Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: Can The CDC Regain Public Trust?; Covid Is Still A Pandemic For Young Kids
Bloomberg: The CDC Needs Reform To Restore Public Trust After Covid-19
For many years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was known as the world’s preeminent public-health agency. No longer. During the pandemic, the CDC stumbled repeatedly. Accused of incompetence, overreach and muddled messaging, it is now in need of repair. Director Rochelle Walensky was right to order a review of the agency’s operations in early April. She shouldn’t shrink from significant reforms. (5/2)
Los Angeles Times: A Vaccine For Kids Under 5 Is Necessary To Make COVID Endemic
Last week, Moderna became the first manufacturer to officially ask the Food and Drug Administration to approve its COVID vaccine for children under 6 years old. One of three companies with authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, Moderna made the request a month after saying its data showed efficacy for two doses given to kids. This comes a few months after the FDA delayed its review of a vaccine for young children from Pfizer, which has not yet requested authorization, until that company collects more data. (Nina Shapiro, 5/1)
Chicago Tribune: The US Response To COVID-19 Hasn’t Been A Train Wreck. We’re Just Average
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken another turn with new variants BA.2 and BA.2.12.1, which are apparently more contagious but less severe than their predecessors, causing a new mini-wave of infections in the U.S. Nationally, cases are up, but deaths and hospitalizations remain relatively low for now. Amid what amounts to an emerging sixth wave, the U.S. has received disproportionate criticism at home and from international observers for its handling of the pandemic. But over recent months, events worldwide should dispel notions of exceptional American malfeasance. (Cory Franklin And Robert Weinstein, 5/2)
