Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Delta Fears And Mandates Spur More Americans To Get Covid Jab: Survey
The New York Times: Fear Of Delta Is Motivating Americans To Get Shots More Than Mandates, Survey Finds
The Delta variant of the coronavirus was the leading reason that people decided to get vaccinated against Covid-19 this summer and why most say they will get boosters when eligible, according to the latest monthly survey on vaccine attitudes by the Kaiser Family Foundation, released on Tuesday morning. But the survey indicated that nearly three-quarters of unvaccinated Americans view boosters very differently, saying that the need for them shows that the vaccines are not working. That divide suggests that while it may be relatively easy to persuade vaccinated people to line up for an additional shot, the need for boosters may complicate public health officials’ efforts to persuade the remaining unvaccinated people to get their initial one. (Hoffman, 9/29)
Green Bay Press-Gazette: Bellin Health Mandates COVID-19 Vaccinations For Employees, Affiliates
Bellin Health will join other health care institutions in Wisconsin and nationally that are requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees and affiliates. Green Bay-based Bellin announced its decision this week, as vaccine deadline windows close for employees at Prevea Health, Aurora BayCare Medical Clinic and Marshfield Clinic Health System. Employees at Bellin Health must complete coronavirus vaccination by Nov. 15. Prevea employees must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 5, Aurora BayCare by Oct. 15 and Marshfield by Nov. 15. (Eilbert, 9/28)
AP: Federal Utility's Workers Have Until Nov. 22 For COVID Shots
A federal utility is requiring its workers to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 22. Tennessee Valley Authority spokesperson Jim Hopson says the nation’s largest public utility is working on developing the processes and procedures to implement the new requirement, including a secure system for employees to document their vaccination status. (9/29)
AP: WA Worker Vaccination Increases Ahead Of Mandate Deadline
As a crucial deadline for Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate approaches, state data shows that vaccination numbers for Washington state workers subject to the requirement are about 20% higher than earlier this month. The Seattle Times reported that more than two-thirds of Washington workers have gotten their shots. By Oct. 4, most workers must show that they have gotten all their shots in order to be considered fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. (9/28)
NPR: United Airlines Says Almost All Its Workers Are Vaccinated; Some Others May Be Fired
United Airlines is touting the success of its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, saying that more than 99% of its U.S.-based employees have met the company's requirement to get vaccinated, or have applied for a religious or medical exemption. But the fewer than 600 United employees who did not get vaccinated by the airline's deadline of Sept. 27 now face termination. "This is a historic achievement for our airline and our employees as well as for the customers and communities we serve," United CEO Scott Kirby and president Brett Hart said in a memo to employees. "Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United's U.S.-based employees was simple — to keep our people safe — and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work." (Schaper, 9/28)
Los Angeles Times: L.A. Considers Sweeping Indoor COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
Los Angeles leaders on Wednesday will consider a sweeping law requiring adult customers to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to enter a wide array of public places, including indoor restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, shopping centers, museums, movie theaters and hair and nail salons. The plan would be one of the strictest vaccine orders to date — and likely make demonstrating inoculation status part of the daily routine for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Angelenos. (Money and Lin II, 9/28)
In updates on mask-wearing in schools —
AP: Federal Judge Overturns South Carolina School Mask Ban
A federal judge Tuesday suspended South Carolina from enforcing a rule that banned school districts from requiring masks for students. Parents of disabled children, helped by the American Civil Liberties Union, sued the state saying the ban discriminated against medically vulnerable students by keeping them out of public schools as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. (Collins, 9/29)
Dallas Morning News: North Texas Parents File Federal Lawsuit Against Districts For Not Requiring Masks During COVID-19
Several North Texas parents filed a federal class action lawsuit against their children’s school districts Tuesday, a plea for administrators to implement a mask mandate and enact other COVID-19 safety protocols. The lawsuit filed in the Western District of Texas names four districts as defendants: Frisco, Grapevine-Colleyville, Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Lago Vista in Travis County. The News reached out to the North Texas school districts late Tuesday and will update the story with their responses. (Addison, 9/28)
