Latest KFF Health News Stories
Restrictions Silenced Many Veterans Day Gatherings, Parades
Many veterans homes chose to protect their residents this year. More than 4,200 veterans have died from COVID in government-run homes and nearly 85,000 have been infected.
1,500 Nurses In Philadelphia Threaten To Strike
Meanwhile in Utah, the state’s largest hospital system is hiring nearly 200 traveling nurses to boost staffs at struggling intensive care units and hospital wards.
Clinical Trial Volunteers Describe Effects Of Pfizer Vaccine
News outlets interview a few of the participants in Pfizer’s testing, with some likening the side effects to a “severe hangover” and another saying he now feels “superhuman.” Participants don’t know if they received the vaccine or a placebo.
Data On Effectiveness Of Moderna’s Vaccine Expected By End Of Month
Moderna will start analyzing the first round of date from its final-stage trials and expects to release information on the vaccine’s efficacy in a few weeks.
Medicare Will Pay For COVID Antibody Treatments, CMS Announces
The coverage will apply to bamlanivimab. At least one doctor hailed the news as “helpful” for nursing home residents in particular.
Trump Administration Eyes Health Care Orders, Rules In Final Weeks
And President Donald Trump — who continues to contest that he lost the White House — blasted the FDA over post-election timing of the announcement about the efficacy of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine.
Tensions Escalate Between Fauci And Other Trump Administration Officials
In particular, public disputes with Dr. Scott Atlas escalate while Dr. Anthony Fauci also comments on former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s public call that he be beheaded.
California To Join Texas With Over 1 Million Cases As Infections Accelerate In Every State
The state of the public health crisis is also reported out of Iowa, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
Biden Taps Chief Of Staff Who Brings Pandemic Experience To Job
Ron Klain served as the “Ebola czar” during the Obama administration. The incoming Biden administration will encounter depleted staffs at nearly every federal agency.
Biden Creates Special Transition Team Dedicated To COVID Crisis Response
This group met for the first time on Tuesday and will be largely separate from the coronavirus task force that President-elect Joe Biden named earlier this week, Politico reports. News outlets report on other ways the incoming administration is approaching the COVID public health emergency.
Overstressed Hospitals Face Shortages Of Workers, Beds And Treatments
The latest COVID spike is flooding hospitals and medical offices, straining the U.S. health care system. Doctors fear that the crisis is approaching a point where they will have to make dreaded choices about which patients gets beds, ventilators or medications and who will be sent home.
Deaths Climb After Ninth Straight Day Above 100,000 COVID Cases In US
The death toll stands at over 241,000. The alarming trend of breaking daily records for new infections continued as well, with the U.S. reporting over 144,000 cases on Wednesday.
AstraZeneca Study: Blood Cancer Drug Fails To Reduce Deaths From COVID
AstraZeneca’s work is among many trying to evaluate known treatments. Other disappointments include Sanofi’s rheumatoid arthritis medicine Kevzara.
NEJM: Symptom-Based Screening Misses Many Cases In Military
Temperature checks and questions about health rarely detect asymptomatic people. Testing detects more cases.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Pros, Cons Of Supreme Court’s Health Law Arguments
Editorial writers express views about the Supreme Court’s response to a case challenging the Affordable Care Act.
Opinion writers weigh in on these pandemic topics and others.
Perspectives: Biden Hasn’t Taken Office Yet, But Some Of His Ideas Are Already In Trouble
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
U.S. Official Complains About WHO’s Investigation Plans In China
The World Health Organization is also waiting to see if President-elect Joe Biden reverses the decision to exit the agency. News reports are on Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, China, and Lebanon, as well.
How President-Elect Biden Aims To Cut Prescription Drug Prices
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
