Latest KFF Health News Stories
Independence Day Target: Biden Aims For 70% Of Adults To Get A Shot By Then
To achieve the ambitious timeline — at a time when demand for shots is waning — President Joe Biden said: “We’re going to make it easier than ever to get vaccinated.” Walk-up vaccinations, community clinics and mobile units are among the strategies planned.
Pfizer Plans To Apply In September For OK To Vaccinate Kids As Young As 2
Pfizer is planning to seek authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use of its covid vaccine on kids aged 2 to 11. The agency is expected to clear the shot for adolescents from 12 to 15 as early as next week.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Neurodiversity Reform Is Essential; Ban On Menthol Cigarettes May Be Problematic
Editorial pages delve into neurodiversity in health care, menthol cigarette ban and the opioid crisis.
India’s Covid Infections Pass 20 Million
As the U.S. travel ban for India kicks in, reports highlight that other developing nations are also experiencing surges. Globally, there were more new cases in the last two weeks than in the first six months of the pandemic.
Moderna Will Supply 500 Million Doses To UN Vaccine Effort
It will take until the end of 2022 for Moderna to deliver the shots, though. Amid ongoing hesitancy, with only around 68% of global adults saying they would get a shot, vaccine rollouts continue: Sri Lanka has just gotten its first Sputnik V batch.
Different Takes: Why Are Millions Refusing The Vaccine?; U.K. Looking Into Home Covid Treatment
Opinion writers examine these Covid issues.
Arkansas, Tennessee Move To Limit Education About Racism, Sexism
In other news across the states, Idaho’s transgender sports ban faces a legal challenge, and Caitlyn Jenner’s stance on the issue hits a nerve in California. Meanwhile, Oregon expedites measures to provide emergency homeless shelters.
With HCA Deal, Piedmont Would Own The Most Hospitals In Georgia
Other corporate and financial news is from SafeSource Direct, Roivant Sciences, CVS Health, SmileDirectClub, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Medline and others.
Charitable Foundation Likely To Survive Bill, Melinda Gates’ Divorce
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spent nearly $2 billion on covid relief, has backed programs for malaria and polio eradication, and has aided poorer nations globally. The divorce announcement made it clear their foundation work will continue.
More Americans Are Flying — But FAA Says Lots Are Unruly
Last Sunday saw more people fly on one day in the U.S. since mid-March 2020. But the FAA noted a very high incidence of dangerous behavior — a lot of it related to mask-wearing rules and excessive drinking.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Lifts Rule Limiting Competition Among Its Members
The Wall Street Journal reports that the change is part of an antitrust settlement. Other insurance news focuses on covid coverage, the ACA exchanges and racial gaps in maternity care.
Opioid Distributors Blame Doctors, Drugmakers For Crisis As Trial Begins
Lawyers for a West Virginia county and city argued that the nation’s three largest drug distributors should be held liable for the opioid crisis, as a highly anticipated trial began. The distributors tried to lay the blame elsewhere.
Illegal Drug MDMA Proves Useful Against PTSD In New Study
In other pharmaceutical news, promising results come from a new treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Gilead sues Russia over a government-okayed remdesivir clone; and the EU fines drugmaker Merck over a merger deal.
More Nations Ramp Up Pressure On US To Share Vaccines, Loosen Patents
Ukraine, in particular, has increased its requests ahead of a visit this week from Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Bucks Or Beer? States Try Incentives To Persuade People To Get Their Shot
Meanwhile, research from UCLA’s Covid-19 Health and Politics Project shows a partisan divide even on vaccine enticements: cash rewards work best for Democrats while relaxing safety guidelines are most effective when convincing Republicans.
Herd Immunity Debate Flares As Experts Warn It Will Be Tough To Achieve
Following a report published by The New York Times about the shifting views of public health experts about the state of the pandemic, other news outlets examine what it means if the U.S. can not reach the mark. President Joe Biden also commented.
Study Says Summer, Tropical Climates Do Keep Covid At Bay
Places experiencing long hours of sunlight have a lower covid rate than countries at higher latitudes, or places in winter according to a new study. Meanwhile, Oregon and Washington are experiencing surges as California’s numbers drop–on the whole. Globally, trends still worry WHO.
Florida Ends Covid Rules; New Law Lets State Undo Local Emergency Measures
Restrictions were lifted Monday, but the law, which also includes a ban on vaccine “passports,” goes into effect July 1. Other news is from California, Nevada and Washington state.
New York Will Lift Most Restrictions On May 19 — Broadway Included
“The City That Never Sleeps” will resume its 24-hour subway service on May 17, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced Monday.
