Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|May 6, 2021

Iowa news

Thousands fail to receive second COVID-19 shot; while one dose still effective, it’s unclear how it affects effort to reach herd immunity

Nearly a quarter of those who initiated the COVID-19 vaccine series in Iowa have missed their second dose, potentially throwing a wrench in the race toward herd immunity. More than 66,000 people as of Sunday had skipped or delayed the second shot in a two-dose vaccine series, according to data from the Iowa Department of Human Services. Of the 275,013 individuals who have received the first shot of the series, 66,490 did not receive a second shot within the recommended time frame. The minimum interval between doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 21 days. For Moderna, it’s 28 days. Of the more than 66,000 people, 27,015 are between one and seven days past the minimum interval. (The Daily Nonpareil)

Gov. Kim Reynolds endorses state taking over mental health funding — but there’s no deal yet

Gov. Kim Reynolds is backing a plan to have the state take over funding mental health services, removing the burden from county property taxes. The mental health funding shift, which the governor touted Wednesday as part of a sweeping tax cut proposal, has become a major sticking point in negotiations between Reynolds and Republican leaders of the House and the Senate. Lawmakers are seeking to find agreement on a package of tax cuts so they can finalize the state budget and finish this year’s legislative session. (The Hawk Eye)

Linn County Mental Health Access Center seeing increasing need for services

In a health emergency, you go to the emergency room. In a mental health emergency, Linn County’s new Mental Health Access Center is now the answer. It’s been open for nearly two months. Erin Foster is the director of the new facility, and she’s seeing a busier center with a new addition: taking walk-in patients. “Many of them were really just in need of that immediate crisis care,” Foster said. The center initially opened using the Foundation 2 Mobile Crisis unit. (KCRG)

National news

Biden administration supports waiving patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines to raise global production

The Biden administration will support waiving patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines after weeks of pressure from the international community as cases surge brutally in India and other countries. Stock prices for major pharmaceutical companies traded down after the announcement. (NBC News)

Paycheck Protection Program exhausts funds for most lenders

The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program has officially exhausted its funds for most lenders. The SBA began notifying trade associations Tuesday that it was no longer accepting applications for new loans from most lenders. But borrowers may still secure new loans through “community financial institutions,” which include community development financial institutions, minority deposit institutions and other qualifying small lenders. Those lenders have access to about $8 billion in loan funding as part of a congressionally mandated set-aside. Consequently, program loans in progress that have not yet received SBA loan numbers will not be approved unless they come from a community financial institution. (The Business Journals)

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine booster works well against variants

Moderna’s variant-targeting booster shot appears to be protective against the strain of the virus first identified in South Africa. Interim data from Moderna’s Phase 2 clinical trials indicate that a third dose, tweaked to match the so-called B.1.351 variant, increased levels of antibodies against the virus. The booster was given six to eight months after the participants had been initially vaccinated. (NBC News)

 

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