The Build Back Better Act, or H.R. 5376, responds to the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening the economy and bringing financial relief to Americans. Proponents argue that the bill brings about milestone changes to various social, health, and economic programs. In particular, specific provisions of the bill attempt to reign in prescription drug prices in two ways: allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and placing caps on drug price increases.  What is the Build Back Better Plan?  With President Biden’s support, the House of Representatives adopted the Build Back Better Act (BBB) on November...

Recently, some promising pre-clinical studies suggest that non-psychotropic compounds found in Cannabis could help prevent and treat COVID-19. But is this fact or fiction? Public health officials and researchers do not want the excitement to override the need to replicate these findings in rigorous clinical human trials before claiming they are effective treatments.  Pre-Clinical Data: Claims and Realities  Some research, where possible, is being conducted to see if non-psychotropic compounds found in Cannabis could be a treatment for COVID-19.  Oregon State University Research  As reported...

As of late February 2022, more than 900,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19. Almost half of all deaths in January 2022 were among individuals 75 years and older. Omicron is still the most prevalent COVID variant and continues to drive daily death rates. However, a new subvariant, BA.2 is gaining traction.  The Omicron Variant Is Still Predominant  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Omicron is still the most prevalent strain of COVID in the U.S., accounting for almost 100 percent of all existing cases. Although more contagious than previous variants,...

Clear and accurate information about COVID-19, vaccine effectiveness, and proper safety measures is essential to safeguarding the global community. Unfortunately, this pandemic has given rise to an infodemic, the rapid spread of confusing and misleading information increasing widespread distrust of public health experts.  The World Health Organization (WHO) offers Infodemic Management 101, a course that covers what an infodemic is, how it impacts public health, and how experts and laypeople can manage its effects. Infodemic Management 101 is a valuable investment of time for information officers,...

For protection from infectious and harmful diseases, preventive vaccines are among the easiest and most cost-effective tools we have. While public health experts and medical providers have told us about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, don’t overlook other immunizations that keep you free from infections that rob you of good health.  Importance of Vaccines for Adults  Vaccines can prevent death and debilitating illness. They also provide widespread protection in the form of herd immunity, and they reduce healthcare costs and other medical burdens on society.  Vaccines are especially...