The world’s population is shifting, with a new analysis predicting it will peak in 2064 at around 9.7 billion people and fall to 8.8 billion by the end of the century. The United States will have population growth until just after mid-century (364 million in 2062). That will be followed by a moderate decline to… read on >
About one-third of people prescribed drugs to prevent HIV stopped taking the medications when they were forced to stay home due to the coronavirus pandemic, a new survey finds. The reason, they said: They weren’t having sex. Many discontinued the drugs without their doctor’s say-so, which has experts concerned. “Reducing the number of new HIV… read on >
The rate of COVID-19 in U.S. prisons is nearly six times higher than in the general population. And the COVID death rate among prisoners is likely tripled, researchers report. “While these numbers are striking, we actually think the disparities within prisons is much greater,” said study lead author Brendan Saloner, associate professor of health policy… read on >
With several potential COVID-19 vaccines now in clinical trials, U.S. policymakers need to plan for the next hurdle: Ensuring Americans actually get vaccinated. That’s according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. It lays out recommendations for winning the public’s trust of any future vaccine, and helping them access it… read on >
California and Oregon rolled back their reopenings on Monday, two of several states across the country that are struggling to get surging coronavirus case counts under control. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered the statewide closure of all bars and halted the indoor operations of restaurants, wineries, theaters and a handful of other venues, the… read on >
People with sickle cell disease are at increased risk for severe complications from COVID-19, an expert says. “Many patients experience a pain crisis, also known as a vaso-occlusive crisis, early in COVID-19 infection before respiratory symptoms develop,” said Dr. Jennie Hart, clinical director of pediatric hematology/oncology at Herman and Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai… read on >
Parents are increasingly interested in whether medical marijuana can help their children with problems like cancer-related pain and nausea — but there’s concern about interactions with their medications and a general lack of research. That’s one of the main takeaways from a new report in Pediatrics detailing one hospital’s approach to medical marijuana. Doctors at… read on >
A tuberculosis vaccine may help reduce the risk of death from COVID-19, researchers suggest. Developing countries have lower-than-expected COVID-19 death rates, and a TB vaccine given in countries with high rates of tuberculosis might play a significant role in reducing COVID-19 death rates, according to authors of a new study. The vaccine, which is routinely… read on >
Hospitals have put in place strict no-visitation rules meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but these precautions have led to another heart-wrenching dilemma. People are dying alone, gasping their last breath without any family or friends there to provide comfort. Now, some experts are arguing this shouldn’t be the case, and that hospitals need… read on >
New U.S. coronavirus cases surged across 37 states on Sunday, with worsening hotspots in the South and West also fueling new daily records for COVID-19 deaths. Florida recorded more than 15,000 new infections on Sunday, breaking the daily record for new cases once held by New York back at the beginning of the pandemic, The… read on >
