Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Admin Presses RSV Shot Makers To Step Up Deliveries
Reuters: White House Urges RSV Immunization Makers To Meet Demand
Senior Biden administration officials met with the makers of RSV immunizations for children this week to underscore the need for manufacturers such as Sanofi and AstraZeneca to urgently meet demand as winter approaches, the White House said on Tuesday. At a meeting at the White House on Monday, officials and manufacturers also agreed to plan now to meet next year's demand for the immunizations targeting respiratory syncytial virus, which generally causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can develop into severe illness in infants and older adults. (Heavey and Aboulenein, 11/28)
On flu and other respiratory illnesses —
Fox News: Could The Flu Vaccination Reduce The Risk Of Heart Attacks And Cardiovascular Deaths?
People who get the flu vaccine may have improved heart health, according to a recent study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers from the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, concluded that patients who received flu vaccinations had a 26% reduced risk of having a heart attack and were 33% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. This finding is based on a review of five randomized controlled trials that focused on myocardial disease and influenza vaccines. (Rudy, 11/28)
CBS News: New York City Parents Concerned About Respiratory Illnesses Impacting Children In China
"We are seeing increased respiratory illnesses right now, both adults and children, and that's expected with the winter season and holidays," said Dr. Vino Palli, CEO of Mi Doctor Health. ... "Parents are asking questions about the situation in China," Palli said. "We don't need to panic right now based on what we know, but we definitely need to be more vigilant and there's a lot of surveillance being done by the CDC and our scientists at different university hospitals, looking at the current situation in China and, of course, if something crops up we're going to take a look at it." (Carlin, 11/28)
On covid and the pandemic —
Reuters: WHO Authorizes Emergency Use Of Novavax's Updated COVID Shot
Novavax's updated vaccine has been granted emergency-use authorization by the World Health Organization (WHO) for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals aged 12 and older, the company said on Tuesday. The updated Novavax shot, which was authorized in the U.S. last month, targets a descendant of the XBB lineage of the coronavirus that was globally predominant earlier this year. (11/28)
CIDRAP: Birth Records Show COVID-19 Caused Spike In Preterm Births
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly raised the risk of preterm birth for expectant California mothers, and vaccination likely prevented thousands of them, according to a study today published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. But within 1 year of the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, that risk virtually disappeared in ZIP codes reporting high vaccination coverage, suggesting vaccination was a key strategy in mitigating preterm birth risks caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. (Soucheray, 11/28)
CIDRAP: Maintaining Coping Strategies During Pandemic Tied To Lower Risk Of Anxiety, Depression
People who were able to have steady and stable coping mechanisms throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to experience depression and anxiety, according to a new study in The Annals of Family Medicine. The study, conducted via Veterans Affairs health services, was based on more than 2,000 participants who completed three online surveys during the period when COVID-19 vaccines were widely available but restrictions were still in place across much of the United States (December 2 to 27, 2020; January 21 to February 6, 2021; and March 8 to 23, 2021). (Soucheray, 11/28)
Hand sanitizer maker issued warning —
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brenntag Great Lakes Receives FDA Warning Letter Over Hand-Sanitizer
Brenntag Great Lakes, a Wauwatosa chemical company, has received an FDA warning letter alleging it produced hand sanitizer with the same equipment used for brake parts cleaner. Inspections at the company's Menomonee Falls plant revealed "significant violations," the Oct. 26 letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration noted. The company had agreed to take corrective action but failed to follow through, according to the FDA. (Barrett, 11/28)
