QD: News Every Day--no holidays for Congress

ACP Internist's daily digest of news and events continues with Congress' newfound work ethic and how the U.S. kept extra chickens on hand to help with H1N1 vaccine preparations.

Health care reform
Following its Veterans Day break this week, Congress may not make it home for any more holidays. The Senate may work right up until Thanksgiving to work on health care reform, said Majority Leader Harry Reid. Representatives in the House will be kept in session until Christmas, says House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. (Roll Call, The Hill)

Having trouble keeping track of different versions of legislation in both chambers of Congress? This article breaks down the differences between bills in the House and Senate. (St. Petersburg Times of Florida)

H1N1 influenza
Special flocks of chickens were ready and waiting to prepare more eggs for flu vaccines, if needed. Seriously! Margaret Hamburg, FACP, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, revealed this in a letter to America's health care professionals providing information on the safety of the 2009 H1N1 vaccines.

"Some of your patients may be asking how the FDA, the manufacturers and the scientific community can have confidence in vaccines that were available just six months after the 2009 H1N1 virus emerged," Dr. Hamburg wrote. "Understanding more about the manufacturing and approval process for these vaccines should help you to answer their questions." But why wait for the post office? The letter can be viewed at the FDA's Web site.

More than 41 million doses have been delivered for distribution, but layoffs and furloughs among public health workers have further delayed distribution, Anne Schuchat, FACP, told a Senate health subcommittee hearing. (Reuters)

Globally, China's authoritarian measures--quarantining villages or medically isolating entire planeloads of passengers--worked, officials there said. In contrast, the European Union saw its deaths doubled in three of the last four weeks. (New York Times, Washington Post)

Primary care shortage
In Davenport, Iowa local health officials are trying to encourage more doctors into rural practice, but face hurdles from physicians who fear low pay, lack of training and lack of technology at smaller hospitals. But they try to counter with low cost of living, reimbursement for education and a community lifestyle. (KWQC.com)

Labels: H1N1, health care reform, primary care shortage, QD

posted by Ryan DuBosar at 11:48 AM