Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle these public health concerns.
Viewpoints: Language Regarding Vaccines Is Important; Vaccine Passports May Nudge The Hesitant
Opinion writers delve into these covid and vaccine issues.
India Gets Global Help For Ever-Worsening Covid Outbreak
France, Britain, the U.S. and drugmaker Gilead are just some involved in an effort to assist India battle a devastating covid outbreak–with deaths nearing 200,000. The Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo, Brussels, and Israel are also in the global news.
Oklahoma, Montana Governors Sign Abortion Bans
Oklahoma’s is a “near-total” ban, while Montana’s ban is for abortions after 20 weeks. Meanwhile, Ohio is set to allow transgender people to change gender markers on their birth certificates, and the AMA urges state lawmakers to block anti-trans health bills.
Aging Population, Delay In Couples Having Kids Take Toll On US Growth
The Census Bureau said Monday that U.S. population growth has slowed to its lowest rate since the Great Depression. Also in the news: hepatitis, agoraphobia, Crohn’s, autism and more.
Experimental ALS Drug OK’d For Some Worst-Case Patients
Biogen’s tofersen drug will be allowed for some patients dying of ALS after an important study concludes this summer. Also in pharmaceutical news: Pharma’s reputation, microbiome therapeutics and a patent battle in Australia.
Adoptees Fight For Access To Their Original Birth Certificates
In other health care news, a 2-year-old gets a new heart in Atlanta; Universal Health Services says it will return its first-quarter CARES money; and researchers highlight a link between borrowing money and overall quality for hospitals.
Yes, You Can Get Covid From Passengers In A Car, Studies Suggest
Other covid research news takes a look at stroke risk, heart inflammation, safety at playgrounds and basketball games, fringe science and more.
