Pediatric medicine expert discusses changes in COVID-19 vaccine guidance, access challenges in underserved communities
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Centers for Disease Control has updated its childhood vaccine guidance to include COVID-19 shots under a 'shared decision-making' model, allowing parents to consult with health care providers.
This shift comes shortly after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to remove COVID vaccines from the federal immunization schedule for kids, sparking questions about future policy impacts.
Dr. Alana Arnold, CEO and founder of PEMPal, discusses the changes and how access plays a role in getting the vaccines.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Nearly 100 House Democrats urge RFK Jr. to restore millions in family planning grants
Nearly 100 House Democrats are calling on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore tens of millions of dollars in federal family planning grants to more than a dozen organizations that have been frozen for more than two months. In a letter to Kennedy sent Friday and seen first by The Hill, 95 lawmakers said the organizations that had their Title X funding frozen on March 31 — including nine Planned Parenthood clinics — are still in the dark about the status of their grants. At the time, the clinics said they received letters from the administration saying the grants were being 'temporarily withheld' due to possible civil right violations and President Trump's executive orders prohibiting the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and 'taxpayer subsidization of open borders.' More than two months later, the lawmakers said the grantees 'remain without funding and have received no communication from the administration regarding the status of the investigations, the expected timeline, or the future of their funding.' HHS declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. The agency is being sued over the freeze by the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 'Congress has already appropriated these funds, and the administration has a responsibility to distribute them without undue delay or obstruction, ensuring that critical care is not disrupted for millions of people who rely on Title X services,' the group of lawmakers wrote. The letter was led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) and signed by 91 other Democrats. Title X is the country's only federal program dedicated to providing affordable birth control and other sexual and reproductive health care to low-income Americans and has done so since the 1970s. The lawmakers timed the letter to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut, which established a constitutional right to privacy regarding contraception and reproductive decisions. 'However, due to the actions of this administration, reproductive freedom is under threat,' the lawmakers wrote. The first Trump administration prohibited providers from receiving Title X funding if they mentioned abortion or referred patients for abortions. It also required clinics to construct separate facilities for the procedure and other services. More than a dozen grantees, including all Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide, left the program in protest because of the rule. The Biden administration reversed Trump's Title X rule in 2021. Updated at 3:26 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Excell Celebrates Over 25 Years of Delivering Compassionate Home Care and Hospice Support
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Excell, a name synonymous with compassionate and comprehensive care in Oklahoma, is celebrating over 25 years in the space. It is a major milestone that marks a journey of purpose, progress, and people-first service. With two distinct divisions: Excell Private Care Services (PCS) and Excell Home Care & Hospice, the company has grown exponentially over the past eight years under the leadership of the Pennant Group, which acquired the organization in 2017. What began as a unified home care and hospice service has evolved into two powerhouse branches operating with a shared mission: to be Oklahoma's one-stop-shop solution for in-home medical support across all ages and stages of life. Excell Private Care Services Since the Pennant Group acquisition, Excell PCS has seen unprecedented growth. Now operating three additional locations across Oklahoma with numerous patient flows annually, this branch has become a trusted resource for families seeking up to 24-hour support for loved ones, whether recovering from surgery, managing chronic illness, or navigating the challenges of aging. With a huge team of skilled professionals, including nurses, caregivers, and case managers, Excell PCS has also introduced new service lines tailored to veterans and families on a budget to ensure high-quality care that isn't reserved only for the privileged few. In an industry often criticized for financial barriers, Excell stands apart by eliminating deposits, upfront nurse visit charges, and long-term contracts. 'When someone is ill or nearing the end of life, it's already an emotional and financial strain,' said Crystal Warner, CEO of Excell PCS. 