Localities in California and Colorado are contracting with private companies to create their own health departments, spurred by a disregard for regional covid safety mandates.
Category: Public Health
Teen Traveled to Philly to Get Vaccinated Against His Parents’ Wishes
Nicolas Montero is 16, and that’s old enough to get a vaccine on his own in Philadelphia. Vaccine regulations vary around the country and, in more than a dozen states, teens can consent to their own medical care.
CDC to update mask guidance
The CDC is considering a shift to its indoor mask guidance that would rely more on COVID-19 hospitalizations as an indicator of whether masks are needed.
US COVID-19 cases fall below delta peak; excess deaths surpass 1 million
As COVID-19 cases drop rapidly, deaths have decreased slightly but remain high, with excess U.S. deaths reported since Feb. 1, 2020, surpassing 1 million.
Omicron subvariant in 47 states; study finds similar severity to original strain: 5 updates
The COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.2, dubbed “stealth omicron,” has spread to at least 74 countries and 47 states across the U.S., according to data from outbreak.info.
Inside the Tactical Tug of War Over the Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug
An epic battle is playing out behind the scenes over whether the government should pay for Aduhelm, an FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drug that scientists say has not been proven to work.
What Does It Say About Your Neighborhood If the Supermarket Isn’t So Super?
A mother-and-daughter team went comparison-shopping to see what grocery store shelves revealed about inequity in America.
Experts call for universal vaccine in anticipation of future variants
Chasing the latest circulating COVID-19 variant with a targeted vaccine isn’t a viable pandemic strategy, experts say, instead calling for an Operation Warp Speed approach for the development of a universal vaccine, The Washington Post reported Feb. 15.
Mix-and-match boosters tied to fewer COVID-19 cases, study finds
People who receive a COVID-19 booster that’s a different brand than their primary vaccine series may be better protected against COVID-19, according to a study from Singapore published Feb. 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
America’s untapped COVID-19 strategy
The U.S. could reduce COVID-19 deaths by focusing on one public health strategy that’s been largely untapped: encouraging boosters among older adults, The Atlantic reported Feb. 14.
