Health
Latest IN HEALTH NEWS
Douglas County launching local program to restore people’s legal competency as they await trial
People who are booked into jails statewide have long waited several months — even more than a year — for beds at state mental hospitals, so their competency to understand court proceedings can be restored. Douglas County is now working on a local solution to that problem.
See the latest COVID-19 stats for Lawrence and Douglas County on The Lawrence Times’ stat dashboard at this link.
Find out where you can get the free COVID-19 vaccine at this link.
MORe HEALTH NEWS
COVID-19 vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11 could be ready as soon as next week
The next wave of the massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign could begin as soon as next week, after federal regulators decide if elementary school students across the United States should begin rolling up their tiny sleeves.
Battle between Blue Cross of Kansas and Lawrence hospital heats up, with patients in the middle
Heated negotiations between LMH Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas will either raise prices for its patients at Lawrence’s only hospital or steer them to seek care elsewhere.
Douglas County immediately implementing Moderna, ‘mix-and-match’ COVID booster doses
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health will immediately begin offering booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine for eligible recipients who received their initial jabs of the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines at least six months ago, the department said Friday.
KU will implement COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees, following Kansas Board of Regents guidance
Updated article: The University of Kansas will implement a mandate for all employees to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8.
Possible mumps case identified at Haskell Indian Nations University
A student at Haskell Indian Nations University is suspected to have mumps, according to a message sent to the university community late Thursday.
Lawrence schools report most positive daily COVID-19 cases this fall; district gears up to help vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds
The Lawrence school district reported 13 new COVID-19 cases among students Wednesday — the most reported cases in a single day during the first nine weeks of the school year. Meanwhile, the district is preparing to help roll out vaccines for those 5-11 years old.
Kansas defends its decision to redact whole pages of a $100K drug spending report
A state agency is defending its blacking out of much of a report commissioned with tax dollars. It says it was accommodating a contractor that argued the redactions were needed to protect trade secrets.
Survey of Kansas childcare facilities points to lingering challenges of COVID-19
A new Kansas childcare survey highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to stretch the thinning network of providers by exacerbating staff shortages, deepening financial challenges, and amplifying occupational stress and burnout.
Health care advocates tie decrease in school COVID-19 clusters to increase in masking
With flu season fast approaching, a panel of education and health care advocates are touting the effect school masking policies have had on an apparent decrease in outbreaks in the classroom.
Academic achievement measures at Kansas schools drop during pandemic
In the first year and a half of the pandemic, Kansas schools have seen a decrease in enrollment and attendance and an increase in truancy and chronic absenteeism.
Kansas chiropractors spread misinformation about COVID vaccines, without consequence
Chiropractors have become major purveyors of misinformation about COVID treatments and have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to anti-vaccine events. When hundreds of people filled up a Lenexa church on Sept. 20 to spread the gospel of “health freedom,” three Kansas chiropractors were among their top supporters.
Lawrence Parks & Rec won’t require masks for indoor activity participants ages 12 and up
The City of Lawrence is no longer requiring face coverings for all participants in indoor programs and activities in Parks and Recreation facilities, according to an announcement on Tuesday.
KU health experts praise COVID-19 symptom-reducing antibody treatment, study efforts
After she contracted COVID-19, Amber Stiles says, a monoclonal antibody treatment study she participated in helped minimize the draining effects of the virus.
Kansas school board candidate compares mask mandate to Nazi persecution of Jews
Shawnee Heights school board candidate Christina Flaming compared COVID-19 mask mandates to Nazi persecution of Jews, referred in a campaign fundraising appeal to “so-called vaccinations” for coronavirus and accused physicians and news media of being complicit in an effort to stoke public fear with bad science.
Kansas health officials: Schools see COVID-19 case rates decline, but youth vaccination rates lag
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported fewer new school-related COVID outbreaks this week — the first decline after several consecutive weeks. However, schools and students continue to lag in other key metrics.