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Nina Feldman
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Nina Feldman

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Wednesday

Health

Conflicting mask policies in Philadelphia are leaving many confusion and concerned

The day after Philadelphia became the first U.S. city to reinstate an indoor mask mandate, its transit agency announced it would drop its mandate in accordance with TSA guidelines.

Conflicting mask policies in Philadelphia are leaving many confusion and concerned

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Friday

Health

We know about long COVID. Should there be a medium COVID?

WHYY

When COVID-19 symptoms linger for weeks, but not long enough to become long COVID, it's confusing and scary for patients. Doctors say this is common. Should we start talking about medium COVID?

We know about long COVID. Should there be a medium COVID?

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Thursday

People with 'medium COVID' are caught in a gray area of recovery with little support

Nina Feldman, a reporter for member station WHYY in Philadelphia, had COVID-19 symptoms that persisted into what she calls "medium COVID." Hazel Lezah hide caption

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Hazel Lezah

Shots - Health News

People with 'medium COVID' are caught in a gray area of recovery with little support

WHYY

Even if you don't have long COVID, it can still take weeks to recover — much longer than the isolation period implies. Millions of Americans are finding that this still majorly disrupts their lives.

People with 'medium COVID' are caught in a gray area of recovery with little support

Wednesday

This 16-year-old wanted to get the COVID vaccine. He had to hide it from his parents

16-year-old Nico Montero wrote an op-ed about getting vaccinated for his school's newspaper. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY hide caption

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Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

Shots - Health News

This 16-year-old wanted to get the COVID vaccine. He had to hide it from his parents

WHYY

At 16, Nicolas Montero is old enough to get vaccinated on his own in some parts of the country. But he had to try to get the jabs without his parents knowing, since they're opposed to the vaccine.

This 16-year-old wanted to get the COVID vaccine. He had to hide it from his parents

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Monday

Why Black And Latino People Still Lag On COVID Vaccines — And How To Fix It

Thomas W. Munson receives his second dose of COVID-19 vaccination from registered nurse Elizabeth Lash at a Sayre Health clinic held at Tablenacle Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia. Emma Lee/WHYY hide caption

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Emma Lee/WHYY

Shots - Health News

Why Black And Latino People Still Lag On COVID Vaccines — And How To Fix It

WHYY

It's not a matter of vaccine hesitancy, say advocates. Instead, poorly located clinics, lack of flexible appointments and other barriers to access are hampering Philadelphia's hardest-hit communities.

Why Black And Latino People Still Lag On COVID Vaccines — And How To Fix It

Monday

Health

Philadelphia's Imbalanced Vaccination Rates Fueled By Lack Of Access

Vaccination rates for Black and Latino people in Philadelphia are half those of their white and Asian counterparts. It appears lack of access is more to blame than hesitancy to get vaccinated.

Philadelphia's Imbalanced Vaccination Rates Fueled By Lack Of Access

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Friday

In Philadelphia, A Scandal Erupts Over Vaccination Startup Led By 22-Year-Old

Andrei Doroshin, CEO of Philly Fighting Covid, speaks to reporters before the start of a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Jan. 8. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY hide caption

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Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

Shots - Health News

In Philadelphia, A Scandal Erupts Over Vaccination Startup Led By 22-Year-Old

WHYY

City officials gave coronavirus vaccines to Philly Fighting Covid, whose brash CEO had no health care experience. After a WHYY investigation, the city cut ties with the group over alleged misconduct.

In Philadelphia, A Scandal Erupts Over Vaccination Startup Led By 22-Year-Old

Health

Why Philadelphia Gave A 22-Year-Old's Startup A Vaccine Contract — Then Canceled It

WHYY

Philadelphia gave a vaccination contract to a startup founded by a 22-year-old with no health care experience. Chaos ensued; the contract was canceled. NPR looks at what happened.

