COVID-19: Caring for Patients and Communities
Only 38% of nursing home residents and 15% of staff have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, even though over 20% of all U.S. COVID-19 deaths occur in long-term care facilities, a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of federal data found.
People infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy were more likely to give birth to babies with higher levels of respiratory distress, a study published in Nature Communications found.
Despite a lack of robust data tracking, health care experts note COVID-19 cases are up, with older and vulnerable people more likely to be hospitalized due to the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently urged nursing home residents to become vaccinated, following the release of research showing only 33% of residents were up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination.
The National Institutes of Health has expanded its Home Test to Treat program nationally. The program, which began in January as a pilot program for COVID-19, offers free testing, telehealth and treatment for COVID-19 and flu to eligible adults.
To commemorate National Influenza Vaccination Week Dec. 4-8, the American Hospital Association released its latest social media toolkit to encourage vaccination against the flu and COVID-19.
The Department of Health and Human Services seeks nominations to serve on its advisory committee on long COVID-19.
Nearly 60% of Black and Hispanic adults have gotten or plan to get the most recent COVID-19 vaccine compared with 42% of white adults, according to the latest Kaiser Family Foundation survey.
Although respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations were less common last year than COVID-19 and flu in older adults, RSV disease was more severe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Department of Health and Human Services Administration this week awarded over $500 million to prepare for clinical trial three COVID-19 vaccine candidates.