Jackie Fortier

Nicole Fahey, six months pregnant, receives a Pfizer vaccination from a nurse on Nov. 3, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA.

Health

Getting the COVID vaccine during pregnancy protects newborns from hospitalization

Jackie Fortier

Babies under six months can't be vaccinated directly against COVID. A new study found that most infants hospitalized for COVID had mothers who didn’t get the vaccine while they were pregnant.

As winter nears, some parents are still searching for the new pediatric COVID shot

Jackie Fortier

In LA and elsewhere, some parents are having trouble finding the new pediatric COVID shot, especially for those under 5. Not all pediatricians or pharmacies have it, even if vaccines.gov says they do.

An overdose drug is finally over-the-counter. Is that enough to stop the death toll?

Jackie Fortier

Narcan is now available in drug stores without a prescription. The nasal spray can save a life by stopping an opioid overdose. But will people pay the price and ask for it by name?

America Ferrera joins the SAG-AFTRA picket line in front of Netflix in New York City. Actors who qualify get a very good deal on health insurance from their union.

Hollywood union health insurance is particularly good. And it's jeopardized by strike

Jackie Fortier

Hollywood actors and writers who qualify for their union health plans get a very good deal compared to other Americans. But not working during the strike threatens their eligibility in the system.

From left to right: Long COVID patients Linda Rosenthal, Julia Landis and Shelby Hedgecock continue to suffer from severe symptoms.

As pandemic emergencies end, some patients with long COVID feel 'swept under the rug'

Jackie Fortier

Millions of Americans suffer from long COVID, which can have debilitating physical effects, including fatigue and difficulty breathing. Yet many patients feel abandoned, as federal aid winds down.

Hospital workers move a patient into the prone (face down) position, which can help increase the lung capacity of some COVID-19 patients. The medical team was photographed Nov. 19 at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles.

'It's So Much Worse Than Before.' Dread And Despair Haunt Nurses Inside LA's ICUs

Jackie Fortier

As hospitals struggle with the patient surge in Los Angeles County, their ICU nurses are overwhelmed by the physical demands and emotional toll of caring for the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients.

Amber England, who led the successful campaign for a ballot initiative to give 200,000 more Oklahomans health coverage, talked with supporters online this week. Voters narrowly approved the Medicaid expansion measure Tuesday, despite opposition by the state's governor and legislature.

Oklahoma Votes For Medicaid Expansion Over Objections Of Republican State Leaders

Jackie Fortier

A narrow majority approved the ballot measure, making Oklahoma the 37th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. An estimated 200,000 uninsured adults will now qualify for coverage.

Maria Banderas (left) answers questions from medical assistant Dolores Becerra on May 18 before getting a coronavirus test at St. John's Well Child and Family Center in South Los Angeles, one of the LA neighborhoods hit hard by COVID-19.

New Coronavirus Hot Spots Emerge Across South And In California, As Northeast Slows

Martha Bebinger

Nationwide, coronavirus infection numbers are trending down, but several states are seeing upticks, with the heaviest impact falling on communities of color and nursing home residents.