National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci on Thursday (May 13) touted a potential new vaccine developed by the Duke Human Vaccine Institute that he says provides evidence it’s possible to develop a universal vaccine that protects against current coronaviruses and future pre-emergent coronaviruses.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) announced Thursday (May 13) that the state will formally withdraw its state plan amendments to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act after legislators failed to appropriate funds for the expansion mandate passed by voters last summer, leaving stakeholders confident that legal action is imminent.

CMS is taking nominations to fill three open seats on the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE), which makes recommendations to HHS and CMS on how to improve consumer education for the insurance exchanges, Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP. The agency will take submissions through June 11.

Bolivia has waded into the fray over intellectual property rights at the World Trade Organization, announcing this week that it intends to import COVID-19 vaccines via a built-in compulsory license framework -- a WTO-compliant pathway that has frequently triggered U.S. ire in the past.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday (May 13) announced that anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing.

Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet (CO) plans to reintroduce his bipartisan antimicrobial drug reimbursement bill this year with revisions that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for tackling antibiotic resistance, the lawmaker told former FDA chief Mark McClellan Wednesday (May 13).

The Federal Trade Commission published a report Tuesday (May 11) calling for right-to-repair laws based on what it says is a lack of evidence supporting original manufacturers’ justifications for repair restrictions, though the agency says it is unlikely a one-size-fits-all approach could encompass both medical devices and consumer products.

Coronavirus booster shots will be free to everyone if they’re needed before the end of the pandemic, White House Chief Science Officer David Kessler said Tuesday (May 11) at a Senate hearing, but it’s not clear how much people will have to pay for coronavirus vaccinations, or what the price will be, once the pandemic is over.