Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Being Pregnant Makes Risk Of Breakthrough Covid Soar
Axios: Study: Pregnancy Nearly Doubles Risk Of Breakthrough COVID
Pregnancy nearly doubles the chances a person will have a breakthrough COVID-19 infection, according to new study released Thursday. The findings, from Wisconsin-based company Epic, analyzed millions of patient records to home in on what comorbidities increase a person's risk of contracting the coronavirus while fully vaccinated. Pregnancy topped the list, according to the findings first reported by the Washington Post. Pregnant individuals were 1.91 times more likely to have a breakthrough case when compared to the rest of the population. (Garfinkel, 3/31)
The Washington Post: Pregnant People At Much Higher Risk Of Breakthrough Covid, Study Shows
The new study goes beyond what has previously been understood, suggesting that even pregnant people who are fully vaccinated tend to have less protection from the virus than many other patients with significant medical problems. “If you are fully vaccinated, that’s magnificent,” said a lead author of the study, David R. Little, a physician who is a researcher at Epic, a Wisconsin company that maintains electronic patient records for nearly 1,000 hospitals and more than 20,000 clinics across the country. “But if you are fully vaccinated and become pregnant, you remain at higher risk of acquiring covid.” (Goldstein and Keating, 3/31)
In other news about vaccines and covid pills —
The CT Mirror: CT Doesn't Expect To Mandate 2nd COVID Booster Shots
State officials are encouraging people with multiple co-morbidities and older residents — especially those over 65 — to get a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, recently approved for those 50 and older. But for now, officials are not considering mandating second booster shots for nursing home staff and other long-term care facility workers. In January, Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order requiring those employees and any contractors who work with nursing homes get a COVID-19 booster shot. “I do not anticipate that we are going to be moving in that direction,” Dr. Manisha Juthani, Connecticut’s public health commissioner, said Thursday. (Carlesso, 4/1)
Axios: 44 Countries Have COVID Vaccination Rates Under 20% Despite Supply Increase
COVID vaccine supply struggles are easing, but in 44 countries — most of them in Africa — less than 20% of the population is fully vaccinated. In 19, the rate is under 10%. Those countries "have doses now, and they know that there are more doses available," says Seth Berkley, CEO of the Gavi vaccine alliance and point person for the global COVAX initiative. After a year of waiting for vaccine doses, the primary concern is now delivery. (Lawler, 3/31)
Bloomberg: Covid Pills Won’t Help End the Pandemic If People Can’t Get Them
With thousands of Covid deaths a day, time is the one thing the world doesn’t have. Whenever the virus starts to subside, new variants or subvariants pop up, causing fresh spikes in cases. Knowing the critical role Pfizer’s drug could play in quashing the virus, health organizations, researchers, and companies are working to accelerate Paxlovid production beyond what is currently forecast and bring down the high cost of manufacturing. “We need to see what’s possible and if we can go faster,” says Janet Ginnard, strategy director at Unitaid, the health agency that’s helping to coordinate Covid drug deployment. Unitaid is working with partners exploring how to increase manufacturing yields and helping countries boost testing to get the therapy to more people, she says. (Paton, 4/1)
And in news about covid mandates —
AP: Idaho Senate Fails To Override Coronavirus Vaccine Bill Veto
The Idaho Senate on Thursday failed to override Republican Gov. Brad Little’s veto of legislation making it illegal for most businesses to require the coronavirus vaccine. The Senate didn’t muster the two-thirds majority vote necessary to keep alive the “Coronavirus Pause Act.” The vote was 21-14. (Ridler, 3/31)
Anchorage Daily News: Alaska Lawmakers Decline Mandates Amid COVID Outbreak, Raising Questions About Further Disruption
The Alaska Capitol’s coronavirus outbreak grew to nearly three dozen active cases Thursday, as lawmakers say there’s little political will to enact tougher measures than voluntary masking and testing. Some 10% of the 400 legislators and support staff working at the Capitol have tested positive in the past few days. And the Legislature’s official figures — 33 active cases as of Thursday — exclude at least two additional infections detected on at-home tests, and two cases among media, confirmed by the Daily News. At least four legislators have publicly confirmed testing positive in recent days: Anchorage Democratic Reps. Chris Tuck and Ivy Spohnholz, North Pole GOP Rep. Mike Prax and Anchorage Democratic Sen. Tom Begich. (Herz, 3/31)
Los Angeles Times: Most Californians Favor COVID Vaccine Requirements, Poll Finds
Most Californians still favor COVID-19 restrictions, including requirements to show proof of vaccination at large outdoor gatherings or to enter places like indoor restaurants and bars, a new survey suggests. The findings from the Public Policy Institute of California, based on a poll conducted March 6-17 of almost 1,700 adults statewide, indicate continued overall support for the sort of health interventions that have been widely relaxed amid dwindling coronavirus cases and COVID-19 hospitalizations. (Lin II and Money, 3/31)
