JAMA published a meta-analysis that combed through the findings of 23 experiments across 16 scientific papers.The authors only included studies that had used a placebo and were blinded, which means that the children, parents, and teachers involved did not know who had received the sugar and who had been given the placebo.After analyzing the data,…
Weekly deaths from all causes. The SA Medical Research Council has recorded an excess of almost 11 000 deaths between 6 May and 7 July.This means there were almost 11 000 more deaths than predictions suggested based on historical data. It is still unclear how many of these deaths can be attributed to Covid-19 or the…
A Washington D.C.-based internist and former Harvard Medical School faculty member has claimed the idea that herd immunity may slow the coronavirus pandemic is "wishful thinking" after a 50-year-old patient was infected for a second time with COVID-19."During his first infection, my patient experienced a mild cough and sore throat," Dr. Clay Ackerly explained in an opinion piece for Vox. "His second infection, in contrast, was…
Professor Ebrahim Variava. About 250 medical professionals have condemned the suspension of Professor Ebrahim Variava, Head of Internal Medicine at Klerksorp Tshepong hospital.Variava's suspension, they say, is not in the interest of patients or the hospital as his 20 years of service has yielded important achievements.It is still unclear why Variava was suspended, his colleagues…
A medical student's body has finally been repatriated from Cuba. Rehman Asad/NurPhoto via Getty Images The repatriation of the body of medical student Sbusisi Qongqo was hampered by national lockdown regulations.His body has arrived following intervention from the national government.His family announced that he would be buried on Youth Day.Medical student Sibusiso Qongqo who died in…
KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner discussed federal policy on vaccine research, vaping, and drug access on Science Friday on May 8. Rovner also discussed the Supreme Court decision on the abortion pill mifepristone on NPR’s Morning Edition on May 5. Click here to hear Rovner on Science Friday. Click here to hear
Here in Washington, we’ve been hearing about tensions between the White House and one of its most controversial — but, at least in some circles, most popular — figures: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Polling of likely voters indicates that the Health and Human Services secretary can be an asset to Republicans when he’s talking about improving the nation’s food supply or labeling ultraprocessed foods. But when he’s talking about removing recommendations for routine childhood vaccinations, he can be a detriment. So, when I
Several states have joined President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts and are taking federal reporting requirements to immigration authorities a step further — by using their public health agencies as arms of enforcement. North Carolina, in late April, became the latest member of a growing group of Republican-led states to require their public health agencies to