AP: Pfizer Asks US To Allow COVID Shots For Kids Ages 5 To 11
Pfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 -- and if regulators agree, shots could begin within a matter of weeks. Many parents and pediatricians are clamoring for protection for children younger than 12, today’s age cutoff for the vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. (Neergaard, 10/7)

Reuters: Pfizer, BioNTech Ask U.S. Regulators To OK COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids
The application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration comes as COVID-19 infections have soared in children, hitting their highest point in the pandemic in early September, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The FDA has set a date of Oct. 26 for outside advisers to meet and discuss the Pfizer application, making it possible for kids to begin receiving the vaccines shortly afterwards. (10/7)

CNBC: Pfizer Asks FDA To Authorize Covid Vaccine For Kids Ages 5 To 11
The news couldn’t come any sooner for parents anxious to get their children vaccinated as kids start the new school year with the delta variant surging across America. The strain has led to a surge in U.S. hospitalizations, including among young kids who are currently ineligible to get vaccinated. Last month, Pfizer released new data that showed a two-dose regimen of 10 micrograms — a third the dosage used for teens and adults – is safe and generates a “robust” immune response in a clinical trial of young children. It said the shots were well tolerated and produced an immune response and side effects comparable to those seen in a study of people ages 16 to 25. (Lovelace Jr., 10/7)

The New York Times: Pfizer Asks F.D.A. To Authorize Its Covid-19 Vaccine For Children 5 To 11
Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting F.D.A. commissioner, said last week that children might require “a different dosage or formulation from that used in an older pediatric population or adults.” Pfizer has proposed giving children one-third of the adult dosage. That might require adding more diluent to each injection or using a different vial or syringe. The company was expected to describe the method it intended to use in its submission to the Food and Drug Administration. (LaFraniere and Weiland, 10/7)

NPR: WHO Greenlights The World's First Malaria Vaccine — But It's Not A Perfect Shot
The world's arsenal against malaria just got a fancy new bazooka. But it's not the easiest weapon to deploy, it only hits its target 30 to 40% of the time, and it's not yet clear who's going to pay for it. The weapon in question is the RTS,S vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline, which on Wednesday got the green light from the World Health Organization for widespread use. This is not only the first authorized malaria vaccine, it's also the first vaccine ever approved for use against a parasitic disease in humans. (Beaubien, 10/6)

Stat: WHO Recommends Broad Rollout Of World's First Malaria Vaccine
The vaccine, known as RTS,S and developed by GSK, is given in four doses. The complexity of delivering a four-dose regimen in low-resource settings had raised concerns about how useful the vaccine could be in the real world. For that reason, the WHO’s vaccine advisers previously recommended the vaccine be used first in a pilot program. That program began in 2019, with Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi deploying the vaccine. All three countries gave the first three shots of the vaccine at monthly intervals starting at either 5 or 6 months of age, with the last given 18 months or so after the first — around a child’s second birthday. While the initial doses are given at the time other vaccines are administered, the last is not. It was feared that in remote and rural settings, parents might not bring their children back in for a final dose of the vaccine, limiting the vaccine’s usefulness. (Branswell, 10/6)

The New York Times: First Malaria Vaccine Approved By W.H.O. 
The World Health Organization on Wednesday endorsed the vaccine, the first step in a process that should lead to wide distribution in poor countries. To have a malaria vaccine that is safe, moderately effective and ready for distribution is “a historic event,” said Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the W.H.O.’s global malaria program. ... The vaccine, called Mosquirix, is not just a first for malaria — it is the first developed for any parasitic disease. Parasites are much more complex than viruses or bacteria, and the quest for a malaria vaccine has been underway for a hundred years. (Mandavilli, 10/6)

And a tree in Chile is key to making the malaria and covid vaccines —

Reuters: Chile's Quillay Tree Is Key In A New Novavax Covid-19 Vaccine
Quillay trees, technically known as Quillaja saponaria, are rare evergreens native to Chile that have long been used by the indigenous Mapuche people to make soap and medicine. In recent years, they have also been used to make a highly successful vaccine against shingles and the world’s first malaria vaccine, as well as foaming agents for products in the food, beverage and mining industries. (10/6)

In case you missed it: The science behind malaria —

India Today: Life Cycle Of Malaria; Here’s Everything You Need To Know
Malaria is typically transmitted to humans by the bite of female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. It is a life-threatening mosquito-borne disease in which the infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasites and once they bite humans, the parasite is released into their bloodstreams. Malaria is extremely common in tropical and subtropical climates with hot and humid weather conditions where the parasites can live and are generally active. (8/30)

Science Alert: Sneaky Mutations Are Helping Malaria To Avoid Detection And Spread In The Body
Malaria still relentlessly plagues parts of the world. It killed more than 400,000 people in 2019, most of them babies and toddlers. In areas of Africa, it's even rivaling COVID-19 deaths, where the coronavirus pandemic has severely interrupted prevention and treatment efforts. Now, to make matters worse, it looks as if a new strain of the primary parasite responsible for the disease, Plasmodium falciparum, is able to avoid a common way we detect it. New research led by Ethiopian Public Health Institute's immunologist Sindew Feleke has shown nearly 10 percent of malaria cases are missed across Ethiopia's borders as a result of at least one of the mutations helping the parasite evade rapid diagnostic testing (RDT). (Koumoundouros, 10/2)

Smithsonian Magazine: The Secret Lives Of Mosquitoes, The World’s Most Hated Insects
For humans, mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth. ... Aside from the 100 or so species that commonly spread disease to humans, there are thousands more with fascinating behaviors and gorgeous bodies that we barely understand, yet we still call for their indiscriminate eradication. “We have been grossly underestimating the diversity of mosquitoes,” said Yvonne-Marie Linton, curator of the Smithsonian's National Mosquito Collection and research director at the Department of Defense’s Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WBRU). “The number of new species that we find everywhere we go is phenomenal.” (Hansen, 8/19)

The Texas Tribune: Texas Appeals After Abortion Law Temporarily Blocked By Federal Judge 
A federal judge temporarily blocked Texas’ near-total abortion ban Wednesday as part of a lawsuit the Biden administration launched against the state over its new law that bars abortions as early as six weeks of pregnancy. But it’s unclear how U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman’s order may affect access to abortions in the state — or if it will at all. The state of Texas quickly filed a notice of appeal and will almost definitely seek an emergency stay of Pitman's order in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is known as perhaps the nation’s most conservative appellate court. (Oxner, 10/6)

Houston Chronicle: Federal Judge Blocks Enforcement Of Texas Abortion Ban, Calls It 'Offensive'
In a 113-page opinion, Judge Robert Pitman barred state judges and court clerks from hearing lawsuits against abortion providers and others who help women obtain the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy. The law requires private citizens, not state officials, to enforce the new guidelines through litigation in state courts. The decision was quickly appealed by state leaders. In a seething conclusion, Pitman also denied the state’s request to delay any injunction until it has a chance to appeal, writing it had “forfeited the right” by concocting such an obviously unconstitutional law in the first place. Women have had constitutional access to abortion since 1973. (Blackman and Goldenstein, 10/7)

Politico: Federal Judge Blocks Enforcement Of Texas Abortion Law 
The White House and the Justice Department praised the decision. “Tonight’s ruling is an important step forward toward restoring the constitutional rights of women across the state of Texas,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. She added: “The fight has only just begun, both in Texas and in many states across this country where women’s rights are currently under attack.“ (Gerstein and Ollstein, 10/6)