Why Philadelphia Gave A 22-Year-Old's Startup A Vaccine Contract — Then Canceled It

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Thursday

In Philadelphia, Judges Rule Against Opening 'Supervised' Site To Inject Opioids

Nikil Saval, a newly elected Pennsylvania state senator, speaks in support of opening a "supervised injection site" for opioid users in Philadelphia during a Nov. 16 rally outside the federal courthouse. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY hide caption

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Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

Shots - Health News

In Philadelphia, Judges Rule Against Opening 'Supervised' Site To Inject Opioids

WHYY

A federal appeals court ruled the effort by nonprofit Safehouse to open a "supervised injection site" to prevent overdose deaths is laudable but illegal under the so-called federal crack house law.

Friday

Without Clear Pandemic Rules, People Take On More Risks As Fear And Vigilance Wane

Software engineer Adriana Kaplan outside her home in South Philadelphia. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY hide caption

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Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

Shots - Health News

Without Clear Pandemic Rules, People Take On More Risks As Fear And Vigilance Wane

WHYY

Officials may be relying on people to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 at a time when the public is simply not afraid enough anymore to keep up the recommended behaviors.

Without Clear Pandemic Rules, People Take On More Risks As Fear And Vigilance Wane

Friday

Health

Why Asking People To Change Their Behavior During The Pandemic Is So Hard

To control the virus, some officials are forgoing rules or mandates and instead are relying on individuals to do the right thing. So what motivates behavior change, and what falls short?

Why Asking People To Change Their Behavior During The Pandemic Is So Hard

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Thursday

The Black Doctors Working To Make Coronavirus Testing More Equitable

Dr. Ala Stanford and her staff at a coronavirus testing site in Pennsylvania. Stanford created the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium and sends mobile test units into neighborhoods. Nina Feldman/WHYY hide caption

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Nina Feldman/WHYY

Shots - Health News

The Black Doctors Working To Make Coronavirus Testing More Equitable

WHYY

Dr. Ala Stanford was frustrated by systemic barriers preventing Black residents from getting tests. She created the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium and sends mobile test units into neighborhoods.

The Black Doctors Working To Make Coronavirus Testing More Equitable

Monday

Race

Black Health Care Professionals Help Black Communities Battle Pandemic

WHYY

Frustrated by COVID-19's disproportionate impact on Black communities, Black doctors came together to launch their own outreach group, bringing testing and care into Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Black Health Care Professionals Help Black Communities Battle Pandemic

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Tuesday

In Pandemic, Green Doesn't Mean 'Go.' How Did Public Health Guidance Get So Muddled?

A mid-April sign in Philadelphia reminds passersby that current social distancing measures are for their own good. Cory Clark/ NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

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Cory Clark/ NurPhoto via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

In Pandemic, Green Doesn't Mean 'Go.' How Did Public Health Guidance Get So Muddled?

WHYY

Public officials continue to send mixed messages about the pandemic: We're open for business, but also, stay home if you can. Without clear guidance, people feel confused or stop trying to be safe.

In Pandemic, Green Doesn't Mean 'Go.' How Did Public Health Guidance Get So Muddled?

Sunday

National

Confusion Reigns Nationwide Amid Conflicting Coronavirus Rules

WHYY

The messaging around what to do to protect yourself in the pandemic has been mixed, and many say it's making them feel unqualified to make important safety decisions.

Confusion Reigns Nationwide Amid Conflicting Coronavirus Rules

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Friday

For Opioid Users, Pandemic Means New Dangers, But Also New Treatment Options

Rosalind Pichardo advertises a daily food giveaway service in the heart of Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood, where more people die of opioid overdoses than any other area in the city. Nina Feldman/ WHYY hide caption

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Nina Feldman/ WHYY

Shots - Health News

For Opioid Users, Pandemic Means New Dangers, But Also New Treatment Options

WHYY

Relaxed regulations in response to the pandemic means more access to addiction treatment medications. But recovery programs are accepting fewer people, and the danger of overdose remains high.

For Opioid Users, Pandemic Means New Dangers, But Also New Treatment Options

Tuesday

Coronavirus-Stricken Cities Have Empty Hospitals, But Reopening Them Is Difficult

Philadelphia residents, hospital workers, and local politicians protested the imminent closure of Hahnemann University Hospital at a rally on July 15, 2019. In March 2020, city leaders tried but failed to strike a deal with the hospital's new owner to reopen the facility for an expected coronavirus surge. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

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NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Coronavirus-Stricken Cities Have Empty Hospitals, But Reopening Them Is Difficult

WHYY

In Philadelphia, New Orleans and Los Angeles, former safety-net hospitals sit empty. But reopening a closed hospital, even when demand for health resources spikes, is not easy or cheap.

