Latest KFF Health News Stories
New Studies Show Just How Contagious Certain Covid Variants Are
The B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom, is 45% more transmissible than the original covid strain, researchers say. And scientists say two California variants are about 20% more infectious than the original virus.
Iowa Prisoners Given Too Much Vaccine; House Calls Begin In Dallas
Officials at the maximum-security prison at Fort Madison didn’t say how much extra of the Pfizer vaccine the prisoners received. In other news: Dallas kicks off its first in-home vaccination program; the governors of Iowa and Pennsylvania implore residents to get vaccinated; and more.
Covid Shots Are Safe For Pregnant Women, More Research Shows
In other news, people who experienced “breakthrough” covid infections after being fully vaccinated appeared to suffer only mild illness.
With 200M Shots Goal Met, Biden Urges Businesses To Help Get Rest Vaccinated
While marking the achievement of vaccinating 200 million within his first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden warned the job is not done. As supply begins to outpace demand, the administration is offering tax incentives to encourage businesses to make getting the shot more convenient for employees.
Dirty Conditions, Quality-Control Problems Found By FDA Inspectors At Plant Making J&J Shots
None of the potentially contaminated Johnson & Johnson shots produced at the Baltimore Emergency BioSolutions were ever distributed, but 15 million doses had to be discarded. The latest report says more may be compromised.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Medical Apps Need Regulation; Assembly Bill 988 Vital for Mental Health Emergencies
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
Opinion writers examine these covid and vaccine topics.
Perspectives: Medicine Doesn’t Work When People Can’t Afford It
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Indian Hospitals Low On Oxygen; New Zealand Plans National Health System
Elsewhere around the world, medical ethicists in the U.K. say terminally ill people should get access to general anesthesia, and in Mexico the president is vaccinated after “waffling” about the shot.
Nevada One Step Closer To Easing Rules On Birth Control Prescriptions
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Los Angeles Ordered To Offer Shelter To All Homeless People On Skid Row
A federal judge says Los Angeles must house Skid Row’s population by October. Elsewhere, Oklahoma reports the lowest blood donations since the pandemic began, Arizona’s governor vetoes a restrictive sex-ed bill and Montana’s Senate blocks a bill that would ban gender-affirming surgery for minors.
Poor Sleep Appears To Raise Risk Of Dementia, Sexual Dysfunction
People who consistently reported sleeping six hours or fewer were about 30% more likely than people who got seven hours of sleep to be diagnosed with dementia three decades later. A separate study found that women who slept poorly were nearly twice as likely to report a lack of interest in sex.
Google To Curtail Insurance Ads
“In order to run ads, advertisers will need to provide documentation showing they are permitted under state law to sell health insurance,” Google said in a blog post.
Hospitals Set Sights On Covid Shots And Coping With A ‘New Normal’
Some hospitals are offering workers bonuses for getting their covid vaccine. Meanwhile, medical workers have shifted from crisis management to incorporating covid into their daily work.
Progress In Opioid Vaccines, Genetically Targeted Leukemia Drugs
Reports highlight research on a twice-per-year opioid addiction vaccine, a drug that may induce complete remissions in patients with advanced leukemia, an antiviral drug targeting covid and a new CRISPR-based tool that targets mutations causing sickle cell.
March 2021 Saw Most US Poverty Since The Pandemic Began
The new stimulus money allotted by the Biden administration couldn’t have come too soon. Separately, the USDA moves to extend universal free lunch for youths with food insecurity, and reports say the weakened pandemic economy hit Black Texans much worse than white people in the state.
Cornyn Places Hold On CMS Nominee In Anger Over Texas Medicaid Waiver
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told Stat that he is temporarily blocking Chiquita Brooks-LaSure’s confirmation after the Biden administration last week rejected his state’s request to extend a Medicaid waiver.
States Hit Hard Early In Pandemic Now Leading Renewed Covid Case Spikes
Variants, infections among younger people and covid fatigue are blamed for the alarming rises in states like Michigan, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. And a new study indicates that virus transmission in schools may be higher than thought.
Hawaii Is Second State To Ease Travel Restrictions For The Fully Vaccinated
New York was the first. Meanwhile, some airlines say they want to see proof of vaccination, but they won’t call it a “vaccine passport.”
