Health News
-
With public health on the line, here’s how local health departments are fighting misinformation
Oklahoma City KHN — By the summer of 2021, Phil Maytubby, deputy CEO of the health department here, was concerned to see the numbers of people getting vaccinated against covid-19 slipping after an initially robust response. With doubt, fear, and misinformation running rampant nationwide — both online and offline — he knew the agency needed to rethink its messaging strategy. So, the health department conducted something called an online “sentiment search,” which gauges how certain words are perceived on social media. The tool found that many people in Oklahoma City didn’t like the word “vaccinate” — a term featured prominently in the health department’s marketing campaign. “If you don’t know…
-
Goals for a healthy 2023? Keep them low-key and sustainable : Shots
It’s 2023, and after the last couple years we’ve all had on this planet, a lot of people are not in the mood for goal-setting. In fact, for many of us, maybe the best advice right now is to just lean back and get better at doing nothing. (Seriously, this is NPR giving you permission to relax. It’s for your own good.) Still, if you find yourself taking stock of your life and health and looking for ideas to reset, science has your back. Here are a handful of evidence-based suggestions from NPR’s recent health reporting that could help you refresh body and mind. The best part? These ideas are…
-
PM Rishi Sunak to hold crisis meeting over NHS pressures
PM Rishi Sunak to hold crisis meeting over NHS pressures – BBC News
-
New COVID omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is ‘spreading like wildfire’ in US: Health experts reveal why
The new omicron subvariant, known as XBB.1.5, is spreading like wildfire across the U.S. As colder weather brings in peak COVID infections, this novel mutation is beginning to worry health professionals. So, what are some of the unique features of the strain that is now gripping swaths of the country? THE NEW OMICRON SUBVARIANT XBB.1.5: WHAT YOU MUST KNOW NOW First, this subvariant is immuno-evasive. It’s not as susceptible to natural immunity or vaccines — and it is very contagious, health professionals say. In a phone interview with Fox News Digital, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel explained that there are actually two subvariants at play: XBB and XBB.1.5.…
-
Public Health Agencies Try to Restore Trust as They Fight Misinformation
OKLAHOMA CITY — By the summer of 2021, Phil Maytubby, deputy CEO of the health department here, was concerned to see the numbers of people getting vaccinated against covid-19 slipping after an initially robust response. With doubt, fear, and misinformation running rampant nationwide — both online and offline — he knew the agency needed to rethink its messaging strategy. So, the health department conducted something called an online “sentiment search,” which gauges how certain words are perceived on social media. The tool found that many people in Oklahoma City didn’t like the word “vaccinate” — a term featured prominently in the health department’s marketing campaign. “If you don’t know how…
-
Want a Clue on Health Care Costs in Advance? New Tools Take a Crack at It
Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News Need to have clinical treatment this calendar year and want to nail down your out-of-pocket charges just before you walk into the doctor’s business? There’s a new resource for that, at the very least for insured clients. As of Jan. 1, well being insurers and businesses that supply health and fitness options must present on-line calculators for clients to get specific estimates of what they will owe — taking into account deductibles and copayments — for a range of expert services and prescription drugs. It is the most recent effort and hard work in an ongoing motion to make prices and upfront cost comparisons doable…