Thursday

Law

Judge: Planned Supervised Injection Site Does Not Violate Federal Drug Laws

WHYY

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Philadelphia's plan to open a safe-injection site does not violate federal drug laws. The Justice Department is expected to appeal the decision.

Judge: Planned Supervised Injection Site Does Not Violate Federal Drug Laws

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Friday

Trump Administration Is In Court To Block Nation's 1st Supervised Injection Site

Supporters of safe injection sites in Philadelphia rallied outside this week's federal hearing. The judge's ultimate ruling will determine if the proposed "Safehouse" facility to prevent deaths from opioid overdose would violate the federal Controlled Substances Act. Kimberly Paynter/WHYY hide caption

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Kimberly Paynter/WHYY

Shots - Health News

Trump Administration Is In Court To Block Nation's 1st Supervised Injection Site

WHYY

Efforts to combat Philadelphia's opioid crisis with a supervised injection site could be stymied by a portion of federal law meant to protect neighborhoods during the crack epidemic of the 1980s.

Trump Administration Is In Court To Block Nation's 1st Supervised Injection Site

Thursday

National

Court To Rule On Philadelphia's Proposed Safe Injection Sites

WHYY

Philadelphia could be the first U.S. city to offer opioid users a safe place to inject drugs under medical supervision. But lawyers will argue that such sites violate 1980s-era crack house laws.

Court To Rule On Philadelphia's Proposed Safe Injection Sites

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Tuesday

It's The Go-To Drug To Treat Opioid Addiction. Why Won't More Pharmacies Stock It?

Richard Ost owns Philadelphia Pharmacy, in the city's Kensington neighborhood. He says he has stopped carrying Suboxone, for the most part, because the illegal market for the drug brought unwanted traffic to his store. Nina Feldman/WHYY hide caption

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Nina Feldman/WHYY

Shots - Health News

It's The Go-To Drug To Treat Opioid Addiction. Why Won't More Pharmacies Stock It?

WHYY

It can be hard enough finding a doctor who prescribes buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction. But patients also report difficulty with pharmacies that refuse to stock the drug.

It's The Go-To Drug To Treat Opioid Addiction. Why Won't More Pharmacies Stock It?

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Wednesday

New Lawsuit Reveals More Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Boy Scouts Of America

Boy Scouts at Los Angeles National Cemetery prepare a U.S. flag beside the graves of war veterans on May 25, during the annual flag placement ceremony for Memorial Day to honor the fallen. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

National

New Lawsuit Reveals More Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Boy Scouts Of America

WHYY

A lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania this week could be the first in a wave of new sexual assault allegations against the Boy Scouts of America.

New Lawsuit Reveals More Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Boy Scouts Of America

Sunday

New Job Hope For Adults In Drug And Alcohol Recovery

Doug Kiker (left) and Dan Schmalen are founders of Retrofit Careers, a job portal for those in successful drug and alcohol recovery. Emma Lee/WHYY hide caption

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Emma Lee/WHYY

National

New Job Hope For Adults In Drug And Alcohol Recovery

WHYY

Many in recovery go long periods without work, and face stigma against addiction. A new hiring site, just for job seekers in recovery, aims to change that.

New Job Hope For Adults In Drug And Alcohol Recovery

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Monday

Opioid Antidote Can Save Lives, But Deciding When To Use It Can Be Challenging

A Philadelphia police officer holds a package of the overdose antidote naloxone while on patrol in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia in April 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Opioid Antidote Can Save Lives, But Deciding When To Use It Can Be Challenging

WHYY

Public health officials says it's simple to save the lives of people experiencing an opioid overdose: Give an antidote. But for a bystander, that intervention can be daunting.

Opioid Antidote Can Save Lives, But Deciding When To Use It Can Be Challenging

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