Latest KFF Health News Stories
Different Takes: Kids Are Feeling Covid Mental Health Toll; Is Amazon The Future Of Health Care?
Editorial pages tackle these public health issues.
More Countries Investigate AstraZeneca
Reports of blood clotting side effects persist with AstraZeneca vaccine. In other global health news, the U.K. considers vaccine passports, India hits 100,000 covid cases a day, and Russia’s covid toll is likely higher than first reported.
Collapsing Toxic Waste Reservoir Threatens Hundreds In Florida
In other news across the states, West Virginia moves to protect doctors from liability in abortion-stopping treatment, officials in Indiana try to trace potential covid infections from an NCAA tournament, and covid is gone from California’s nursing homes.
Bird Feeders Linked To Salmonella Outbreak
In other news, Canadian health officials urge a recall of graphene face masks, and Texas will let a baseball game be played to a full-capacity crowd.
Health Care Workers Feel Beleaguered
The pandemic continues to take a toll on health care workers. One survey says 21% of health care workers have considered quitting. In other health care industry news, 10% of black patients report discrimination in their health care. And rich hospitals got richer in the pandemic.
Covid Vaccines Safe In Pregnancy; Women Report More Side Effects
Separate studies say that covid vaccines are safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and may benefit the baby. Also, women are reporting many more experiences with vaccine side effects than men, possibly for reasons relating to biology.
DeSantis Denies Any Wrongdoing Over Vaccine Partnership With Publix
Campaign finance records show that the company gave $100,000 to the Florida governor’s political action committee weeks before it scored a deal to distribute the covid vaccine, “60 Minutes” reported.
Can You Design A Better Face Mask?
The Biden administration intends to give half a million dollars to someone who designs a mask that fits better. Maybe one that doesn’t fog up eyeglasses? The Biden administration is also facing renewed calls to delay second vaccine doses in order to get more Americans at least one dose sooner.
Johnson & Johnson Testing Vaccine On Teens
The Biden administration put the company in charge of its own manufacturing after a contractor ruined 15 million doses. The company’s one-shot covid vaccine has become the favorite among groups reaching the homeless.
Is Covid Entering A Fourth Wave? Depends On Whom You Ask
Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm says yes, but infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says likely not, because of the recent increase in vaccinations.
The Vaccinated Can Travel, CDC Advises
As if people needed any encouragement from the CDC: More people passed through airports Friday than at any time during the pandemic.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Mental Health Responders Needed In Crisis Calls; ‘Goldwater Rule’ Should Be Reexamined
Editorial pages weigh in on mental health, CRISPR, organ transplants and more.
Protective Gear Prices Remain High
Prices for protective gear remain high as hospitals build inventories to a 45-day supply. In other heath care industry news, Seema Verma joins the board of a health tech company and anesthesiologists in two states accuse UnitedHealthcare of stifling competition.
Different Takes: Europe Forced To Lockdown Again; Dr. Birx Speaks Out Too Late
Opinion writers tackle Covid and vaccine issues.
Some Great Weekend Reading (And Watching)
We selected a few lean-back articles for you to enjoy.
Vaccine Woes Continue Across The Globe
It’s just not going well in Europe and even Canada has its troubles, this time with travelers into the country. Then there is India, hitting its second wave.
Medicare Beneficiaries With Wanderlust Are Encouraged To Make Sure Their Coverage Travels, Too
It appears likely that vaccinated seniors will be ready to hit the road but CNBC offers the caution that before travelling, they should check the specifics of their insurance regarding emergency and routine care. Meanwhile, in a separate story, Becker’s reports a rise in people waiting until they are eligible for Medicare seeking medical care.
Why The US Didn’t Seek Patents On Gilead Drug Remdesivir
The federal government declined to seek patents on remdesivir, which brought in $2.8 million in revenue to Gilead in a single year. Hydroxychloroquine is still being used to fight covid despite the lack of evidence it does anything. And more studies on long-haul covid.
States Rolling Out Covid Vaccines Faster, But Some Places Struggle
L.A. County health officials say they could vaccinate 80% of residents by the end of June, meanwhile a report highlights Chicago struggles with rollout equality between different ZIP codes.
