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Health

A Measles Outbreak Offers Lessons In Public Health Messaging

Millions of Americans either hesitate or don't want to get a COVID-19 vaccine. A recent measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest offers lessons in convincing people to say "yes" to vaccination.

A Measles Outbreak Offers Lessons In Public Health Messaging

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Injections Of Second Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Have Begun

Lina Castillo, who works in PeaceHealth's urgent care clinic, says she had no hesitation about getting her first or second shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Castillo's hospital PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Wash., has just started giving its health care workers their final shot, which makes the vaccine about 95 percent effective against COVID-19. Will Stone hide caption

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Will Stone

The Coronavirus Crisis

Injections Of Second Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Have Begun

The people who got the first coronavirus vaccine shots in the U.S. are now getting their second doses, required for maximum protection.

Injections Of Second Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Have Begun

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Health

Inoculation Of 2nd Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine Began This Week

It's now time for people in the U.S. who received the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine to start receiving the second dose. Orchestrating this two-shot vaccine is not as simple as it might seem.

Inoculation Of 2nd Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine Began This Week

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COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get To Long-Term Care Facilities Quickly Enough

Pharmacists prepare doses of a COVID-19 vaccine last week at the Life Care Center of Kirkland in Kirkland, Wash. The nursing home was an early epicenter for coronavirus outbreaks in the United States. Karen Ducey/Getty Images hide caption

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Karen Ducey/Getty Images

The Coronavirus Crisis

COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get To Long-Term Care Facilities Quickly Enough

COVID-19 vaccines are reaching more long-term facilities, but many worry they won't come soon enough to stave off more deaths.

COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get To Long-Term Care Facilities Quickly Enough

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Health

States Struggle To Administer Their Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccines

As the nation falls far short of a goal to get 20 million vaccinated by the new year, we look at where bottlenecks are occurring in various parts of the country.

States Struggle To Administer Their Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccines

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Health

December Proved To Be Deadliest Month For Residents In Long-Term Care

More people in long-term care died of COVID-19 in December than during any other month. The situation only adds to the urgency of getting the vaccine to these communities.

December Proved To Be Deadliest Month For Residents In Long-Term Care

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Yurts, Igloos And Pop-Up Domes: How Safe Is 'Outside' Restaurant Dining This Winter?

The popular Seattle restaurant San Fermo allows only two people inside each of its enclosed dining igloos at a time — to reduce the risk that people from different households will dine together. Will Stone hide caption

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Will Stone

Shots - Health News

Yurts, Igloos And Pop-Up Domes: How Safe Is 'Outside' Restaurant Dining This Winter?

A quick pivot to outdoor dining helped many restaurants survive pandemic restrictions. Now some have added temporary shelters to accommodate winter weather. The safest don't have walls, experts say.

Yurts, Igloos And Pop-Up Domes: How Safe Is 'Outside' Restaurant Dining This Winter?

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Health Care

Experts Say It's A Herculean Effort For Rural Hospitals To Roll Out Mass Vaccination

Small hospitals play a big role in getting COVID-19 vaccines to people in rural America. They face significant challenges — especially with the Pfizer vaccine, which must be kept at low temperature.

Experts Say It's A Herculean Effort For Rural Hospitals To Roll Out Mass Vaccination

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Health

COVID-19 Vaccines Are Arriving At Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care Facilities

Vaccinations against COVID-19 first went to health care workers, and now more doses of the vaccine are reaching those who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

COVID-19 Vaccines Are Arriving At Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care Facilities

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Health

California May Need More Drastic Steps During COVID-19 Surge

Parts of California have reached 0% capacity in ICUs, and hospitals are considering when to invoke crisis standards of care. That could lead to some patients being prioritized over others.

California May Need More Drastic Steps During COVID-19 Surge

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Epidemiologists Urge A Cautious Christmas, After Thanksgiving Surge in Some States

A traveler adjusts her mask while waiting to check in for her flight at the Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 23. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption

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Jae C. Hong/AP

Shots - Health News

Epidemiologists Urge A Cautious Christmas, After Thanksgiving Surge in Some States

Kaiser Health News

Some parts of the country are now grappling with a post-Thanksgiving surge of patients, while others dodged that fate. What lessons can we learn as we head into the Christmas season?

Health

Restaurants Try To Adapt During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Some restaurants have only been able to survive by offering outdoor dining. With cold weather, many are enclosing those spaces — at the same time some jurisdictions are banning any sit-down dining.

Restaurants Try To Adapt During The COVID-19 Pandemic

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'This Is An Exciting Thing.' For Frontline Workers, Vaccine Comes As A Massive Relief

An empty syringe on a table at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a care worker received the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 16, 2020. Brian van der Brug/AP hide caption

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The Coronavirus Crisis

'This Is An Exciting Thing.' For Frontline Workers, Vaccine Comes As A Massive Relief

Despite some early bumps, the arrival of the first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine was celebrated this past week by those who've been caring for patients since the early days of the pandemic.

'This Is An Exciting Thing.' For Frontline Workers, Vaccine Comes As A Massive Relief

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Health

Did Thanksgiving Travel Cause COVID-19 Surge? Experts Say Results Are Mixed

Data show a surge in virus transmission in some areas. Doctors, local health departments and others in the community talk about what they are seeing, and what are they are worried about.

Did Thanksgiving Travel Cause COVID-19 Surge? Experts Say Results Are Mixed

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How Do We Grieve 300,000 Lives Lost?

White flags planted by volunteers visualize lives lost in the U.S. to COVID-19 as part of an installation by artist Suzanne Firstenberg in Washington, D.C. The death toll has now reached 300,000. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

How Do We Grieve 300,000 Lives Lost?

Eleven months into the COVID-19 crisis, an unimaginable death toll has been reached. NPR spoke to doctors, nurses and the bereaved about how they face loss every day.

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