Health
Idaho sets a lofty goal: 80% of people vaccinated for COVID-19 — this year
State officials hope to persuade more Idahoans to get the COVID-19 vaccine — and they’ve set the goal at a statewide vaccination rate of 80%. That’s a high bar for a state whose flu vaccination rate is below 50%. Idaho public health officials said Tuesday they’re planning to ask the U.S. Centers for Disease Control […]
Idaho health officials urge pause on Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare on Tuesday issued a recommendation to health care providers to follow guidance from U.S. regulators and hold off on continuing to administer COVID-19 vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson. Federal officials issued a recommendation early Tuesday morning that health care providers pause use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine. […]
‘Reclaim Idaho’ may dominate 2021’s documentary awards race. Film debuts at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Idaho’s Medicaid expansion fight may be next year’s award darling for best documentary. New Yorkers and first-time filmmakers Laura-Wing Kamoosi and Jim Kamoosi, the married team behind “Reclaim Idaho,” entered the documentary into the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and so far the reception has been resoundingly positive. “Reclaim Idaho” tells the story of […]
Idaho families are still — and will always be — suffering because of COVID. Mine is one.
Editor’s note: Karen Kay died Sunday, April 11, 2021. She was 61. My Aunt Karen Kay has a sneaky smile with crooked teeth, a rebellious stubborn streak and a purse collection that rivals even Cardi B’s. She loves cold Cokes, black “kiki” cats and dozens and dozens of photo albums full of family. And as […]
Idaho Gov. Brad Little bans state involvement in COVID-19 vaccine passports
Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Wednesday signed an executive order to ban state government entities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The order also bans state government from producing or issuing “vaccine passports” or providing information on a person’s vaccine status to be used in vaccine passports. The ban allows Idahoans to receive public services […]
Supreme Court will maintain COVID-19 precautions to keep courts open
My fellow Idahoans, Every day, members of our communities visit our local courthouses. Some are there to make or defend a legal claim or perhaps to pay a ticket. Others come to serve as witnesses or jurors. In addition, I cannot overlook the dedicated employees who work in these buildings as courthouse staff and judges. […]
Balancing risk and normalcy: What COVID means for an athlete’s heart
For sports fans across the country, the resumption of the regular sports calendar has signaled another step toward post-pandemic normality. But for the athletes participating in professional, collegiate, high school or even recreational sports, significant unanswered questions remain about the aftereffects of a COVID-19 infection. Chief among those is whether the coronavirus can damage their […]
Idaho health officials see more COVID variants in race against time for vaccinations
Just as vaccines were rolling out, scientists broke some news: They had discovered slightly tweaked versions of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. These variants seemed to spread more easily. They seemed to make people sicker. And some of them had changed in subtle ways that seemed to make it harder for antibodies to attack. First, […]
1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have now been delivered to Idaho
The federal government has delivered 1.02 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Idaho as of Friday, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 783,000 of those doses have made it into Idahoans’ arms. Nearly 478,000 people in Idaho have received at least one dose of the vaccine. […]
Idaho failed disabled community in vaccination prioritization
I put my life on hold. Projects, personal milestones, planned events and goals were all halted. This is our reality — mine and those in the disabled community. Many of us have been homebound for a year. We went into lockdown two weeks before the state of Idaho officially did. The governor’s stay-at-home order lasted […]
Idaho’s largest one-day vaccine clinic is next Thursday at Boise Airport
Idaho’s largest mass clinic for COVID-19 vaccines is scheduled for April 8 at the Boise Airport. The clinic was organized by Crush the Curve Idaho in partnership with the city of Boise, Boise Airport and Red Rock Pharmacy. Crush the Curve hosted a mass vaccination drive in Meridian in February, vaccinating more than 1,000 people. […]
Your Health Idaho is open through April with lower-priced health insurance
Idaho residents can sign up for health insurance through the Your Health Idaho exchange until April 30. The special enrollment window gives Idahoans a chance to enroll in health plans that have heavily discounted premiums. “For the first time ever, tax credits, which act like an instant discount, may be available for those who were […]