Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: A Statistician's View On Covid Vaccines For Kids Under 5; Another Look Into Aduhelm
The New York Times: There's Smarter Statistics For The Under-5 Vaccine
As a parent of three children under 4, I was hit hard by last month’s announcement that the Food and Drug Administration was delaying its review of Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine for children under 5. Like many caregivers guarding young children against the coronavirus, my winter has been full of rapid tests, mask reorders and outdoor play dates in borderline frostbite conditions. I’m able to manage this because I believe it’s temporary; we just need to hold out a little longer until our children can get vaccinated. (Aubrey Clayton, 3/1)
The New York Times: New York City Can End Mask Mandates And Lead On Covid-19
New York City, one of the nation’s first epicenters of the coronavirus pandemic, is on the cusp of stepping into the next hopeful chapter of this crisis, and Mayor Eric Adams is leading the way. On Sunday, Mr. Adams announced that he would eliminate school mask mandates and vaccine requirements for restaurants, gyms and movie theaters by next Monday, as long as case numbers remain low. (2/28)
Also —
The Star Tribune: The First Treatment For Alzheimer's Taught Us Some Hard Lessons
The Food and Drug Administration's surprise approval of Aduhelm for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease last year was a mess on practically every level. Three agency advisers resigned, and skeptical doctors such as myself were left to advise patients — all desperate for hope — that, yes, it is a treatment option but, no, we have no idea whether it will work. And by the way, it is extraordinarily expensive. (Keith Vossel, 2/28)
Newsweek: The Shameless Cruelty Of Medicare's Top Bureaucrats
I have been living joyfully and purposefully with Alzheimer's disease for over nine years. And I'm doing so well, in large part, because I've been fortunate to participate in Biogen's clinical trial of the drug aducanumab, now FDA-approved as Aduhelm, for the last seven years. I have no doubt that the medication has slowed my cognitive decline—providing me additional years to enjoy my grandchildren, family and my role as a national Alzheimer's advocate. (Geri Taylor, 2/28)