The Wall Street Journal: Federal Judge Blocks Texas Abortion Law
Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder of Whole Woman’s Health, said the organization’s four abortion clinics would immediately resume procedures up to 18 weeks of pregnancy. After the law went into effect, the clinics were having to turn away some 80% of patients seeking abortions, Ms. Miller said previously. Wednesday evening, she called the judge’s ruling amazing. “It’s the justice we’ve been seeking for weeks,” Ms. Miller said. Kimberlyn Schwartz, the spokeswoman for Texas Right to Life, said the organization wasn’t surprised by the ruling and called the injunction unprecedented. “We expect a fair shake at the Fifth Court of Appeals,” Ms. Schwartz said. “The legacy of Roe v. Wade is you have these judges that will bend over to cater to the abortion industry.” (Kendall, 10/6)

Also —

AP: EXPLAINER: The Texas Abortion Law's Swift Impact, And Future
In the wording of the new law, abortions in Texas are prohibited once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before some women know they’re pregnant. Enforcement is left up to private citizens who are deputized to file civil lawsuits against abortion providers, as well as others who help a woman obtain an abortion in Texas. Supporters of the law known as Senate Bill 8 were preparing for a ruling that favors the Justice Department’s challenge but believe the measure — the strictest abortion law in the nation — will ultimately be upheld. Texas officials swiftly told the court Wednesday of their intention to seek a reversal. (Weber and Gresko, 10/7)

The Boston Globe: Mass. Elected Officials Praise Federal Judge Who Ruled Against Texas Abortion Law
Attorney General Maura Healey, who was one of 24 state attorneys general to file a brief in support of the justice department’s lawsuit, applauded Pitman. She called the law “a blatantly unconstitutional scheme to undermine” the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade that has guaranteed access to abortion for almost half a century. “For weeks, patients in Texas have been forced to travel thousands of miles to nearby states to access safe, legal abortion,” Healey said in a statement. “They have driven in the dead of night in secret, for fear of bounty hunters chasing their friends and families. Those who cannot afford the trip have been forced into pregnancy by the state of Texas, forever altering the course of their lives. (Fox, 10/6)

In other abortion news from Kentucky —

AP: AG Hopes To Press Anew For Struck-Down Kentucky Abortion Law
Kentucky’s Republican attorney general laid out his strategy Wednesday to champion his state’s embattled abortion law in court, calling his office the “last line of defense” for the measure that would block a second-trimester procedure to end pregnancies. Attorney General Daniel Cameron said his first goal is to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to let him defend the 2018 law, which was previously struck down by lower courts. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the procedural dispute and scheduled a hearing next Tuesday. (Schreiner, 10/6)

AP: More Than 120,000 US Kids Had Caregivers Die During Pandemic
The number of U.S. children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic may be larger than previously estimated, and the toll has been far greater among Black and Hispanic Americans, a new study suggests. More than half the children who lost a primary caregiver during the pandemic belonged to those two racial groups, which make up about 40% of the U.S. population, according to the study published Thursday by the medical journal Pediatrics. (Stobbe, 10/7)

CBS News: COVID Is Leading Cause Of Death Among Police Officers 
The pandemic has taken a devastating toll on police departments across the country. COVID-19 is now killing more law enforcement officers than any other threat they face in the line of duty — 716 officers have died since March 2020, according to the Fraternal Order of Police. (Pegues, 10/6)

Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pediatric COVID-19 Hospitalizations Still High As Some Mississippi Schools Drop Mask Requirements
While coronavirus cases continue to drop in Mississippi schools, doctors warn children infected with COVID-19 are still filling up the state's only pediatric hospital as some schools are again doing away with mask requirements. Of 740 schools reporting from 73 of Mississippi's 82 counties, there were more than 800 new COVID-19 cases in Mississippi students statewide from Sept. 27 through Oct. 1, according to the health department's Tuesday report. (Haselhorst, 10/6)

In updates about long covid —

Bloomberg: Heart Damage Plagues Covid Survivors a Year After Infection, Study Shows
Heart damage from Covid-19 extends well beyond the disease’s initial stages, according to a study that found even people who were never sick enough to need hospitalization are in danger of developing heart failure and deadly blood clots a year later. Heart disease and stroke are already the leading causes of death worldwide. The increased likelihood of lethal heart complications in Covid survivors -- who number in the hundreds of millions globally -- will add to its devastation, according to the study, which is under consideration for publication by a Nature journal. (Gale, 10/7)

CNBC: Long Covid: What You Need To Know As WHO Publishes Formal Definition
The World Health Organization on Wednesday published a definition of long Covid for the first time, seeking to provide much-needed clarity on one of the most mysterious aspects of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s how the U.N. health agency has defined long Covid, referring to it as “post Covid-19 condition,” the name proposed by WHO’s International Classification of Diseases. “Post COVID-19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis,” the WHO said. (Meredith, 10/6)

And more on the spread of the coronavirus —

The Washington Post: A Texas Man Said He Hired A Person With Covid To Lick Groceries. He Got 15 Months In Prison
A federal jury has sentenced a Texas man to 15 months in federal prison after finding him guilty of staging a covid-19-related hoax on social media, prosecutors said. Christopher Charles Perez, 40, was arrested in April 2020 after posting two “threatening messages” on Facebook claiming he had paid someone infected with the virus “to lick items at grocery stores in the San Antonio area to scare people away,” the U.S. attorney’s office in the Western District of Texas said in a news release Monday. (Villegas, 10/6)

The New York Times: Tourists Who Fought With Carmine's Hostess Plead Not Guilty 
Three women who were involved in an altercation with a hostess at a popular Italian restaurant on the Upper West Side were arraigned this week on assault and harassment charges. The women, Kaeita Nkeenge Rankin, 44, and Tyonnie Keshay Rankin, 21, of Humble, Texas, and Sally Rechelle Lewis, 49, of Houston, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Manhattan Criminal Court. They were charged with one count each of third-degree assault, attempted assault and harassment, said Javier Solano, a lawyer for the women. (Fondren, 10/6)

KHN: Our Covid Cocoon: The Parents Aren’t Alright (But Help May Be Coming) 
My unvaccinated 7-year-old son began hacking and sneezing in late September as the hospitals in our home state of Montana started buckling under the latest covid surge. I took him to get tested when his symptoms wouldn’t go away. The cotton swab went up his nostrils and Thomas bucked out of my lap with a mighty snort, nearly ripping the 6-inch swab from the pediatrician assistant’s fingers. It came out bent, but the sample was usable, and as she put it away, I asked a question to which I already knew the answer. “So we’re in quarantine?” She nodded. It would take about 72 hours to get the results, she said. (Volz, 10/7)

In news about covid treatments and air purifiers —

Fox News: Merck’s COVID-19 Pill Could Carry Serious Safety Concerns, Scientists Warn
Merck’s new COVID-19 pill, known as molnupiravir, headed for FDA review for emergency authorization, could potentially carry serious safety issues stemming from the method used to kill the virus, scientists warned, according to a report. The oral antiviral medication integrates into the genetic makeup of the virus, causing a large number of mutations to destroy the virus. However, some laboratory tests indicated the drug’s ability to cause mutations in genetic material of mammalian cells, theoretically causing cancer or birth defects, Barron’s reported. However, a Merck spokesperson told Fox News that tests in animals indicate otherwise: "The totality of the data from these studies indicates that molnupiravir is not mutagenic or genotoxic in in vivo mammalian systems," a statement reads in part. (Sudhakar, 10/6)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson Letter Slams Federal Agencies On COVID-19 Early Treatment
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson continued to beat the drum this week for the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as an early treatment for COVID-19 despite warnings from public health experts that it is unproven as a remedy and can be dangerous in large doses. On Tuesday, the Oshkosh Republican sent another letter to top health officials, contending that "public health officials have not only ignored potential early treatments, but at times seem to have participated in an aggressive campaign against the use of specific early treatment options." (Glauber, 10/6)

