Latest KFF Health News Stories
Perspectives: Should Health Care Workers Be Mandated To Get The Vaccine?; To Mask Or Not To Mask?
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid and vaccine issues.
Campaigners Want Olympics Scrapped As Japan’s Covid Crisis Worsens
Three more regions in Japan have been added to the list of areas already under covid emergency orders. In other news, vaccine makers are under pressure to boost access to shots, and Ireland’s health service is offline after a digital attack.
India Has Third Day In A Row With Over 4,000 Covid Deaths
India’s covid crisis continues with case numbers still rising but at a slightly lower rate. The AP notes that covid misinformation is “surging” in the country, as other reports cover how officials are scrambling for vaccine supplies and trying to administer the ones they do have properly.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on covid, psychedelics, childbirth, obesity and more. Plus, a deeper look at how Samantha Power, head of the US Agency for International Development, hopes to use vaccines to restore U.S. prestige.
Missouri’s Voters Wanted Expanded Medicaid, But Governor Says It Won’t Happen
Gov. Mike Parson said the move was because of a lack of funding coming from the General Assembly. Elsewhere, Texas passes a ‘heartbeat’ anti-abortion bill, states consider their own bans on flavored tobacco, and the plan to house Los Angeles’ Skid Row homeless hits a legal snag.
CDC: More Than 40% Of Latino Adults Suffered Depression During Pandemic
In other news, actor Eva Longoria joins a program to boost mental health services to farmworkers; the FDA has authorized the first overnight contact lenses to manage myopia; and Ohio and Georgia join the list of states that will opt out of federal enhanced unemployment benefits.
Congress Considers Fixes For Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization
A bill that would speed up the prior authorization process and demand more transparency when insurance plans deny health provider’s requests was reintroduced Thursday. Separately, Mayo Clinic and Kaiser Permanente plan to boost hospital care in patient’s homes, and Connecticut’s nursing home workers postpone strikes.
The Misinfo Dozen: Online Vaccine Hoaxes Traced To Just 12 People
Meanwhile, CBS News notes the Pfizer covid vaccine is a top target of conspiracy theorists and misinformation efforts, and Fox News covers how Prince Harry “slammed” Joe Rogan for his covid misinformation efforts.
Underfunded And Understaffed Public Health Workforce To Get $7.4B Injection
The White House announced that the funds come from the recent relief bill and will be used to hire additional public health workers and modernize the existing departments.
Fauci, Prominent Teachers Union Chief Say Schools Should Fully Reopen In Fall
Infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said schools should be open “full blast” five days a week. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten echoed that sentiment: “There is no doubt: Schools must be open, in person, five days a week, with the space and facilities to do so.”
Dwindling J&J Vaccine Supply Means No New Doses To States Next Week
The Biden administration’s next weekly shipments of covid vaccines will not include any Johnson & Johnson doses, according to CDC reports. The early production issues at a Baltimore plant are largely blamed for the disruption.
Many Teens Excited For Covid Vaccine On First Day Of Expanded Rollout
Youths ages 12 to 15 lined up with their parents Thursday, eager to get their “freedom” back. Dr. Anthony Fauci also encouraged parents to get their children vaccinated.
Don’t Celebrate Yet: Covid Cases Hit Reverse, Go Up Again
The U.S. reported more than 38,000 new cases and 802 deaths Thursday. Meanwhile, new research suggests that coronavirus may contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Some Businesses, Stores Keep Mask Rules Despite CDC Guidelines
Companies are also considering how to respond to the CDC’s new recommendations, Bloomberg reports, with stores like Home Depot saying they’ll stick twith their current mask rules — pitching workers into an even trickier battle with non-mask wearing customers. NPR notes that that maskless shopping rules depend on where you live.
Startled States, Cities Scramble After Abrupt CDC Masking Pivot
Some states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania, immediately adopted the new CDC guidance. Other states and cities are taking a wait-and-see approach, like Massachusetts and New York who say they will maintain existing rules for now.
Bipartisan Smiles Revealed As Biden, Harris And Lawmakers Peel Off Masks
The White House was quick to demonstrate public support for the relaxed CDC guidance. President Joe Biden and a group of senators first took off their face coverings during an Oval Office meeting. And then he and Vice President Kamala Harris marked the “great milestone” in Rose Garden comments.
Masking Turnabout Met With Glee, Some Anxiety And A Whole Lot Of Questions
The CDC’s sudden announcement prompted the fully vaccinated to ask if the pandemic is over for them. Others worry that it will create more confusion — and continued confrontations — over who is vaccinated and who is not.
Fully Vaccinated People Can Skip Masks In Most Indoor, Outdoor Places: CDC
In a big step toward returning to “normal” life in the U.S., the CDC announced new guidance that any person who is fully vaccinated may stop wearing face coverings, for the most part. At a Rose Garden ceremony marking the moment, President Joe Biden summed it up this way: “Get vaccinated — or wear a mask until you do.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Student Depression Needs Urgent Attention; How Covid Has Altered Abortion Access
Editorial pages delve into teenage mental health, abortion access, hospice care and medical terminology.
