Social Security and Medicare spending could double by 2023; FDA panel experts want naloxone to be available over the counter after the drug information is revised; Moderna announced its COVID-19 vaccines will stay free, and the Biden administration might keep tests and treatments free for the uninsured.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Wednesday that spending on Medicare and Social Security is projected to double by 2033, due to the increasing cost of medical services and a growing number of eligible beneficiaries, reported The Hill. In another report, the CBO said this week that Social Security trust funds are expected to start running short in 2032, a year earlier than it predicted in December.
A panel of outside FDA experts unanimously voted on Wednesday that the overdose-reversing drug naloxone should be offered over the counter to help fight the national opioid crisis, according to the Associated Press. The FDA may or may not follow the panel’s recommendation. The manufacturer said it would revise the label and packaging in response to concerns from panel members, who noted a study that said some people found the drug’s instructions confusing. A final decision by the FDA is expected in the coming weeks.
Moderna announced that people who are insured will be able to get a free COVID-19 vaccine from their doctor’s office or a pharmacy, and uninsured people or those whose insurance won’t cover the vaccine can get it for free through Moderna’s patient assistance program, reported CBS Boston. This announcement comes after The Wall Street Journal reported in January that Moderna was thinking of charging $110 to $130 per vaccine dose. Additionally, Politico reported that the Biden administration is considering keeping COVID-19 tests and treatments free for the uninsured into 2024 despite the public health emergency’s end in May.
Prenatal PFAS Exposure Alters Infant Vaccine-Related Immune Cells
August 1st 2025Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of persistent environmental pollutants, was linked to significant shifts in infant T helper cell development, raising concerns about long-term effects on vaccine response, immune regulation, and disease susceptibility.
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Updated mRNA Vaccines Against JN.1 Show Strong Safety Signal in Real-World Data
July 31st 2025A nationwide Danish cohort study demonstrated no increased risk of serious adverse events following vaccination with JN.1-updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, reinforcing their safety profile and supporting continued use in high-risk populations amid ongoing viral evolution.
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Trump Directs Pharma Companies on Cutting Drug Prices Under Most-Favored-Nation Order
July 31st 2025President Donald Trump has sent letters to pharmaceutical companies, aiming to compel them to lower drug prices in the US to match the lowest prices offered in other developed nations, a move that could significantly reduce costs and disrupt the current system of pharmacy benefit managers.
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Trends in Insulin Out-of-Pocket Costs and Use Disparities, 2008-2021
July 31st 2025Given trends in cost and use, insulin out-of-pocket cost reduction policies would be more efficient if they targeted members in high-deductible health plans with savings options and low-income patients.
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Prenatal PFAS Exposure Alters Infant Vaccine-Related Immune Cells
August 1st 2025Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of persistent environmental pollutants, was linked to significant shifts in infant T helper cell development, raising concerns about long-term effects on vaccine response, immune regulation, and disease susceptibility.
Read More
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July 31st 2025A nationwide Danish cohort study demonstrated no increased risk of serious adverse events following vaccination with JN.1-updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, reinforcing their safety profile and supporting continued use in high-risk populations amid ongoing viral evolution.
Read More
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July 31st 2025President Donald Trump has sent letters to pharmaceutical companies, aiming to compel them to lower drug prices in the US to match the lowest prices offered in other developed nations, a move that could significantly reduce costs and disrupt the current system of pharmacy benefit managers.
Read More
Trends in Insulin Out-of-Pocket Costs and Use Disparities, 2008-2021
July 31st 2025Given trends in cost and use, insulin out-of-pocket cost reduction policies would be more efficient if they targeted members in high-deductible health plans with savings options and low-income patients.
Read More
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