CBS News: New Air Purifiers Filter At Least 90% Of COVID-Carrying Particles, Researchers Say
An army of do-it-yourselfers is trying to clear the air of COVID-19. One group at the University of California, San Diego, is building 250 homemade air purifiers for classrooms and labs around campus, and they say their box-style purifier filters at least 90% of the particles that carry the virus. The Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, named for the two men who created the purifiers, are made up of four air filters on the sides. As air flows in, an electric fan on top draws out the purified air. (Lapook, 10/6)

Stat: Biden Moves To Ramp Up At-Home Covid-19 Testing 
The White House announced on Wednesday a $1 billion purchase of at-home rapid tests for Covid-19, a move aimed at scaling up test production in the U.S. and quadrupling the availability of the tests by December. “In the past few months, testing has increased — particularly at-home testing, a convenient option that came to market earlier this year. To meet this increased demand, the president’s plan ramps up both the availability of tests and access to free testing,” said Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, at a briefing with reporters. (Bender, 10/6)

The New York Times: Biden To Spend $1 Billion To Boost Supply Of Rapid Covid Tests
By December, 200 million rapid tests will be available to Americans each month, with tens of millions more arriving on the market in the coming weeks, Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House’s Covid-19 coordinator, said at a news conference. Mr. Zients also said the administration would double the number of sites in the federal government’s free pharmacy testing program, to 20,000. The changes reflect the administration’s growing emphasis on at-home testing as a tool for slowing the spread of Covid-19. (Weiland, 10/6)

CNN: Biden Administration To Boost At-Home Rapid Testing With $1 Billion Investment
In September, President Joe Biden announced a $2 billion investment in rapid testing for community health centers, food bank and schools, and also announced that retailers including Walmart, Amazon and Kroger will sell at-home rapid test kits at cost for the next three months. But demand has outpaced supply for those tests so far, with shelves empty across the country. The administration is seeking to quickly ramp up that supply. The $1 billion announcement also comes days after the US Food and Drug Administration authorized Flowflex, an at-home antigen test from ACON laboratories, which will accelerate the pace of rapid tests hitting the shelves. (Klein and Vazquez, 10/6)

In related news about covid testing —

KPRC 2: New Texas Law Makes Price Gouging For COVID-19 Testing Illegal
Senate Bill 2038 is now part of the Texas Health & Safety Code. The statute does these three things: Makes it illegal for freestanding ERs to charge an individual or third-party (like your insurance company) a facility fee or an observation fee for a drive thru service; Requires the businesses disclose the prices they charge for COVID tests, vaccines and any other associated fees; Prohibits freestanding ERs from charging more than 200% for the same or similar service offered by healthcare facilities in the same or nearest county during a declared state of disaster (like the COVID-19 pandemic). (Davis, 10/7)

Waco Tribune Herald: Some In Waco Getting Billed For Free COVID-19 Tests; Company Correcting Error
Company officials said a clerical error has led to about 2,000 people, including some in the Waco area, being sent an $85 bill for a free COVID-19 test administered a year ago. Some who were tested in October last year at a free COVID-19 testing site set up under the auspices of the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District at McLennan Community College have reported receiving $85 bills from Sonoran Desert Pathology Associates, a test processing lab in Pasadena, California. (Witherspoon, 10/6)

KWQC: Iowa Rolls Out Same-Day Delivery On COVID Test Kits
The Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced its testing kits will now get your results faster. IDPH partnered with the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the State Hygienic Lab to launch seven test pick-up sites that will get your tests to the lab within the same day. Before, the Iowa State Hygenic Lab would ship out the test kits to your home within two days of receiving your online request. Then, you’d take the test back to the lab and results would be available within about 24 hours. That means it could take at least two to three days to even find out if you are positive for the virus. (Ricossa, 10/6)

The Washington Post: Montgomery County Parents Want More School Quarantine Changes 
The Montgomery County school system — the state’s largest — has placed more than 5,000 students into quarantine in about five weeks of classes. ... Montgomery school officials made efforts last month to reduce quarantines by shifting practices and doing rapid tests on-site of potentially symptomatic students. But some parents say students who have lost a lot during 18 months of pandemic learning are still losing too much in-person school. (St. George, 10/6)

ABC News: COVID-19 Tests Are Flying Off Store Shelves. What’s Driving The Demand? 
It’s the critical aspect of the fight against the pandemic that the U.S. is still figuring out nearly two years after the first documented cases of COVID-19, which has claimed more than 700,000 American lives: coronavirus testing. At first, testing supply was extremely limited with long lab turnaround times, and only a handful of Americans could access them before things improved as tests became more widely available. Then suddenly, testing demand dropped as mass vaccinations began. (Vann, 10/7)

Los Angeles Times: L.A. Sets COVID-19 Vaccine Proof Mandate For Indoor Sites 
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a new ordinance that requires proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to enter indoor restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, hair and nail salons and many other indoor venues. The council was scheduled to vote on the law last week but held off when Councilman Joe Buscaino said he would withhold his vote after raising concerns about how the new rules would be enforced. (Reyes, 10/6)

Los Angeles Times: UCLA Anesthesiologist, Vocal Against COVID Vaccine Mandates, Is Escorted Out Of Workplace
A UCLA anesthesiologist who is vocal about his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate was escorted out of his workplace Monday for attempting to enter the building unvaccinated. In a video that he seemingly captured himself, Dr. Christopher B. Rake is seen being escorted out of the 200 UCLA Medical Plaza in Westwood by three individuals. “This is what happens when you stand up for freedom and when you show up to work, willing to work, despite being unvaccinated, and this is the price you have to pay sometimes,” he says. “But what they don’t realize is that I’m willing to lose everything — job, paycheck, freedom, even my life for this cause.” (Anaya-Morga, 10/6)

In related news about covid mandates —

AP: Idaho Governor Repeals Political Rival's Executive Order
The Idaho governor on Wednesday issued an executive order repealing his political rival’s executive order from the previous day involving COVID-19 vaccine passports and mandatory testing. Republican Gov. Brad Little issued the order while still in Texas, a move that challenges the state’s longstanding practice of making the lieutenant governor acting governor when the governor is out of state. (Ridler, 10/6)

AP: Workers Sue Louisiana Health System To Block Vaccine Mandate
A small number of employees of Louisiana’s largest health system are suing to block a requirement that they get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to keep their jobs. The lawsuits filed Tuesday in Louisiana state district courts challenge Ochsner Health’s mandate that all employees get vaccinated by Oct. 29. (McConnaughey, 10/7)

Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia COVID Vaccine Mandate Deadline For Health-Care And Higher-Education Workers Extended
Philadelphia is extending its deadline for health-care workers and higher-education students and employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, acting Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole announced Wednesday, citing concern from employers that they would be unable to meet next week’s deadline. “My goal is to get everyone vaccinated and not leave our health-care and higher-education systems shorthanded,” Bettigole said. (McCrystal and McCarthy, 10/6)

CNN: Some Michigan Health Departments Back Off Mask And Quarantine Orders After GOP Budget Provision Targets Their Funding 
Some Michigan local health departments are rescinding school mask mandates and other measures intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus after Republican state lawmakers approved a budget that threatens the funding of local health departments that issue those rules. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, signed the budget into law last week but insisted that the provision targeting mask requirements is unconstitutional and will not take effect. "The legislature cannot unwind the Public Health Code in a budget bill or un-appropriate funds because they take issue with the actions of local health departments," she said in a letter to lawmakers then. (Bradner, 10/6)

Also —

The New York Times: President Biden Will Speak About Vaccine Mandates In A Visit To Chicago
President Biden is traveling to Chicago on Thursday to talk about vaccine mandates. Chicago was picked in part because it is the home of United Airlines, one of the first major carriers to require shots for its 67,000 U.S. employees. Other airlines have followed with similar requirements, including American Airlines, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines. (Medina, 10/7)

