FDA approves updated COVID-19 booster vaccines; low donor turnout and climate disasters result in a national blood shortage; minority patients discouraged by lack of doctor diversity.
FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Vaccines
On Monday, the FDA approved 2 updated COVID-19 booster vaccines for people as young as 6 months, according to STAT. This may result in Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines becoming available in doctors’ offices, clinics, and pharmacies later in the week. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are expected to recommend these boosters in a vote Tuesday, after which CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, must sign off on these recommendations before the shots can be used.
American Red Cross Declares a National Blood Shortage
The American Red Cross has announced that the United States’ blood supply has fallen to “critically low levels” of nearly 25% since the beginning of August, according to CNN. The Red Cross believes that worsening climate-driven disasters, such as Hurricane Idalia, are to blame for this shortage, with some blood drives being canceled due to these extreme weather conditions. However, other large blood donation organizations say they are not experiencing blood supply shortages and are more focused on long-term sustainability due to the aging donor base and declining numbers of donors each year.
Diversity Needed Among the Medical Profession, Experts Say
More than 2 months after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, concerns are growing that a career in medicine may become much harder for students of color, according to The Associated Press. In 2021, Black individuals living in the United States represented about 13% of the US population, but only 6% of US physicians. Furthermore, experts believe more Black and Latino diversity is especially needed in specialty medicine, such as dermatology.
Diagnostic Oversights Limit Luspatercept Benefits in MDS
May 8th 2024Investigators of a retrospective study encourage colleagues to utilize molecular testing for patients with an established diagnosis of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), to be sure they don’t miss out on treatments, like luspatercept, for which they qualify.
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CMS Medicare Final Rule: Advancing Benefits, Competition, and Consumer Protection
May 7th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Karen Iapoce, senior director of government products and programs at ZeOmega, about the recent CMS final rule on Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.
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Tackling Health Inequality: The Power of Education and Experience
April 30th 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. Welcome to our final episode of this limited series and our conversation with Janine Jelks-Seale, MSPPM, director of health equity at UPMC Health Plan.
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