Cleanup For Atlanta Lead Contamination
A westside Atlanta area contaminated with lead could end up on the National Priorities List of the Superfund Program. Separately, Bangor City, Maine, votes to ban the sale of flavored cigarettes, jumping ahead of potential federal-level plans to regulate the tobacco industry.
Guidelines Say Medical Pot May Benefit Only Some Chronic Pain Sufferers
A meta-study of clinical cannabis use showed that the drug may benefit some people with chronic pain, but it likely won’t benefit most patients. A separate study finds that college students’ use of cannabis hit a record in 2020, but the pandemic era also saw a dip in alcohol consumption.
Health Systems Buy Stake In Key Drugmaker Exela; Sanofi Buys Kadmon
11 health systems and group purchaser Premier acquired a stake in Exela Pharma Sciences, a maker of proprietary and generic sterile injectables. Meanwhile, France’s Sanofi paid $1.9 billion to buy Kadmon to boost its transplant business. Eliquis drug makers and drug naming are also in the news.
Day One Of Theranos CEO’s Trial Sees Her Characterized As A Liar
The trial of biotech chief Elizabeth Holmes began with prosecutors framing her as a fraudster who knowingly exaggerated claims for the medical company. Scrutiny of health care VC firms, patient administrative hassles, LGBTQ+ startups, the covid relief fund and more are also in the news.
Democrats’ Health Care Divide Cracks Open Again During Spending Bill Talks
A faction of House Democrats are pushing to allocate funds from the $350 trillion spending package to shore up the Affordable Care Act, rather than other major health initiatives like expanding Medicare. Those negotiations are also linked to a new child care proposal, the looming debt ceiling and other financial pressures.
Maryland Widens Booster Shot Program To Nursing Home Elderly
Axios notes that Maryland’s move making elderly in nursing homes eligible for covid booster shots makes it the first state to offer boosters to a cohort outside the immunocompromised. Meanwhile, the director of the World Health Organization called for countries to halt boosters until 2022.
News Report Prompts Air Force Investigation Into Domestic Violence
CBS News notes that Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall called for an investigation into allegations of domestic violence, after a CBS report on the matter alleged inappropriate handling by the military. Meanwhile, reports say the Supreme Court is ready to return to limited in-person arguments.
Justice Department Prepares To Take Texas To Court Over Abortion Law
Politico reports that the Justice Department could file a lawsuit as soon as next week. But federal efforts to fight the restrictive measure in court will not be easy, AP writes. Meanwhile, White House officials blast Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s pledge to eliminate rapists. And other news outlets look ahead to the way the law will play out for patients.
United Airlines To Put Vaccine-Exempt Workers On Leave Of Absence
Company officials at United Airlines said they could “no longer allow unvaccinated people back into the workplace.” Separately, Qantas confirmed unvaccinated travelers will be banned from flying internationally. Vaccine mandates, digital records, religious exemptions and more are also reported.
Indoor Mask Rules Grow in Nevada, Ohio, New York
Meanwhile, Kentucky goes the opposite direction. In other news, football fans wonder how — or if — it’s possible to stay safe from covid while cheering on their favorite teams.
Los Angeles Schools Voting Today On Vaccine Requirement For Students
The nation’s second-largest school system would become the first in the nation with a vaccine mandate for students 12 and older. And in Florida, a judge has ruled that schools can start legally requiring masks.
