Pharma&Tech 081921

Science Shows Mask-Wearing Is Largely Safe for Children
By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact Scientists have found little evidence that the kind of masks worn by students negatively affect oxygen or carbon dioxide levels.

Public Favors Masks in Classrooms but Balks at Mandating Vaccinations for Students
By Jordan Rau With schools reopening, poll finds two-thirds of parents support mandating masks for unvaccinated students, but resistance to vaccinating students remains high. “My child is not a test dummy,” one Black parent told pollsters. Some parents deferred the decision to their teens.

DeSantis’ Executive Order Is Misleading About Lack of Scientific Support for Masking in Schools
By Victoria Knight The Florida governor’s order said schools couldn’t mandate that students wear masks and that the state could deny funding to school districts that didn’t comply.

Getting a Covid Vaccine During Pregnancy Even More Urgent as ICU Beds Fill Up
By Ashley Lopez, KUT The CDC recommends that pregnant people be vaccinated against covid-19, based on new safety and effectiveness evidence on the covid vaccines.

‘Wisdom and Fear’ Lead 90% of U.S. Seniors to Covid Vaccines
By Phil Galewitz The success in getting shots to older adults is likely due to states prioritizing that effort when the vaccines became available and motivation among the elderly after the virus killed so many in their age group.

The White House Says Boosters for All. Here’s What You Need to Know.
By Sarah Jane Tribble Federal officials are preparing to offer those who received Pfizer or Moderna covid vaccines a third dose in September. But the FDA and CDC are still reviewing the data for final clearance.

‘I Don’t Want to Risk My Life for a Paycheck’: Immunosuppressed People Grapple With Returning to Work
By Victoria Knight Millions of Americans with weakened immune systems are weighing a return to workplaces as the delta variant of covid surges and while awaiting guidance about additional vaccine shots.

Amid Covid Booster Debate, West Virginia to Check Immunity of Vaccinated Nursing Home Residents
By Phil Galewitz The state says it will look at the levels of disease-fighting antibodies among nursing home residents vaccinated against covid, which could help indicate whether they need a booster shot.

A Quarter of US Hospitals, and Counting, Demand Workers Get Vaccinated. But Not Here.
By Katheryn Houghton Amid a surge in covid-19 cases driven by the highly contagious delta variant, nearly 1,500 health systems across the nation are requiring their employees to get vaccinated. In Montana and Oregon, that’s not an option.

Have Vaccines, Will Travel: On the Road With a Covid Entrepreneur
By Katheryn Houghton While many businesses scaled back at the height of the pandemic, one Montana man used covid-19 to open his own mobile pharmacy. He’s now bringing covid shots to Montana’s vaccine deserts while filling his wallet. But he cannot fill all the vaccination gaps.

Claims That CDC’s PCR Test Can’t Tell Covid From Flu Are Wrong
By Victoria Knight Posts circulating on Facebook and Instagram incorrectly claim that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is withdrawing its covid test because it can’t differentiate between that virus and flu viruses. These statements could be an attempt to blur the high cumulative numbers of covid cases.

‘Tainted’ Blood: Covid Skeptics Request Blood Transfusions From Unvaccinated Donors
By JoNel Aleccia In another twist on covid vaccine hesitancy, blood centers say they are starting to hear from transfusion patients demanding blood from unvaccinated donors. Experts say the option is neither practical nor medically justifiable.

Pfizer CEO to Public: Just Trust Us on the Covid Booster
By Sarah Jane Tribble As pharmaceutical companies declare a need for boosters, scientists and doctors emphasize there’s no proof yet.

In Rural America, Twisting Arms to Take a Covid Vaccine First Takes Trust
By Cara Anthony In communities across the country, the Cooperative Extension System, the same organization that supports 4-H clubs nationally, is tapping its roots in rural communities to promote vaccines. But its approach to getting people vaccinated in many communities, including Cairo, Illinois, must be nuanced.

The Newest Disease Detection Tool for Covid and Beyond: Poop
By Anna Maria Barry-Jester Hundreds of college campuses, cities and counties around California and the U.S. are exploring sewers for the newest data stream to track covid and other infectious diseases.

Federal Vaccine Program Hasn’t Helped Those Whose Lives Were Altered by Covid Shot
By Arthur Allen A national vaccine court has paid out billions to families who could prove their kids were injured by vaccines. But there’s only a skeletal program for the rare victims of covid vaccination, raising concerns as the pressure for mandated shots grows.

‘The Vaccination Queen’: Nurse Practitioner Takes Covid Shots House to House in Puerto Rico
By Caroline Almy and Alicia Carter Abigail Matos-Pagán, a critical care expert who has galvanized relief efforts after hurricanes and earthquakes, is on a mission to inoculate as many Puerto Rican residents as possible.

Déjà Vu? Consumers Scramble for Covid Tests in Hard-Hit Areas
By Phil Galewitz and Rachel Bluth and Rae Ellen Bichell As the nation confronts the delta variant, many consumers are again facing delays getting tested. The problem appears most acute in the South and Midwest, where new infections are growing the fastest.

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Delta Blues
Covid is back with a vengeance, with some people clamoring for booster shots while others harden their resistance to getting vaccinated at all. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is pushing hard on drugmaker Pfizer’s request to upgrade the emergency authorization for its vaccine and give it final approval. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Cohrs of Stat and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

National Academies’ Report Took Pharma-Friendly Stance After Millions in Gifts From Drugmakers
By Christina Jewett Congress tapped a national academies committee to examine a drug cost issue. It got a report that includes “egregious” failures to disclose conflicts of interest.

