Latest KFF Health News Stories
Georgia Seeks To Protect Services Of Special-Needs Students
Georgia’s Department of Education stated that the school system in Savannah did not allow teams to consider all components of students’ educational needs during periods of remote instruction. News is from Maine, California, and Florida, as well.
New York Sues Amazon, Says Covid Safety Protections Were Inadequate
A spokeswoman for Amazon disputed the claims, saying the company cared “deeply about the health and safety” of its workers. In other public health news: a California tech executive apologizes for a superspreader event; the NBA copes with a covid outbreak; alcohol use is on the rise; and more.
CVS Health To Rejoin Obamacare Exchanges In 2022 But Doesn’t Say Which Markets
In other health care industry news, the co-founders of Home Depot are teaming up on a new nationwide mental health network.
New Surge: Rare Covid Infection In Children Can Be Dangerous
More than 2,000 cases exist in 48 states and most children recover, but cases have been increasing since October. News reports are on how covid impacts eyes, the immune system, and more.
‘Inexcusable’: CDC Acknowledges Slow Pace Of Sequencing New Strains
Officials say passage of President Joe Biden’s relief bill would greatly benefit federal efforts to identify and track variants, which are lagging behind other countries.
Biden Says Drug Offenders Should Be Treated, Not Jailed
“No one should go to jail for a drug offense. No one should go to jail for the use of a drug, they should go to drug rehabilitation,” President Joe Biden said.
White House Extends Federal Foreclosure Moratorium, Mortgage Aid
In an effort to keep people in their homes during the pandemic, the Biden administration extended the policies until June 30. A further extension of the eviction moratorium past March was not included in the action.
In-Person School, 5 Days A Week Is Still The Goal, Biden Affirms
During a town hall in Milwaukee, President Joe Biden clarified his first 100-day plans: “I said open a majority of schools in K through eighth grade, because they’re the easiest to open, the most needed to be open in terms of the impact on children and families having to stay home.”
Vaccines Appear To Be Curbing Covid At Nursing Homes, Analysis Shows
Other news on the vaccine rollout is from New York, Georgia, Virginia, Iowa and elsewhere.
Invoking Defense Production Act Is Helping Boost Vaccine Supplies: Biden
“We got [Pfizer and Moderna] to move up time because we used the National Defense Act to be able to help the manufacturing piece of it, to get more equipment,” President Joe Biden said of his administration’s efforts to ramp up vaccine production.
Biden Expects All Americans Who Want Vaccine Can Have Shot By End Of July
Dr. Anthony Fauci also revised his previously more optimistic vaccination timeline to one more in line with President Joe Biden’s estimate.
Crippling Storms Delay Vaccine Shipments
The Biden administration anticipates “widespread” disruptions to covid vaccine shipping due to a series of winter weather events.
UK To Fund Research Project That Will Infect Healthy Volunteers With Covid
About 90 people ages 18-30 are expected to participate in a “human challenge” that will take place in a hospital isolation unit in London, according to the Lancet. An ethics committee still needs to approve the trial. Other global news is from the E.U., France, Japan and Canada.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Lessons On Getting The Vaccine, Heading To Mask-Less Times
Editorial writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
Lauded For ‘Courageously Defending Science,’ Fauci Wins $1M Israeli Prize
The Dan David Foundation also honored Americans Carl June and Steven Rosenberg for their work in cancer research. Other global developments are from the World Health Organization, China, North Korea, Singapore and Guinea.
Cuomo: Lack Of Transparency About Nursing Homes Covid Deaths Was A Mistake
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo acknowledged some fault in nursing home deaths. Other news of a strained public health system includes a top Florida official resigns, Alaska’s troubles, meat-packing probe and South Dakota governor’s dubious claims.
Multistate Listeria Outbreak Linked To Cheese
News reports also look at a slowdown in children’s dental visits and in cases of the flu, and more.
Michael Jordan Donates $10 Million To North Carolina Clinics
In other industry news, Trinity Health’s plan to shut down a Southside Chicago hospital is criticized by top state officials and yet another medical data breach.
Makers of Plavix Ordered To Pay $834 Million For Misleading Marketing
A judge in Hawaii orders Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi to pay the state more than $834 million for illegally marketing the blood-thinning drug Plavix.
