White House Tone Shifts Over Politicization Of Vaccine Campaigns

Politico: ‘Potentially A Death Sentence’: White House Goes Off On Vaccine Fearmongers 
The Biden administration is casting conservative opponents of its Covid-19 vaccine campaign as dangerous and extreme, adopting a more aggressive political posture in an attempt to maneuver through the public health conundrum. The White House has decided to hit back harder on misinformation and scare tactics after Republican lawmakers and conservative activists pledged to fight the administration’s stated plans to go “door-to-door” to increase vaccination rates. The pushback will include directly calling out social media platforms and conservative news shows that promote such tactics. (Korecki and Daniels, 7/12)

The Hill: Fauci Defends Biden's Support For Recommending Vaccines 'One On One'
Anthony Fauci on Monday defended the Biden administration's support of door-to-door vaccination efforts, amid Republican attacks. "When you get down to now a core, lesser group, you've got to go one on one, and that's really what the president was talking about on trying to get some of these advisers, not federal officials, but community people to go out there and try and convince people why it's so important for their own health, for that of their family and for that of the community, to go out and get vaccinated," Fauci said on "CBS This Morning." (Sullivan, 7/12)

Salon: Dr. Fauci Reacts To CPAC Crowd Celebrating Low Vaccination Rates: "It's Horrifying"
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, expressed horror on Sunday over a crowd at a conservative gathering this past week celebrating the federal government's inability to meet its vaccination goals. "It's horrifying," Fauci told host CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview. "I mean, they are cheering about someone saying that it's a good thing for people not to try and save their lives." (Skolnik, 7/12)

In state vaccination news —

Houston Chronicle: Men Die From COVID At A Higher Rate. Why Are Women More Likely To Get A Vaccine?
In Texas, nearly 1 million more women and girls are vaccinated from COVID than men and boys, according to the Department of State Health Services. Women between the ages of 16 and 49 account for more than a quarter of the 12 million Texans who are fully vaccinated, the agency reported Thursday. And it’s not just in Texas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 53 percent of Americans who have received at least one dose identify as female. (Garcia, 7/12)

CNN: Tennessee's Vaccine Manager Fired Over Vaccinating Kids Against Covid 
The top vaccine official for the state of Tennessee said Monday she was fired after an argument over vaccinating children against coronavirus. Now Dr. Michelle Fiscus, a pediatrician who has served as the state's medical director of the vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization for two years, said she is afraid for the people of her state -- which is already lagging in vaccination against the virus. "It is just astounding to me how absolutely political and self-centered our elected people are here and how very little they care for the people of Tennessee," Fiscus told CNN in a telephone interview. "The people of Tennessee are going to pay a price." (7/13)

Politico: Utah Governor Admits Mistake On Vaccination Milestone
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Monday that the state's Covid data team “screwed up” and that Utah has not yet hit the 70 percent goal for adult vaccinations, admitting the error just days after celebrating the milestone. “Welp. We screwed up. Because of a reporting error we have not yet hit 70% on our adult vaccinations,” Cox, a Republican, posted on Twitter Monday. “I promised to admit our mistakes and hold us accountable. I hope you will forgive us — and know we have made changes to ensure it won’t happen again." (Ward, 7/12)

Georgia Health News: Vaccine Mandates: Some Georgia Hospitals Move Ahead 
The Piedmont Healthcare system will require doctors, hospital leaders and new employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by Sept. 1, the Atlanta-based nonprofit organization said Monday. Other employees at Piedmont facilities will be required to get COVID shots “in the near future,’’ Piedmont said in a statement. “It’s important to consider that vaccination is a leading factor in patients and team members feeling safe within a health care setting, as shown by research we conducted,’’ said the statement from Piedmont, a fast-growing system with 11 hospitals in the state. “Moreover, it is in keeping with our peers from other leading health systems throughout the United States.’’ (Miller, 7/12)