What We’re Reading: School Nurse Shortage; Keytruda Receives FDA Expansion; Menthol Cigarette, Flavored Cigar Ban

School Nurses Struggle to Keep Students Healthy

School nurses are often the frontline for public health concerns in schools, including tracking vaccinations and addressing sensitive topics with parents, according to Kaiser Health News. However, more than one-third of schools in the United States lack a full-time nurse, and the profession faces additional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Insufficient staffing puts student health and education at risk, and despite recommendations for nurse-to-student ratios, many states struggle to attract and retain school nurses, further exacerbating the nation's overall nursing shortage.

FDA Expands Keytruda's Use in Early-Stage NSCLC

The FDA has granted approval for the extended use of Merck & Co's immunotherapy drug, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in patients who have early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to Reuters. This expanded approval allows Keytruda to be used in combination with chemotherapy both before and after surgical tumor removal. Merck aims to widen the application of Keytruda into earlier stages of cancer treatment. Tthe drug, already approved for multiple indications worldwide, has reported sales of $12.1 billion in the last 2 quarters.

FDA Proposes Ban on Menthol Cigarettes, Flavored Cigars

The FDA has taken a significant step toward banning menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars, a move that public health experts believe could save hundreds of thousands of lives, according to CNN. The proposed ban aims to eliminate menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars, with the goal of reducing tobacco addiction and curbing the marketing of these products to children, particularly in minority communities. A ban on menthol could help close health disparities, especially in the Black community, and ultimately save up to 654,000 lives in the United States within 40 years.