Latest KFF Health News Stories
Brazil Struggles With Intubation Drug Shortage, High Baby Covid Death Toll
In other news, the WHO reports that the covid infection rate is approaching the highest levels seen since the pandemic began, and it also urged vaccine makers to temporarily release IP rights.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to sit back and enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on AIDS, the Oscars, gun violence, covid and more.
Physician Assistants Given Broader Scope In Florida Bill
In other news, Florida and Missouri make legal moves to adjust Medicaid provision, a long-delayed report on Medicaid in Georgia is released, and West Virginia’s governor signs a harm-reduction bill he’d been urged to veto by health professionals.
States Push Against Mask Mandates For Schools And Sports
Education officials in Florida and Minnesota want to reduce mask use. In other news, anti-transgender laws are widely opposed in a new poll, and a call is made for more urgent care for women.
Drug Company Sues Medical Journal
Pacira Biosciences sued Anesthesiology, claiming the medical journal disparaged its Exparel painkiller. Wall Street analysts think sales for the drug will nevertheless grow 50% this year. And cheating is alleged at Dartmouth’s medical school, but it could be that the school doesn’t understand computer technology.
Biden Moves To Overturn More Trump Policies
Most recently, the Biden administration has moved against an exemption of a wide swath of medical devices and artificial intelligence tools from regulatory review and federal research that uses fetal tissue.
Dems May Scale Back Medicare, Drug Pricing Asks In Infrastructure Bill
The “social infrastructure” items in the $2 trillion-plus bill may need to be narrowed, Politico reports. Meanwhile, it was a busy day of health care hearings on Capitol Hill.
Fauci Informs Congress On Vaccines
Dr. Anthony Fauci thinks the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will get back on track. He sparred with Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan during a congressional hearing.
Merck’s Anti-Viral Covid Pill Works, But Only In Early Stages
As Merck reports results for its anti-covid pill that are promising, if only in the early stages of infection, other researchers say the P1 variant from Brazil is more transmissible than others. Worries emerge about next-gen covid vaccines. And one study shows dogs can sniff out covid-positive urine.
Another Covid Surge Appears Likely
At least 21 states have recorded at least a 10% rise in daily average positive covid cases. Overall, the U.S. has over 70,000 new covid cases a day. Hospitals are again getting stressed. (And two tigers in captivity in Virginia have tested positive.)
US Has Given Out Nearly 200M Shots
About 30% of American adults have been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Meanwhile, the list of colleges that require covid vaccination is growing.
J&J Vaccine Gets More Negative Attention
Despite a study out of Oxford University showing the risk of blood clots is much higher with covid than with a vaccine against covid, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine continues to generate suspicion.
A Booster, Then Yearly Shots: Likely Future Vaccinations Mapped
Pfizer’s CEO says that people who received his company’s covid vaccine will probably need a third shot within 12 months of the original two-dose regimen. And Moderna targets the fall to have its expected booster shot available.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Are Vaccine Mandates Needed In U.S.?; Is The Fourth Wave Happening Or Not?
Opinion writers weigh in on Covid and vaccine news.
Viewpoints: What Supports Do Frontline Workers Need? Could Psychedelics Be A New Therapeutic?
Editorial pages take on these public health issues.
Research Roundup: Covid; Suicide; Cocoa’s Effect On Vascular Function; Liver Transplantation
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
India Grapples With Serious Covid Problem
More than a dozen hotels and wedding banquet halls were ordered to be converted into covid-19 centers attached to hospitals as India goes past 14 million covid cases. In other global news, Germany will prosecute vaccine line-jumpers, and the E.U. shifts its efforts to the Pfizer vaccine.
States Push To Reopen Businesses And Schools
Officials in Nevada want Las Vegas back to normal by June 1, and California’s governor urges all school systems to open schools again. Meanwhile, a Florida county wants to do away with the requirement that masks be worn inside public places.
More States Make Legal Moves To Restrict Transgender Rights
As the NCAA rattles its saber in warning about anti-trans discrimination, Texas, Florida and West Virginia made legal moves to limit the rights of trans children to play sports. Arizona, meanwhile, plans laws to further restrict what can be taught in sex ed.
