Latest KFF Health News Stories
Deaths Near 300,000 As Hospitalizations Hit Record High
Some overwhelmed hospitals are hoping to begin vaccinating health care workers today as hospitalizations double from five weeks ago. In Florida, the governor rejects calls for a mask order.
Biden Plans Vaccine Messaging Campaign
President-elect Joe Biden plans a messaging campaign to encourage vaccinations partly because the Trump administration has stumbled with its advertising campaign.
How Will We Know Who Has Been Vaccinated?
Vaccination certificates, apps and color-coded masks are among the tools proposed to track who has been inoculated for COVID-19.
Pregnant, Breastfeeding Moms Can Opt For Shot, Though It Was Not Tested
Though Pfizer has not yet tested its vaccine on people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, the FDA allowed them under the emergency use authorization — deciding that the benefits of COVID immunization likely outweigh the possible risks. Other news on expected side effects are reported.
Vaccine Signals Hope For Exhausted Frontline Workers
Most health care workers are eagerly taking their place at the front of the vaccine line, though some voice hesitancy. News outlets also report on how long the rest of us will have to wait.
Health Care Centers, State Officials Prepare For Influx Of Injections
After months of planning and simulations, it will now be up to the states and medical workers to rapidly inoculate millions of Americans.
On Their Way: First Vaccine Shipments Start Arriving In States Today
The massive operation to deliver millions of doses of Pfizer’s vaccine across the 50 states is underway, with the first trucks leaving a Michigan production plant Sunday. An estimated 145 distribution sites should receive shipments Monday.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages focus on these public health issues.
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 vaccines, ventilators, child care during the pandemic, Christmas during the 1918 flu pandemic, plastic surgery, Botox and more.
Sources: White House Considers Ending Travel Bans From Europe, Brazil
Bans from China and Iran would continue. News reports are from Mexico, Russia, Hong Kong and mainland China, as well.
Agents Seize More than 100,000 Fake Surgical Masks In Texas
And fake COVID tests were seized in San Diego. More health care news from New Mexico, Mississippi, Florida and Vermont.
Heading Back To The Office After The Pandemic? Maybe Not So Fast!
A survey by Pew finds that more than half of people who shifted to work from home after the coronavirus hit would like to keep that arrangement, and many others would like the flexibility to work outside the office some of the time. Also in health news, your sleep may be affected by diet, flu shots are up this year and volunteering may have a surprise benefit.
Supreme Court Rules Against PBMs
Justices ruled that an Arkansas law can be used to regulate pharmacy benefit managers. In other news, a federal district court ruled against a law requiring women seeking abortion medication to visit a doctor’s office.
Fewer Denials? CMS Aims To Reform Prior Authorization For Medicaid
The goals are to ensure that care is not delayed, integrity is maintained and administrative costs aren’t increasing, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in a statement.
LabCorp Gets Home COVID Test Approved
The FDA issues an emergency use authorization for a COVID test that can be purchased without a prescription. Erectile dysfunction drug is recalled; Amazon’s new band gets a mixed review.
Veterans’ Health Care Snags Omnibus Spending Bill
Efforts to pass an omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government until Oct. 1, 2021, are hung up in a fight over how to pay for veterans’ health care.
Stimulus Bill Negotiations Go Nowhere
Suspending liability for employers of health care workers stricken by COVID was an issue, but negotiations hung up on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s refusal to support $160 billion in aid to states and municipalities.
Side Effects: Seizures and Awful Rashes
News outlets focus on five things to know about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and how long immunity lasts, as well.
Hospital personnel, yes. But where do teachers, airline pilots, farmworkers and food servers fall in the queue to get the vaccine?
