New data show J&J’s COVID vaccine 94 percent effective with a second dose, company says … Feds partner with AMDA in $10.5M immunization campaign … One in three caregivers say they’ll refuse COVID...
First biosimilar approved by FDA to treat common eye degeneration in elders
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 21, 2021
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a less expensive copy of the blockbuster drug Lucentis for treating age-related (wet) macular degeneration and several other eye conditions.
CDC: Lasting COVID-19 symptoms tied to age, sex, race factors
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 21, 2021
Investigators examined recovered COVID-19 patients in Long Beach California. Fully one third of participants reported having at least one symptom of post-acute sequelae, commonly called “long COVID-19,”...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Sept. 21
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 21, 2021
Humana reports rise in seniors’ COVID hospitalizations … Moderna shot leads pack at preventing COVID hospitalization, CDC finds … Experts unsure what flu has in store for this season … Drug combo...
CDC to fund LTC infection control strike teams nationwide starting in October
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 20, 2021
The initiative will allow states and other U.S. jurisdictions to “staff, train and deploy” strike teams to help long-term care operations with known or suspected COVID-19 infections, CDC says.
FDA panel recommends COVID boosters for older adults, healthcare workers
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 20, 2021
An FDA advisory panel has unanimously recommended approving COVID-19 booster shots for adults aged 65 years and older and for individuals at high risk of severe disease, including healthcare workers.
Nursing homes, feds hide sky-high antipsychotic use with dubious diagnoses: report
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 20, 2021
At least one-fifth of nursing home residents are taking the drugs, many for schizophrenia, a diagnosis that has skyrocketed in these settings since 2012, a new investigation finds.
Clinical briefs for Monday, Sept. 20
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 20, 2021
CNAs remain least vaccinated, requiring ‘large-scale’ solution … AARP says Florida leads nation in COVID deaths of nursing home residents, staff … Hardware-free virtual physical therapy system...
Two-thirds of neurologists expect to start some patients on Aduhelm next year: survey
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 17, 2021
The outlook for the Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab (Aduhelm) is looking up, investigators say. There are small increases in the number of Aduhelm prescribers, and an uptick in patients for whom the...
Norovirus outbreaks trouble LTCFs; prevention needed, CDC researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 17, 2021
During the study period, 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico reported more than 13,000 norovirus outbreaks and upwards of 410,000 outbreak-associated cases in long-term care facilities.