Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages tackle these public health issues.
Different Takes: Omicron Is Breaking Through Vaccinations; Managing Omicron Threat
Opinion writers examine these covid and vaccine issues.
Israel Adds US, Canada To Covid Travel Ban List Over Omicron
Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey were also included in the decision, driven by surges in the omicron variant of covid. The Netherlands has entered a lockdown during an omicron spike, and covid hospitalizations have jumped in London.
Kentucky Lawmaker Seeks To Boost Limits On Mailed Abortion Pill
In other news, a controversy simmers over a brief shut-off of fluoridation of Anchorage’s water supply; researchers in Utah are working on new ways to screen for breast cancer; a decline in infant mortality in Alabama; and Louisiana adds a new “autism” designator to driver’s licenses.
Red Cross Signals Need For Blood Donors As Supplies Decline
Dallas Morning News reports that donated blood stocks and donor turnout are the lowest ahead of the holiday season in over a decade. Meanwhile, Proctor and Gamble is recalling dry conditioner and shampoos over benzene contamination, and a bill aims to warn parents over artificial food dyes.
Jurors Deliberate In Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes Case
In other pharmaceutical industry news, AbbVie has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate Alvotech, which is planning a biosimilar version of its Humira arthritis drug. And questions are raised over a popular I.V.F. test, which may not be effective for first-time patients.
More Health Data Companies Hacked In 2021 Than Since Records Began
More health care systems were breached by hackers than any year since 2010, but luckily fewer people’s data were affected than in serious attacks made in 2015. Medicare residency slots, more doctors considering retirement and details on Oracle’s plan to buy Cerner are also in the news.
Omicron Threat Pushes Harvard Into Online Learning For Early January
Harvard University said Saturday it would implement remote learning for the first three weeks of 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, said that unvaccinated students exposed to covid can remain in school subject to a testing regime.
Trump, Republicans Squeezed NIH Director To Back Unproven Covid Drugs
News outlets report on interviews with the outgoing director of the National Institutes Of Health Francis Collins. Collins admits President Donald Trump and other Republicans pressured him to endorse unproven covid drugs like hydroxychloroquine. But the story is complex when it comes to pressure to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci: CNN’s report says he did face such calls, but Fox News’ says Collins called such pressure “rumors.”
Royal Caribbean Cruise Hit With Over 40 Covid Cases
The cruise ended in Miami on Saturday, with at least 44 people on board testing positive for covid. The New York Times reports on how surging covid is impacting holiday travel plans, and outgoing National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said travel for unvaccinated people was not “a great idea.”
Here’s What Health Workers Confront: Full ICUs, Patients Dying. And Violence.
In overtaxed U.S. health facilities where covid is surging, more doctors and nurses report facing hostility and even physical threats while trying to save their patients.
Fauci Warns Of ‘Raging’ Omicron; NIH Director Warns Of Million-Case Days
Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke to the press and said the new omicron covid variant was “raging around the world.” Outgoing National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins warned the U.S. could even see days where a million new cases were reported, unless people took covid more seriously.
CDC Miscounted Number Of Americans Who Have Received First Covid Shot
The CDC says the number of people 65 and older with at least one shot is 95%, lowered from 99.9%. Bloomberg reported that the move acknowledged what state officials have discovered: The U.S. has counted too many shots as first doses when they are instead second doses or booster shots.
Pfizer Trials For Young Kids Miss Immunity Marks; More Testing Needed
Two shots of a low-dose Pfizer covid vaccine did not produce an adequate immune response in children ages 2 to 5 participating in a clinical trial. Pfizer and BioNTech say they will next test a third dose.
Moderna Finds Third Vaccine Shot Boosts Protection Against Omicron
Preliminary lab data finds that a booster half dose of Moderna’s covid vaccine raises antibody levels against the variant by 37 times, the drugmaker said in a statement. The company is still moving forward with plans to develop a vaccine modified for omicron.
Manchin Derails Biden’s Spending Bill; Democrats Scramble To Revive It
Democrats erupted in anger over Sen. Joe Manchin’s surprise announcement Sunday that he would not support the $2 trillion legislation after 5 months of negotiation, while Republicans hailed the “maverick” move. The White House did not mince words, calling it “a breach of his commitments to the president and the senator’s colleagues in the House and Senate.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages examine these public health issues.
Opinion writers delve into these covid and vaccine issues.
