Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Doubles 100-Days Vaccine Goal To 200M
The Washington Post: Biden Sets New Goal Of 200 Million Shots In His First 100 Days
President Biden’s first vaccine promise — 100 million shots in his first 100 days — was met 42 days early. So on Thursday he doubled it, saying 200 million doses will have been administered under his presidency by April 30. The nation is already poised to meet the revised target, as the seven-day average of daily vaccinations surpasses 2.5 million. Vaccine supply is also expected to expand in April, prompting numerous states to throw open eligibility to everyone 16 and older. (Stanley-Becker and Sun, 3/25)
CNBC: Biden Sets New Covid Vaccine Goal As Coronavirus Pandemic Continues
“I know it’s ambitious — twice our original goal — but no other country in the world has come close ... to what we’re doing,” Biden told reporters as he opened his first news conference as president. “I believe we can do it.” As of Friday, 100 million coronavirus vaccinations had been given since Biden was inaugurated. That benchmark — which Biden set as his original target Dec. 8 — was reached on his 59th day in office. (Mangan and Lovelace Jr., 3/25)
The Hill: Reporters Ask Biden Zero Questions On COVID-19
President Biden didn't get a single question at his first press conference about the coronavirus pandemic that has been the biggest story for the last year. (Chalfant, 3/25)
In other news about the Biden administration —
Modern Healthcare: Community Health Centers To Get $6 Billion From HHS For Vaccine Programs
The Biden administration on Thursday said HHS will give approximately 1,400 community health centers across the country $6 billion to expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatment to vulnerable populations. The funding, which Congress appropriated through the most recent relief bill, will be distributed by HHS starting next month as part of the Biden administration's efforts to ensure communities of color, low-income populations and people living in rural areas receive COVID-19 vaccines, testing and treatment. (Hellmann, 3/25)
KHN: Democrats Could Undo Trump Policies Faster, But They’re Not. Why?
Undoing many of the policies of his predecessor is one of President Joe Biden’s top priorities. In early February, Biden even got a little defensive about all the executive actions he was taking in his first days in office to halt policies set by President Donald Trump. “I’m not making new law,” he said Feb. 2. “I’m eliminating bad policy.” But as easy as it sounds on the campaign hustings or in a 30-second political ad, it’s complicated to overturn rules from earlier administrations. There is one tool, however, that Biden and the Democratic Congress could use to undo the policies the Trump administration left behind. A little-used law called the Congressional Review Act allows a new administration with a like-minded Congress to fast-track the repeal of regulations and other executive actions with simple majority votes in both chambers and no filibuster in the Senate. (Rovner, 3/26)
KHN: The Great Undoing: Which Of Trump’s Policies Will Biden Reverse?
KHN has put together an interactive tool of significant health policies implemented by the Trump administration using its own authority — executive orders, agency guidance or formal regulations — and is tracking Biden administration and court actions. (Rovner)
