Si bien muchos estadounidenses han reanudado su vida normal después de los últimos dos años, la pandemia de COVID no ha desaparecido, especialmente si tiene una enfermedad preexistente o está embarazada. La Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, sin fines de lucro y no partidista, les recuerda a las futuras madres en el estado de Bluegrass que vacunarse contra el COVID-19 es una de las muchas maneras de garantizar mejor un embarazo seguro y saludable. La vicepresidenta de comunicaciones, Ashley Brauer, dice que todos los datos disponibles muestran que la vacunación es segura para las mujeres embarazadas y sus hijos, y el objetivo de la campaña es brindarles a las madres los datos que necesitan para tomar una decisión informada.

"La Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky y la Kentucky Association of Health Plans se han asociado en esta campaña educativa con el objetivo de aumentar el conocimiento y animar a las mujeres embarazadas a tener una conversación con sus médicos para que puedan aprender más y decidir que es lo correcto para ellas", agregó la vicepresidenta de comunicaciones de Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

Brauer dice que la información basada en la ciencia, incluida una serie de testimonios en video de profesionales médicos y madres que fueron vacunadas durante el embarazo, está disponible en línea en Healthy-KY.org. El Centro para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) dice que se recomienda la vacunación contra el COVID-19 para las personas que están embarazadas, amamantando, tratando de quedar embarazadas ahora o que podrían quedar embarazadas en el futuro.

En un video testimonial, Chelsea Lexington dice que eligió ser parte de la campaña para alentar a las futuras madres a tomar la misma decisión que ella.

"Quedar embarazada durante una pandemia es algo que nunca olvidaré. Mi decisión de vacunarme contra el COVID-19 se basó en la seguridad y protección de mi hijo. Mi consejo para usted sería que vaya y hable con su médico para ver si la inyección es lo adecuado para usted", añadió Lexington.

Katherine Kington North de la Kentucky Association of Health Plans dice que si bien la decisión depende en última instancia de cada futura madre, los beneficios de la vacunación son claros.

"Es muy importante porque solo el 31 % de las mujeres embarazadas en los EE. UU. están vacunadas contra la COVID y las mujeres embarazadas que no están vacunadas tienen un 40 % más de probabilidades de desarrollar complicaciones graves por la COVID, lo que permite a las mujeres embarazadas tener una conversación más profunda sobre la vacuna", comentó también Kington North.

Cuando se administra a una mujer embarazada, la vacuna COVID-19 funciona en el músculo donde se inyecta la vacuna y no pasa directamente al bebé, pero los anticuerpos se reciben a través de la placenta o a través de la leche materna después del nacimiento, brindando cierta protección al bebé contra el coronavirus durante los primeros seis meses de vida.

After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.