Latest KFF Health News Stories
Alzheimer’s Association Urges Biogen To Lower Price Of Aduhelm
And the continued controversy over the approval of Aduhelm has many people wondering: When will the FDA get a permanent commissioner?
Philips Recalls Some CPAP Machines, Ventilators Over Cancer Risk
The recall centered around a foam part that might degrade and become toxic, potentially causing cancer, the company said Monday. In other pharmaceutical and biotech news, the FDA authorized IpsiHand for stroke victims, and Bayer is expanding its manufacturing of birth control.
Long-Haul Covid Shares Similarities With Alzheimer’s, Study Suggests
Other covid research news is on antigen tests, antibody treatments, smart thermometers and bickering over how to name the covid variants.
Where Covid Is Still Spreading In The US — Or Could Claw Back Again
While cases drop dramatically in the U.S., experts are carefully watching trends in states with lower vaccination rates. A slight rise has already been reported in eight. And minority communities are still at critical risk.
Novavax Says Trials Show Its Covid Vaccine To Be Safe And 90% Effective
The vaccine manufacturer plans to apply for FDA clearance in the third quarter of this year. If authorized, it would be the fourth vaccine available in the U.S. And another coronavirus shot option would help boost global vaccination efforts.
J&J Must Toss 60M Doses After Plant Contamination Incident
Following inspections at the Emergent BioSolutions plant in Baltimore, the Food and Drug Administration told Johnson & Johnson that 60 millions covid vaccine doses could be tainted and are unusable, The New York Times reports. No shots manufactured at the troubled facility have been administered in the U.S.
G7 Leaders Discuss Covid Lab-Leak Theory, Call For Renewed WHO Probe
President Joe Biden signed onto the communique asking for a “timely, transparent” investigation by the World Health Organization into the origins of the covid pandemic.
US Vaccine Donations Could Spike By Another 1 Billion, Biden Says At G7
“There’s a possibility over in 2022, going into 2023, that we would be able to be in a position to provide another billion U.S., but that’s not done yet,” President Joe Biden said Sunday at a news conference at the end of the Group of Seven summit.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Current Malaria Drug Unaffordable In US; Pandemic Appears To Have Worsened Eyesight
Editorial pages weigh in on these various public health issues.
Opinion writers tackle these covid issues.
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, pregnancy, happiness, mental health, coffee, polio and more.
BioNTech Chooses Africa For Expanded MRNA Vaccine Production
In other news, India pushes for more second covid vaccine doses; Germany rolls out a digital vaccine passport; Japan gets ready for the Olympics; and the world’s first decuplets may have been born in South Africa.
North Carolina Advances Abortion Ban; Governor Likely To Veto
The bill, which bans the procedure based on race, sex or a Down syndrome diagnosis, may be vetoed when it reaches the governor’s desk. Rising flu in Texas, dog attacks on mail deliverers and Louisiana ending jobless benefits are also in the news.
Delayed Childhood Vaccines May Cause A ‘Serious Health Threat’ After Covid
The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that the slump in childhood vaccinations during the pandemic may cause big long-term problems. Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes an unusual wave of RSV cases sweeping Southern states.
NIH’s Plan To Tackle Structural Racism Faces Criticism
The National Institutes of Health is the largest funder of biomedical research in the U.S. Meanwhile, med school cheating, nursing staff burnout caused by bad electronic health records and shortages of rural health care staff in North Carolina are also in the news.
UnitedHealthcare Pauses Plans To Scrutinize ER Visit Payments
UnitedHealthcare delayed its plan to examine and possibly claw back money from emergency room payments, after facing pushback from hospitals and doctors. Ransomware, covid-sniffing dogs and rising demand for mental health care are also in the news.
Unapproved Covid Test Kits Recalled By FDA
The Food and Drug Administration has accused Innova Medical Group of Pasadena, California, of falsifying data and distributing covid tests that lack regulatory approval. Meanwhile, a fact check finds that President Joe Biden is keeping his promise of increased covid testing.
Third FDA Panel Member Quits Over Approval of Alzheimer’s Drug
Aaron Kesselheim, director of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law and who had served on the committee since 2015, said the FDA approval of Biogen’s Aduhelm “was probably the worst drug approval decision in recent U.S. history.”
If Your State Clamped Down On Covid Like California, It Fared Better
In other Californian news, mask-wearing becomes a debate over symbolism; confusing mask rules “baffle” businesses; the Los Angeles teachers union will require masks and covid tests in schools; and public health spending is debated.
