Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|March 23, 2021

Iowa news

Iowa Poll: Two-thirds of Iowans plan to be vaccinated against COVID-19; 27% do not plan to be vaccinated

Two-thirds of Iowa adults plan to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or already have been, a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows. Twenty-seven percent of Iowa adults say they don’t plan to seek the shots, according to the new poll, conducted by Selzer and Co. Sixty-seven percent have either had at least one shot or plan to be vaccinated, and 5% say they’re unsure. (Des Moines Register)

Health care workers, UIHC set out to improve relationship with conversations facilitated by the Board of Regents

Following the conclusion of contract negotiations, the Service Employees International Union 199 is gearing up for semimonthly conversations with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics facilitated by the state Board of Regents. After three months of collective bargaining, SEIU signed a contract approving a 1.3% annual pay increase for each union. SEIU’s contact also ensures the union will have meetings with the regents and UIHC administration to discuss issues that are important to union members. (The Daily Iowan)

Iowa doesn’t have a central system for COVID-19 vaccine appointments — these programmers help fill the void

As soon as Annie Johnson heard about a social media account posting alerts for pharmacies’ appointment openings for the COVID-19 vaccine last week, she signed up to get notifications sent to her phone automatically every time a new post was published. The Fairfax resident, who had to continue working in person throughout the pandemic despite her autoimmune disorder, had already signed up for her appointment earlier in the week, after spending about four hours hitting “Refresh” on Hy-Vee’s online platform and successfully scheduling an appointment to get her first dose on Friday. (Des Moines Register)

National news

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial data prompts ‘concern,’ federal agency says

Results from AstraZeneca’s recent COVID-19 vaccine trial “may have included outdated information” that “provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data,” a federal health institute said early Tuesday. The unusual statement, issued just after midnight by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases came hours after AstraZeneca announced encouraging results from its Phase 3 trial based in the United States. (NBC News)

March of Dimes urges Congress to increase FY 2022 funding for critical programs to support mom and baby health

In testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, March of Dimes President and CEO Stacey Stewart said the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the maternal and infant health crisis and urged lawmakers to adequately fund key programs that are critical to the health of moms and babies. Stewart recommended funding priorities for FY 2022, including critical and groundbreaking research, monitoring systems, screenings and quality improvement programs that focus on improving health outcomes for women and their infants. (Fat Pitch Financials)

Long-term COVID-19 can affect multiple organ systems, highlighting treatment challenges

A review of research published in the journal Nature Medicine describes the potential long-term effects of the coronavirus on the entire body, highlighting the challenges long-haulers face in their recovery. The review outlines in detail every organ affected by long-term COVID-19, including the lungs, heart, kidneys and skin, as well as the gastrointestinal, neurologic and endocrine systems. (NBC News)

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