USA Today: COVID Vaccine Requirements Will Boost Vaccinations, White House Says
The White House released a report early Thursday on the effects of vaccination requirements in the U.S., contending that mandating vaccines will lead to millions more Americans getting shots in the arm. The report, released ahead of President Joe Biden's trip to Chicago where he will meet leaders who implemented vaccination requirements in public and private sectors, analyzed health care systems, educational institutions, public-sector agencies and private businesses. It found that businesses instituting vaccine requirements have seen their number of fully vaccinated workers rise above 90%. Nationwide, 63% of adults aged 18-64 are fully inoculated. (Tebor, 10/7)

Fox News: Vaccine Mandates For Students Opposed By 7 Out Of 10 Parents, Poll Finds
Nearly seven in 10 parents with children under age 18 do not believe there should be a vaccine mandate for students, a new poll found. Asked if students in grades K-12 should be required to take the COVID-19 vaccine once eligible for the shot, 68% of respondents that have children under 18 said they do not believe the vaccine should be mandatory, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday. Only 30% of respondents with children under 18 agreed that the shot should be mandatory, the poll found. (Lee, 10/6)

Roll Call: FDA’s Internal Turmoil Could Impact Boosters, Shots For Kids 
Signs of internal turmoil at the Food and Drug Administration are raising concerns among former agency officials as widely anticipated deadlines on COVID-19 boosters and vaccines for children near. A high-stakes debate about whether the booster shots are necessary recently led to upheaval at the FDA’s Office of Vaccines Research and Review, namely the sudden sidelining of that office’s two most experienced regulators. The drama comes amid a critical month for U.S. vaccine policymaking. FDA documents on COVID-19 boosters for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients are expected to become public ahead of meetings of the FDA’s independent advisers on vaccines next week. (Kopp, 10/6)

Politico: Top Covid Experts Privately Urge Biden Admin To Scale Back Booster Campaign
A vocal contingent of prominent doctors and scientists is pressing the Biden administration to scrap its plans to provide booster shots to all previously vaccinated adults, according to five people familiar with the matter. Several of these outside experts, including some who advised President Joe Biden’s transition team, objected to the administration’s approach during a private, off-the-record call last week with federal health officials. Current U.S. data on vaccine performance does not justify using boosters widely to reduce the risk of breakthrough infections and slow the virus’ spread, the experts said. (Banco and Cancryn, 10/6)

Bloomberg: FDA Reviewing Data On Mixing And Matching Covid Booster Shots, Fauci Says
Data that may show the safety and effectiveness of mixing and matching boosters of different Covid-19 shots are under review by U.S. regulators, presidential adviser Anthony Fauci said. A study of adults who received booster doses of different Covid-19 vaccines than their original shots has been completed, Fauci said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “Balance of Power with David Westin,” and the data have been presented to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The National Institutes of Health study looked at the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of mixing and matching of the three U.S. authorized vaccines for booster purposes. (Rutherford, 10/6)

Will the FDA soon have a new leader? —

Politico: Biden Closes In On Pick To Lead Food And Drug Administration 
The Biden administration is closing in on a nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, four people familiar with the process told POLITICO. The White House was nearing a final pick anyway, but National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins' Tuesday announcement that he would step down accelerated the timeline, according to one person with knowledge of the matter. (Cancryn, Owermohle, Lim and Gardner, 10/6)

And the search is on to replace Dr. Francis Collins at the NIH —

Stat: Here's Who Might Replace Francis Collins As NIH Director
Almost as soon as Francis Collins announced that he’ll soon step down as director of the National Institutes of Health, lists of potential candidates began circulating through the capital. Among the most prominent candidates singled out during conversations with current and former NIH officials and outside research advocates are a number of science heavyweights. Four of the six sources immediately named Jennifer Doudna, the biochemist best known for her Nobel prize-winning research on the gene-editing technology CRISPR. (Facher, 10/7)

Politico: Biden’s New Health Challenge: Find Another Francis Collins
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins was that rare Washington figure whose clout transcended presidential administrations and frequent power shifts in Congress — more so during a public health crisis. Now, the Biden administration needs to find a Collins clone. (Owermohle and Wilson, 10/5)

KHN: Collins’ Skillful Piloting Helped NIH Steer Clear Of Political Minefields 
It’s remarkable that the reputation of the National Institutes of Health has remained mostly intact through the covid-19 pandemic, even as other federal science agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have come under partisan fire. That is in no small part due to NIH’s soft-spoken but politically astute director, Dr. Francis Collins. The motorcycle-riding, guitar-playing Collins announced Tuesday he will step down by the end of the year from his job as chief of the research agency, having served more than a dozen years under three presidents. (Rovner, 10/6)

The New York Times: A New Vaccine Strategy For Children: Just One Dose, For Now
Even as parents in the United States wrestle with difficult questions over vaccinating their children against the coronavirus, families in other countries have been offered a novel option: giving children just one dose of the vaccine. Officials in Hong Kong as well as in Britain, Norway and other countries have recommended a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 12 and older — providing partial protection from the virus, but without the potential harms occasionally observed after two doses. On Wednesday, Sweden and Denmark joined the ranks, announcing that adolescents should get only one jab of the Moderna vaccine. (Mandavilli, 10/6)

Bloomberg: Sweden Halts Moderna’s Covid Vaccine For People Aged 30 Or Under
Sweden and Denmark decided to halt vaccinations with Moderna Inc.’s Covid-19 shot for younger people because of potential side effects. The Swedish health authority Wednesday cited new data on the increased risk of heart inflammation as a reason for the pause for those aged 30 and under. Denmark will stop giving the shot to those younger than 18. (Daly and Rolander, 10/6)

In more news about heart complications and other side effects —

NBC News: Heart Risks Rare After Pfizer Covid Vaccination, Study Finds
Getting at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine increased the risk of a rare type of heart inflammation, especially in young males, according to a large new study from researchers in Israel. However, the diagnosed cases were usually mild, and most of the patients were sent home without ongoing need for treatment. The condition, called myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, has been reported in a very small number of people who received either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna mRNA vaccines. Symptoms can include chest pain, palpitations and shortness of breath. Most patients who get care recover quickly. (Syal, 10/6)

Fox News: Washington Woman Dead After Rare J&J COVID Vaccine-Induced Blood Clot
A Washington woman succumbed to a rare clotting syndrome after receiving the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, marking the first such death confirmed in the state, health officials announced. The woman, whose name was not revealed by county or state health officials, was in her late 30s and was a resident of King County. She received the vaccine on Aug. 26, 2021 and died over a week later on Sept. 7, according to a statement. The cause of death was thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), according to Seattle & King County Public Health, which described TTS as a rare but serious condition among recipients of the J&J vaccine. The CDC’s Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project confirmed the diagnosis, officials noted, adding that the CDC has reported three other confirmed deaths nationwide from the complication. (Rivas, 10/6)

Sports Illustrated: Oilers Forward Josh Archibald Out Indefinitely With Myocarditis
Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippett has said that forward Josh Archibald is out indefinitely after having been diagnosed with myocarditis. Tippett also revealed that Archibald had COVID-19 over the off-season. Earlier in September, Oilers GM Ken Holland confirmed to Oilers Now Radio host Bob Stauffer that Archibald was the only unvaccinated player on the team. The news came after it was announced that Oilers goaltender Alex Stalock developed the same heart condition. (Ellis, 10/3)

In other updates on the vaccine rollout —

CIDRAP: Drug, Alcohol Abusers More Prone To COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections 
Substance use disorders such as alcohol and opioid addiction predispose fully vaccinated people to COVID-19 breakthrough infection, hospitalization, and death, although the overall risk is low, according to a US study yesterday in World Psychiatry. (Van Beusekom, 10/6)

