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What We’re Reading: Moderna Vaccine Deal; Virus Aerosols Isolated; COVID-19 Reappears in New Zealand
Moderna will receive over $1.5 billion for 100 million doses of its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidate; researchers isolated COVID-19 from the air; New Zealand had no new cases of COVID-19 for almost 4 months.
Trump Administration Reaches Vaccine Deal With Moderna
Late Tuesday, the Trump administration announced it had reached a $1.5-billion deal with biotech giant Moderna, reports The Hill. Under the agreement terms, 100 million doses of mRNA-1273 will be manufactured and delivered, at an average cost of $15 per dose. mRNA-1273 is currently in a phase 3 study that Moderna is conducting with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Enrollment for the COVE study should be complete by September.
Can COVID-19 Spread From Beyond 6 Feet?
Aerosols, or airborne floating respiratory droplets measuring up to 5 mm, containing live SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were isolated from up to 16 feet away in a carefully controlled experiment conducted by researchers at the University of Florida, according to The New York Times. In the experiment, the researchers increased the size of the aerosols by using pure water vapor to enable their capture from a room in a COVID-19 patient ward. Questions remain, however, if the amount of live virus captured can cause infection, and the results have not yet undergone peer review.
New Zealand Sees the Return of COVID-19
For 102 days, New Zealand had no new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19, details Reuters, until 4 members of 1 family tested positive in Wellington, causing the city to return to lockdown and social distancing measures to be reimposed across the country. Origins of this new virus cluster remain under investigation, with officials investigating the possibility it may have originated from imported freight. So far, New Zealand has just 22 deaths from close to 1500 cases, for a 1.5% case fatality rate.
Mental Health Diagnoses, Care Challenges Rise Among US Youth, Report Finds
April 26th 2024While behavioral health care utilization has been rising, the treatment landscape has been falling. New findings show that 20% of youths did not receive any form of treatment within 3 months of their initial behavioral health diagnosis.
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Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
April 23rd 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. In the third episode, Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, discusses approaching community health holistically through spiritual and community engagement.
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Males With Hemophilia A Report Physical, Mental Burdens of Disease Regardless of Severity
April 25th 2024Self-reported data from adult and pediatric males with hemophilia A show that burden of the disease persists regardless of severity, highlighting a need for improved prophylactic treatment.
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Insurance Coverage Limits JAKi Therapy Access for Patients With AA, Especially Non-White Populations
April 25th 2024A survey study showed major barriers to Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) therapy for patients with alopecia areata, especially for non-White patients who face higher rates of being uninsured and struggle more to afford the treatment.
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