Articles Tagged With: COVID-19
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OSHA Emergency COVID-19 Reg May Drive More Vaccine Mandates
Federal occupational health officials are being blasted for an Emergency Temporary Standard requiring potentially labor-intensive changes to address a pandemic threat that is diminishing as vaccinations increase.
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Interleukin-6 Antagonists in the Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia
These two trials had disparate findings with respect to interleukin-6 inhibition, with REMAP-CAP showing a benefit and COVACTA showing none. -
Is There a Role for Immunomodulatory Therapy in COVID-19 Cytokine Storm?
In this retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients hospitalized with cytokine storm, the use of corticosteroids combined with tocilizumab was associated with superior survival when compared to no immunomodulatory treatment; a combination of corticosteroids and anakinra; or corticosteroids, tocilizumab, or anakinra alone. Patients who received corticosteroids, either alone or in combination with anakinra, also experienced lower hospital mortality compared to no treatment. -
EEOC Vaccine Guidance Includes Exceptions
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance includes two important exceptions. Employers remain limited by the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Title VII requires employers to provide exemptions from any vaccine requirement to employees with sincerely held religious beliefs preventing them from taking the vaccine. Further, the ADA requires employers to provide exemptions from any vaccine requirement to employees with a disability that prevents them from taking the vaccine. -
Healthcare Employers Can Mandate Vaccines, but Some Caution Necessary
Guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission indicates healthcare employers can require employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These mandates come with some obligations and risks. -
OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Standard Requires Written Plan, Precautions
The new COVID-19 requirements from OSHA for healthcare employers create substantial obligations, but many hospitals already are carrying out much of what is required. The challenge may come in formalizing a written plan and ensuring it addresses all of OSHA’s expectations. -
Disease Severity and Perinatal Outcomes of Pregnant Patients with COVID-19
In this observational cohort study of patients with singleton gestation and positive coronavirus test, patients with severe or critical disease were at risk for perinatal complications compared to those who were asymptomatic. Patients classified with mild or moderate disease were not shown to have an increased risk compared to asymptomatic positive patients.
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Changes to Medication Abortion Could Result in Pharmacy Dispensing of the Drug
The easing of the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy restriction on mifepristone will make it easier for women to obtain the drug and could allow for pharmacy dispensing of the drug. Pharmacists should have a seat at the table in the conversation on dispensing prescription medication. -
Reassuring Vaccine-Hesitant Healthcare Workers
A common misperception that has led to vaccine hesitancy in healthcare workers and the public is the COVID-19 vaccines were produced with undue haste, seemingly coming out of nowhere to respond to the pandemic. The extensive scientific work with many other viruses that enabled the rapid development of the pandemic vaccines often is left out of the equation. -
OSHA Publishes COVID-19 ETS with Tight Window on Comments
OSHA has published its Emergency Temporary Standard to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 as an interim final rule in the Federal Register, allowing only until July 21 to receive comments and feedback.