Outdoor daylight exposure, longer sleep promote wellbeing during COVID-19 restrictions
Editor's Note This study by Israeli researchers finds that restrictions implemented during COVID-19 dramatically altered daily routines and limited time spent outdoors, which resulted in deteriorating personal wellbeing. The analysis of 7,517 adults from 40 countries who were surveyed during the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions found that social restrictions impaired all…
FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine boosters for certain populations
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 22 amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to allow for use of a single booster to be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series in those: 65 years of age and older…
Effect of interruptions in Medicare patient treatment during COVID-19 on physicians, practices
Editor's Note This study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, finds that practice interruptions in the treatment of Medicare patients spiked in April 2020, and interruption-without-return rates were larger for older physicians. In this analysis of 547,849 physicians billing Medicare: Practice…
COVID-19 vaccination requirements result in HCW terminations, resignations
Editor's Note COVID-19 vaccination requirements have caused some organizations to fire healthcare workers (HCWs) for noncompliance, and HCWs have quit over the policies, the September 17 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. Healthcare systems announcing resignations and terminations include the following: Morehead, Kentucky-based St Claire HealthCare has fired 23 HCWs for noncompliance…
FDA: Class I recall of Medtronic Pipeline Flex Embolization devices
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on September 20, identified Medtronic’s recall of its Pipeline Flex Embolization Device and Pipeline Flex Embolization Device with Shield Technology as Class I, the most serious. The devices, which are used to treat brain aneurysms, were recalled because there is a risk…
CDC: COVID-19 vaccine efficacy for preventing hospitalization
Editor's Note In this study, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers report on the comparative effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalization of US adults without immunocompromised conditions. Included in the case-control analysis were 3,689 adults aged 18 years and older who were hospitalized at 21 US hospitals between…
FDA committee votes against COVID-19 vaccine boosters for general population
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on September 17 voted that there was not enough safety and effectiveness data to approve a third Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose for those 16 years and older. The committee did vote to recommend approval of…
Widening of racial, socioeconomic healthcare gap for organ transplant patients during COVID-19
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, finds that although COVID-19’s effect on access to liver transplantation has been all-pervasive, minorities have been disproportionately affected—especially those with public insurance. During the initial wave of COVID-19, organ transplantation was classified as a…
The Joint Commission: Deadline for ISMP Medication Safety Self Assessment for Perioperative Settings extended
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on September 15, announced that the deadline to participate in the Institute for Safe Medication Practices’ (ISMP) Medication Safety Self Assessment for Perioperative Settings has been extended to December 10. The self-assessment helps those in perioperative settings see how well their organizations’ systems and practices…
FDA: Class I recall of Normoflo irrigation fluid warmers, warming sets
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 15 identified the recall of Smiths Medical Normoflo irrigation fluid warmers and warming sets as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of the potential for aluminum ions leaching into warmed fluids, potentially exposing patients to high…
