Kentucky Headlines: March 1, 2021 COVID-19 Update
A one-minute long news update, focused on COVID-19, airing before and after PBS NewsHour.
J&J vaccine: Fight against COVID-19 gets another shot in the arm
Vaccination efforts to fight the pandemic got another shot in the arm. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is expected to rollout soon after the FDA nod, will speed up inoculations against COVID-19, but it might be a while before the efforts make a big difference. Kaiser Health News Correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins to discuss the vaccination efforts, bottlenecks and long-term impact.
Addiction and Recovery in the Time of COVID-19
Dr. Tuckson welcomes Matt Brown, vice-president of administration at Addiction Recovery Care (ARC), a multi-service addiction recovery provider in 17 counties in Kentucky. Using his own story from addiction to recovery as an example, Brown shares the best strategies for achieving and maintaining sobriety from drug and alcohol abuse and how ARC can help at each step.
Uninsured in the pandemic? Here’s how to navigate the newly reopened ACA marketplace
In January, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to open up the federal health insurance marketplace for three months starting on Feb. 15 so uninsured people can buy a plan and those who want to change their marketplace coverage can do so. Michelle Andrews of Kaiser Health News via PBS NewsHour answers some questions about the new enrollment option.
Mental Health and COVID-19
Ruchita Agrawal, M.D., associate chief medical officer for Seven Counties Services in Louisville, and Joseph Bargione, Ph.D., a former lead psychologist for 25 years with Jefferson County Public Schools and a leader with the Bounce Coalition, discuss mental health and wellness issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among young people.
Infections of the Brain and Nervous System
Dr. Tuckson and Dr. Duane Densler, a neurosurgeon with the Norton Science Institute, discuss a lesser-known danger associated with IV drug use - central nervous system infections - and the lengthy treatment and recovery process these patients face.
Why the U.S. is underestimating COVID reinfection
As millions of Americans struggle to recover from COVID and millions more scramble for the protection offered by vaccines, U.S. health officials may be overlooking an unsettling subgroup of survivors: those who get infected more than once. A report from Kaiser Health News and PBS NewsHour.
COVID-19 vaccines can adapt to new variants. Here’s what it will take.
Drugmakers are exploring how to tailor vaccines more narrowly to new mutations of the SARS-COV-2 virus, but modifying existing vaccines is not as easy as flipping a switch. Laura Santhanam of PBS NewsHour reports on new efforts made by virologists to tweak the vaccines already released and those in development to address these new strains.
COVID-19 Update: A KET Forum
Trusted experts share new information about COVID-19 and answer viewer questions. Topics include vaccine phases, where and how to register for the vaccine, mask recommendations, virus mutations and additional information.
Rural Healthcare: Who Pays and Who Benefits
Dr. Tuckson and guest Eugene H. Shively, MD, emeritus professor of surgery at the University of Louisville, explore the challenges threatening the stability of rural hospitals, particularly the role of the current system of insurance and payers.