'Bursting at the seams.’ WA hospitals feel the pinch of long-term care shortages Staffing shortages in places like skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities, along with complex evaluation and placement protocols, are driving a surge in long-term care patients at Washington state hospitals. Liz Brazile
A Seattle teen quit smoking fentanyl. Every morning he thanks God he’s alive “I spent a lot of time thinking that I was the cool guy,” he says, sitting on his parents’ couch in northwest Seattle. “But now I go get a shot in my butt every month and I go to AA, you know what I mean? It's humbling.” Anna Boiko-Weyrauch
1st vaccinated nurse in the U.S. reflects 1 year later Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 shot given in the U.S. to a nurse on Long Island. She reflects on what's happened in that year and how her life has changed. Allison Aubrey
Vaccinators in Peru's Amazon are challenged by religion, rivers and a special tea Peruvian health officials face many obstacles as they try to get everyone vaccinated, including those who live in remote and rural areas. Jason Beaubien
We're not dying of metastatic breast cancer. We're living with it Getting diagnosed with incurable breast cancer didn't end this reporter's life — it just marked a new chapter. She and others with the diagnosis have insights that might help you, too. Ina Jaffe
You don't have to drink to celebrate the holiday season If you think alcohol is problematic for you, or want to avoid drinking too much, or just aren't the biggest drinker, here are some strategies for navigating end-of-year celebrations. Brian Mann
Supreme Court has allowed abortion providers to challenge Texas' abortion ban law The Supreme Court has again declined to block a Texas law that bans most abortions — the most restrictive such measure in the country. But it ruled that clinics can file suit to try and stop the law. Ashley Lopez
Coronavirus FAQ: What does it mean if the booster knocks me out? What if it doesn't? Vaccine and booster side effects can include fever, aches and fatigue. And this may be the first vaccine in history where people complain if they don't experience side effects, says one doctor. Sheila Mulrooney Eldred
How the U.S. got on the slow track with at-home COVID tests With a fast-growing winter surge upon us, self-testing kits remain expensive and hard to find. The reasons go back to the approach the U.S. took from the outset in developing tests. Yuki Noguchi
Pennsylvania sees a dramatic surge in COVID cases driven by the Delta variant COVID-19 cases are rising in parts of Pennsylvania. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, an infectious disease expert with St. Luke's University Health Network, based in Bethlehem, Pa.
