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Johnson & Johnson plans to deliver 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate to the United States by the end of March if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes emergency use of the single-dose vaccine, a company executive told a House subcommittee at a hearing on expanding vaccine availability.

During an AHA virtual briefing for lawmakers and staff, leaders from three health systems — One Brooklyn Health System, Grady Health System, and The Hospitals of Providence, part of Tenet Healthcare — discussed the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on communities of color and how their health systems are working with their communities to deliver high quality, culturally responsive care.

Hundreds of hospital and health system leaders today participated in an AHA advocacy virtual event to get the latest on Congress’ efforts to pass President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package and urge lawmakers to include provisions to support hospitals and health systems.

A new Kaufman Hall study is showing the extent to which hospitals’ finances continue to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new resource from the American Society for Health Care Engineering and Naval Medicine Readiness and Training Command summarizes recommended ventilation system controls for health care facilities treating COVID-19 patients.

Authorized health care providers should now order the monoclonal antibody therapy bamlanivimab and antibody cocktail casirivimab/imdevimab directly from the sole distributor, AmerisourceBergen Corp., the Department of Health and Human Services announced.

AHA urged the Department of Health and Human Services to make the process for hospitals to report data to the HHS TeleTracking COVID-19 Portal and other data reporting platforms as efficient, transparent and valuable as possible.

The AHA, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association released a joint statement as the number of U.S. deaths related to COVID-19 approached 500,000.

New data from Pfizer Inc. indicates that its COVID-19 vaccine is more stable than previously believed when stored -25°C to -15°C (-13°F to 5°F), temperatures more commonly found in pharmaceutical freezers and refrigerators.

To help combat burnout and fatigue amidst the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on health care workers’ wellbeing, the International Hospital Federation and the International Society for Quality in Health Care are hosting a Feb. 23 conference that will share good practices and innovations on how hospitals around the globe are improving their health care workers’ wellbeing and successful programs from other fields.

President Biden told a group of G-7 leaders that the U.S. will support the COVAX alliance tasked with distributing COVID-19 vaccines to 92 low- and middle-income countries.

Safety monitoring during the first month of the COVID-19 national vaccination program shows “reassuring safety profiles” for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services extended until March 22 its guidance limiting the hospital survey process during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The AHA today expressed support for the Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act, which allows for the temporary reciprocity for treatment by medical professionals licensed in one state to patients in other states.

Advancing health equity within communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 — and getting the facts straight about reasons for hesitancy over receiving vaccines — are priority issues for government policy influencers and health care organization leaders.

With our nation’s COVID-19 vaccine administration rollout underway, policy influencers and advocacy groups are focusing on communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the fluctuating pandemic.

Congress returns to Washington, D.C., next week, and its top focus will be passing President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief legislation.

As we forge ahead in 2021 facing a lot of uncertainty, there’s one thing we recognize: The COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting effect on the health and well-being of our nation.

AHA and Musicians on Call launched a Valentine’s Day campaign for caregivers that features virtual performances by Adam Hambrick, Jamie O’Neal, Elle Winter and other artists.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched a broadcast, radio and digital campaign to advertise to uninsured and other Americans the new special enrollment period available Feb. 15 through May 15 at the federally facilitated marketplace.