Public Health

Both Paxlovid, molnupiravir lower COVID Omicron deaths, hospitalizations, studies conclude AsiaVision / iStock CIDRAP

Two new studies describe the benefits of the antiviral drugs nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) and molnupiravir in reducing SARS-CoV-2 Omicron hospitalizations and death, with one finding that the former is more effective than the latter at lowering death rates.

Half a million children and families regain Medicaid coverage | CNN Politics Some 500,000 children and families have had their Medicaid coverage reinstated after many states improperly terminated their enrollment because of a systems issue, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Thursday. Tami Luhby CNN

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US makes 30 states pause Medicaid disenrollments after glitch The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday said 30 states must pause disenrollments from their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and reinstate coverage for people who lost it due to a glitch uncovered in August. Reuters Reuters

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Does the risk of getting long Covid increase each time you get reinfected? "It's very clear in our data that reinfection contributes additional risk of long Covid," says epidemiologist Ziyad Al-Aly. Elizabeth Cooney STAT

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If you’ve had Covid previously and dodged a bullet and did not get long Covid the first time around and you’re getting another infection now, you’re pretty much trying your luck again. People need to understand that you can get long Covid the second time, even if you dodged the bullet the first time. You can get long Covid the third time."

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