Latest KFF Health News Stories
In Countdown To Olympics, Japan Relaxes Its State Of Emergency
Meanwhile, the E.U. is dropping travel restrictions for U.S. tourists, and France is easing its mask rules. Separately, five health workers were killed in Afghanistan while trying to vaccinate for polio.
Appeals Court Rules North Carolina’s Abortion Ban Unconstitutional
The post-20-week abortion ban is decades old, but a federal appeals court just unanimously ruled it is unconstitutional. In other news, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot signed a bill immediately banning abortions if Roe vs. Wade is overturned at the Supreme Court.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Evictions An Imminent Threat To Over 8 Million Households
A new Harvard University housing report shines a spotlight onto the issue of evictions, with most threatened homeowners being either low-income or families of color. The issue of homelessness in New York City and Los Angeles is also in the news.
As Covid Starts To Fade, Cosmetic Dentistry Soars
NBC News reports on rising demand for cosmetic dentistry treatments, to levels possibly higher than pre-pandemic. Sexual assault nurse training, Spectrum Health’s hospital visitation rules, a stabbing lawsuit at Penn Medicine and more are also in the news.
First Patient Receives Newly Approved Alzheimer’s Drug
A 70-year-old patient from Rhode Island is the first person outside of clinical trials to get the controversially approved Biogen drug. Meanwhile, a report suggests that U.S. drug spending will grow over 8% through 2025, with the Alzheimer’s medication partly to blame.
Biden Administration Extends Title IX Protections To Transgender Students
Based on a recent Supreme Court related to the workplace, the Education Departments says that the federal law banning gender-based discrimination should apply to gay and transgender students too.
Uber Requires Masks For Everyone; DeSantis Pardons All Floridians Who Broke Mask Rules
More news on mask requirements is from Maryland, New Mexico, California and Iowa.
Pennsylvania Contact Tracing Provider Struggles To Seal Data Breach
The issue is that leaked personal information for some Pennsylvania residents may still be online. In other news, a Texas man who declined covid vaccines and then needed a double lung transplant after contracting covid speaks out in favor of the shots.
US Should Be Investigated In Covid Origin Probe, Chinese Expert Says
The Chinese epidemiologist pointed to studies that say covid may have been in the U.S. as early as December 2019. Separately, MERS-related covid is found in a Swedish bat study.
Covid Variants A Growing Threat As Vaccinations Slow
The AP reports that vaccination drives have turned into a “slog” as incentives like prizes and cash fail to convince many Americans to get vaccinated. Separately, covid hotspots are reported across Missouri, with the delta variant blamed in particular.
Expired Pfizer Shots Administered To Almost 900 People New York
The New York State Health Department is recommending that people who were vaccinated at the former NFL Experience building in Times Square between June 5 to 10 get another shot.
US Buys More Moderna Vaccine, Planning Ahead For Kids’ Shots, Boosters
The Biden administration has procured another 200 million doses, Moderna announced. In other vaccination news: the CDC’s advisory panel looks into reports of heart inflammation.
CureVac Reports That Its Vaccine Falls Short Of Efficacy Benchmarks
Preliminary clinical trial data shows that the German vaccine manufacturer’s mRNA covid shot candidate is just 47% effective — comparatively low to that of Moderna and Pfizer.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Some Medicines Still Contain Toxic Ingredients; Extremism Is A Public Health Issue
Editorial writers delve into toxic ingredients in medicine, tackling extremism and Aduhelm.
Different Takes: Pandemic Is Far From Over; Young Children Still At Real Risk For Covid Infection
Opinion writers deal with these Covid related issues.
Advocacy Group Urges Biden To Fire FDA Officials Over Alzheimer’s Drug
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Perspectives: Mainers Shouldn’t Have To Ration Their Medication
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Myanmar Finds Variants; Pakistan Says It Will Cut Off Phones Of Unvaccinated
Myanmar has detected three new covid variants for the first time. Separately, millions of Pakistanis are at risk of losing cellphone service if they refuse vaccines. In other news, the Taj Mahal reopens, and Japan is set to decide on domestic Olympic spectators.
