Health Care
Pushback against ‘vaccine passports’ puts colleges in a quandary
WASHINGTON — Florida’s Nova Southeastern University joined a small group of U.S. colleges on April 1, when the private research university announced that it would require all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall. In a message posted on the university’s website, NSU’s president and CEO, Dr. […]
Pause for Johnson & Johnson vaccine extended as federal health panel wrestles with next steps
WASHINGTON — Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot will remain paused for at least a week, after a federal vaccine advisory panel said Wednesday that it had too little data on a rare but serious blood-clotting condition reported in at least six women. That means states and federally run vaccine sites will be relying […]
Missouri to immediately pause use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine after rare blood clots
Missouri will pause use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as recommended by federal authorities who are investigating six instances of blood clots that have arisen after its use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration issued the recommendation Tuesday morning “out of an abundance of caution.” Shortly after, […]
COVID-19 vaccine distribution for Kansas City’s Black population ‘an afterthought’
Hosting COVID-19 vaccine events in Black churches. Playing video interviews with physicians at barber shops. Canvassing neighborhoods to fill vaccination appointments. These are just some of the ideas that Kansas City organizations are asking for or planning on to foster Black communities’ trust in COVID-19 vaccines. Organizers say it’s necessary to address the disparity in […]
Biden pitches big boosts in education and health spending in budget request
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration released a key portion of its budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year Friday, calling for increasing money for schools, public health programs, cancer research and other discretionary programs that it says have been underfunding for too long. The president’s $1.5 trillion request seeks to spend $769 billion on discretionary […]
Missouri one step closer to shedding its designation as the only state without a PDMP
Missouri is one step closer to shedding its designation as the only state in the country without a prescription drug monitoring program after a bill to establish one was passed out of the Senate Tuesday. Senate Bill 63, sponsored by Sen. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, cleared what has historically been a stumbling block for the legislation […]
Days after all Missouri adults are eligible for vaccine, state expects fewer doses
Missouri officials expect to see hundreds of thousands of fewer vaccine doses than anticipated next week, just days after eligibility will open up to all adults in the state on Friday. For the week of April 12, the state anticipates seeing roughly 157,040 doses in total — a decline of about 351,460 doses from last […]
Under a short-lived committee, some businesses jumped ahead in Missouri vaccine line
In the span of 10 minutes in late February, a panel of state officials signed off on nearly 1,300 people skipping ahead in Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccination line to receive a shot sooner. About 25 minutes later, another 325 were elevated. It all happened during the first of five meetings of the Missouri Vaccine Priority Phase […]
How the pandemic pushed Missouri moms to redefine their relationship with work
Throughout the pandemic, Deanna Munoz of Kansas City had to adapt to remote work and adjust to a new position at her corporate job, all with three kids learning remotely. Then on Oct. 22, Munoz’s brother died from COVID-19. A few days later, her mother died of a heart attack, on the way to his […]
CDC: If you’re fully vaccinated, you can travel in the U.S. without tests or quarantines
WASHINGTON — Fully vaccinated individuals can travel at low risk to themselves, and do not need to get a COVID-19 test or quarantine after traveling within the U.S., federal health officials said Friday as they unveiled updated travel guidelines. The new guidelines offer the first official guidance to Americans who are at least two weeks past […]
Missouri House plan to reject Medicaid expansion faces uncertain fate in the Senate
Republicans in the Missouri House finalized their plan to block funding for voter-approved Medicaid expansion on Thursday, giving final approval to its version of the state’s budget and sending it to the Senate. What happens next remains unclear. House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade said she’s confident the Senate will restore the $1.9 billion in Medicaid […]
Restrictions on local health orders regain momentum as bill advances in Missouri Senate
Less than a week after the Senate rejected a push to limit the authority and scope of local health orders during states of emergency, a Senate committee revived the issue Wednesday. House Bill 75, sponsored by Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis, was passed out of the Senate Health and Pensions Committee the same day it […]