Iowa news
November 2020 was the worst month in Iowa’s fight against COVID. Will this year be different?
The predominant delta variant of the coronavirus is multitudes more infectious than the version of the virus that besieged the country last year. But it appears to be receding. Vaccines against COVID-19 are wildly effective and widely available. A pandemic virus that upended life 18 months ago may be turning endemic — in other words, COVID-19 appears to be becoming something we just live with now. (Des Moines Register)
Iowa CareGivers survey shows mixed attitudes on vaccine mandates
Nearly half of Iowa direct care workers surveyed say that they are more likely to remain working in health care settings because of vaccine mandates, yet more than a half of workers say they oppose vaccine mandates. Also, 18% say they are more likely to leave the field because of mandates, according to a new survey by Iowa CareGivers. The nonprofit, formed in 1992 to advocate for higher wages for direct care workers in the state, recently released results of a survey of direct care workers, nurses and other health professionals. (Business Record)
IDPH, Alzheimer’s Association offer resources for caregiver support
The Alzheimer’s Association and Iowa Department of Public Health are partnering in November, which is National Family Caregivers Month and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, to raise awareness of the importance of supporting caregivers. In Iowa, more than 73,000 family and friends provide care to more than 66,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. In 2020, 11 million people nationwide, which represents nearly half of all caregivers, provided care to someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Co. (Business Record)
National news
The race is on to develop a vaccine against every coronavirus
A “universal” shot would protect against every branch of Covid’s viral family tree—even future ones. But getting there won’t be easy. Researchers propose a universal coronavirus vaccine could protect against this entire viral family. That means the current SARS-CoV-2 version, any variants that might escape the protection of existing vaccines, and any future strains that might emerge to cause new pandemics. (WIRED)
Pharmacies face drug shortages amid global supply chain bottlenecks
The pandemic has exacerbated drug shortages, and pharmacies across the country have reported struggling to keep enough medications in stock. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists told CBS News that three of the top five shortages are drugs used for chemotherapy, heart conditions and antibiotics. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Syphilis is resurging in the U.S., a sign of public health’s funding crisis
In the United States, more than 129,800 syphilis cases were recorded in 2019, double the case count of five years prior. In the same time period, cases of congenital syphilis quadrupled: 1,870 babies were born with the disease; 128 died. Case counts from 2020 are still being finalized, but the CDC has said that reported cases of congenital syphilis have already exceeded the prior year. Black, Hispanic and Native American babies are disproportionately at risk. (National Public Radio)