Health and Human Services

An Alabama law signed by Gov. Kay Ivey prohibits agencies from issuing COVID-19 vaccination documents like passports or passes. The law also prohibits private and public entities from requiring proof of vaccination.

Some states are easing COVID-19 restrictions for those who can provide proof of vaccination, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation says online sales of fake and stolen vaccination cards are increasing.

Physically distanced from many of the supports and connections that define childhood and school in a year of unprecedented stressors, “the kids are not OK,” as Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said in February.

In a 16-month initiative, the National Governors Association is working with eight states on health policies that could enhance data sharing and improve identity management and cost effectiveness.

Drones might be a better solution for controlling mosquitoes in remote areas that ground vehicles have a hard time accessing.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics are using the technology to identify diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes complication that can cause blindness.

Doctors with Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente and St. Joseph Health have started using cellphones and mobile devices to meet with their patients.

Chattanooga, Tenn.'s investment in community broadband allows the city to bring more than just fast Internet browsing to citizens.

NowPow, an app developed in partnership with Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, is being utilized by researchers to assess the use of technology to improve the children and family services system.

Patients in San Diego, Calif., are facing substantial roadblocks to their health care as Scripps Health, the second-largest health system in the region, remains relatively silent about a recovery plan.

A recent report from software firm VMWare Carbon Black estimates that its health-care customers experienced a 9,851 percent increase in hacking attempts in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Scripps Health has not publicly confirmed that ransomware caused the outage, though an internal memo implicates the attack vector. The attack disrupted scheduling, patient records and other critical systems.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that prohibits businesses and government agencies in the state from asking people for proof — digital passport or otherwise — of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services in Texas has incorporated augmented and virtual reality into its training process, allowing first responders to prepare more effectively for mass-casualty events.

The new tool will tie into Delaware County’s 911 dispatch to alert CPR-trained individuals of medical emergencies so they can provide assistance in the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives.

Asian Health Services in Oakland, Calif., unveiled a new website to document incidents of inaccessibility on vaccine websites. The site allows people to make reports in 10 languages other than English.

Republican politicians and privacy advocates are bristling over so-called vaccination passports, with some states moving to restrict their use. Critics say they create different classes of citizens.

Across the country, transit agencies are getting involved in vaccination efforts. Many are giving people free rides to vaccine sites via bus, train or light rail routes, or are using their fleets for door-to-door pickup.