Latest KFF Health News Stories
LA Will Require Proof Of Vaccination Almost Everywhere Indoors
People who have no proof or have an exemption can still enter a business briefly to use the restroom or pick up a takeout order, according to the ordinance. The law is set to go into effect Nov. 4.
More US Kids Lost A Key Caregiver To The Pandemic Than Previously Thought
AP reports that more than 120,000 children lost a primary caregiver during the pandemic, potentially a higher figure than estimated. Black and Hispanic American kids were disproportionately affected. Separate reports say covid is now the leading cause of death among police officers.
Rare Cases Of Heart Inflammation Alter Some Nations’ Vaccine Protocols
The list of countries only administering one dose of the covid vaccine to adolescents is growing. The move is in response to the rare cases where a youngster develops myocarditis after a second shot. Meanwhile, Sweden and Denmark have halted use of Moderna’s jab for those under 30. Other vaccine rollout developments are in the news.
At FDA, Rifts Grow Over Booster Shots As Leadership Tug Of War Plays On
Meanwhile, sources have told Politico that the Biden administration is closing in on a nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration.
Biden Invests $1 Billion To Make At-Home Covid Testing Easier, Cheaper
The White House says its big purchase will quadruple access to rapid at-home tests by the end of the year. American demand for such kits has outpaced supply.
Texas Appeals Judge’s Temporary Block Of Law Banning Most Abortions
In a sharply worded opinion, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman barred enforcement of the restrictive law, saying “From the moment S.B. 8 went into effect, women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution.” The state of Texas quickly appealed for an emergency stay of Pitman’s ruling.
WHO Endorses A Malaria Vaccine For The First Time
GlaxoSmithKline’s RTS,S vaccine, known as Mosquirix, is also the first vaccine recommended for use by the World Health Organization to combat a parasitic disease. There are hurdles ahead though: the four-dose regimen raises logistical challenges, while questions remain over who will pay for it.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Research Roundup: Alzheimer’s; Phage Therapy; Food Allergies; Covid; More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Viewpoints: Medicaid Fix In Nonexpansion States Needed; Ideas For Treating Addiction In Tennessee
Editorial writers weigh in on these various public health topics.
Different Takes: Reasons For Rural Distrust Of Vaccine; Confusion Over Vaccinating During Pregnancy
Opinion writers tackle these covid and vaccine issues.
Food Packaging, Baby Products Using PFAS Chemicals Banned In California
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, linked to health issues including cancer, can no longer form part of food packaging or baby products in California. Separately, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed a law shortening the wait for terminally ill patients seeking assisted death.
Perspectives: Cheers And Jeers For Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
First Day Of Opioids Trial: Memos Warned Of ‘Suspicious’ Prescriptions
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
To Boost Transplants, First Study Into US Organ Procurers’ Data Begins
The Federation of American Scientists will launch the first investigation of over a decade of data from several organ procurement organizations, to better understand how people on transplant lists are being helped. Oxygen monitoring, needle exchanges and driver distraction are also in the news.
Investigation: Native American Health Service Complacent In Sex Abuse Case
Legal efforts by The Wall Street Journal unearthed an internal investigation by U.S. Indian Health Service hospitals into complaints about a pedophile doctor. USA Today reports on a man found with a 4-inch spike of cement in his heart following previous spinal surgery.
Opposition To Texas Abortion Ban Steps Up With Lawsuit In Illinois
Dr. Alan Braid, already in the news for performing an abortion after the restrictive new law in Texas passed, is asking a federal judge in Illinois to declare the ban unconstitutional and to block three bounty-like lawsuits filed against him under the law.
False Results Force Recall Of Hundreds Of Thousands Of Ellume Covid Tests
Ellume was the first company to get Food and Drug Administration authorization to sell home-testing covid kits in consumer retail outlets like Walmart. Meanwhile, deaths from covid in the U.S. this year have already surpassed 2020’s figure, but hospitalization rates are reported down.
Facebook Targets Youth Despite Mental Health Harm, Whistleblower Testifies
Lawmakers voiced bipartisan anger over evidence that Facebook continues to use its platforms, especially Instagram, to capture younger users despite internal research detailing increased risk of suicide, depression and eating disorders. Media outlets report on the key takeaways from former Facebook employee Frances Haugen’s testimony before a Senate panel Tuesday.
Biden Cedes Ground To Moderates Pushing For Smaller Spending Bill
News reports say that President Joe Biden is willing to scale back the reconciliation plan from $3.5 trillion to $2.3 trillion or even less — a concession that still means difficult negotiations ahead as Democrats negotiate over what to slash. Health measures could be on the chopping block.
