What One Expectant Mom’s Effort To Get an RSV Shot Says About Health Policy
By Elisabeth Rosenthal
November 13, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Today we bring you the story of a patient seeking the RSV vaccine — and how her frustrating journey illustrates why it can be so hard in the United States to get an important medicine recommended by federal regulators. Hannah Fegley of Silver Spring, Md., says she spent seven hours on the phone last month […]
EPA Worries Thousands In Minnesota May Be Drinking Contaminated Water
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Over 9,000 Minnesotans may be drinking water that is contaminated with agricultural chemicals that could have health impacts, CBS News reports. Meanwhile: in Southern California, a first case of St. Louis Encephalitis, a mosquito-born virus, is confirmed; infant mortality rises in Missouri; and more.
Viewpoints: What Are Dr. Fauci’s Thoughts On Post-Viral Illnesses?; Nurses Are Not Alright
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Editorial writers examine long covid, the nursing crisis, kidney donation and more.
Promising Research Reported On Cancer ‘Kill Switch,’ High Cholesterol
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Scientists have identified a specific protein that can “program” cancer cells to die, potentially opening up new ways to combat cancer. Separately, a new gene-editing treatment showed great promise against dangerous cholesterol. Also, a new toothpaste may help battle peanut allergies.
Salmonella Alert: Dry Pet Food Recalled After Infants Are Sickened
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
According to the CDC alert, “This means that people likely got sick by touching this dog food, touching things like dog bowls that contained this dog food, or touching the poop or saliva of dogs that were fed this dog food.” Other public health news is on tuberculosis, loneliness, kratom, and more.
Amid Conflict, Controversy, Gaza’s Largest Hospital Not Able To Function
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
The WHO said Sunday that the largest hospital in Gaza has ceased to function, and patient fatalities are rising amid the fighting outside the gates and power outages. Thousands of people have reportedly fled the facility, though hundreds of patients remain inside.
FDA OKs First Vaccine For Mosquito-Born Chikungunya Virus
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Chikungunya virus infects more than 300,000 people across the globe each year and is seen as posing a greater risk to Americans due to climate change. The vaccine, Ixchiq, will be available for adults who have recently traveled to places with infected mosquito populations and those with predisposed risks.
AstraZeneca Says It Will Prioritize RSV Drug Doses For US As Infections Soar
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Beyfortus, the therapy in question, was approved for use against the disease in infants and toddlers in July, and a surge of cases in the U.S. has seen it in short supply. Separately, AstraZeneca is also looking at markets for cheap Ozempic-like weight-loss drugs aimed at more modest weight-losses.
Wegovy Cuts Heart Attack And Stroke Risks In Clinical Study
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
The results of a large clinical trial, presented by Novo Nordisk A/S at an American Heart Association meeting this weekend, suggest that Wegovy and other drugs in its class can improve heart health independent of the benefits of weight loss, which could lead to a massive shift in cardiovascular care.
Researchers Narrow In On Brain Effects To Explain Long Covid
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Scientists are trying to find out why some people experience long-term covid symptoms while others do not. Also, new research examines a lost sense of smell after covid. Also in the news: prenatal covid shots are shown to help infants, even as anti-vaccine efforts tick up.
Morning Briefing for Monday, November 13, 2023
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s briefing includes news on extra heart benefits from Wegovy, efforts to undermine covid vaccine campaigns, a salmonella alert, research into long covid and more.
White House Announces Expanded Health Coverage For Veterans
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
The expansion includes a no-cost system for World War II veterans, and efforts to speed enrollments for people impacted by toxins during their military service. Other news reports cover veterans’ mental health, including studies into psychedelics to combat PTSD. Veterans’ homelessness is also in the news.
Ohio GOP Lawmakers Want Courts Blocked From Implementing Abortion Measure
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Four Republican state lawmakers are proposing to strip judges of the authority to interpret cases surrounding the newly passed Issue 1 abortion amendment.
First Edition: November 13, 2023
November 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Here are today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
How Lawmakers in Texas and Florida Undermine Covid Vaccination Efforts
By Amy Maxmen
November 13, 2023
KFF Health News Original
State legislatures and politicians are pressuring public health officials to keep quiet about covid vaccines.
Why It’s So Tough to Reduce Unnecessary Medical Care
By Markian Hawryluk
November 13, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Treatments that don’t help patients, and may even harm them, are difficult to eliminate because they can be big sources of revenue.
Who Will Care for Older Adults? We’ve Plenty of Know-How but Too Few Specialists
By Judith Graham
November 10, 2023
KFF Health News Original
The principles and practices of geriatrics are being widely disseminated. And we understand much more now about how to improve older adults’ care. Yet we don’t have enough geriatricians to meet the growing demand.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': A Very Good Night for Abortion Rights Backers
November 9, 2023
Podcast
Abortion rights backers won major victories in at least five states in the 2023 off-year elections Nov. 7, proving the staying power of abortion as a political issue in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health finally has a new director, after Democrats temporarily blocked President Joe Biden’s nominee over a mostly unrelated fight about prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Julie Appleby, who reported and wrote the latest “Bill of the Month” feature.
Another GOP Primary Debate … Another Night of Verbal Clashes
By KFF Health News and PolitiFact staffs
November 9, 2023
KFF Health News Original
In a faceoff that took some strange turns, five presidential hopefuls focused on foreign affairs and inflation but still revealed the party’s political struggles over its abortion position. Once again, former President Donald Trump did not appear on the debate stage.
Gubernatorial Candidates Tout Opioid Settlements
By Aneri Pattani
November 9, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Tuesday’s election served as a testing ground for themes that could resonate with voters in 2024. Abortion is obviously among the biggest. One that’s not getting as much attention as it deserves: opioid settlement money. In Kentucky, both the newly reelected Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, and his Republican challenger, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, were involved […]