Latest KFF Health News Stories
1.1 Billion People Smoked In 2019; Nearly 8M Died Of Related Causes
Researchers say the record figure is partly driven by the growing worldwide population and partly due to weak progress on slowing tobacco use. Toxic shellfish, benzene in sunscreen, tick bites and heat deaths from climate change are among other news.
New Drug For Lung Cancer Approved
Get news on Amgen’s Lumakras, a diabetes vaccine and aducanumab. Also, the European Union will soon decide whether to allow AstraZeneca’s acquisition of Alexion.
New Sequencing Of Human Genome Completed
Scientists say a new sequencing of the entire human genome includes parts missed the first time. Other science news is on the brain and on cannabis.
Covid Is Causing Health Care Workers To Quit
Separately, a shortage in nurses in Louisiana has prompted one university to offer a tuition-free nursing program. Other reports cover providers’ primary care challenges, fewer routine pediatric cases, poor pay for home care workers and more.
Texas Legislature Passes Bill That Extends Postpartum Medicaid Coverage
Other state Medicaid news comes out of Missouri, South Dakota and Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Politico reports that Democrats are pushing a new federal program that would extend coverage to those in holdout red states.
Biden Moves Slowly On Canadian Drug Importation
The administration won’t oppose prescription drug imports from Canada, but it has no plan on how to allow it. Also, President Joe Biden’s budget proposes lifting the ban on paying for abortions. It also includes a major budget increase for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Consent Laws Could Prevent Covid Vaccines For Some Kids
Also, the CDC announces guidelines for children at summer camps and a roundup of how various states are doing on getting vaccines to its citizens.
Company Covid Vaccine Mandates OK’d At Federal Level
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stated that U.S. companies can mandate covid vaccines for employees and incentivize the vaccinations too. Separate reports note Houston Methodist Hospital employees are suing over compulsory vaccines.
More Covid Restrictions Lifted, But Virus Still Popping Up
Also, in Texas, the state legislature was unable to curtail the governor’s powers to fight an epidemic.
B.1.1.7 Is Now ‘Alpha’: WHO To Rename Covid Variants
The current series of complex numbers and letters makes it hard to keep B.1.351 straight from B.1.671.2. So the World Health Organization is set to unveil a new naming convention that uses the Greek alphabet instead. Experts also hope that the change will alleviate location stigmas associated with virus variants.
A Different Memorial Day Than Last Year: Americans Begin To Gather Again
After travel spiked, crowds gathered at Memorial Day weekend events across the nation, including at Arlington National Cemetery where President Joe Biden honored fallen soldiers and asked Americans to demonstrate more empathy toward each other.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle these public health issues.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Around the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, news outlets dive into the intersection of health, justice and racism. Covid’s impact on women’s health is also examined, as are breakthrough infections, the individual mandate, inconvenient science and the lonely pandemic pups.
Opinion writers weigh in on these vaccine and covid issues.
Persistent Symptoms Common For Covid Patients
Nearly three quarters of the people who recover from covid have persistent problems. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath and fatigue, according to a literature review published by JAMA. Another study says heart inflammation from covid is rare among athletes tested.
Idaho Bans Mask Mandates; New Jersey Drops Its Mask, Social Distancing Rules
Among other news, New York City plans to tackle rising homelessness, Connecticut moves to boost schools’ mental health care, Planned Parenthood expands mental health care in Florida, and fraud charges related to covid scams are reported across the country.
Let’s Fly Away: Americans, Overseas Hot Spots Eager For Return Of Travel
Despite the eagerness of many people to hit the road again — and the need in many places for those tourist dollars — covid restrictions, vaccination requirements and other pandemic details are causing confusion and some hesitancy. News reports also examine China’s vaccination efforts, the situation in India and controversy in Thailand about vaccines.
New Nursing Home Regulation Is Considered
Connecticut moves forward with legislation that forces nursing homes to be ready for another pandemic. Yet under California regulations, nursing home operators can continue running facilities even after they’ve been denied a state license.
Solutions To Hospital Staffing Shortages Sought
The Oregon State Hospital is seeking help from the National Guard. In other industry news, medical schools say they are working harder to add anti-racism training.
