Bay Area FDA expands omicron-specific COVID-19 booster vaccine authorization to kids under 5 By Eli Walsh, Bay City News Foundation | December 8, 2022 The updated, “bivalent” boosters target both the initial COVID-19 strain and the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the highly contagious omicron variant.
COVID-19 The supply of COVID antivirals is increasing, but many patients aren’t using them By Ana B. Ibarra | CalMatters | December 5, 2022 Health officials say a key difference between this upcoming winter and the last two is the wider availability of COVID antivirals like Paxlovid.
Health Matters Should older seniors risk major surgery? By Judith Graham | Kaiser Health News | November 28, 2022 An important new study offers much-needed data.
California After election win, California’s AG turns to investigating hospital algorithms for racial bias By Mark Kreidler | Kaiser Health News | November 22, 2022 Rob Bonta has begun an inquiry into hospital software programs that might bake in racial discrimination.
Bay Area Flu, COVID, RSV transmission increasing ‘in every category’ state officials warn By Eli Walsh | Bay City News Foundation | November 18, 2022 For infants and young toddlers, RSV can be more serious than a common cold.
Health Matters Sick Profit: Investigating private equity’s stealthy takeover of health care across cities and specialties By Fred Schulte | Kaiser Health News | November 14, 2022 Private equity firms have shelled out almost $1 trillion to acquire nearly 8,000 health care businesses, in deals almost always hidden from federal regulators.
Bay Area State health officials urge preventative measures for flu, COVID, RSV By Eli Walsh | Bay City News Foundation | November 10, 2022 Residents are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID and the flu.
COVID-19 California faces triple threat of respiratory illnesses By Emily Hoeven | CalMatters | November 2, 2022 A convergence of rising influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 infections could come to a head in winter.
Featured in Category An abortion rights question on the California ballot revives the debate over ‘viability’ By April Dembrosky | KQED | October 25, 2022 The leading advisory group for OB-GYNs removed the term viability from its guidance on abortion in May.
Bay Area Was the public health workforce’s pandemic funding boost enough? By Kristen Hwang | CalMatters | October 19, 2022 During the decade after the 2008 recession, state funding for public health dropped 64%.