People with rare diseases who often had to wear personal protective gear before the COVID-19 pandemic are now struggling to get it due to the pandemic, according to a survey by the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

The FDA granted emergency approval Dec. 15 for the first fully at-home COVID-19 diagnostic test, which doesn't need a prescription and doesn't need to be sent to a lab. 

As we approach the end of the year, many health systems will likely be looking for opportunities for any additional cost savings after facing financial headwinds throughout 2020.

Ten hospitals and health systems posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

To be better prepared for future crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. shouldn't rely on replenishing its Strategic National Stockpile, but rather the stockpile should evolve to create better visibility into the supply chain, health experts told Bloomberg. 

The FDA authorized Dec. 9 the first at-home COVID-19 test that doesn't require a prescription.

Federal authorities seized more than 100,000 fake N95 masks worth more than $600,000 from a warehouse in Texas, according to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Industries as complex as healthcare - where multiple stakeholders impact strategy, day-to-day decision making and management - require technology to implement effective collaboration and drive operations in a cost-effective way. Spend savings is of paramount importance across most industries, especially healthcare, as many health systems are facing shrinking margins. Finance teams and supply chains are continuously working together to identify the most lucrative savings opportunities as a result. One often-overlooked avenue for savings is third-party service contracts. On average, U.S. hospitals overspend $39 billion each year on purchased services, or third-party services. Such a significant amount of spend can easily be redistributed to other areas of need or into an organization’s bottom line. 

Demand for dry ice has skyrocketed as the U.S. prepares to authorize its first COVID-19 vaccines, some of which have to be kept at ultra-low temperatures, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

American Airlines will start offering travelers at-home COVID-19 tests this week for all domestic flights to states with COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

The government will distribute about 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this month if Pfizer's vaccine is approved, down from an initial estimate of 300 million, The Hill reported. 

Technological advancement is rapidly progressing across all industries, and should ideally be used to support (not replace) supply chain staff and free up valuable time for clinicians to spend with their patients. In areas where human error is a concern and visibility is important, consider implementing automation.

The FDA has given emergency approval for an at-home test for both COVID-19 and the flu. 

Pfizer now plans to ship 50 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of this year, half of its original estimate of 100 million doses, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

A shortage of lab workers to process diagnostic tests is the biggest obstacle to the U.S. increasing its testing capacity, experts told The New York Times. 

Walmart and Sam's Club will begin selling at-home COVID-19 tests online this week, the company said Dec. 3. 

Ten hospitals and health systems posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

Studies show that some rapid COVID-19 tests don't perform as well in children as they do in adults, meaning low-level infections in youth may go undetected, The New York Times reported. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved new rules allowing for the fast shipment of COVID-19 vaccines in preparation for authorization from the FDA. 

Roche has received emergency approval from the FDA for a new COVID-19 antibody test that detects antibodies against the coronavirus' spike protein and could be used to gauge people's immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines.