Latest KFF Health News Stories
Fauci Raises Alarm Over Spread Of Delta Covid Variant
Though the U.K. has high vaccination levels, the Delta variant is “essentially taking over” there, Dr. Anthony Fauci said, warning that the same could happen in the U.S. if slow vaccination continues. Reports say the variant already accounts for 6% of new U.S. cases.
When Did Covid Really Hit The US? GOP Lawmakers Ask CDC To Study
Suspecting that infections began earlier than currently estimated, Republicans on a key House committee are urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to use medical records and blood work to determine the virus’ lifecycle. Also on covid’s origins: the European Union backs the call from the U.S. for a new study.
Pfizer Trial Using Lower-Dose Vaccine In 5- To 11-Year-Olds
Adults get 30 micrograms of covid vaccine per shot, but Pfizer’s research and testing is moving toward 10 microgram doses for younger kids. Meanwhile research shows a single dose of the adult Pfizer vaccine is 51% protective against covid infections in real-world situations.
Biden’s July 4 Vaccine Goal May Be At Risk Thanks To Gen Z’s Hesitancy
The White House’s target of 70% of adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4 may be missed because roughly a quarter of Gen Z adults say they don’t plan on getting vaccines. Meanwhile, Michigan is seeing a surge in covid hospitalizations for people aged under 18.
US Lowers Travel Risk Warnings To Dozens Of Nations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department revised its covid travel guidance to 120 countries. In dozens of cases, the warnings were eased for vaccinated Americans.
Officials Rush To Save Or Use Millions Of J&J Doses Expiring This Month
As the FDA investigates extending expiration dates, vaccine administrators get mixed messages on what to do with Johnson & Johnson covid vaccines that are closing in on expiry. Efforts to ship the unused doses overseas also face hurdles.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: What Is The Future Of Telehealth?; Is Aducanumab The Alzheimer’s Answer?
Editorial pages tackle these various public health topics.
Perspectives: India Battling Covid Misinformation; Black Women Key In Reducing Vaccine Hesitancy
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid and vaccine issues.
Canada May Begin Reopening Border With US On June 22
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tells mayors of border cities that he is looking at the date for a possible lifting of the closure that began in March 2020 as the pandemic spread. In other news, drugmaker Moderna is asking European regulators for permission to vaccinate teens and the director of the World Health Organization is calling on vaccine producers to provide more doses to international relief efforts.
Missouri Governor Signs Bill Creating Drug Database To Fight Opioid Abuse
Missouri is the last state to establish the monitoring tool. It will collect data on controlled substances, such as opioid painkillers and some anti-anxiety drugs. In other state news, Alaska notes a surge in heroin overdoses, New Jersey closes a troubled women’s prison and New York City plans for a post-covid concert in Central Park.
Airlines Lose Or Mishandle 29 Wheelchairs A Day
But that’s 1.5 percent of wheelchairs and scooters they ship. (The Washington Post article doesn’t say what percentage of luggage they lose and mishandle.) Also, the possible dangers of the TikTok practice of “dry scooping” and a strange sound connected to vision problems.
Google, Apple Move Deeper Into Health Data
Apple makes it easier to share medical data collected by its phone and watch; a unit of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, hires a a physician data expert from Duke. In other industry news, doctors question why race factors in calculations for delivering kidney treatments, emergency room visits dropped during the pandemic and more Native Americans are applying to medical schools.
Telehealth Company Valued At $1 Billion
A virtual health care startup is valued at $1 billion; LetsGetChecked allows customers order home-health tests and medications and receive telehealth follow-ups. And One Medical buys Iora Health and its Medicare Advantage business.
New Moms, Other Parents Cope With Pandemic’s Mental Health Challenges
A Canadian study has found a 30% increase in the number of postpartum mothers who sought mental health treatment nine months into the pandemic. Meanwhile, parents of newborns are confused about how to handle visitors right now, and some people are using color-coded bracelets to inform others of their physical boundaries.
Wuhan Lab Theory Deemed Plausible By Government Lab
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory report says the hypothesis that the coronavirus escaped from a Chinese lab is plausible. Also, more evidence that covid is abating, and Boeing has doubts about an air purifier technology.
WHO Expert: 80% Vaccination Level Needed To Prevent A Variant From Taking Over
“High levels of vaccination coverage are the way out of this pandemic,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, emergencies chief at the World Health Organization. In India, covid patients suffering from the delta variant have experienced hearing loss, severe gastric upsets and blood clots leading to gangrene, symptoms not typically seen in covid patients.
J&J Covid Vaccines Left Unused And Unwanted
An estimated 10 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine are just sitting there. Other covid-related news includes a vaccine trial for children ages 5-11 and how states try other techniques to get people vaccinated, like a marijuana joint for a shot.
House Panel Assails Fisher-Price For Ignoring Sleeper’s Risks To Infants
A report by the Committee on Oversight and Reform suggests ongoing problems with the U.S. consumer product safety system in which companies can sell such items with voluntary safety standards and called for reforms in federal safeguards.
More Money Provided To Soften The Economic Toll Of Covid
Expanded federal child care tax credits of up to $300 a month are available for the last half of the year. In other news, Oakland, California, experiments with a guaranteed income program, and Hawaii extends its eviction moratorium.
