Latest KFF Health News Stories
Patient’s Brain Swelling, Death After Taking Aduhelm Under Investigation
The newly approved, if controversial, Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm is in the news after a patient who’d taken the medication was hospitalized for brain swelling and then died. The drug’s maker Biogen is investigating if there is any link. Meanwhile, a trial finds psilocybin is useful for combatting depression.
Bat Populations May Harbor Coronavirus Similar to SARS-CoV-2
A newly published study says researchers back in 2010 found a close cousin to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Cambodian bats. A fascinating French study suggests that having lingering long covid symptoms may have led participants to believe that they had COVID-19, when they did not. Other diseases, anxiety, or deconditioning related to the pandemic could be the cause of the symptoms, the study said.
More Heat And Ozone Affecting Health
The environmental impacts on health are examined: ozone in Western U.S. cities and heat worldwide. And the impact of covid on the environment. Also news on flu, food and dying vets.
A Backlash Against Covid Vaccine Lies Gains Strength
Pfizer’s CEO actually calls people who spread disinformation “criminals.” Newsmax’s White House reporter is banned from Twitter for promoting her theory that Satan has something to with the covid vaccine. And the NFL fines the Green Bay Packers and its quarterback for violating the league’s covid rules. But Senator Elizabeth Warren is sued by a book publisher for criticizing covid misinformation.
Lobbyists Spend Big To Push Changes In Drug Pricing Legislation
They want changes on the time period of drug exclusivity and the tax treatment of rare disease drugs — and are shelling out record lobbying dollars to influence the bill. Also, news on the Biden administration efforts to get covid vaccine to war-ravaged countries.
Warnings from Missouri and Georgia health officials and from the California governor alert people that the threat from covid has not passed.
OSHA To Rely On Whistleblowers To Report Vaccine Mandate Violations
The AP says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration doesn’t have nearly enough staff to track workplace safety violations of the Biden administration’s covid vaccine mandate. So it will rely on a “corps of informers” instead. Meanwhile, reports say mandates do really work.
Oklahoma Supreme Court Reverses $465M Opioid Ruling Against J&J
In a 5-1 ruling, the Oklahoma Supreme Court justices overturned a lower court’s ruling that Johnson & Johnson had violated the state’s public nuisance statute — an argument on which thousands of opioid cases against drugmakers hinges.
Moderna And NIH Tussle Over mRNA Vaccine Patents
Also, the U.S. government buys another $1 billion work of anti-covid pills from Merck. Astra-Zeneca attempts to get its vaccine development operations in order.
FDA To Weigh Allowing Pfizer Boosters For Anyone 18 Or Over
Pfizer and BioNTech asked Monday for authorization to start administering additional covid vaccine doses to any adult in the U.S. The companies submitted new study data on efficacy that was not available when a similar request was denied in September. The New York Times reports that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to grant the request.
First Edition: November 10, 2021
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Viewpoints: Vaccine Mandates Are Working; Compassion Fatigue Among Medical Field Is At All Time High
Opinion writers weigh in on these covid topics.
Singaporeans ‘Unvaccinated By Choice’ Won’t Get Free Covid Care
The government in Singapore has decided it will no longer support payment of covid medical bills for people who remain unvaccinated after Dec. 8. Meanwhile, in the face of anti-vax threats, Israeli lawmakers will decide on covid shots for young children in private.
IVF Fetus Mix-Up Results In Birth Of ‘Wrong Baby’, Lawsuit In California
News outlets report that two families gave birth to each other’s babies after a mistake at a fertility clinic in Los Angeles. The mix-up has resulted in a lawsuit. Meanwhile, legal moves over covid vaccines, mandates happen around the country. And a “mental health day” for school kids is rejected.
Cerner’s CEO Learns To Battle Epic
Cerner’s CEO, David Feinberg, is friends with Judy Faulkner of Epic. But he must battle her. In other news, major hospitals pull more money from cash-paying customers and insurance companies and Blue Cross Blue Shield gets tough with some licensees.
If You Try To Drive Drunk In A 2026 Car, Congress Wants It To Stop You
Congress aims to tackle drunk driving with a requirement for car makers: From as soon as 2026, new cars should be able to detect if drivers are under the influence of alcohol, and stop them. Climate change and girls’ health, overdose deaths, and mental health issues are also in the news.
Stroke Risk Reduced With Vegetable Fat Consumption
Vegetable fat in place of animal fat reduces stroke risk, a new study says. Other research is on sepsis reduction, the best sleep time and racial disparities in organ transplants.
Regeneron Says Antibody Treatment Protects Against Covid
Regeneron said its antibody treatments reduced the risk of contracting covid by 81.6% in a late-stage trial. In other news, the Texas health department issues a study showing unvaccinated people are 20 times more likely to die of covid.
Covid Deaths Skew Higher Than Ever In Red States
The New York Times reports on disparities in covid deaths — with the gap between highly-vaccinated states (which tend to be Democratic) versus less-vaccinated states (which tend to be Republican) growing faster than ever over the last month. Vaccination exemptions and hesitancy are also in the news.
