Health
White House plans speedy delivery to states of COVID vaccine for littlest kids
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is preparing to ship COVID-19 vaccines to the states as quickly as possible, should the Food and Drug Administration approve an emergency use authorization for kids under 5. White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients said Wednesday that approval of the specially formulated vaccine would make 18 million young children […]
Pfizer, BioNTech seek federal approval from FDA for COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5
WASHINGTON — Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday asked the federal government to begin the approval process for a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5. The companies said in a joint statement they began the rolling submission process for an emergency use authorization at the request of the Food and Drug Administration “in response to […]
Eastern Idaho legislator again floats bill to prevent mask mandates
With Idaho hospitals operating under crisis standards of care and positive COVID-19 cases surging, an Eastern Idaho legislator is again pushing a bill attempting to ban governments and schools from requiring masks to prevent or slow the spread of disease. Rep. Karey Hanks, R-St. Anthony, is sponsoring the new bill, which will be formally assigned […]
Idaho Gov. Brad Little calls up Idaho National Guard to help with COVID. Again.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little has activated the Idaho National Guard for the fourth time to help Idaho health care providers contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, his office announced Monday. The governor activated 75 Idaho National Guardsmen to assist Primary Health Medical Group — one of Idaho’s largest urgent care providers — and the Idaho Department […]
FAQ: Crisis standards of care, round two
This story was originally published Jan. 27, 2022, on the Idaho Reports blog. On Monday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare declared crisis standards of care for part of southern Idaho. The circumstances around this declaration are different than when IDHW declared crisis standards of care in fall 2021, prompting a number of questions […]
Fauci declines to predict COVID vaccine timetable for kids under 5
WASHINGTON — Parents hoping to vaccinate their young children against COVID-19 will need to be patient, Dr. Anthony Fauci cautioned Wednesday. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said while he expects the vaccine regimen for children under 5 will be three doses, he couldn’t provide a timeline on when the […]
Idaho hospitals are in crisis, again. This time, it’s more complicated.
Idaho is once again in a health care crisis. The state’s health and welfare director on Monday announced he re-activated Idaho’s “crisis standards of care” rationing protocol that morning. Saint Alphonsus Health System requested the activation last week, and Idaho Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen convened the Crisis Standards of Care Activation Advisory Committee […]
What happens when thousands of Idahoans get sick? Business takes a hit.
Schools shut down in Nampa. Hospital staff and clinic workers calling out sick. “Out of stock” at restaurants and stores. Limited hours at some Boise city buildings and the Pocatello public library. Idaho has stayed “open” for nearly the entire pandemic. Then omicron arrived; some parts of Idaho’s economy are now struggling to stay open […]
Legislatures across country back off pandemic protocols
As Dr. Jennifer Bacani McKenney walked the halls of the Kansas Statehouse on opening day of the legislative session this month, she was taken aback by what she saw. In the hallways, where “people are chatting and hugging and all that stuff, there were probably less than half of the people wearing masks … You […]
Idaho’s health insurance enrollments are held up — another pandemic domino effect
Renae Poseley has severe pain in her right hip. Her doctor last year told her to see a specialist, because it seemed that a medical implant in her back was malfunctioning. She likely needs surgery. Poseley, who lives in Mountain Home, didn’t have insurance for most of 2021. She signed up for a plan through […]
Online orders for free at-home COVID tests to begin Jan. 19
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Friday launched a new website for Americans to request up to four free COVID-19 tests per household. The administration is buying 1 billion at-home rapid COVID-19 tests, and Americans will be able to begin ordering the tests online on Jan. 19 at COVIDtests.gov. This is part of the administration’s effort […]
Analysis: The omicron legislative session could get worse before it gets better
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on January 13, 2022 Gov. Brad Little’s State of the State address came in at 3,058 words. Omicron wasn’t one of them. Now, “education” got 11 mentions. “Taxes” got nine. “Biden” got six — or eight, if you throw in Little’s references to “Bidenflation.” But there was no room in the […]