CNN: Booster Shots Are Outpacing First And Second Doses Of Covid-19 In The US. And The Millions Left Unvaccinated Could Trigger 'Future Waves,' Expert Warns
The US is making headway in its battle against Covid-19 -- with infection and hospitalization rates on the decline after a surge fueled by the relentless Delta variant. But with the number of Americans getting booster shots surpassing those who are initiating vaccination, experts warn more is needed to continue the progress. Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have both declined by more than 10% from last week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and the US Department of Health and Human Services, respectively. Just over 56% of the total US population is fully vaccinated, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Elamroussi, 10/7)

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Man Allegedly Fatally Shot His Pharmacist Brother For ‘Killing People’ With The COVID Vaccine, Court Records Show 
A Cumberland man allegedly killed his brother and sister-in-law in their Ellicott City home last week because his brother, a pharmacist, administered COVID-19 vaccines, according to charging documents filed Wednesday in a Howard County court. Jeffrey Burnham told his mother he had to confront his older brother, Brian Robinette, because he was poisoning people by administering the COVID-19 vaccine, telling his mother, “Brian knows something,” according to the new charging documents filed against Burnham. (Anderson, 10/6)

ScienceDaily: Cancer Costs US More Than $156 Billion Annually, With Drugs A Leading Expense
Care for the 15 most prevalent types of cancer in the U.S. cost approximately $156.2 billion in 2018, according to a team researchers. The team also found that medication was the biggest expense and that medication expense for breast, lung, lymphoma and colorectal cancers incurred the most costs. (Penn State, 10/6)

CIDRAP: Pandemic Lockdowns Affected Cancer Surgery Globally, Study Says
Planned cancer surgery was delayed during the pandemic worldwide, with 15% of people putting off an operation during full COVID-19 lockdowns, according to a study yesterday in The Lancet Oncology. The researchers looked at 20,006 adults at 466 hospitals and 61 countries who were planning on receiving surgery for the 15 most common solid cancer types during the COVID-19 pandemic. All were followed for a minimum of 12 weeks (until surgery or Aug 31, 2020), but even after a median of 23 weeks, 10.0% still hadn't had their surgery. All had at least one COVID-19–related reason, most commonly concern about infection risk to the patient (72.8%), and 15.3% reported at least one additional non-COVID reason. (10/6)

In other news about cancer —

The New York Times: Exercise May Alleviate ‘Chemo Brain’ In Breast Cancer Patients 
Regular exercise may help lessen “chemo brain” among women being treated for breast cancer, according to a large-scale new study of the associations between physical activity, chemotherapy and cognition. The study, which involved more than 500 women with breast cancer, finds that those who were the most active before, during or after their treatment were the least likely to develop the memory decline and foggy thinking that characterize chemo brain. The study does not pinpoint precisely how exercise may protect the brain during chemotherapy, but does suggest even small amounts of activity, such as a half-hour walk when possible, could make a difference in cancer patients’ ability to think and remember as they move toward recovery. (Reynolds, 10/6)

ScienceDaily: Small Molecule May Prevent Metastasis In Colorectal Cancer 
Colorectal cancer is projected to claim 53,000 lives in the United States this year alone and, as with most cancers, the disease is deadliest when it metastasizes. It follows that the most effective way to control it would be a drug that targets metastasis itself -- preventing cancer cells from breaking off the primary tumor, or reining in rogue cells before they spread throughout the body and seed secondary tumors. Now, a new study identifies a small molecule that could, in the future, be administered alongside standard chemotherapies to stave off colorectal cancer metastasis. (Rockefeller University, 10/6)

ScienceDaily: Super-Enhancers: The Villain Fueling Certain Cancers
Researchers identified a small RNA molecule called miR-766-5p that reduces expression of MYC, a critical cancer-promoting gene. This microRNA reduces levels of proteins CBP and BRD4, which are both involved in super-enhancer (SE) formation. SEs form in areas of DNA that can fuel MYC expression and tumor progression. This study provides strong evidence for developing miR-766-5p as a novel therapeutic to treat MYC-driven cancers. (Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 10/5)

Forbes: Here’s How Artifcial Intelligence Can Help Predict Breast Cancer Risk
Researchers from the Jameel Clinic at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been working on a mammography-based deep learning model to help predict breast cancer earlier. The Mirai model uses an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to predict breast cancer risk more accurately based on radiology images. (Kite-Powell, 10/6)

The Wall Street Journal: Facebook Slows New Products For ‘Reputational Reviews’ 
Facebook Inc. has delayed the rollout of new products in recent days, people familiar with the matter said, amid media reports and congressional hearings related to a trove of internal documents showing harms from its platforms. Executives at the social-media company also have put a hold on some work on new and existing products while more than a dozen people are involved in conducting “reputational reviews” to examine how Facebook may be criticized and to ensure products don’t adversely impact children, the people said. (Glazer and Seetharaman, 10/6)

The Washington Post: Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen Could Usher In Tech’s ‘Big Tobacco’ Moment, Lawmakers Say 
Lawmakers say that testimony from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is galvanizing members of both parties to unify behind sweeping proposals targeting social media companies, after years of stalled attempts, with some calling it the tech industry’s “Big Tobacco moment.” “This time feels distinctly different,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chair of the Senate Commerce consumer protection subcommittee, said in an interview. “The public has been engaged and outraged in a very different way.” (Zakrzewski, 10/6)

The Washington Post: What Parents Can Do To Make Facebook And Instagram Safer 
Don’t let children go on social media apps until at least 13. However, you can start easing them in at 11 or 12, says technology-and-kids expert Devorah Heitner. Show them how social media works by using it together on your own devices, looking at Instagram posts or TikTok dances in a controlled environment where you can guide them through the risks and rewards of these apps. (Kelly, 10/5)

In related news about Snapchat —

Axios: Snapchat Publicly Addresses Fentanyl Crisis 
Snapchat on Friday publicly addressed reports about young users buying fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills from drug dealers via its platform, announcing a new in-app tool called "Heads Up" that provides content to users from substance abuse experts when they search for drug-related keywords. Why it matters: Snapchat has been able to avoid most of the regulatory and public relations headaches that its competitors have faced in the past few years by focusing on connections between close friends. But because its platform caters to young users, it's more vulnerable to problems related to minors and safety. (10/7)

In other public health news —

Axios: COVID Nearly Doubled Self-Reported Anxiety Symptoms 
While Americans reported heightened symptoms of anxiety and depression during the pandemic peaking last winter, their symptoms had improved by this past June, according to a new CDC study. Still, Americans reported their anxiety and depression symptoms are still higher than they were before the pandemic. (Fernandez, 10/6)

Reuters: Amazon Sued By Warehouse Workers Over COVID-19 Screening Pay
Amazon.com Inc has been accused of violating Colorado state law by failing to pay warehouse workers for time spent undergoing COVID-19 screenings before clocking in at work. Jennifer Vincenzetti, who worked at two Amazon warehouses in Colorado Springs, filed a proposed class action in Colorado federal court on Tuesday claiming the company made workers wait in long lines to answer questions and have their temperatures checked. (Wiessner, 10/6)

San Francisco Chronicle: Cursing, Meltdowns And Playground Tussles: Bay Area Schools Grapple With Emotional Toll Of Pandemic
Mental health experts and educators worried prior to this school year about what months of isolation and distance learning would look like once students returned to classrooms this fall. Now, more than a month into in-person learning, as the excitement of returning to classrooms has worn off, many students are struggling with social skills and emotional regulation, and there isn’t always a qualified adult to intervene. There are physical fights, petty arguments and frustration boiling over into tears or expletive-laced anger, educators say. Little things, like an unpaid $1 loan for a snack, can feel like big deals to the students, said Leslie Hu, social worker and community school coordinator at San Francisco’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Middle School. (Tucker, 10/6)

