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About Covid-19
The public’s concerns over the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine are widespread, Post-ABC poll finds: “Fewer than 1 in 4 Americans not yet immunized against the coronavirus say they would be willing to get the vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll that finds broad mistrust of the shot’s safety after federal health officials paused its use.
The nationwide survey shows that slightly fewer than half of U.S. adults overall say they consider the Johnson & Johnson vaccine very or somewhat safe after its use was halted this month following reports of rare, severe blood clots.”
As before, the most reluctant are Republicans, particularly those under age 39.
Israel said probing link between Pfizer shot and heart problem in men under 30: “The report said that out of more than 5 million people vaccinated in Israel, there were 62 recorded cases of myocarditis in the days after the shot. It found that 56 of those cases came after the second shot and most of the affected were men under 30.”
U.S. CDC says children can get within 3 feet at summer camp: “Children attending summer camp can get within 3 feet (1 meter) of each other but should wear masks to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to fresh guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
EU official: Vaccinated Americans can visit Europe this summer: ”Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told The New York Times in Brussels on Sunday that EU member states will ‘accept, unconditionally’ people who are inoculated with European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines.”
Waiving IP rules will not deliver more Covid vaccines: “Scaling up manufacturing is the best way to inoculate the world and end the pandemic.” And in a related article:
Sanofi inks 3rd COVID-19 vaccine production pact, this time helping Moderna with fill and finish work: ”Sanofi will perform fill and finish services from its site in Ridgefield, N.J. beginning in September, helping to produce up to 200 million doses. It's Sanofi's third COVID-19 vaccine production pact after its own GlaxoSmithKline-partnered candidate suffered a midstage setback last year. The drugmaker is also helping produce the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson shots.”
Vaccine makers say IP waiver could hand technology to China and Russia: “Vaccine makers have warned US officials that temporarily scrapping patents for Covid-19 shots would risk handing novel technology to China and Russia, according to people familiar with the talks. As industry lobbying has escalated in Washington, companies have warned in private meetings with US trade and White House officials that giving up the intellectual property rights could allow China and Russia to exploit platforms such as mRNA, which could be used for other vaccines or even therapeutics for conditions such as cancer and heart problems in the future. J&J, Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax did not respond to requests for comment.”
About the public’s health
Study finds Lyme-carrying ticks next to beaches and ‘pretty much wherever we looked’: ”Disease-carrying ticks, commonly associated with wooded areas, are also abundant near beaches in Northern California, according to a study. They weren’t found on beaches themselves, but in the brush and vegetation beachgoers may walk through to get to the sand.”
It's time for FDA to end the tobacco epidemic: “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will respond by April 29 to a citizen petition urging a ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes. The agency should announce that it intends to take that step while also requiring tobacco companies to reduce the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels. Together, these actions would provide a monumental victory for public health, a generational advancement in our nation’s efforts to achieve health equity, and a significant step forward to protect ourselves against future pandemics.”
Blood banks phase out collecting convalescent plasma, but fear a US blood shortage: “Overall, hospital demand for plasma has diminished, and blood banks are reporting they have enough plasma stockpiled if there is once again a demand, since it has a year-long shelf life.
But while plasma needs have subsided, blood banks now face a blood shortage, which is expected to only get worse through the summer.”
About pharma
FDA to scrutinize unproven cancer drugs after 10-year gap: “Each year the U.S. approves dozens of new uses for cancer drugs based on early signs that they can shrink or slow the spread of tumors.
But how often do those initial results translate into longer, healthier lives for patients?
That seemingly simple question is one of the thorniest debates in medicine. It spills into public view Tuesday as the Food and Drug Administration convenes the first meeting in a decade to consider clawing back approvals from several cancer drugs that have failed to show they extend or improve life.”
About healthcare IT
Cancer software security breach hits 40 health systems: Yale New Haven Health, Lifespan & more: The headline is the story.
FDA retracts HHS plan to deregulate mobile health apps: “The FDA and HHS are backtracking on previous plans to end regulatory review of 83 mobile health devices after determining the basis for the proposed plan was flawed.
On Jan. 15, HHS published a notice proposing to exempt the mobile health devices from the regulation requirement. The FDA said there is no evidence that HHS consulted with, involved or even notified the FDA before issuing the notice, an April 16 release said.”
AliveCor seeks to bar U.S. sales of Apple Watch alleging ECG patent infringement: “Health technology company AliveCor, maker of connected electrocardiogram devices, is trying to ban U.S. sales of the Apple Watch, claiming the tech giant allegedly infringed on three of its patents.”
Accolade plans to acquire virtual primary care provider PlushCare in a $450M stock and cash deal: “Health benefits platform Accolade is expanding into primary care with plans to acquire PlushCare in a deal valued at $450 million.
Under the terms of the agreement, the purchase price of up to $450 million will consist of $40 million in cash, $340 million in Accolade common stock, and up to an additional $70 million of value payable upon the achievement of defined revenue milestones following the closing, the company said in a press release issued Friday.”
About hospitals and health systems
National Hospital Flash Report Summary: April 2021: “Year-to-date (YTD) margins increased and volumes continued to decline, while revenues and expenses rose across most metrics compared to the first three months of 2020. Year-over-year (YOY) margin increases were particularly pronounced. Those gains, however, are largely due to measuring March 2021 performance against the same period last year, when hospitals were hit with devastating losses from national shutdowns and halting of outpatient procedures during the first month of the pandemic…
Hospitals saw gains across many key performance metrics, due in part to increasing outpatient activity. Without federal CARES funding, Operating Margin increased 34.5% or 2.5 percentage points YTD, and 69.5% or 5.2 percentage points month-over-month (MOM).”