Full coverage by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) for COVID emergency response costs to states, tribes and territories has been extended once more, and will now continue through July 1, the White House said Tuesday. The funding supports FEMA-backed efforts such as vaccination clinics, mass testing sites and added resources to hospitals to deal…  read on >  read on >

Osteoarthritis has become increasingly common in recent decades, and authors of a new study say preventive steps are needed to bring numbers under control. “The disease burden … is formidable,” said co-senior author Dr. Jianhao Lin, of Peking University People’s Hospital in China. “Due to population expansion, aging and the epidemic of obesity, one would…  read on >  read on >

During the pandemic’s first year, the risk of dying shot up nearly 26% among American seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study reveals. Minorities faced even higher odds of death, either as a direct result of COVID or because of disruptions in health care, researchers found. The main culprit: Unintended fallout from abrupt changes to…  read on >  read on >

Fresh data shows that Pfizer’s COVID vaccine is far less powerful at preventing infection among children ages 5 to 11 than teens, a finding that could leave some parents of younger children worried. The vaccine — the only one authorized for that age group in the United States — does prevent severe illness in young…  read on >  read on >

Minimum staffing levels will be a main feature of a major overhaul of U.S. nursing homes that President Joe Biden is expected to announce in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night. Staffing levels are considered a critical marker for nursing home quality, but the pandemic has left many facilities short of nurses, nursing…  read on >  read on >

Wanderlust has become a strong incentive for Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines, a new study finds. The bucket list beckons, and “many people consider travel an essential part of their lifestyle and a contributor to their sense of well-being,” said study lead author Dogan Gursoy, a professor in hospitality business management at Washington State University.…  read on >  read on >