Walmart is quietly plotting to expand its virtual medical services

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer, and today in healthcare news:

• Walmart Health's medical provider has quietly filed to operate in 16 more states;
• We just got more evidence both vaccine doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 shot may be needed to protect against variants;
• Your guide to traveling safely this summer.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at [email protected] or tweet @lydiaramsey125. Let's get to it…

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Walmart is quietly laying plans to care for patients in 16 more states as it pushes into online care

• Walmart Health's medical provider has filed to operate in 16 more states, an Insider review found.
• A Walmart spokesperson said the filings are related to the company's push into virtual care.
• Walmart signaled that push when it unveiled plans in May to buy telehealth company MeMD.

Get the full scoop>>

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There's more evidence that getting both doses of Pfizer's vaccine may be 'critical' to protecting against emerging variants

• Pfizer's vaccine worked against five coronavirus variants in the first lab study to directly compare them.
• It added more evidence that both doses may be needed to protect against emerging variants.
• Most people who get two doses would be protected against the variant initially from India, the researchers said.

Find out more>>

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A travel-safety guide for vaccinated people: How to keep your stress level and infection risk low this summer

• As people begin to travel more, there are ways to fly safely without going overboard, experts say.
• Flying is relatively low-risk for vaccinated people, even in crowded airports.
• It's no longer critical to social distance on planes, but keep your mask on and minimize layovers.

Here's what you need to know>>

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More stories we're reading:

• Meghan Markle gave birth to son Archie in the UK and will have her daughter in the US. Here's how childbirth differs in the countries. (Insider)
• DNA-testing company Helix raised $50 million (GenomeWeb)
• Fauci: We need to keep an 'open mind' about the lab-leak theory of the coronavirus pandemic's origins (Insider)
• A new Alzheimer's FDA approval could deepen the racial inequalities that persist in dementia care (Stat News)

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- Lydia