Latest KFF Health News Stories
Schools In Texas, Florida Defy Mask Mandate Bans
AP and Politico report on how school districts in Texas and Florida — where Republican governors have enacted strict bans on requiring masks — continue to rebel against these new laws. Separately, experts predict even as Texas’ surge stresses hospitals, the covid death peak is still to come.
Washington State Enacts Strictest Vaccine Mandate Yet For Educators
Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, announced the covid vaccine mandate includes all public, charter and private school teachers and staff plus those working at the state’s colleges and universities, on threat of losing their jobs. Separately, a judge OKs school mask mandates in New York.
Nursing Homes Told To Vaccinate Staff — Or Lose Medicare, Medicaid Funds
President Joe Biden made the announcement Wednesday. Some nursing home workers say the mandate, which could take effect as early as next month, would likely worsen staffing situations.
Many Scientists Say Booster Decision Is ‘Premature,’ Will Hurt Global Supply
Some health experts stressed that scientific evidence suggests protection against severe disease is still holding and may last several years, Stat reported. Others suggested that the U.S. was being selfish. “Anyone who thinks that vaccinating Americans with a third dose is not going to come at the expense of getting the vaccine to other places in the world — if that’s what you think, you’re just kidding yourself,” one vaccine researcher said.
Biden Lashes Out At Mask Bans, Says Education Department Can Intervene
“We’re not going to sit by as governors try to block and intimidate educators protecting our children,” the president said during a speech Wednesday.
The Case For Boosters: 3 New Studies Show Covid Shots Weaken Over Time
As the Bay Area News Group reported, in one study, the decline since earlier this year was modest, dropping from 92% to 80%. In the second, it was more dramatic, falling from 75% to 53%. A third study found that protection fell from 76% to 42% for Pfizer and from 86% to 76% for Moderna. Protection against hospitalization and death remained strong, however.
Covid Booster Rollout To Begin Sept. 20 For Those Who Got Pfizer, Moderna
The Biden administration announced Wednesday that people who received the two-dose mRNA vaccines should get a booster shot eight months after their second dose. Those who received the J&J one-dose shot will likely need a booster, too, but will need to wait a few more weeks for more information as health officials gather more data.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: How To Eliminate Preventable Medical Harm; Covid Doctors Losing Compassion
Editorial pages examine these various public health issues.
Opinion pages delve into these covid and vaccine issues.
Perspectives: When Drug Profits Win, The Patient Always Loses
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
New Zealand Now Tracking At Least 10 Covid Cases
After detection of a single community covid case forced the country into a snap three-day lockdown, New Zealand authorities are now tracking at least 10 cases, linked to the delta surge in Australia. Separately, the U.K. authorized Moderna’s covid shot for use in adolescents.
Newsom Warns California Facing Statewide Water Restrictions
California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom warned restrictions may be in place as soon as six weeks from now. Meanwhile, Axios reports how extreme heat-related illnesses may stress hospitals, and WUSF Public Media covers potential “killer heat” problems for Florida’s outdoor workers.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN’s Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
Swallowing Risk For Powerful Magnet Toys Prompts Mandatory Recall
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was pulling rare-earth magnet toys Zen Magnets and Neoballs. The move was made over the health risks from children swallowing them. Twitter, health spending disparities, psych hospital alternatives and heart rates are also in the news.
Flaw Exposed Hospital Equipment To Hackers, But BlackBerry Kept Quiet
Politico reports a major software flaw by BlackBerry left critical hospital equipment at risk of hacking, but the company opted to keep silent for months. In other news, Dignity Health and Anthem Blue Cross sign a new California deal, a new Veterans Affairs hospital is coming to Louisville, and more.
Sackler Family Threatens To Walk Away From $4.5 Billion Opioid Pledge
The family made the threat in court Tuesday, unless they are granted immunity from all current and future civil claims associated with Purdue Pharma. Separately, experts raise worries about a sharp rise in prescriptions of stimulants, which can be highly addictive drugs.
Study Shows Fan-Attendance Limits Kept Football From Spreading Covid
CIDRAP reports on a new study showing NFL and NCAA games with in-person number limits were not linked to increased community spread of covid. Also in the news: a nursing home lawsuit; diabetes and covid in Mississippi; a cyberattack targeting Indiana’s covid tracing system; and more.
Florida Education Board Steps Up Threats To Schools Over Masks
The State Board of Education voted unanimously to investigate two school districts with mask mandates that defy Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban, and threatened legal action. Separately, reports say over 8,000 Florida students are already in isolation or quarantine.
Texas Governor Tests Positive For Covid
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, an anti-masker who was fully vaccinated, is reportedly taking monoclonal antibody treatments. Social media posts show he recently attended a busy, mostly maskless Republican event. Separately, Disability Rights Texas is suing Abbott over his strict ban on mask mandates, alleging it’s discriminatory.
