FDA: Class I recall of BD Intraosseous Infusion System
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 11 classified the recall by Becton Dickinson (BD) of its Intraosseous Infusion System, which includes Intraosseous Needle Set Kits, Intraosseous Manual Driver Kits, and Intraosseous Powered Drivers, as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated for three separate…
Immune response of mix-and-match boosters
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, finds that being boosted with either the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was associated with increased humoral and cellular immune responses. Boosting with the Janssen vaccine also was associated with durable antibody and T-cell…
The Joint Commission to replace PNC Certification with ACPC program
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on August 10 announced that it will collaborate with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to offer Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care (ACPC) to accredited and nonaccredited hospitals and critical access hospitals with perinatal care programs, beginning January 1, 2023. The Joint Commission…
Report: Many people with hepatitis C are not being treated
Editor's Note A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs report finds that a large number of people diagnosed with hepatitis C are not receiving treatment, Heathcare Purchasing News July 10 reports. Although hepatitis C is curable with oral medication, if left untreated, it can cause liver…
HHS releases tool to identify environmental hazards
Editor's Note On Wednesday August 10, the Department of Health and Human Services released the Environmental Justice Index (EJI), a tool used to identify health risks from pollution and other environmental hazards, the American Hospital Association July 10 reports. The EJI is the first national, geographic-driven tool utilized to measure…
Move to stretch monkeypox vaccine supply via smaller doses
Editor's Note On Tuesday, August 9, US officials announced they will modify dosing instructions for the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine to stretch the supply, US News & World Report July 10 reports. Currently, there are almost 9,500 known cases in the US, predominantly among gay and bisexual men. According to the…
Recovery of smell, taste after COVID-19 may take 6 months
Editor's Note This meta-analysis led by researchers at the National University of Singapore finds that recovery of the ability to taste and smell after COVID-19 infection may take up to 6 months, and women are more likely to experience loss of these senses and have a longer time to recovery.…
FDA: Class I recall of Haimen Shengbang Viral Transport Media Containers
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 9 identified the recall by Haimen Shengbang Laboratory Equipment Co Ltd of its Viral Transport Media Containers as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the products were distributed in the US without authorization, clearance, or approval…
Senate passes healthcare bill including drug price reforms
Editor's Note On Sunday, August 7, the Senate passed a spending bill allocating billions of dollars to climate reform and healthcare focused programs, including provisions that give โMedicare the power to negotiate drug prices for a small subset of drugsโ and extend โenhanced Affordable Care Act subsidiesโ for 3 years,…
Disparities in US COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, finds that healthcare facilities in counties with higher Black composition and rural areas with large Hispanic populations were less likely to serve as COVID-19 vaccine administration locations during the initial rollout in May 2021. At that…