Medical Treatments

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Wants Entire U.S. Military Vaccinated By Mid-September

5:00pm August 09, 2021

by Greg Myre

With COVID-19 vaccination rates in the military somewhat below the national average, Secretary of Defense LLoyd Austin says he wants all members of the U.S. military to be vaccinated by mid-September.

New Treatments Look For Ways To Protect The Brain From Alzheimer's

4:44pm August 09, 2021

by Jon Hamilton

Alzheimer's researchers are trying new treatment approaches, including trying to boost the brain's immune system, remove toxic tangles known as "tau" and stimulate brain cells with light and sound.

Medicare is funded by a combination of money paid directly to the federal government from paychecks and taxes paid by working Americans. Most dental procedures and tests are not covered under traditional Medicare.

Health & Safety

Democrats Hope To Beef Up Medicare With Dental, Vision And Hearing Benefits

2:49pm August 09, 2021

by Julie Rovner

When Medicare began in 1965, its backers expected benefits to expand over time, but politics have mostly stymied that. Congressional Democrats are trying again as part of a $3.5 trillion budget plan.

Some Employers Want Proof, Others Say Workers Can Just 'Attest' To Being Vaccinated

4:27pm August 06, 2021

by Yuki Noguchi

Divisions over vaccination are making it harder for employers to ensure their workplaces are safe. Some are asking their employees to "attest" to being vaccinated — but do such honor systems work?

In the 1970s, Vernice Davis Anthony was one of dozens of Detroit public health nurses who regularly fanned out throughout the city, building trust. They visited the home of every new mom and worked in schools, tracking cases of infectious diseases and mak

Health & Safety

Detroit Once Tried To Privatize Public Health. Now It's Trying To Rebuild

2:08pm August 06, 2021

by Anna Maria Barry-Jester

With bankruptcy looming in 2012, Detroit largely dismantled its public health department. Years later, that decision offers a cautionary tale to other U.S. cities as the painful rebuilding continues.

Studies Are Looking Into The Benefits Of The Vaccine In Children As Young As 6 Months

4:56pm August 05, 2021

by Joe Palca

Right now, only kids 12 and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. Studies underway at multiple sites are gathering data to see if the vaccine can be given to children as young as six months.

WHO Calls For Pause On Booster Shots Until More Nations Get Their First Vaccines

4:57pm August 04, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

The World Health Organization is calling for a moratorium on COVID-19 vaccination booster shots until more people in low-income nations gets access to their first doses of the vaccine.

Following An Outcry From Democrats In Congress, Biden Plans To Resume Ban On Eviction

6:48pm August 03, 2021

by Tamara Keith

President Biden delivered remarks that included clues about the path forward after the expiration of the eviction moratorium and the way states should be handling masking and vaccination.

A Possible Side Effect? Thousands Of People Saw Menstruation Changes Post-Vaccine

6:39pm August 03, 2021

by Geoff Brumfiel

After vaccination, some people have reported heavy periods or breakthrough bleeding. But changes to menstruation are not listed as a possible side-effect since clinical trials haven't investigated it.

More People Seek COVID-19 Shots In Louisiana As Cases Rise

4:46pm August 03, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Dr. John Heaton of LCMC Health about the uptick in vaccinations in Louisiana amid a surge in coronavirus infections.