The FDA is reportedly planning to allow ‘mix-and-match’ booster shots

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm healthcare editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:

• The FDA is reportedly planning to allow "mix-and-match" booster shots;
• Nurses say patients have been getting more abusive;
• Thousands of California hospital workers are on strike.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at [email protected] or tweet @leah_rosenbaum. Let's get to it…

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The FDA plans to allow people to 'mix-and-match' their COVID-19 booster shots, a new report says

• The FDA is expected to allow a "mix-and-match" approach for COVID-19 booster shots, The New York Times reported.
• The authorization will allow Americans to get a different brand booster than what they initially received.
• It will not recommend one brand over another but may mention it is preferable to receive the same brand, The Times reported.

Find out more>>

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Nurses say patients are getting more abusive, and simple questions can set them off

• 31% of hospital nurses have reported an increase in violence, up from 22% in March 2021.
• Nurses told Insider the tense politics around vaccines and masks may be leading to patient aggression.
• 1 in 4 nurses faces physical violence on the job, and the hospital is one of the most dangerous workplaces in the country, according to OSHA.

Get the full story>>

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Thousands of California hospital workers strike over 'critical staffing shortages' at nearly a third of hospitals in the state

• Thousands of healthcare workers in California have gone on strike or plan to strike, CalMatters reported.
• They're striking over burnout and continued staffing shortages fueled by the coronavirus pandemic.
• About a third of California hospitals reported "critical staffing shortages" to the federal government last week.

Dive in>>

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More stories we're reading:

• A Florida school says vaccinated students must stay home for 30 days after each shot, citing a false claim that they'll infect others (Insider)
• An probe into the origins of COVID-19 was dissolved due to conflicts of interest (Science)
• Teen girls are showing up to the doctor with tics, and experts think anxiety, depression, and TikTok could be playing a role (Insider)
• Here's why public health departments across the US are facing a crisis (The New York Times)

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-Leah