Study: Kids with COVID but no symptoms play key role in household spread A study today in Clinical Infectious Diseases conducted across 12 tertiary care pediatric hospitals in Canada and the United States shows that asymptomatic children with COVID-19, especially preschoolers, contribute significantly to household transmission. CIDRAP

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The researchers discovered that 10.6% of exposed household contacts developed symptomatic illness within 14 days of exposure to asymptomatic test-positive children, a rate higher than expected.

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FDA OKs Invivyd's COVID preventive Pemgarda for emergency use The pre-exposure treatment is indicated for adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe immunocompromising conditions. CIDRAP

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 22 granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for Invivyd's monoclonal antibody to prevent COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, which fills a gap following the withdrawal of Evusheld in January 2023.

New data show Paxlovid outperforms molnupiravir against severe COVID-19 outcomes A large study yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases shows that, if prescribed within 5 days of confirmed infection, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) is more effective in protecting against all-cause mortality and severe COVID-19 in adults than is molnupiravir, another antiviral drug. CIDRAP

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Major health bills fail to make cut amid competing priorities Major bipartisan health bills, including changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry and hospital payment reforms, were excluded from the $1.2 trillion government funding bill after memb… colinmeyn The Hill

Major bipartisan health bills, including changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry and hospital payment reforms, were excluded from the $1.2 trillion government funding bill after members failed to come to a last-minute agreement.

Nursing home co. Petersen files for bankruptcy after cyberattacks Petersen Health Care, one of the largest nursing home operators in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday after cyberattacks and defaults on government-backed loans worsened the company’s long-standing financial challenges. Dietrich Knauth Reuters

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Republican majorities block efforts to expand Medicaid in Georgia and Kansas ATLANTA (AP) — Plans to expand Medicaid coverage to over half a million more people in Georgia and Kansas were defeated by Republican-led committees in the states’ legislatures Thursday. Ther… JEFF AMY and JOHN HANNA, Associated Press The Hill

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