The FDA has narrowed Covid-19 vaccine approval to high-risk groups, but officials claim vaccines remain available to all. Experts warn that for healthy individuals under 65, access may be limited due to the need for off-label prescriptions, insurance issues, and logistical barriers, making true universal access unlikely. The situation is complicated further by state-specific regulations and the rescinding of emergency authorizations for certain age groups, raising concerns about equitable vaccine availability amid ongoing Covid-19 risks.
The article discusses the chaotic situation surrounding Covid-19 vaccines this fall, with the FDA expected to restrict the vaccine label to adults 65+ and high-risk individuals, causing confusion and access issues for younger, healthier people. It highlights the potential complications in obtaining the vaccine post-label change, the impact on insurance coverage, and the political tensions influencing the process.
Prescription rates for the diabetes medication Ozempic have varied dramatically across 15 major metropolitan areas in the United States, with increases of 481% in Cleveland and 351% in Seattle, but only 48% in Minneapolis and 79% in Boston. These variations are not correlated with rates of diabetes, obesity, or heart disease in the communities. The data also reveals that about half of the prescriptions for Ozempic went to people without a diabetes diagnosis, indicating off-label prescribing. The popularity of Ozempic surged after the approval of Wegovy, a higher-dose version of the same medication for weight loss. The study highlights the need for ethical prescribing practices and better coverage for obesity medications.
Doctors and pharmacists have been warned against prescribing the weight-loss drug Ozempic, marketed as a 'miracle' drug by celebrities like Elon Musk and Jeremy Clarkson, to people who want to lose weight, as it is causing a national shortage and putting diabetics' lives at risk. The drug, approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy, is currently facing supply difficulties in the UK. The shortage has led to an increase in 'off-label' prescribing, exacerbating the problem and making it difficult for diabetes patients to access their essential medication. Health officials have issued a patient safety alert urging healthcare providers not to prescribe these drugs for obesity and to conserve existing stock for diabetes patients.
Doctors and pharmacists in the UK have been warned to stop prescribing diabetes medication, such as Ozempic, to individuals seeking weight loss, as the demand for these drugs is causing a national shortage and putting the lives of diabetics at risk. The delay in launching the weight loss version of Ozempic, called Wegovy, has led to an increase in "off-label" prescribing, exacerbating the shortage. The Department of Health issued a patient safety alert urging healthcare providers to conserve existing stock for patients with diabetes. The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency is working to ensure access to these drugs or suitable alternatives.
Legal experts suggest that doctors can circumvent the restrictions on abortion pill mifepristone by prescribing it off-label, but physicians fear that anti-abortion advocacy groups or conservative state officials could target them for doing so. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments on May 17 from anti-abortion medical groups that are seeking to overturn FDA approval of the pills and functionally ban their use nationwide. The gestational limit could be one of the simplest pieces of the court order for doctors to sidestep, but providers fear that they could face threats of prosecution, harassment, retaliation from state licensing boards, and civil litigation.