The Washington Post: Nobel Prize In Chemistry Awarded To Duo Who Helped Construct Molecules In A Cheap, Environmentally Friendly Way
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded Wednesday to two scientists who built a tool for constructing molecules in a cheap, environmentally friendly way, allowing researchers to more easily make products including pharmaceuticals. David W.C. MacMillan of Princeton University and Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute in Germany were awarded the Nobel for their development of a precise new tool for molecular construction known as organocatalysis. (Sellers, 10/6)

In other pharmaceutical news —

Stat: Older Americans Bore The Brunt Of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections, Study Finds
Older Americans were disproportionately affected by several different types of infection for which antibiotics were largely ineffective, resulting in nearly 12,000 deaths and costing the U.S. health care system almost $1.9 billion in 2017, a new study found. Of those deaths, 40% were estimated to have occurred among those 65 years and older, while this same group of patients accounted for 41% of the associated health care costs. Yet Americans who are 65 years or older account for just 15% of the U.S. population, according to a corresponding analysis. (Silverman, 10/7)

FiercePharma: As Revance Nears A Potential Launch For Its Botox Rival, AbbVie Sues For Patent Infringement 
Revance Therapeutics has traveled a long road to a potential FDA approval for its Botox competitor, including COVID delays that pushed back plant inspections. Now, it faces a new obstacle: a patent lawsuit from drug giant AbbVie. AbbVie subsidiary Allergan on Friday sued Revance, alleging the company's proposed frown-line injection daxibotulinumtoxinA infringes several Botox patents. An FDA decision on Revance's rival drug is "imminent," AbbVie says in the suit, so the pharma giant is seeking a judgment from the court that its patents will be infringed, plus damages that could include a "reasonable royalty and lost profits." (Sagonowsky, 10/5)

In updates on the Theranos trial —

The Wall Street Journal: The Theranos Trial: Former Safeway CEO Testifies Over Failed Partnership
Safeway Inc.’s former top executive testified Wednesday that the grocery-story chain relied on Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes’s promises when it decided to invest over $350 million in a partnership with the blood-testing company. The relationship between Ms. Holmes and Safeway’s then-chief executive, Steven Burd, started with a shared vision of making healthcare more accessible, but it soured as Mr. Burd faced the end of his career with nothing to show from the expensive pursuit of installing Theranos clinics in hundreds of stores. (Somerville and Randazzo, 10/6)

Modern Healthcare: 'Mega-Mergers' Dominated In 2021, Analysis Finds
Fewer hospital mergers and acquisitions so far in 2021 is offset by a high percentage of "mega-merger" transactions, according to a new analysis. Seven transactions involving 20 hospitals took place during the third quarter of 2021, with transacted revenue totaling $5.2 billion, according to a quarterly report released Wednesday by consulting firm, Kaufman Hall. This year's transactions have involved large health systems that have merged or were acquired by other large systems. The average revenue of selling organizations was $659 million in 2021, more than double the average of $329 million between 2015 and 2020. (Ross Johnson, 10/6)

In other financial news —

Modern Healthcare: AHA Asks Congress To Stop Looming Medicare Cuts
The American Hospital Association is urging Congress to stop cuts to Medicare before they take effect next year, citing the uncertain trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible variants. "Now is not the time for reductions in Medicare payments to providers," Stacey Hughes, executive vice president of AHA wrote in a letter to Congressional leadership. Without Congressional action, Medicare will face a 4% cut triggered by the COVID-19 relief bill that passed earlier this year. (Hellmann, 10/6)f

Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Spending $24B More Per Year On Clinical Labor
Nationwide, hospitals and health systems are spending $24 billion more per year on qualified clinical labor than they did prior to the pandemic, according to an analysis by Premier. From higher turnover rates and employees working overtime, to soaring costs for travel nurses, healthcare facilities have significantly higher expenses for hiring and retaining workers than in previous years. While the first COVID-19 surge led health systems to focus on obtaining supplies for patients and caregivers, the second surge has been all about labor, said Mike Alkire, president and CEO of Premier. (Devereaux, 10/6)

Modern Healthcare: Upcoding Continues To Inflate Reimbursement, Industry Overseers Say
Massachusetts hospitals continue to bill insurers for more complex care even though data indicate that patients aren't sicker, mirroring a nationwide trend, according to a new report. Hospitals coded about 2 in 5 patients at the highest severity levels—severity levels three and four—in 2020, up from about 1 in 4 patients in 2013, according to the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission's Market Oversight and Transparency Committee report issued Wednesday, which excluded COVID-19 hospitalizations. But there hasn't been a corresponding increase in the prevalence of chronic disease, age or life expectancy that would explain that increase, data from the Center for Health Information and Analysis show. (Kacik, 10/6)

Modern Healthcare: ADA's Newest Exec Comes From Medical Debt Collection Operation
The former head of a questionable medical debt collection operation has apparently moved on to a position at the American Dental Association. Until at least July, Tim Steffl was president of the Center for Consumer Recovery, a not-for-profit group that convinces hospitals to donate medical debt it then collects on using a for-profit vendor, a practice that concerned several industry experts. The ADA announced on Tuesday it had hired Steffl as president and CEO of its Business Innovation Group, or ADABIG. He will be responsible for ensuring the group is profitable and meets strategic and financial goals. He'll also create a strategy for scaling ADA practice transitions, a service within ADABIG that matches dentists with practice owners seeking associates or buyers. (Bannow, 10/6)

KHN: ‘An Arm And A Leg’: How One State Protects Patients From Hospital Lawsuits
In Maryland, hospitals had been suing people — taking them to court and garnishing wages — even though these patients legally qualified for financial assistance, also known as charity care. Those lawsuits are now illegal, because of the state’s new Medical Debt Protection Act. But in many other states, it still happens. This episode, the fourth in our series on charity care, focuses on how that change came about — as well as the coalition of consumer-protection advocates, riled-up activists and health care worker unions that made it happen. (Weissmann, 10/7)

Also —

CIDRAP: Study Finds C Difficile Is Prevalent Outside Of Healthcare Settings
A study presented last week at IDWeek 2021 suggests Clostridiodes difficile is more prevalent outside of the hospital than previously thought. And the soles of people's shoes may play a significant role in spread of the bacterium. Researchers at the University of Houston analyzed environmental samples collected from public areas, healthcare settings, and shoe soles in 11 countries from 2014 through 2017 for the presence of C difficile, which causes severe diarrhea and is the leading cause of hospital-associated infections but is increasingly being reported in community settings. The aim was to examine the prevalence and the strain types of the bacterium in different settings. (10/6)

Fox News: Virtual Care With Remote Monitoring Reduces Patients' Pain, Drug Errors: Study
Patients monitored virtually after nonelective surgery had significantly reduced pain and greater detection and correction of medication errors, according to researchers at McMaster University in Ontario. The national study, published this week in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), analyzed outcomes of post-surgical patients that received care virtually and through remote automated monitoring (RAM). Care included video calls with doctors and nurses, and use of wearable devices for self-monitoring of vital signs. The study also looked at the impact that virtual care and automated monitoring had on easing hospital burden. (McGorry, 10/6)

CBS News: Health Officials Advise Michigan Town To Use Bottled Water Amid What Local Activists Call A "Persistent" Lead Crisis
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) on Wednesday recommended residents of Benton Harbor rely on bottled water instead of tap water as a precautionary measure while various agencies work to decrease the risk of lead exposure. Activist groups say lead in the city's drinking water has been a "persistent, widespread, and severe public health crisis" for at least the past three years. (Powell, 10/6)

