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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Flu linked to greater risk for neurological disorders than COVID-19, study shows - UPI.com The flu is more likely to lead to a neurological disorder than COVID-19, according to a new study that surprised its authors. UPI

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After four years with Covid-19, the US is settling into a new approach to respiratory virus season | CNN With the arrival of spring, the United States is easing out of respiratory virus season, a familiar pattern that has been challenged by Covid-19 for the past four years. Deidre McPhillips CNN

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Experts say that focused planning and forecasting efforts helped avoid some of the worst-case scenarios. But there was still a significant number of severe outcomes, and there are still key areas of improvement – especially around vaccination.

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Young and old: how the Covid pandemic has affected every UK generation From children behind on milestones to less active older people, broader effects are being felt four years after the initial outbreak The Guardian

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