In another example of how some people have too much money, an auction bidder bought an old Steve Jobs Birkenstock over the weekend.
In health news, Moderna said its latest COVID vaccine elicits a strong immune response against the omicron variant. We will also consider extending the federal health emergency for coronavirus.
Welcome to Overnight Health CareFollow the latest developments in policy and news that affect your health. The Hill is Nathaniel Weisel and Joseph Choi.
Moderna: A COVID booster that works for subvariants
Moderna said on Monday that its updated bivalent booster shots produced “significantly higher” antibody levels to protect against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants compared to the biotech company’s original shot formula. announced to produce
- Moderna made the announcement in a news release Monday, but has not published the data in a medical journal and the findings have not been peer-reviewed. An updated shot was approved in late August without human data. rice field.
- New findings from a trial of over 500 adults boosted with the original formula before receiving the updated shot are positive for a new booster created by the company to more effectively combat subvariants. showing signs of
“We are pleased that both of our bivalent booster vaccine candidates offer superior protection against the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 variant compared to the original booster. This is encouraging given that cancer remains the leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths globally, Moderna CEO Stefan Bancel said in a release.
Until recent weeks, subtypes accounted for the majority of cases nationwide, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says their proportion is now down to about one-third of cases. is showing.
Validity for new subvariants:
- “Our bivalent booster has also shown neutralizing activity against BQ.1.1, a new and increasingly prevalent subspecies, in research assays, allowing the virus to rapidly escape our immunity. As it continues to evolve, we see that an updated vaccine may offer protection,” Bancel added.
Please check this out for details.
US to maintain public health emergency until January
The COVID-19 public health emergency will remain in effect until at least mid-January after the Biden administration failed to notify states and health care providers of its plans to lift it.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has pledged to give stakeholders 60 days’ notice if a public health emergency is intended to expire. That deadline was Friday.
- In October, HHS extended the public health emergency until January 11th. The public health emergency he was first declared in January 2020 and has been renewed every 90 days since then.
- Once the public health emergency is over, the federal government will stop paying for COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments, shifting the costs to the commercial sector.
“The COVID-19 public health emergency remains in effect and, as previously promised by HHS, we will give states 60 days’ notice before it may end or expire,” an HHS spokesperson said. said.
More than 300 people die every day in the United States from COVID-19, but the daily death toll and case rate are declining.
Please check this out for details.
Colorado votes to decriminalize ‘magic mushrooms’
Colorados are expected to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms and other plant-based psychedelic substances this week, making them the second US state to legalize psychedelics after Oregon.
- Oregon legalized psilocybin in 2020, allowing its use in surveillance facilities.
- Prop. 122 decriminalizes psilocybin and psilocin (psychedelic substances commonly found in mushrooms) and other plant-based hallucinogens such as dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine, and mescaline, except peyote.
Regulations: The proposal would also create a state regulatory system for access to hallucinogenic substances for Colorados over the age of 21.
Please check this out for details.
Advocated Press Conference to Address High Insulin Costs
On World Diabetes Day on Monday, dozens of health care advocacy groups called on Congress to pass legislation to ensure access to affordable insulin, especially for the uninsured.
- In a letter to Congressional leadership, more than 40 medical advocacy groups called on Congress to expand access to insulin.
- Acknowledging the recent $35 monthly insulin cap set for Medicare Part D recipients under the Inflation Reduction Act, the group said the measure “just scratches the surface of what is needed” and that insulin manufacturers Nothing was done to address the “excessive price” that was set.
Widespread impact: Noting the urgent need to expand access to insulin, the group cited a recent study that found that 1 in 4 people with type 1 diabetes were on insulin rations.
Priorities: The letter says legislation to expand access to insulin should include two measures. One is to ensure adequate access to insulin for people with uninsured or private conditions, and to stop manufacturers from charging “excessive prices.”
Please check this out for details.
Biden: Unlikely to codify abortion given House predictions
President Biden said Monday he doesn’t think Democrats will eventually retain a majority in the House, acknowledging that the result means the next Congress is unlikely to codify abortion rights.
- “I don’t think they can expect anything but that we hold our ground,” Biden said at a press conference in Indonesia.
- “I don’t think there will be enough votes to codify unless something extraordinary happens in the House. ”
Biden’s comments were the first to appear to admit that Democrats are not on track to maintain a majority in the House after Tuesday’s midterm elections. He said the possibility was “still alive”.
Since those comments, however, several closely contested seats in the House have been sought by Republicans, narrowing the path for Democrats to the 218 seats needed for a majority. With some elections yet to be called, Republicans currently hold 212 seats and Democrats hold her 204 seats.
- Democrats put abortion rights protection at the center of their campaign after the Supreme Court ruled in June in Roe v. Wade, which has protected abortion rights for decades.
- In the final week of the campaign, Biden urged his supporters to take the first step to codifying the abortion protections granted under Roe v. Wade if Democrats could retain a majority in the House and win a majority in the Senate. bill to be submitted to the new parliament. .
Although the Democrats escaped crushing defeats in both houses, they were unable to gain enough support to retain both the House and Senate.
And even if Democrats win a seat in the Senate in next month’s runoff vote in Georgia, some party members are hesitant to sidestep the filibuster to pass abortion laws.
Please check this out for details.
what we are reading
- Many patients with weak immune systems don’t realize Covid-19 drugs aren’t as effective as they used to be (CNN)
- White House seeks more covid funding in lame duck session (Washington Post)
- Illness Benefit: Investigating covert healthcare acquisitions across cities and specialties by private equity (Kaiser Health News)
by state
- Abortion is technically both legal and illegal in Mississippi. New lawsuit seeks clarification from Supreme Court (Mississippi Today)
- Southeast hit hardest as flu hospitalizations surge in US (CNBC)
- Medical sales drop as recreational marijuana prices plummet in Massachusetts (Boston Globe)
- Kentucky Children’s Hospital Out of Capacity Due to RSV Surge (WKYT)
The Hill Editorial
Impact of the “Red Ripple” on health policy beyond 2023
That’s all for today, thanks for reading. For the latest news and coverage, visit The Hill’s Health Care page. see you tomorrow.
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