'We believe care should ease stress, not add to it.' Excell's 24-hour nurse access, critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, remains a cornerstone of its approach, allowing families to avoid unnecessary ER visits and receive immediate advice in the comfort and safety of their homes. Excell Home Care & Hospice On the hospice side, Excell has redefined what end-of-life care looks like in Oklahoma. The organization has expanded its nursing team, built strong community partnerships, and, most importantly, prioritized keeping patients at home longer and out of hospitals. Unlike traditional home health and hospice models, Excell offers 24/7 support, not just to patients but to their families as well, sending caregivers to sit with loved ones so relatives can rest, grieve, or simply breathe. 'Families often fear hospice because it signals the end,' said Kristina Tell, RN and Executive Director of Excell Home Care & Hospice. 'We see it as an opportunity to bring peace, presence, and support when people need it most, without hidden costs or confusing red tape.' Whether serving seniors or younger individuals with terminal conditions, Excell's care plans are individualized, flexible, and always aimed at preserving the dignity of the patient and the well-being of their families. Locally led and operated, Excell's team includes nurses, therapists, aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and administrative staff who see their work as a calling. This internal culture of collaboration translates into external excellence, where patients receive wraparound care, and families feel supported from the first call to the final farewell. Looking ahead, Excell reflects on its over 25 years of service and sees the future is filled with opportunity. The company is actively seeking acquisitions and preparing to open new private care and hospice locations throughout Oklahoma to meet growing demand. 'Our goal is simple,' said Warner. 'We want to continue being Oklahoma's go-to resource for life-changing home care and hospice services, known for accessibility, affordability, and always delivering with heart.' Media Contact Name: Crystal Warner Email: [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Bad Botox? Six cases of botulism on the South Shore tied to possible Botox injections
South Shore Health declined to answer questions about whether they were treating suspected cases or how many they were seeing, referring instead to the Department of Public Health. Advertisement However Jason Tracy, chief medical officer at the hospital, said generally that patients are given a presumptive diagnosis made off of their clinical presentation of symptoms and history of recent injections. Related : From there, the hospital would involve both the Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control, which has an anti-toxin that it provides on a case-by-case basis. The anti-toxin helps slow the progression of symptoms, but does not reverse them, and so hospitals typically also provide supportive measures. 'This is quite rare,' Tracy said. 'This is different than a food-borne botulism type case. It's not as though there is a lot body of literature to refer clinicians to to give prognosis and historical elements and time courses for what to expect.' South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff Use of botulinum toxin — commonly known by the popular brand name Botox — for cosmetic procedures is widely Advertisement Cosmetic treatments with botulinum toxin use doses much lower than for medical treatments, said Dr. Mathew M. Avram, director of the Mass General Hospital Dermatology Laser and Cosmetic Center.. With regulated, FDA-approved products in a healthy adult, the amount of the toxin is so small that it is exceedingly rare for it to cause botulism. 'I've never seen a patient or had a colleague of mine at Mass General or elsewhere that has told me they have had a case of this. It is not something that happens normally,' Avram said. 'Someone would have to go outside the realm of what you would typically inject to encounter these issues, for a typical patient.' Beyond injecting far too much, poor administration technique or using counterfeit products can increase risks. 'We have seen instances where injectors have used counterfeit products or products they developed on their own,' Avram said. 'These are unsafe practices that can harm patients.' According to the advisory, botulism results when the botulinum toxin circulates in the blood. Symptoms including double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing. Such symptoms are sometimes followed by muscle weaknesses, which can progress over the course of hours or days. Advertisement DPH has asked clinicians to warn patients interested in these cosmetic injections of the potential risks, and is advising patients to receive injections only from licensed providers. 'If someone has had a botox injection and has had those symptoms they should seek medical attention,' Tracy said. 'I don't want to create worry but someone having visual changes, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing — they should not ignore it." The reports are only the latest Botox problems to surface in the South Shore. In November, 38-year-old Rebecca Fadanelli, was arrested and charged for selling counterfeit Botox out of Skin Beauté Med Spa in Easton and Randolph. Jessica Bartlett can be reached at
