CDC Reviewing Safety Of Pfizer Bivalent Booster For Seniors; Still Recommends Shot
January 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
The CDC said Friday that its Vaccine Safety Datalink surveillance system detected a preliminary safety signal for stroke in people ages 65 and older, which led to the investigation. None of the agency’s other monitoring programs have identified any concerns, which leads the CDC to say that it’s “very unlikely.” No other covid vaccines have been flagged.
Maternal Death Risks Increase With Covid Infection During Pregnancy: Study
January 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
New research identifies other dangers that covid can cause for patients who are pregnant, including a greater risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit and developing pneumonia. The chances of preterm birth and other severe outcomes are also higher for newborns.
Airplane Wastewater Screening Among Tools Used To Keep Up With Variants
January 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Efforts to scan for potential new covid variants include bio surveillance for international passengers at U.S. airports — including airplane bathroom waste. Meanwhile, CIDRAP covers a relevant statistic: nearly 1 in 4 screened air passengers from China were covid positive.
To Combat Suicides, All Veterans Can Now Get Free Emergency Care
January 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that U.S. military veterans who are in “acute suicidal crisis” are eligible for free emergency mental health services at a VA facility or through private practice starting today. It’s estimated that 18 million people are covered by the new policy and they do not have to be enrolled in the VA system.
ACA Enrollment Breaks Record At Nearly 16 Million
January 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Just before enrollment on the healthcare.gov exchange closed nearly 16 million had signed up. Final numbers are expected soon, and some state exchanges like in California and New York are still open.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, January 17, 2023
January 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s roundup covers ACA enrollment, veteran health, covid vaccines and variants, Medicaid, abortion pills, opioids, cancer, and more.
First Edition: Jan. 17, 2023
January 17, 2023
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Will Your Smartphone Be the Next Doctor’s Office?
By Hannah Norman
January 17, 2023
KFF Health News Original
Entrepreneurs see smartphones as an opportunity to meet patients where they are. But many app-based diagnostic tools still need clinical validation to get buy-in from health care providers.
Rural Seniors Benefit From Pandemic-Driven Remote Fitness Boom
By Christina Saint Louis
January 17, 2023
KFF Health News Original
When the pandemic began, senior service agencies hustled to rework health classes to include virtual options for older adults. Now that isolation has ended, virtual classes remain. For seniors in rural areas, those classes have broadened access to supervised physical activity.
Calif. Lawsuit Targets Drugmakers Over Inflated Insulin Prices
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
“We’re going to level the playing field and make this life-saving drug more affordable for all who need it, by putting an end to Big Pharma’s big profit scheme,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a news conference Thursday. In other news from around the country: psychiatric beds in New Hampshire, a false covid positive for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, and more.
Morning Briefing for Friday, January 13, 2023
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Friday’s roundup covers cancer rates, new normal of covid winters, breakthrough research on aging, CDC news, insulin costs, and a lot more.
‘No Place That’s Immune’: NYC Nurses Return; Similar Issues Exist Elsewhere
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
A three-day strike involving thousands of New York nurses at two hospitals ended Thursday with a tentative contract deal, but experts say that the issues at play, including staffing shortages and high caseloads, exist similarly at hospitals across the country. Also in the news: CVS, the North Carolina Medical Board, Mariner Health Care, and more.
Workers Accuse HCA Of Putting Profits Before Patients
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, news outlets report on takeaways from JPMorgan’s Healthcare Conference which wrapped Thursday; Summa Health opening an $84 million behavioral health pavilion, Jacksonville expanding its accelerated nursing program, and more.
New Research On Aging Could Lead To Human ‘Fountain Of Youth’
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
New research shows that the aging process can be reversed and even driven forward and backward at will in mice. Other research news relates to a potential youth asthma and cannabis connection, covid vaccination during breastfeeding, on how paying people to get covid shots worked, and more.
CDC: Vaccine Delays Put 250,000 Kindergartners At Risk Of Measles
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Media outlets report on news of pandemic delays in childhood vaccinations and how thousands of U.S. youngsters may now be at risk of catching measles. Separately, among other news, the U.S. birth rate has dropped as women are waiting to have children later in life.
Nirav Shah Appointed To CDC Post As Walensky’s Deputy
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Dr. Nirav Shah, who oversaw Maine’s pandemic response as that state’s CDC chief, will join the federal agency as principal deputy director and report to Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
‘Born Alive’ Anti-Abortion House Bill Faces Criticism Over ‘Extremist Values’
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
Abortion-rights groups criticize the anti-abortion bill, even though it’s passage in the House was largely symbolic. Separately, ballot measures tend to affirm that most voters support abortion rights. Other reproductive and gender health news is reported from Montana, Alabama, and Wisconsin.
Driven By Variants Like XBB, Jha Warns Covid Winters Will Recur
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
White House covid response coordinator Ashish Jha said the U.S. health-care system will face strain from covid during winter surges for years. Fortune reports the XBB family of subvariants may prove not so severe.
Cancer Death Rates In US Drop 33% Since 1991 Peak
January 13, 2023
Morning Briefing
An American Cancer Society study says that the decrease as resulted in 3.8 million fewer deaths from cancer. Earlier detection, better treatments, and a reduction in smoking are credited. But researchers flag a recent rise in late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses.