Weekly Health News Round Up 3.19.21

An independent physician in Kentucky joined a local radio show this week to explain how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are overcharging patients for their treatments and medications, making it more difficult for patients to receive quality health care. 

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Kentucky Nurses Association hosted a virtual news conference this week with several Black Kentuckians to ease concerns around the COVID-19 vaccine, that may stem from their experiences with racism in the health care system. 

When the pandemic hit, visits to the hospital emergency departments plummeted by more than 40 percent, because people were scared of catching the coronavirus. But one researcher found that patients experiencing drug-related crises, continued to come. 

Jefferson County reported a decreasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases for the ninth consecutive week. Health officials say any Louisville adult will be able to get the vaccine by the end of April. 

This week, Kentucky passed more than 5,000 deaths from the coronavirus. Fortunately, over one million Kentuckians have received the vaccine and the positivity rates continue to drop. 

Over 6,000 children in the United States and Canada are among the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of Moderna’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial. 

Kentucky health officials are aware of 11 people from the state who recently traveled to Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two African countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks. Gov. Beshear says he believes the risk of Ebola is very low, but they are prepared. 

Kentucky is close to becoming the 43rd state to require drivers to have a vision screening every time they renew their license. The bill is meant to protect Kentuckians and the roadways, but if passed, it will not go into effect until July 2024.