Medical Treatments

Evidence seized from a drug trafficking operation in central California in early 2020 included methamphetamine and fentanyl with a street value of $1.5 million, authorities said.

Methamphetamine Deaths Soar, Hitting Black And Native Americans Especially Hard

5:08pm September 22, 2021

by Brian Mann

Newly published U.S. data finds overdose deaths from methamphetamine use more than doubled in recent years. Use of the stimulant among Black Americans surged nearly tenfold.

Biden Announces A New Goal To Vaccinate 70% Of The World's Population Within A Year

4:29pm September 22, 2021

by Nurith Aizenman

President Biden announced an effort to vaccinate 70% of the world's population against COVID by this time 2022. Health officials from lower income countries say they need more than donations of doses.

Johnson & Johnson Says Booster Shot Makes Their COVID Vaccine More Effective

5:16pm September 21, 2021

by Rob Stein

With the FDA poised to authorize a Pfizer booster, a CDC advisory panel is scheduled to consider who exactly should get it. Johnson & Johnson says a booster also works for its one-shot vaccine.

How Ivermectin Ended Up In The Middle Of A COVID-19 Controversy

5:16pm September 21, 2021

by Pien Huang

Ivermectin is a medication that's been around for decades, and it's been a miracle drug — against parasites. But now, ivermectin is the latest drug caught up in a COVID-19 controversy.

Everyday tasks — such as buttoning a shirt, opening a jar or brushing teeth — can suddenly seem impossible after a stroke that affects the brain's fine motor control of the hands. New research suggests starting intensive rehab a bit later than typical

The Best Time For Rehabilitation After A Stroke Might Actually Be 2 To 3 Months Later

7:24pm September 20, 2021

by Jon Hamilton

Intensive rehabilitative therapy that starts two to three months after a stroke may be key to helping the injured brain rewire, a new study suggests. That's later than covered by many insurance plans.

A Legal Debate Has Followed Biden's Vaccine Mandates

4:58pm September 20, 2021

by Carrie Johnson

Prominent Republicans are threatening to sue over the Biden administration's efforts to use federal power and incentives to mandate vaccines for large employers and healthcare workers.

COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe And Effective For Kids Ages 5-11, Pfizer Says

4:42pm September 20, 2021

by Allison Aubrey

A smaller dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5 to 11, according to data the company released Monday. The data will now go before the FDA and CDC for review.

People opposed to COVID-19 vaccines often embrace ivermectin, a drug that's been touted as an effective prevention and treatment for COVID-19, which they think is not getting the attention it deserves. Here, an anti-vaccination protester takes part in a r

How Ivermectin Became The New Focus Of The Anti-Vaccine Movement

9:00am September 19, 2021

by Pien Huang

Scientists are still studying whether the deworming medicine could have any effect on COVID-19. But the frenzy over the drug has far more to do with politics than science. Here's how that happened.

Abortion-Rights Organizations Are Working Overtime In Texas As SB8 Remains In Place

8:56am September 19, 2021

Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Rosann Mariapurram, executive director of Jane's Due Process, a grassroots organization in Texas that helps people under 18 access abortion care.

Health & Safety

Former FDA Scientist Says More Data Is Needed On COVID-19 Booster Shots

8:28pm September 18, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with former FDA scientist Luciana Borio about the decision by an FDA advisory panel to recommend Pfizer booster shots only for certain people at higher risk for COVID-19.