Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: Lessons On Avoiding A Vaccine Disaster
As new covid variants threaten faster spreading of the virus, editorial pages focus on how long it will take to achieve herd immunity through vaccination.
Infections Drop In Israel After One Shot Of Two-Dose Vaccine
The data, based on the Pfizer vaccine, is “very encouraging” news, said an official from one of the country’s health groups. News reports are also from Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, parts of the European Union and Canada, as well.
Missouri Nursing Home Residents Relocated After Asbestos Exposure
Cleanup crews say it will take a month or longer to return 57 residents to the home in Monett, Missouri. Also, Idaho votes to delay an amendment vote banning marijuana; Consumer Reports looks at challenges for safe pregnancies; and more.
How Did The NFL Prevent The Spread Of Covid? The CDC Wants To Know
The groups collaborated on a scientific paper detailing what football players learned about covid safety protocol. In other news, Budweiser says it will skip its Super Bowl ad for the first time since 1983 and put the money toward vaccine education.
Hospital Compliance Spotty On New Rule About Cost Disclosures
The rule is meant to give consumers information about prices for medical goods and services. The fine of $300 a day isn’t a strong enough incentive for hospitals, an investigation reports.
New Treatment?: Cancer Drug Kills Covid In Lab, Researchers Say
A UCSF-led team says Aplidin could be more effective than remdesivir. Meanwhile, news stories report on the impact of the virus on animals, more lung cancers being detected among never-smokers and more.
Trust In The Government’s Covid Plans Skyrockets As Biden Takes Office
An Axios-Ipsos poll taken Jan. 22-25 found that 58% of respondents overall trust President Joe Biden to give them accurate information, compared to the 27% who said they trust Donald Trump.
What Is West Virginia Doing Right That Everyone Else Is Doing Wrong?
The state is sailing through the vaccine rollout with few problems. Other places that are making good progress include Alaska and rural Kittitas County in Washington state.
Just 8% Of Nursing Home Residents Have Received Their Second Covid Shot
Other national news is on Pfizer’s vaccine vials, how Big Business is trying to help the vaccine distribution effort, why companies are unlikely to require employees to get the shot and more.
A Nurse Will Fill In As ‘The Nation’s Doctor’; Covid Briefings Will Resume
The Biden administration has selected nurse Susan Orsega to serve as the nation’s acting surgeon general, The Washington Post reports.
California Says It Will Give Out Shots Based On Age, Not Occupation
Health care workers, residents 65 and older, teachers, farmworkers and first responders still get priority. But there will be a shift in who gets the vaccine after them. Other state news is from North Carolina, Oklahoma, Nevada, New Mexico, Maryland and New Jersey.
Biden Bumps Up Vaccination Target to 1.5 Million Shots A Day
President Joe Biden voiced optimism that the 50% increase is achievable, but that first “we have to meet that goal of one million a day.”
Merck Halts Work On Both Its Covid Vaccine Candidates
Merck says that neither of its experimental vaccines produced adequate immune responses against the coronavirus in its clinical trial testing. The drugmaker says it will focus its efforts on developing treatments.
Fauci: Double-Masking Makes ‘Common Sense’
The CDC has not recommended it yet and there’s no scientific evidence to support it, but the topic went viral when some high-profile people at the inauguration did it.
Moderna To Test Booster Shots To Protect Against New Strains
The drugmaker is developing two potential boosters to its covid vaccine — one to increase efficacy against the virus variant discovered in South Africa and another that targets future variants.
New US Cases Fall For 9 Straight Days; Drop Not Due To Vaccines, Fauci Says
Positive trends continue in the covid fight with hospitalizations falling below 110,000 for the first time since mid-December and new daily infections averaging around 170,000.
Time To Take Even More Precautions Against Contagious Mutations
What once was thought to be safe, may not be any longer as more transmissible versions of the virus start to spread. Health officials offer recommendations like stepping up the quality of your mask and further limiting time in public spaces.
First US Case Confirmed Of Virus Variant Discovered In Brazil
The more contagious P.1 strain was identified from a patient living in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region who had recently traveled to Brazil, Michigan health officials announced.
Biden To Open Heathcare.gov For Special Enrollment: Report
The Washington Post reports that President Joe Biden will issue an executive order allowing people to sign up for a 2021 health insurance plan through the ACA marketplaces. He is also expected to take steps to increase Medicaid access as well.
Travel Restrictions To US Back In Effect, South Africa Added To List
Starting today, President Joe Biden reinstated a previous ban on non-U.S. citizens traveling from the United Kingdom, most of Europe and Brazil, and expanded it to South Africa.
