NIAID director Anthony Fauci told CNN on Tuesday that contrasting vaccination rates in various parts of the countries could lead to "two Americas."
Why it matters: As of mid-June, about 15 states had inoculated 70% or more of their adult populations with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But some states, particularly in the South, are lagging.
It’s almost certain that America won’t meet President Biden’s goal of having 70% of all American adults at least partially vaccinated by the Fourth of July. To understand why, it’s crucial to understand who hasn’t gotten vaccinated, where they are, and why.
Axios Re:Cap digs into these questions with Otis Rolley III of the Rockefeller Foundation, which recently released research with Dalberg that breaks down which groups and places in the U.S. have fallen furthest behind on vaccinations.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared that China has eradicated malaria after more than 70 years of fighting the disease.
Why it matters: China is the first country in the WHO Western Pacific Region to receive a malaria-free certification in more than 30 years. It follows Australia (1981), Singapore (1982) and Brunei (1987).
Some parents may be thinking twice about teen vaccines after the CDC concluded there's a "likely association" between heart inflammation and COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, particularly in adolescents, according to a new KFF survey.
Driving the news: Nearly 75% of parents said they've heard at least a little about the link between vaccines and heart inflammation.
Some of the most recognizable names in patient advocacy take millions from drug companies every year, and many fail to fully disclose those relationships, a new analysis by Patients for Affordable Drugs found.
The big picture: While some of these groups do important work representing patients, others are actually "tools" of the pharmaceutical industry.
Why it matters: The hospital industry has a lot of sway in Washington, and its opposition could further complicate the deal's narrow pathway to passage.
Walmart is now selling rapid-acting insulins, made by drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk, for cash prices of $73 per vial and $86 for a box of five pre-filled syringes.
The big picture: Walmart is attempting to retain and attract more diabetes patients to its stores by offering a more modern insulin at a lower cash price. Novo Nordisk is trying to keep its insulin market share. But this deal doesn't ensure an affordable price for patients and the broader public.
Nearly a third of women of child-bearing age in U.S.did not always use contraceptives during sexual encounters, a new CDC analysis shows, and it was often due to gaps in access to effective birth control.
Why it matters: About half of the pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, which is linked to adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, per the agency.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision issued Tuesday evening to leave the national moratorium on evictions imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intact through July 31.
Driving the news: The Biden administration issued a 30-day extension to the temporary halt in residential evictions, the CDC announced last week, after its original deadline was set to expire on June 30.
Countries across the Asia-Pacific region are imposing stricter lockdown measures and stay-at-home orders following the spread of the more-infectious COVID-19 Delta variant.
Why it matters: The Delta strain, first identified in India, has been listed as among the "variants of concern" by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. It may be 50% more transmissible than Alpha, the variant first found in Britain.
Nearly 70% of America's physicians were employed by hospitals or corporations by the end of 2020, and nearly half of physician practices were owned by them, according to a new analysis released by the Physicians Advocacy Institute.
Why it matters: The health care industry is becoming increasingly consolidated, which studies suggest will lead to even higher prices.
More than 25% of parents in 2019 who refused the human papillomavirus vaccine for their child cited concerns of safety or adverse effects, a study in JAMA Pediatricsshows.
Why it matters: This type of refusal greatly increased from 5% in 2008, showing "disinformation campaigns aimed at hampering vaccine trust are thriving," the authors write.
Just four in 10 Americans say attending a Fourth of July celebration this year feels risky — about half as many as a year ago, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
The big picture: Our weekly national survey finds broad awareness and concern around the emerging Delta variant. But people's behaviors really aren't changing in the face of that threat.
Abu Dhabi will soon only allow adults vaccinated against COVID-19 in public places including schools, universities, shopping centers and gyms — banning anyone who hasn't been inoculated against the virus unless they've a valid reason.
The big picture: United Arab Emirates authorities said in a Twitter post Monday they're taking the action, effective Aug. 20, to "preserve public health" after vaccinating 93% of "target groups." Anyone in the UAE capital under 16 will be exempt from the rule, which doesn't apply to retailers selling essential goods, such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
