Long-term care residents, staff may top list for COVID boosters: CDC advisers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 28, 2021
Most residents were vaccinated early, and time from vaccination plays into waning effectiveness, CDC advisers say. What’s more, this population already requires special considerations for other vaccines....
When one dangerous compromise leads to another
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 28, 2021
Sometimes providers are backed into a corner and must do non-preferred things. But the big question becomes what’s the next step after the first concession?
COVID deaths now ‘entirely preventable’ due to vaccines, CDC director says
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 24, 2021
High vaccine efficacy in the United States means that “every death due to COVID-19 is particularly tragic because nearly every death, especially among adults … [is] entirely preventable,”...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, June 15
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 15, 2021
CMS issues reprieve for 2,500 nursing homes yet to report COVID vaccination rates … Former CMS administrator says nursing homes will remain key test sites for COVID therapies, other treatments …...
Clinical briefs for Monday, June 14
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 14, 2021
3 FDA advisory panel members resign in wake of controversial approval of new Alzheimer’s drug … U.S. suspends COVID J&J vaccine shipments as backlog builds; extends expiration dates … VoiceFriend...
FDA allows injections, reduced dose of COVID monoclonal antibody therapy
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2021
An effective but arguably underused COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy now may be more accessible for long-term care facilities that aren’t equipped to deliver intravenous infusions.
Bamlanivimab cuts risk of COVID in nursing homes and assisted living, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2021
The investigation was conducted before the FDA revoked emergency use of the drug — a monoclonal antibody — due to the impact of genetic variants on efficacy. But it still can be used in combination...
Large VA study reveals ease of COVID-19 transmission among unvaccinated healthcare staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Investigators found nearly 20 times the rate of COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated healthcare staff, plus signs that transmission clusters were linked to those workers.
Two new drugs show promise for hard-to-treat breast, prostate cancers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Cancer drug Lynparza (olaparib) reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death in certain aggressive breast cancers by 42% after surgery, while a new prostate cancer treatment improved survival by tracking...
Feds identify promising and ‘urgently needed’ COVID antiviral drug
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 04, 2021
The experimental drug TEMPOL has shown promise in early studies, halting the activity of a viral enzyme and limiting the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections.