The Latest: COVID is the #1 Cause of Death in the U.S. in Early 2021

Plus, huge gaps in vaccine data make it next to impossible to know who got the shots.

January 29, 2021 COVID-19 is the Number One Cause of Death in the U.S. in Early 2021   A new issue brief examines the most recent data on deaths from COVID-19 and other causes, and finds that COVID-19 is currently the number one cause of death in the United States. An average of more than 3,000 people per day died of COVID-19 in the U.S. in January 2021 – a number nearly 50% higher than the next leading cause of death. (Issue Brief) Huge Gaps in Vaccine Data Make It Next to Impossible to Know Who Got the Shots   As they rush to vaccinate millions of Americans, health officials are struggling to collect critically important information — such as race, ethnicity and occupation — of every person they jab. The data being collected is so scattered that there's little insight into which health care workers, or first responders, have been among the people getting the initial vaccines, as intended — or how many doses instead have gone to people who should be much further down the list. (KHN, The Guardian) The Mexico City Policy: An Explainer   On January 28, President Biden rescinded the Mexico City Policy, marking an end to a four-year period under the Trump administration that saw the greatest expansion of the policy in its history. First announced in 1984 by the Reagan administration, the policy required foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to certify that they would not "perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning" using funds from any source (including non-U.S. funds) as a condition of receiving U.S. government global family planning funding. (Fact Sheet) As Vaccine Rollout Expands, Black Americans Still Left Behind   Black Americans are still receiving covid vaccinations at dramatically lower rates than white Americans even as the chaotic rollout reaches more people, according to a new KHN analysis. Almost seven weeks into the vaccine rollout, states have expanded eligibility beyond front-line health care workers to more of the public — in some states to more older adults, in others to essential workers such as teachers. But new data shows that vaccination rates for Black Americans have not caught up to those of white Americans. (KHN, NBC News) Question of the Week   Last week, we asked readers how many COVID vaccine shots have been given in the US. About half of respondents chose the correct answer: 12 million. Think you've stayed up-to-date on this week's new releases from KFF, KHN, and California Healthline? Test your knowledge with the following question:  The Biden administration announced this week that it will re-open ACA Marketplace enrollment. About how many people in the U.S. are estimated to be uninsured and eligible for Marketplace coverage? 10 million 15 million 20 million  See how many readers answered this week's question correctly in next Friday's edition of The Latest.   Special Coverage: COVID-19 Coronavirus The latest news and analysis on the coronavirus outbreak. You can find a complete list of recent releases on KFF.org and KHN.org. Huge Gaps in Vaccine Data Make It Next to Impossible to Know Who Got the Shots (KHN, The Guardian) As Vaccine Rollout Expands, Black Americans Still Left Behind (KHN, NBC News) Can the US Keep Covid Variants in Check? Here's What It Takes (KHN, NBC News) Vaccination Chaos Fuels Push to Recall Newsom (KHN, Daily Beast) New Covid Cases Plunge 25% or More as Behavior Changes (KHN) Kids Already Coping With Mental Disorders Spiral as Pandemic Topples Vital Support Systems (KHN, NPR) Pandemic Sends a Couple Into Indefinite Long Distance Though Just Miles Apart (KHN, NPR) At Colorado's Rural Edges, Vaccines Help Assisted Living Homes Crack Open the Doors (KHN, Denver Post) Journalists Stay on Top of Rocky Vaccine Rollout (KHN) COVID-19 is the Number One Cause of Death in the U.S. in Early 2021 (Issue Brief) Analyzing Recent Trends in Medicaid/CHIP Applications: What We Do and Do Not Know (Issue Brief) This Week in Coronavirus: January 22 to January 28 (Policy Watch Post) Updated: COVID-19 Coronavirus Tracker – Updated as of January 29 (Interactive) Updated: State Data and Policy Actions to Address Coronavirus (Interactive)   Tracking COVID-19    New Global Confirmed Cases (on 1/28): 591,520 U.S. Positivity Rate (as of 1/28): 8.9% Current U.S. Hospitalizations (as of 1/28): 107,444 News and Headlines News and headlines from Kaiser Health News (KHN) and California Healthline (CHL). Follow KHN on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and CHL on Facebook  and Twitter, for the latest updates. States Move Ahead With Canada Drug Importation While Awaiting Signal From Biden (KHN) If This Self-Sufficient Hospital Cannot Stand Alone, Can Any Public Hospital Survive? (KHN, Fortune) 4 Vital Health Issues — Not Tied to Covid — That Congress Addressed in Massive Spending Bill (KHN, NPR) KHN's 'What the Health?': The Long Road to Unwinding Trump Health Policies (KHN) Latest news summaries from the KHN Morning Briefing Data and Analysis The latest in health policy data and analysis from KFF. Updated: The Mexico City Policy: An Explainer (Fact Sheet) Addressing the Risk of Medicare Trust Fund Insolvency (Perspective) How Can Trump Administration Regulations Be Reversed? (Issue Brief) The Buzz See what's driving health policy conversation on social media. Follow KFF on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates and perspectives. Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. kff.org  |  khn.org Did someone forward this to you? Click here to subscribe to The Latest. This email was sent to albarkahslamet.ssss@blogger.com. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Or, permanently unsubscribe from all future emails.  If you need help or have questions, please send an email to subscriptions@kff.org. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored. KFF 185 Berry Street Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94107