Latest KFF Health News Stories
Editorial pages focus on these pandemic topics and other public health issues, as well.
‘Real Danger’: Low-Income Nations Fall Into ‘Have-Not’ Vaccine Status
Only one African nation has begun to vaccinate and others might not have vaccines until 2023. Public health experts say vaccine inequality will prolong the epidemic and possibly allow variants to emerge.
Perspectives: Biden, Congress Must Seize Moment To Reduce Drug Prices
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Colorado Advances Plan To Import Drugs From Canada
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Vaccine Fight Heats Up In Europe As UK Passes Grim Covid Milestone
The number of covid victims in the United Kingdom has eclipsed the number of civilians killed in World War II. Meanwhile, solidarity between the U.K. and E.U. is fraying, several nations have passed new mask rules, Holocaust survivors are receiving their first doses of the vaccine and more.
Former Ohio Health Director Considers Run for US Senate
Amy Acton, a Democrat, resigned from the post after people threatened her because of her strong public health stance and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine loosened restrictions.
FDA Issues Alert About Mexico’s Hand Sanitizers
The agency said sanitizers, if laced with methanol, can be toxic when absorbed or not effective. News reports look at a cat with covid in Arkansas, the safest masks, and falling birth rates in the U.S.
CMS Hits Pause Button On 3 Proposals For Dialysis, Medicare Part A, Oversight
The withdrawn rules come after White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain ordered a freeze on new or pending rules issued by the Trump administration.
HCA Healthcare Says It Will Share Patient Data With Covid Researchers
Dr. Jonathan Perlin, chief medical officer of the Nashville, Tenn.-based health system, said sharing information will “accelerate what is known about covid and its treatment, and by doing so, save lives.” Names will be removed, HCA says.
Democrats Weigh Options For Passing Aid Package With GOP Resistance
President Joe Biden and Democrats debate using the budget reconciliation process to push through another round of covid stimulus but it would come at the expense of bipartisanship.
‘We’re Letting Science Speak Again’: Health Experts Renew Covid Briefings
Starting today, federal health officials and scientists will take the lead on briefing Americans three times a week about the state of the pandemic. News outlets report on other aspects of the Biden administration’s covid and health care plans, as well.
January Already The Deadliest Month Of Pandemic As Global Cases Top 100M
With a world population of about 7.67 billion, the global case tally suggests that about one in every 76 people has had the virus.
Good News On Monoclonal Antibodies Keeps Rolling In From Clinical Trials
Regeneron said Tuesday that its antibody cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab can prevent covid. And Eli Lilly, fresh off similar news last week, said Tuesday that a cocktail of bamlanivimab and etesevimab significantly reduces hospitalizations and deaths.
CDC Finds In-Person School With Safety Precautions Fuels Few Outbreaks
Researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at data from the fall semester and found it to be “reassuring” about the dangers of covid transmission in schools when masks and distancing are employed.
Racial Disparities, Inconsistent Policies Shape Picture Of The Vaccinated
And while distribution remains sluggish and chaotic, the demand is growing as nearly half of adult Americans say they want the vaccine.
Frustrations And Wait Times Grow As States Change Vaccine Eligibility
Continued distribution challenges are reported out of California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Iowa.
Johnson & Johnson: 100 Million Doses Of Vaccine By June For US
The company expects results of its phase 3 trial by next week, and once its vaccine is approved, it would be the third vaccine in the U.S. Sanofi, while awaiting development of its vaccine, says it can help manufacture Pfizer’s beginning this summer.
Biden Aims To Boost Vaccine Supply With 200M More Doses
The Biden administration wants to purchase enough additional covid vaccine from Moderna and Pfizer to inoculate all American adults by the end of summer. He also announced plans to try to smooth immediate distributions efforts to the states.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Perspectives: Refusing to Open Public Schools; Vaccinating Teachers; Compromising On Health Care
Opinion pages look at the public health issues surrounding attempts to reopen public schools and several other health issues, as well.
