Michigan aims to improve maternal and infant health Black doulas are setting out to help change the dramatic Black infant mortality rate. In Michigan and across the country, Black infants die far more frequently than white babies.
Who might benefit from a 4th shot — and who might not Some countries are moving ahead with plans to offer a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. But studies are raising questions about the potential advantages of this extra booster. Michaeleen Doucleff
Doctors find limited use for less effective Covid pill The antiviral pill molnupiravir was authorized and distributed by the government late last year. But it's not doctors' first choice of treatment, except for a narrow slice of patients. Pien Huang
UW Medicine residents ask for 80-hour week limit, more pay More than 500 resident physicians at the University of Washington Medical Center plan to walk off the job on Wednesday, February 23. They’re walking out for 15 minutes — the length of their break — to ask for better working conditions. Eilís O'Neill
The pandemic pummeled long-term care – it may not recover quickly, experts warn Hundreds of thousands of nursing home workers have quit since the pandemic began, and the ones still working suffer from burnout. Industry leaders worry the system is fracturing. Rhitu Chatterjee
Want to be a better ally to disabled people? Here's how July is Disability Pride Month. Do you find yourself avoiding conversations on disabilities? A disability rights activist shares ways to be a better ally and to destigmatize disability in America. Thomas Lu
Britain will drop COVID-19 self-isolation requirements on Thursday, Johnson announces "Covid will not suddenly disappear," Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament on Monday, adding that "restrictions pose a heavy toll on our economy, our society, our mental well-being." Vanessa Romo
Global health champion Paul Farmer dies at 62 Dr. Paul Farmer, a global health champion, Harvard Medical School professor, anthropologist and co-founder of the nonprofit health organization Partners in Health, has died at age 62. Nurith Aizenman
More contagious version of omicron spreads in U.S., fueling worries The omicron BA.2 variant spreads about 30% more easily and has caused surges in other countries. Its steady increase in the U.S. raises questions about the wisdom of rolling back Covid restrictions. Rob Stein
Stop using these baby formulas, the FDA says, after 4 infants are hospitalized Abbott Nutrition voluntarily recalled some powdered formulas sold under the Similac, Alimentum and EleCare brands. The FDA is investigating links to 4 bacterial infections, one of which was fatal. Rina Torchinsky