The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EAU) for the first over-the-counter (OTC) at-home test that can detect influenza (flu) and COVID-19. Created by Lucira Health, this test can be self-administered via nasal swab and provide results in 30 minutes. This single-use test is for individuals …
On March 10, 2023, the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed, becoming the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history. The SVB was a U.S. commercial bank that specialized in technology startup banking, providing finances for around half of the U.S. venture-backed technology and health care companies. After the collapse, California banking …
March 8th marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a global celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The first IWD took place over a century ago in 1911, gathering more than a million people to commemorate the historic day. This year’s IWD theme is #EmbraceEquity. It is important to …
February is a time to celebrate the significant impact Black individuals have made throughout history and continue to make in the present. Black History Month is a time to honor, respect, and educate. While it’s important to highlight this special month, these efforts and recognitions should extend year-round. Expanding DEI …
The Biden Administration announced its plan to end the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. The Department of Health and Human Services initially declared the COVID-19 PHE on January 31, 2020. The end of the PHE will significantly impact health plans. Health Plan Changes …
On January 11, 2023, the U.S. government extended the COVID-19 public health emergency until April. This extension comes as a highly transmissible Omicron subvariant, known as “Kraken,” has caused an increase in hospitalizations. Since the emergency was originally declared in January 2020, it has been renewed every 90 days by …
Originally established on October 10, 1992, World Mental Health Day has grown monumentally in the last 30 years. Each year, a new theme for World Mental Health Day is chosen, and this year the theme is “Make Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority.” In light of the …
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shots, targeting Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that 90% of all new COVID-19 cases in the United States is from the BA.5 strain. This is the first time the …
September is Healthy Aging Month is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The observance highlights the positive aspects and facets of growing older with the goal of inspiring individuals to be responsible for their own wellness. Created in 1992 by Carolyn Worthington, the observance has gleaned more interest as aging and wellness …
After more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, new guidance has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), easing or ending several recommendations. The CDC claims that the vast majority of the U.S. population has gained some COVID-19 protection through previous infection, vaccination, or a …
On July 16th, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number will transfer to ‘988’ in an effort to make support more readily available in moments of crisis. Currently, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S. and is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 …
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency authorization for select COVID-19 vaccines. Pfizer’s vaccine for children aged six months to five years old and Moderna’s vaccine for children aged six months to six years old have been approved. Shortly after the FDA’s authorization, the Center for Disease Control …
In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade on Friday, June 24. This ruling revokes the constitutional right to an abortion, which was originally passed in 1973. Five of the six conservative justices voted to overturn Roe while the three liberal judges along with Chief Justice John …
History The celebration of Juneteenth can be traced back to the late 1800s. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in the United States, but it wasn’t until over two years later that the news reached enslaved African Americans in Texas. Union …
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious-disease expert, stated the United States is “out of the pandemic phase.” The statement does not mean the COVID-19 pandemic is over, rather the level of hospitalizations and deaths has declined to a manageable point within the country. Fauci advises caution as the virus …