ABC News: Newark Residents Still Aren't Convinced Their Water Is Safe To Drink After Lead Water Crisis 
Five years after high levels of lead were detected in the water of 30 public schools in Newark, New Jersey, the city faces a new challenge of convincing residents affected by the crisis that the water is now safe to drink. Newark resident Marcellis Counts said he grew up feeling neglected by the city and that's caused public distrust to run deeply. "The water is just a clear example of how things are able to be neglected," Counts said. "Many people already knew that a lot of our water was bad anyway. So I always grew up not even drinking from water fountains when I went to school and stuff like that. So it was like that distrust." (Abramoff, Schlosberg and Yamada, 10/6)

In other news from across the U.S. —

AP: Louisiana Opioid Settlement Money To Go To Local Governments
Louisiana intends to divvy up the $325 million it expects to receive from a national settlement of opioid epidemic lawsuits to parish sheriffs and local governments to provide addiction treatment, response and recovery services, Attorney General Jeff Landry said Wednesday. The Republican attorney general announced he had reached an agreement in principal with organizations representing Louisiana’s sheriffs, police juries and municipalities that will govern how the money will be divided and spent. (Deslatte, 10/6)

North Carolina Health News: Budget Could Extend Postpartum Medicaid Benefits 
As budget negotiations drag on between the two chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly and the office of Gov. Roy Cooper, maternal health advocates are hoping a “game-changer” bill extending postpartum Medicaid will be included. A provision in the Senate budget, but not included in the budget created by the House of Representatives, would allow pregnant people with incomes at or below 196 percent of the federal poverty guidelines – about $34,800 for a family of two – to remain eligible for coverage for 12 months postpartum. (Thompson, 10/7)

Charleston Gazette-Mail: Miner Advocates See Federal Black Lung Benefit Bill As First Step To Shoring Up Strained Disability Trust Fund
Mine worker advocates have welcomed a new legislative proposal to keep federal black lung disease benefit payments flowing to certain coal miners at current rates for another decade. But it’s only a temporary fix. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and four other Senate Democrats recently reintroduced legislation that would extend the tax on coal production that pays benefits to miners affected by black lung, their eligible survivors and dependents when no responsible coal operator is identified or when the liable operator does not pay. The Black Lung Disability Trust Fund that the tax supports, though, has not raised enough revenue to meet obligations throughout its 44-year existence, and its dim fiscal outlook has miner advocates pushing for permanent solutions. (Tony, 10/6)

The CT Mirror: Survey: Pandemic Recovery Highlights Inequities In Connecticut
The coronavirus exacerbated the state’s existing economic and racial inequities, and pandemic recovery continues to be a tale of two Connecticuts as Black and Hispanic residents report lower rates of vaccination and higher rates of housing, food and economic insecurity, according to figures provided by DataHaven. The New Haven-based nonprofit research group conducted Community Well-Being Surveys in 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2021. This year, DataHaven gathered 5,145 responses from state residents between June and August. (Pananjady, 10/7)

Anchorage Daily News: Anchorage Schools See Rise In Physical Altercations And Behavioral Issues, Superintendent Says
Anchorage schools this year are seeing a significant uptick in behavioral issues, including physical altercations and emotional outbursts, said Superintendent Deena Bishop. Students this year have faced additional stress returning to classes and disrupting routines formed during the last year of distance learning, Bishop said. And some of the tension throughout the school district may also reflect a larger sense of division throughout the community, she said. “I want schools to be a respite from all that where they can go and just be kids and do school, but a lot of our emotions follow us,” Bishop said. (Williams, 10/6)

The Wall Street Journal: Moderna To Build Vaccine-Manufacturing Plant In Africa 
Moderna Inc. plans to spend up to $500 million to build a new manufacturing plant in Africa to supply doses of its Covid-19 vaccine and potential additional vaccines to a continent that has grappled with a shortage. The Cambridge, Mass., drug company said Thursday it will build a state-of-the-art facility that could produce up to 500 million doses annually of vaccines, using its gene-based technology, known as messenger RNA. (Loftus, 10/7)

WLRN 91.3 FM: Cuba's Selling COVID Vaccines, But Will Countries Import Them Without WHO Approval? 
Last week, Cuba began exporting its own COVID-19 vaccines. The problem is that while Cuba insists its vaccines are safe and effective, the World Health Organization has not approved them. And that could become a big controversy in Latin America and the Caribbean, where Venezuela is the first customer for Cuban vaccines — and where many doctors argue they shouldn't be administering those shots without the WHO green light. (Padgett and Hernandez, 10/6)

AP: WHO Working To Get COVID-19 Medical Supplies To North Korea
The World Health Organization is working to ship COVID-19 medical supplies into North Korea, a possible sign that the North is easing one of the world’s strictest pandemic border closures to receive outside help. WHO said in a weekly monitoring report that it has started the shipment of essential COVID-19 medical supplies through the Chinese port of Dalian for “strategic stockpiling and further dispatch” to North Korea. WHO officials on Thursday didn’t immediately respond to requests for more details, including what those supplies were and whether they had yet reached North Korea. (Tong-Hyung, 10/7)

CBS News: Charlize Theron Takes On New Role Of Fighting COVID Vaccine Hesitancy And Inequality: "I've Seen People Come Out On The Other Side" 
The COVID-19 vaccination rate is less than 4% in South Africa, where Oscar-winner Charlize Theron was born. Her organization, "The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project", is stepping up to help fight vaccine misinformation and inequality that is found in poorer countries like South Africa. The program has been fighting to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among South Africa's adolescent population since 2007. She said her organization has been speaking to South African residents who have been hesitant to get the shot because of vaccine misinformation. (10/6)

ScienceDaily: Cancer Chemotherapy Drug Reverses Alzheimer’s Symptoms In Mice 
A drug commonly used to treat cancer can restore memory and cognitive function in mice that display symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, new research has found. The drug, Axitinib, inhibits growth of new blood vessels in the brain -- a feature shared by both cancer tumors and Alzheimer's disease. This hallmark represents a new target for Alzheimer's therapies. Mice that underwent the therapy not only exhibited a reduction in blood vessels and other Alzheimer's markers in their brains, they also performed remarkably well in tests designed to measure learning and memory. (University of British Columbia, 10/5)

CIDRAP: Scientists, Biotechs Look To Unlock The Potential Of Phage Therapy
Bacteriophages are everywhere. Considered the most abundant organisms on the face of the earth, these microscopic viruses that selectively target and kill bacteria can be found wherever bacteria exist—in soil, inside plants and animals, and in oceans, streams, and sewage water. Discovered more than a century ago, phages were at one point viewed as a potential weapon against bacterial infections. Then came the antibiotic era. Now, with antibiotic resistance spreading and the threat of a post-antibiotic future looming, scientists are again turning to the ubiquitous bacteria-killing viruses for answers. (Dall, 10/5)

ScienceDaily: One In Three Kids With Food Allergies Say They’ve Been Bullied Because Of Their Condition 
Living with a food allergy can greatly impact a child's everyday life -- from limiting participation in social activities to being treated differently by peers. While previous research indicates many kids experience food allergy-related bullying, a new study found that offering kids with food allergies a multi-question assessment gives a more accurate picture of the size and scope of the problem. (Children's National Hospital, 10/5)

New England Journal of Medicine: Maintenance Or Discontinuation Of Antidepressants In Primary Care 
Among patients in primary care practices who felt well enough to discontinue antidepressant therapy, those who were assigned to stop their medication had a higher risk of relapse of depression by 52 weeks than those who were assigned to maintain their current therapy. (Lewis et al, 10/1)

