Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Targeted Vaccine Messaging Needed To Sway Gen Z; India Suffering Brutal Second Wave
Opinion writers tackle these covid and vaccine topics.
Brazil Says No To Russia’s Sputnik V; Russians Say No To Vaccines
Regulators in Brazil officially rejected Russia’s Sputnik V covid vaccine over concerns about its development and production, which may impact uptake elsewhere. Meanwhile, reports say vaccine hesitancy is hampering Russia’s own vaccination program.
Perspectives: Coloradans Weigh Pros, Cons Of Prescription-Drug Oversight
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Clamping Down On Drug Prices Stifles Innovation, Influential Analyst Says
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Biden Promises Vaccine Shipments As India Breaks Global Covid Case Record
President Joe Biden promised vaccine supplies to India, as Dr. Anthony Fauci urged greater global efforts to help the country battle a disastrous covid surge that topped 300,000 new daily cases for the sixth day in a row on Tuesday.
Arizona Bans Abortions Decided On Fetal Abnormalities; Florida May, Too
In other news, West Virginia gets federal funding to fight the spread of hepatitis, 1 in 4 Wyomingites are hit by a data breach at the Department of Health and Florida includes $1,000 bonuses for first responders in its budget.
Soft Bedding Still Leading Factor In Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths
Data from nearly 5,000 unexpected infant deaths connects fatalities to “unsafe” soft bedding, despite increased messaging and guidelines since the 1990s. Burning Man’s cancellation, office air filtration, and athletes with long covid are among other reports.
No Pipette? No Science! Global Shortage Threatens Research
Scientists who use pipettes in a wide array of disciplines, including for medicine research and blood testing, are facing a global shortage. The pipette supply chain failure is partly blamed on the pandemic.
For Insurance Industry, A Time Of Upheaval
Some universities that took a financial hit after being forced to shut down during the pandemic are suing FM Global, saying their insurance policies included coverage for losses due to “communicable diseases.” Also in the news: Humana, Medicare Advantage, price transparency rules and more.
Community Health Centers Can Now Apply For Construction Grants
The Biden administration has released $1 billion in new funding for major construction projects at the nation’s nearly 1,400 federally funded health centers, USA Today reported. Other news is on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cyber attack and more.
Biden Expected To Leave Out Drug Pricing From First Speech To Congress
In his address, President Joe Biden is expected to tackle a host of pandemic-related issues as well as a call to invest in so-called human infrastructure that carry a host of health policy implications.
Mobile Vaccine Centers, Walk-In Clinics Among Efforts To Curb Hesitancy
As reports discuss efforts in Baltimore, Ohio, Philadelphia and New York to reach neighborhoods and groups with low vaccination rates, over 140,000 Nevadans are behind or are skipping getting their second covid shot.
HHS Loosens Regulations To Make Prescribing Addiction Treatment Easier
The Biden administration announced changes aimed at expanding access to buprenorphine — a drug proven to reduce opioid relapses and overdose deaths.
States Cautiously Re-Roll Out J&J Vaccines Amid More Possible Clot Cases
Reports from Florida say people were about 50/50 in favor of the Johnson & Johnson shot versus Pfizer’s version on the second day of the vaccine’s availability in the wake of the temporary halt due to suspected cases of rare blood clots.
Pfizer CEO Says Anti-Covid Pill May Be Available By End Of 2021
The oral antiviral therapeutic is in early trials, but Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla expressed confidence in the treatment, pending study results and regulator approval. Other covid research news covers IBS drugs, organ transplants and vaccines for the very young.
Vaccinations Working As US Covid Cases Fall, But Not Everywhere
New Mexico and Maine are just two of the areas bucking a national downward trend in new covid cases recently. Meanwhile, a boy under 11 died from the virus after a Hawaii trip and California reports about 1,400 “breakthrough” cases post-vaccination.
Study Raises Concerns About Indoor Social Distancing Safety
Researchers at MIT looked at the accepted 6-foot social distancing standards and found that it “is not enough, and may provide a false sense of security” when guarding against airborne covid transmission.
More States Ease Mask Mandates Or Say They Will Let Them Expire
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Minnesota and Maryland are the latest states to reconsider or review their thinking on covid safety regulations.
Campaigns Ramp Up To Persuade More People To ‘Get The Shot’
President Joe Biden used yesterday’s announcement on revised CDC mask guidance to urge all Americans to step up and get vaccinated. A global concert is also in the works to combat vaccine hesitancy.
CDC: Fully Vaccinated People Can Skip Masks In Uncrowded Outdoor Places
The CDC revised its guidance to say that people who have completed the course of coronavirus vaccinations can exercise outside alone or with household members without a face covering. The same goes for small outdoor gatherings.
