Health

President Biden signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021 on Monday, outlawing the manufacture and sale of crib bumpers and certain inclined infant sleepers.

Just a handful of formula makers dominate the industry so a single plant shutdown can lead to empty shelves.

If abortion bans are enacted, millions would be forced to travel to less restrictive states, and some health providers are warning they may not be able to handle the surge in demand.

Biden is also authorizing the Defense Department to use commercial aircraft to fly formula supplies that meet federal standards from overseas to the U.S.

Abbott, one of the largest formula-makers in the U.S., has reached an agreement with the government to bring a closed factory back on line. And the FDA is easing some restrictions on imported formula.

The state’s poorest mothers are paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket when they find baby formula because they say they can’t risk waiting for the exact brand and size container covered by Texas’ Women, Infant and Children program.

The Turnaway Study followed nearly 1,000 women who sought abortions, interviewing them regularly for years to understand the impact on their mental and financial wellbeing.

The state’s high court allowed the investigations to continue but said the Texas Department of Family Protective Services is not bound by Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Paxton’s orders.

The county may declare a public health crisis and is looking into whether it can distribute the lifesaving drug naloxone. Harm-reduction advocates say they called for this type of action last year.

New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that synthetic opioid use is driving the overdose crisis in the U.S.