Science Didn’t Support ‘6-Feet-Apart’ Pandemic Guideline, Fauci Concedes
June 3, 2024
Morning Briefing
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who headed the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the height of the pandemic, told Congress that the CDC’s social distancing rule was “an empiric decision that wasn’t based on data.”
First Edition: June 3, 2024
June 3, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
‘So Much Death’: Lawmakers Weigh Stricter Speed Limits, Safer Roads for Pedestrians
By Vanessa G. Sánchez
June 3, 2024
KFF Health News Original
New York and Michigan recently passed laws allowing local jurisdictions to lower speed limits, and Los Angeles voters backed safer road designs, but enforcement often meets political resistance. The number of pedestrians killed or injured on the road remains high.
Readers Issue Rx for Clogged ERs and Outrageous Out-of-Pocket Costs
June 3, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.
“Tanta muerte”: legisladores analizan límites de velocidad, y calles más seguras para los peatones
By Vanessa G. Sánchez
June 3, 2024
KFF Health News Original
La administración Biden ha destinado $15.6 mil millones a la seguridad vial hasta 2026, y $5 mil millones en subvenciones locales para prevenir muertes y lesiones en las carreteras.
Journalists Talk Cost of Weight Loss Drugs and Lack of Obesity Doctors to Manage Their Use
June 1, 2024
KFF Health News Original
KFF Health News and California Healthline staff made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
Morning Briefing for Friday, May 31, 2024
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Third bird flu case, food safety, abortion laws, covid, cancer treatments, and more are in the news. Plus, your weekend reads.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on “forever chemicals,” Morgan Spurlock, kush, and more.
Chicago Says Measles Outbreak Is Done After 64 Confirmed Cases
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
The Chicago Tribune reports that there have been no new cases in the past two incubation periods. But in California, Tulare County reported its first measles case of the year.
Tattoo-Lymphoma Link Discovered, But Cancer Experts Cast Doubt On Findings
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Researchers “found no evidence to suggest that the risk increased” because of tattoos. Elsewhere, patients in England will be participating in a study to determine whether a cancer vaccine is as promising as they hope at killing cancer cells and preventing a resurgence of the disease.
Senator Asks FTC, SEC To Investigate UnitedHealth Over Cyberattack
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
In a letter sent Thursday, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon argued that the hack could have been averted if the company had adhered to industry best practices, Becker’s reported.
Remote Abortion Care Likely Accounts For National Uptick In Numbers
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
An analysis by the Society of Family Planning finds that the estimated abortions in 2023 increased slightly over the year before. Telehealth abortion consultations and shield laws are likely behind that trend. States with abortion bans saw their numbers drop significantly, some to nearly zero.
After Infant Formula Shortage, FDA Plans To Shake Up Its Food Division
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Meanwhile, Dairy Manufacturers Inc. has recalled some versions of the infant formulas Crecelac and Farmalac, sold in Texas, because they didn’t meet FDA standards.
Most Of Doctors’ X Posts Endorsing Drugs Or Devices Came With Payment
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
An analysis finds strong financial ties between drug and device manufacturers and the doctors who endorse their products on X, formerly known as Twitter. Other pharmaceutical news is on the drug discount program, weight loss drugs, and more.
Some Covid Symptoms Can Persist Years After Infection, Study Finds
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Four years in, researchers are learning that for some patients, particularly those who suffered severe bouts, the virus caused lasting effects for more than three years. And although boosters offered good protection against severe illness, research shows the need for a jab targeted at the JN.1 subvariant.
Latest Human Case Of Bird Flu Could Change Trajectory Of Illness
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Another dairy farmworker in Michigan has been infected with bird flu, but the unidentified person is the first to suffer from respiratory symptoms. The presence of a cough sparked alarm over the potential for spread to others. “Simply put, someone who’s coughing may be more likely to transmit the virus than someone who has an eye infection like conjunctivitis,” CDC Deputy Director Nirav Shah said at a news conference Thursday.
First Edition: May 31, 2024
May 31, 2024
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
After Grilling an NIH Scientist Over Covid Emails, Congress Turns to Anthony Fauci
By David Hilzenrath
May 31, 2024
KFF Health News Original
In a trove of emails brought to light through a congressional probe, a former close adviser to longtime National Institutes of Health official Anthony Fauci spoke of hiding messages from public disclosure.
The Chicken and Egg Problem of Fighting Another Flu Pandemic
By Arthur Allen
May 31, 2024
KFF Health News Original
The spread of an avian flu virus in cattle has again brought public health attention to the potential for a global pandemic. Fighting it would depend, for now, on 1940s technology that makes vaccines from hens’ eggs.
