Latest KFF Health News Stories
Poll: 56% Of Americans Want Indoor Mask Mandates To Continue
Meanwhile, Walmart announces that it will drop its mask mandate for fully-vaxxed workers. And in California, some lawmakers want businesses to require that their employees get a covid shot.
Shifting Pandemic Landscape Puts Pressure On White House To Adjust
A group of Republican lawmakers argues that it’s time for the nation’s “public health emergency” designation to be lifted. And while more states and cities end mask mandates, President Joe Biden says it may be to too soon to do so. Other federal pandemic measures and debates are also in the news.
Antiviral Drugs Arrive In Pharmacies, But Few Seem To Want Them
Stat and CIDRAP report on the arrival of oral antiviral meds at pharmacies and the new authorization of an infused medication, Eli Lilly’s monoclonal drug bebtelovimab to treat covid. Yet many patients don’t know about the drugs or don’t want to take them. Meanwhile, research finds that antihistamines may help tackle long covid.
Omicron Isn’t Over Yet: Military Teams Bring Hospitals Some Relief
Covid cases may be dropping in some parts of the country, but hospitals in Oklahoma, Utah, and Connecticut are still reeling from a crush of patients. In Ohio, where cases are improving, National Guard members are leaving their posts at hospitals.
Effectiveness Of Pfizer Booster Drops After 4 Months But Still Protects Well
Its protection against hospitalization fell from 91% at two months to 78% by the fourth month, a study found. In related news, the CDC now recommends that immunocompromised Americans get a booster three months after the initial series of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shots, rather than the current five months.
Covid Shots For Young Kids Now Months Away After FDA Reverses Review Plan
The FDA’s irregular proposal to fast-track its review of Pfizer-BioNTech’s covid vaccine for kids under 5 were abruptly tabled in order to gather more data on the efficacy of a third low-dose shot. That pushes the timetable out to at least April.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: Olympic Figure Skating’s Dark Side; Action Plan For Preventing Drug Overdoses
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Different Takes: Mexico City’s Ivermectin Mistake; How To Manage Next Pandemic
Opinion writers examine these covid topics.
At Least Half Of Humanity Is Now Fully Vaccinated
The Washington Post reports the passing of this milestone, but notes that the global rollout is very uneven, and poorer nations remain with lower vaccination rates. Other reports say though the U.S. brokered a J&J vaccine deal for refugees in Thailand, the shots have yet to be delivered.
Florida’s Medical Malpractice Shield Law Stays In Place
Critics allege the “free kill” law improperly shields negligent doctors, but nevertheless Florida’s Senate has seemingly abandoned efforts to overturn it. Separately, a Massachusetts bill to limit out-of-pocket spending on insulin was approved.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on grief, climate change, phone addiction, covid, and more.
Study Finds Higher Dementia Risk For Black, South Asian People
The U.K. study also showed the risk doubles if you live in a poorer neighborhood than a richer one. Transgender health care problems in Utah are also in the news. Also: health risks from Moscow Mule cocktails; Black and hispanic teacher departures; and the French discoverer of HIV died.
China Test Concerns Keep Eli Lilly Cancer Drug Unapproved By FDA
Media outlets report that the Food and Drug Administration was concerned the only clinical trials of the lung cancer treatment happened in China in a population not as diverse as that in the U.S. Meanwhile, controversially-approved Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm is again in the news.
Sutter Health Claims It Doesn’t Have Market Power As Antitrust Trial Begins
Because of that, attorney Jeffrey LeVee said, “it cannot violate the antitrust laws.” Modern Healthcare reports that opening statements in the case focused on the dispute over whether not-for-profit Sutter requires health plans to contract with all its hospitals as a condition of contracting with one of them, a practice known as “tying.”
Biden Makes Pitch For Drug Pricing Provisions As Way To Help Pocketbooks
Framed against a new report showing a sharp spike in inflation, President Joe Biden touted his plans to lower prescription drug costs as a way to lower the financial burden on Americans. He called on the Senate to take action on the pricing provisions, which are part of the stalled Build Back Better package.
Under a Texas law that went into effect in September all abortions are banned after about six weeks. As legislatures swing into high gear around the country, abortion is also on the top of their agendas.
Thousands Of NYC Workers Could Be Fired Today Over Vaccine Mandate
On Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was firm in his resolve: “We are not firing them,” he said. “People are quitting. The responsibility is clear.”
Unmasking Decisions ‘Probably Premature,’ Biden Says
The president did concede, during a TV news interview, that it was a tough call to make for the places where mask rules have been dropped. The White House is also reportedly working on its own plan for relaxing restrictions, including tackling how to know if the next phase of the pandemic has arrived.
Novavax Says Its Shot Is 80% Effective In Teens
The trial was performed when the delta variant was circulating. The FDA is still reviewing the two-dose vaccine, which is protein-based and made differently than the mRNA Pfizer or Moderna jabs.
