What We’re Reading: California Widens Booster Eligibility; FDA Recalls Home COVID-19 Tests; Veterans’ Health Care Expanded

CA Broadens Booster Campaign

Public health officials in California have endorsed COVID-19 booster shots for all adults in the state, not just the populations listed by the CDC, NPR reports. As a result, millions of Californians are now eligible for the doses and officials are telling providers they should not turn away a patient seeking a booster. Individuals must still be 6 months past their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 months past their Johnson & Johnson shot. Currently, the CDC recommends boosters only for those who received a Johnson & Johnson shot, or those aged 65 and older, with underlying health conditions, or who work in an environment where they are more susceptible to infection.

Ellume COVID-19 Home Tests Recalled

The FDA has issued a Class I recall of 2.2 million at-home COVID-19 tests manufactured by Ellume due to false positive results, according to CBS News. The company was the first to receive approval for over-the-counter tests, and the announcement comes after a similar recall last month of 200,000 kits for the same reason. However, the reliability of negative test results was not affected by the issue, the FDA said. Purchasers can enter their lot numbers on an Ellume website to determine if they received a faulty test, as the problem is limited to specific lots. In September, the Biden administration announced it will invest $1 billion to expand the supply of at-home tests in the United States.

Veterans’ Health Care Resources Expanded

To mark Veterans Day, the White House announced expanded health care resources for individuals exposed to burn pits and other environmental hazards throughout their time in the military, The Hill reports. The Biden administration said the Department of Veterans Affairs would help devise a testing model to determine whether veterans developed health problems as a result of exposure. In addition, veterans who served in specific regions who developed conditions like asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis based on presumed exposure to particulate matter within 10 years of their service can now apply for disability benefits. The agency is also slated to host Q&A sessions about the new disability eligibility.