In covid research —

CIDRAP: COVID Variants Of Concern More Virulent, Study Says
COVID-19 variants of concern (VOCs), especially the Delta (B1617.2) variant, are more virulent than the wild type, according to an Ontario-based study published in CMAJ yesterday. The cohort included 212,326 cases of non-VOCs (22.4%) and VOCs with the N501Y mutation (76.7%), such as Alpha (B117), Beta (B1351), Gamma (P1), and Delta. The researchers found that the VOCs had a 52% increased risk of hospitalization (95% confidence interval [CI], 42% to 63%), 89% increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (95% CI, 67% to 117%), and a 51% increased risk of death (95% CI, 30% to 78%). (10/5)

CIDRAP: Convalescent Plasma Didn't Help Critical COVID-19 Patients
Convalescent plasma didn't help adults with critical COVID-19 have better outcomes, according to a randomized trial published yesterday in JAMA. The 2,011-person study was rolled out at sites in the United Kingdom (115), Canada (9), Australia (4), and the United States (1, the only location that offered delayed convalescent plasma to 11 patients). The median age was 61 years, and 32.3% were women. (10/5)

American Academy Of Pediatrics: Six Month Follow-Up Of Patients With Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome In Children 
Children with MIS-C treated with immunomodulators have favorable early outcomes with no mortality, normalization of LV systolic function, recovery of coronary abnormalities, and no inflammation or scarring on cardiac MRI. Persistence of diastolic dysfunction is of uncertain significance and indicates need for larger studies to improve understanding of MIS-C. These findings may help guide clinical management, outpatient monitoring, and considerations for sports clearance. (Capone et al, 10/1)

CIDRAP: COVID-19 Incidence May Be Higher In Irritable Bowel Disease Patients
COVID-19 incidence was 4.7 per 1,000 person-years among irritable bowel disease (IBD) patients compared with 2.8 in the general population, according to a population-based study published in PLOS One yesterday. The researchers looked at COVID-19 patients admitted to the only two hospitals covering the South-Limburg region in the Netherlands from Feb 27, 2020, to Jan 4, 2021. The total population was 597,184 people, and 4,980 were estimated to have IBD. Twenty IBD patients (0.4%) and 1,425 of the general population (0.24%) were hospitalized due to COVID-19, leading to an incidence rate ratio of 1.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.62, p = 0.019). (10/6)

Stat: Learning The Lessons Of Health Care Worker Burnout From Covid-19
With the authorizations for several effective vaccines against Covid-19 and a strong vaccination program in place, concerns about burnout among health care workers who have been at the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic for more than 18 months began to recede. Then Delta became a household discussion as vaccination rates have fallen far short of expectation, keeping health care workers in the trenches. Burnout was a near-daily topic before Covid-19, but after multiple crushing rounds of the pandemic and with infections rising again, this systemic exhaustion has shifted from a concern to a crisis. (Anne Marie Benedicto, 10/7)

The Washington Post: Here’s What It Will Take To End The Covid-19 Pandemic 
The end of the pandemic may be in sight. That’s right. As the delta surge appears to be receding and new covid-19 cases have declined by more than a third since Sept. 1, the chance of a return to normal, while not guaranteed, is within grasp. What will it take to finally put this public health crisis behind us? (Leana S. Wen, 10/6)

The New York Times: Pregnant Women Should Get The Covid-19 Vaccine 
More than 60 years ago, the Nobel Prize-winning biologist Peter Medawar posed what has become known as the immunological paradox of pregnancy. The fetus, Dr. Medawar argued, is like a semiforeign transplant because half of its genes come from the father. Therefore, the mother’s immune system and the fetus must be locked in conflict. One of Dr. Medawar’s theories for why the mother’s body does not reject the pregnancy was that the maternal immune system is inhibited. As a result, the concept of pregnancy as an immune-suppressed condition was introduced to scientists, and it has influenced thinking about pregnancy among doctors and the public ever since. (Gil Mor, 10/7)

Los Angeles Times: Many Diabetics Ration Insulin. We Shouldn't Have To 
“Are you pregnant or hung over?” a colleague once asked as I exited the bathroom stall at work. After going three days without long-acting insulin to treat my Type 1 diabetes, I had been throwing up in the middle of my shift. But I had to get back to work, so I could earn enough tips to buy more. “No, this just happens sometimes,” I answered, downplaying how sick I really was. It was 2018, I was uninsured — and rationing my insulin because I couldn’t afford it. Being nauseated was a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, a painful and serious condition that can lead to a diabetic coma or even death. (Zoe Witt, 10/7)

Scientific American: An Elbow Injury Exposes The Exorbitant Costs Of Health Care 
Last winter, I banged my right elbow playing hockey, and it became swollen and red. Doctors diagnosed bursitis, inflammation of my elbow’s bursa sac, and prescribed antibiotics. In late May, I became feverish and delirious. I checked into the only hospital in my hometown: Hoboken University Medical Center. An emergency-room physician diagnosed sepsis based on blood and other tests. I spent three nights in the hospital, during which an orthopedic surgeon operated on my infected elbow. In a previous column, I praise my surgeon and others who treated me. These caregivers boosted my evaluation of American health care, which I have criticized (see here and here). I didn’t mention the costs of fixing my elbow because the bills hadn’t come in yet. (John Horgan, 10/6)

Stat: A Federal Drug Purchasing Program Could Save Billions 
When Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan announced they were creating a new health care company in 2018, it raised the possibility of the purchasing power such a company could have. Although the venture has since been disbanded, imagine the purchasing power the federal government could wield for buying drugs if all federal agencies that purchase prescription drugs were combined into a single purchasing pool. (Jeffrey R. Lewis, 10/7)

Chicago Tribune: Now Is A Bad Time To Sacrifice Medical Progress For Government Pricing 
Americans want quality health care that is accessible and affordable. We share that conviction. In fact, it’s what we wake up every morning and go to bed every night thinking about. Some in Washington, D.C., are trying to force a false choice between affordable medicines and access to lifesaving, life-strengthening medical innovation. These efforts must be rejected. There is a push underway to drastically transform the way prescription medicines are priced in this country. A system in which insurers negotiate prices with manufacturers would be replaced by a paradigm in which the United States resembles other countries where governments dictate what medicines will cost and which treatments will be available to patients. (Mark Reisenauer, Tim Walbert and Peter Anastasiou, 10/6)

Newsweek: U.S. Health Care Faces A Crisis Of Trust
The COVID vaccines are working. Studies paint a clear picture, the FDA has now given full approval to the Pfizer version and public health experts are unanimous: you and yours should almost certainly get vaccinated. But expertise is of limited utility without public trust, and American society is in the throes of a terrible and growing crisis of trust. (Ian Corbin and Joe Waters, 10/6)

The CT Mirror: Hartford Health Care Must Reopen Windham Maternity And Our ICU
No one could have predicted the COVID pandemic and the need for ICU beds. No one could have predicted the sudden closure of an 88-year-old maternity unit by a healthcare corporation during the early months of the pandemic. The two services, an ICU and a maternity unit — are critically linked at Windham Hospital in Willimantic. Their loss has harmed our community to the core. (Brenda Buchbinder, 10/6)

Stat: Northwest Bio Marks Anniversary Of Brain Tumor Study Delay With Silence
Northwest Biotherapeutics has buried data from its completed brain cancer clinical trial for so long and so deeply, I might be one of the few people who remembers that results from the Phase 3 study are still, technically, undisclosed. “Technically” because biotechs never hide or delay the release of good news. As of Tuesday, the wait for Northwest Bio to disclose study results reached one year. Realistically, the only lingering suspense is how, exactly, management will try to spin the treatment’s failure. (Adam Feuerstein, 10/6)