Iowa news
UI Health Care begins administering COVID-19 booster shots to staff
University of Iowa Health Care began distributing COVID-19 booster shots this week after federal officials approved use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as a booster dose against the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus. The Iowa City-based health care system on Monday began distributing the third dose to more than 10,000 eligible employees. The Gazette
Andalusia man first in Iowa to get new lungs after COVID-19
On May 5, a stranger’s bequest spared Randy’s life. The Andalusia man became the first in Iowa to receive a double lung transplant after COVID-19 destroyed his respiratory function. He wants very much to one day know the name of his donor. But that will have to wait. For now, the 59-year-old is adjusting to his new life — his early retirement, daily injections and pills, restrictions on what he can do and re-adjusting to life at home after five months in a hospital bed. Quad-City Times
Iowa hospitals see rise in children getting sick with flu, RSV
Children in central Iowa are getting sick more often – even with illnesses other than COVID-19. That’s according to Dr. Jessica Zuzga-Reed, a MercyOne pediatric intensive care unit physician. She explained that clinics are usually more focused on school physicals and check-ups this time of year. But both clinics and hospitals are seeing a much higher volume of children with all types of viruses. KCCI
National news
5 million households signed up for the emergency broadband benefit — here’s how to apply
If you need proof of the importance of staying digitally connected in the 21st century, there’s this: More than 5 million U.S. households have enrolled in the federal government’s Emergency Broadband Benefit program, which was launched in mid-May to help low-income households stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yahoo Finance
Where the US stands on telehealth coverage: 14 states that let orders expire or kept expansions
As public health emergency orders continue to lift across the U.S., several states have halted telehealth coverage or introduced new legislation to keep virtual care provisions intact. Here are 14 states with emergency orders that ended or will end soon and how they are approaching telehealth coverage. Becker’s Hospital Review
How CVS, Walgreens are preparing to administer COVID-19 boosters
Now that millions of Americans are eligible to receive COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer, the country’s largest pharmacy chains — CVS and Walgreens — are preparing to administer the shots. Becker’s Hospital Review