Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Lessons On Slowing Down Transmissions, Dangers Of Evolving Variants
Editorial writers express views on the urgent need to monitor new worldwide variants and other pandemic topics.
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 covid-19, diversity in clinical trials, home exercise equipment and more.
Pentagon To Offer Vaccine To Prisoners At Guantanamo Bay
Meanwhile, the death toll in Mexico becomes the third-highest. News is also from Germany, Belgium and China.
Nursing Home Report: New York Undercounted Deaths By 50%
The Attorney General’s report says the death count didn’t include residents who were transferred to hospitals and deaths of other residents. News reports look at a growing frustration about reopening schools; finding vaccines in California; and more.
Study: Virus May Weaken Male Fertility
Doctors caution against oversimplifying results of the small study, saying viruses often impact male sperm temporarily. News is also on higher ed’s plans for this fall, water safety violations, cancer prevention and more.
Frustrated Health Care Workers Turn To Labor Unions For Help
They say they are bitterly disappointed by their employers’ and government agencies’ response to the pandemic. “We wouldn’t be alive today if we didn’t have the union,” Elizabeth Lalasz, a Chicago public hospital nurse and steward for National Nurses United, told The New York Times.
Republicans Pressure Biden To Back School Reopenings
Citing the latest CDC findings, Republican lawmakers want President Joe Biden to support in-person schooling. The White House wants more funding for safety precautions, which are included in its stimulus proposal.
Biden Covid Team Unseals ‘Hidden’ Reports Tracking State Covid Levels
Access to weekly state profile reports was previously limited to governors by the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force.
Biden Lifts Anti-Abortion Restrictions On Global Aid
The teeter-totter that is the “Mexico City Policy” — also known as the “global gag rule” by critics — that governs U.S. funding for international family planning organizations shifts again as President Joe Biden lifts prohibitions that his predecessor had reenacted and expanded.
ACA Enrollment To Reopen For Three Months; Biden Aims To Roll Back Medicaid Barriers
President Joe Biden issued an executive order for a special enrollment period on healthcare.gov that will start Feb. 15 so more people can sign up for health plans during the pandemic. Waivers allowed on Medicaid — like work requirements– during the Trump administration will also be reviewed.
Severe Covid Cases Might Increase Mortality Risk For Pregnant Women
Also, vaccine advice for pregnant women is unclear. Other news is on the timing of taking pain relievers when getting vaccinated, lingering sicknesses and more.
Cleveland Clinic Discovers Many Of Its Masks Were Counterfeit, Not Effective
A manufacturer alerted administrators that some of its purchases between November and Monday were not true N95 respirators.
Variant Detected In South Africa Now In The US
Two adults in South Carolina, who aren’t connected to one another and hadn’t traveled to South Africa, were identified as having the more contagious strain of coronavirus.
Over Half Of Allocated Shots Still Sitting In 16 States’ Freezers
The latest CDC data shows that 16 states have so far administered less than 50% of the covid vaccine sent by the federal government. Other states though report that they are running out.
Sluggish Vaccination Pipeline Plagued By Tracking, Distribution Challenges
Few states are using a pricey vaccine tracking system that CDC hired out to develop last spring. Meanwhile, FEMA and HHS are trying new approaches to get shots in arms faster.
Johnson & Johnson’s Single-Dose Shot Is 66% Effective
The vaccine was 72% effective against moderate to severe illness in the US but only 66% effective in Latin America and 57% effective in South Africa. The news likely will have worldwide implications, especially for nations having difficulty procuring or distributing the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Novavax’s Covid Vaccine 89% Effective, Less So Against Mutations
The two-dose vaccine is 96% effective against the original covid strain, 86% effective against the variant first discovered in the United Kingdom and just 49% effective against the one identified in South Africa.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers express views about the longterm impact of the pandemic on physical and mental health, and other health issues as well.
Biden To Rescind Trump’s Policies Limiting Abortion Access
President Joe Biden is expected Thursday to sign an executive order rolling back restrictions on federal funding for global aid groups that provide information about abortion to patients. He is also expected to order a review of limits put into effect by the Trump administration on Title X funding for reproductive health services for low-income families. In other news, Utah, Iowa and South Carolina lawmakers are considering measures that could restrict abortions in their states.
