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Insulin is called the "poster child for dysfunction" in the U.S. medical system in a report in Stat. With lawmakers working on limiting drug prices, including potential caps on out-of-pocket expenses for patients needing insulin, some drugmakers are paying lobbyists more to fight their cause.
Meanwhile in Boston a vaccine mandate for city employees seems to have worked, with over 94% of the workforce vaccinated. The city has extended the deadline for a week. Separately, one Bostonian has been removed from a heart transplant list for refusing a vaccine.
News outlets report on where consumers may be able to find free N95 masks, which are being distributed out of the national stockpile by the federal government to encourage Americans to wear higher-quality face coverings.
State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Rademaker says that New York's state requirement for masks can't be enforced. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, says her administration will appeal.
What a difference that "mis-" prefix makes: News outlets cover a rash of covid misinformation across the country, including how misinformation (instead of real, reliable information) left U.S. kids vulnerable to omicron covid, plus how unproven covid treatments are being promoted.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports on news from California's Public Health Director that omicron patients that succumb to the virus seem to be dying two to four weeks after hospitalization, vs. five weeks for delta covid. While local officials note omicron does seem less severe, deaths are still rising.
At least two cases of omicron subvariant BA.2 were reported earlier this month in Washington state. Symptoms of infection don't appear to be any different so far from the original omicron strain. However, the "stealth" version, as it has been dubbed, does appear to be even more transmissible.
A booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine in addition to the regular two-shot vaccination can result in antibodies remaining in people's systems for around four months, potentially battling omicron infections. Meanwhile, a fourth shot is available for some immunocompromised patients — but some pharmacies are turning them away.
With the omicron variant currently responsible for 99% of U.S. covid infections, the Food and Drug Administration is rescinding emergency use authorization for Regeneron and Eli Lilly's monoclonal antibody treatments, for now. The drugs could be reauthorized if a variant emerges against which they are effective.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these various public health issues.
Opinion writers examine these covid and covid related issues.
In regions where tourism is centered, Thailand is rolling out second AstraZeneca and Pfizer booster shots to help prevent future outbreaks. As China prepares for the Winter Olympic Games, the nation has lowered testing thresholds for athletes. Authorities have also said foreign mail can't spread covid.
The Indianapolis Star says local health care prices are among the highest in the U.S., so lawmakers have asked hospitals and insurers to work together to lower costs, with a looming threat of statutory price reviews.
According to The New York Times, the pandemic's effect on daily life is having an impact on how people are sharing news about their pregnancy in work situations. Meanwhile, levels of flu in the U.S. have fallen for the second week in a row.
Elon Musk's human-computer interface medical tech company has begun hiring for a clinical trial director. In other news, CVS Caremark settled a PBM fee issue with the Oklahoma Insurance Department; questions over GSK's chief science officer; and biotech stocks are a "dumpster fire."
Sutter Health, the lawsuit says, purchased a cleaning chemical to combat hospital-borne bugs that itself caused dozens of employees to fall ill. Also in the news: IBM's Watson, investments in digital health, Anthem's new chief, nurses and a student loan relief program in Pennsylvania.
News outlets cover a new bill introduced in Maine that would allow recreational dispensaries to deliver legally-bought weed to buyers' homes. Separate reports say that gross sales have topped $1.2 billion since recreational marijuana went on sale in Arizona a year ago.
The company has been reimbursed over $124 million from the federal government for covid tests. Earlier, the Minnesota Attorney General's Office filed a consumer-protection lawsuit against the company. Modern Healthcare, meanwhile, says large insurers lack consumer-friendly test coverage.
In Virginia, the new Republican governor's mask-optional mandate starts today. Many people have vowed to fight or uphold the order with everything they can muster, including one Virginia mom who was charged Friday after threatening to bring loaded guns to school.
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