COVID-19 again the third leading cause of death, while elderly deaths decrease
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Apr 25, 2022
U.S. mortality from COVID-19 increased overall in 2021, but there has been a decline in deaths among the elderly and other shifts in who is severely affected by the disease, the CDC reports.
CDC Director Walensky announces sweeping review of agency
Apr 05, 2022
Revamp would focus on improving the nation’s public health workforce, data modernization, laboratory capacity, rapid response to outbreaks
Omicron remains lethal in the older and unvaccinated, former CDC chief warns
Mar 23, 2022
The next wave of COVID-19 is on its way and unvaccinated elders are at risk of being hit hard, according to former CDC director Tom Frieden, M.D. “If we learn quickly and act quickly, we can outmaneuver...
CDC revises public indoor mask guidance; no changes yet for healthcare settings
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 28, 2022
Fewer Americans are currently advised to wear masks under a new risk assessment that relies on local hospital capacity and cases rather than COVID-19 transmission rates. LeadingAge is calling on the CDC...
Clinical briefs for Friday, Feb. 18
By
Amy Novotney
Feb 18, 2022
CDC reforming COVID-19 guidance … Nearly three-quarters of the U.S. now estimated to be immune to omicron variant … Brain synapse destruction culprit behind Alzheimer’s cognitive decline … Treatment...
CDC loosens controversial opioid prescribing guidelines for chronic pain
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 14, 2022
Draft revisions no longer include specific dosage ceilings. This and other changes address controversial elements of the older guidance and highlight clinicians’ roles in opioid prescribing decisions.
Health officials urge public to consider wearing N95, KN95 respirators
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2022
The CDC has updated its consumer information on wearing face masks during the pandemic. The changes clarify levels of mask protection and emphasize that the public can choose to wear N95 and KN95 respirators...
With omicron spreading fast, officials implore nursing home providers to push COVID-19 booster shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2022
The surgeon general and CMS administrator Brooks-LaSure urged providers to “cut through the noise” about vaccines as outbreaks increase across facilities. Less than 28% of staff have gotten...
Feds shrink Pfizer booster interval to 5 months as omicron surges
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 05, 2022
The decision is part of an effort to increase the number of booster shot recipients and build up Americans’ immunity in response to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, officials said.
Pfizer, Moderna vaccines recommended over Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus shot
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 17, 2021
Americans should preferably be vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines due to a rare but serious risk of blood clots and the lesser protection found with the J&J vaccine, CDC says.