The state’s surgeon general grants parents permission to send unvaccinated children to school during a measles outbreak, risking their health and that of others.
Category: Public Health
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Alabama Court Rules Embryos Are Children. What Now?
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the Alabama Supreme Court has determined that embryos created for in vitro fertilization procedures are legally people. The decision has touched off massive confusion about potential ramifications, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham has paused its IVF program. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to endorse a national 16-week abortion ban, while his former administration officials are planning further reproductive health restrictions for a possible second term. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too.
Results are in on 'tripledemic' viruses' hospital burden this season: 4 notes
The combined effects of flu, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 this season led to similar levels of hospitalizations and illness, but there were smaller peaks of COVID-19 and RSV compared to the 2022-2023 virus season.
Death and Redemption in an American Prison
More than a quarter century after an inmate helped start a hospice program in one of the nation’s most notorious prisons, he is trying to spread the idea.
Grocery spending drops among Ozempic users
New data points to yet another ripple effect from the rising popularity of weight loss drugs: a drop in grocery spending, Bloomberg reported Feb. 16.
Americans are overdoing 'alone time'
Americans spend far less time face-to-face today than they did 20 years ago, reaching a new low for “social fitness” that spills over to other dimensions of health and wellbeing.
25 states where virus activity is still high
Most parts of the country have seen hospitalizations for COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus drop in recent weeks. However, the CDC anticipates the nation could see a second wave of flu and “many more weeks” of disease circulation, according …
Beyond Ozempic: Why one size doesn’t fit all in weight loss
I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, which is generally associated with a diet of all fried food. Prior to medical school, I thought many adults around me would eventually succumb to a diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes since they didn’t appear to thi…
The Powerful Constraints on Medical Care in Catholic Hospitals Across America
The expansion of Catholic hospitals nationwide leaves patients at the mercy of the church’s religious directives, which are often at odds with accepted medical standards.
CDC weighs recommendation for spring COVID booster
The CDC may recommend an additional COVID-19 booster this spring, but likely only for those who are most vulnerable to the virus, NBC News reported Feb. 15.