Pharmacies Face Extra Audit Burdens That Threaten Their Existence
By Markian Hawryluk Pharmacy benefit managers have curtailed in-person audits of pharmacy claims during the pandemic, switching to virtual audits done by computer. That has markedly increased the number of claims they can review — and the chances for payment denials — squeezing pharmacies and bringing in more cash for the benefit companies.

Surgeons Cash In on Stakes in Private Medical Device Companies
By Fred Schulte Doctors tied to professional sports teams share in investment bonanza.

Apple Aims to Push More Patient Data to Doctors. But Who Can Gauge Its Impact on Health?
By Sarah Kwon The Silicon Valley giant has been cryptic about its plan for the growing mound of health data available through its iPhones and watches. Health systems have experimented with the company’s health app, but it hasn’t yet become central to treatment.

New Moms Latched On to Remote Breastfeeding Help. Will Demand Wane as Pandemic Fades?
By Kate Ruder The pandemic forced new parents to find help with breastfeeding online. Now, some offerings are remaining virtual to help expand access to lactation support.

Pfizer Court Fight Could Legalize Medicare Copays and Unleash ‘Gold Rush’ in Sales
By Jay Hancock Pharmaceutical companies routinely cover the cost of patient copays for expensive drugs under private insurance. A federal judge could make the practice legal for millions on Medicare as well.

Diabetes Drug’s New Weight Loss Formula Fuels Cost-Benefit Debate
By Julie Appleby Health plans’ coverage of the medication, branded as Wegovy — which has a $1,300-a-month price tag — is not a sure thing.

Facing Headwinds on New Alzheimer’s Drug, Biogen Launches Controversial Campaign
By Julie Appleby The makers of Aduhelm, a drug approved last month despite concerns raised by experts about its effectiveness, have launched a website and ads designed to urge people who are worried about their memory to ask doctors about testing. But some health advocates say it is misleading because some memory loss with aging is normal.

Veterans Push for Medical Marijuana in Conservative South
By Aneri Pattani North Carolina claims to be the “Nation’s Most Military Friendly State.” Now veterans are trying to capitalize on this dedication to the troops to persuade lawmakers to pass medical marijuana legislation. It’s an advocacy model that has led to success for pro-cannabis efforts elsewhere.

Covid Renews Interest in Radiation, but Docs Caution Against Pilgrimages to Radon-Filled Mines
By Katheryn Houghton Each year, people in pain travel to Montana and pay to sit amid radon gas, which is pitched as therapy for a long list of health issues. While low-dose radiation therapy is getting another look amid the pandemic, experts say that treatment is different than sitting in a tunnel of radioactive gas.

As Holdout Missouri Joins Nation in Monitoring Opioid Prescriptions, Experts Worry
By Eric Berger Missouri is the last state to create a monitoring program to help spot the misuse of prescription drugs. But some public health experts warn that the nation’s programs are forcing people addicted to opioids to seek deadlier street options.

Journalists Dig in on Delta Variant Risks and Opioid Overdose Deaths
KHN and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss their stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

2+2=? Senate Uses Murky Math as It Shelves Drug Pricing Rule to Fund Infrastructure
By Michael McAuliff The Medicare rule, designed by the Trump administration to take money away from drug industry brokers and provide refunds to patients, has not been implemented. But budget analysts say if it were, it would cost the government money. So senators are pushing the rule aside and claiming to save billions of dollars, which they want to use instead on new projects.

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: The Senate Acts
The U.S. Senate worked well into its scheduled August recess to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a budget blueprint that outlines a much larger bill — covering key health priorities — to be written this fall. Meanwhile, the latest surge of covid is making both employers and schools rethink their opening plans. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Mary Ellen McIntire of CQ Roll Call and Yasmeen Abutaleb of The Washington Post join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read, too.

Lo que debes saber sobre el refuerzo de la vacuna contra covid
By Sarah Jane Tribble La administración de Biden anunció el miércoles 18 de agosto planes para ofrecer refuerzos de la vacuna contra covid-19 a todos los adultos estadounidenses a partir del próximo mes.

Mensaje del CEO de Pfizer al público: confíen en nosotros con el refuerzo de la vacuna contra covid
By Sarah Jane Tribble Pfizer anunció su ensayo global de fase 3 sobre una tercera dosis a mediados de julio. La fecha de finalización de ese ensayo es en 2022. Los resultados de la fase 3 suelen ser necesarios antes de la aprobación oficial.

“Sabiduría y miedo” llevan al 90% de los adultos mayores de EE.UU. a vacunarse contra covid
By Phil Galewitz La pandemia ha sido especialmente cruel para los adultos mayores. Casi el 80% de las muertes ocurrieron entre personas de 65 años y más. Millones estuvieron aislados en residencias y en sus casas por meses.

Heces: la nueva herramienta de detección de covid y otras enfermedades
By Anna Maria Barry-Jester Cuando se detecta la presencia de covid en las aguas residuales, se realizan pruebas a los estudiantes, al personal y a los profesores, lo que ha permitido a la universidad identificar y aislar a los individuos infectados que aún no muestran síntomas.

Más embarazadas con covid en cuidados intensivos, expertos enfatizan que deben vacunarse
By Ashley Lopez, KUT La baja tasa de vacunación en este grupo es sorprendente, señalan médicos. Al 31 de julio, solo el 23% de las embarazadas habían recibido al menos una dosis de la vacuna contra el coronavirus, según estadísticas de los CDC.