Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: Can Unvaccinated Be Swayed?; Low Vaccination Numbers In Africa Not Due To Hesitancy
The New York Times: How To Motivate People To Get A Vaccine
At this point in the pandemic, many Americans remain unvaccinated because they believe the coronavirus vaccine is unlikely to do them any good. They’re aware of the virus and the damage it can cause, but for any number of reasons, they simply don’t believe they should get a vaccine. We’ve spoken to patients like this in our practice, and we have observed in those conversations that providing more, frightening information intended to change their beliefs is ineffective for many or may even cause further entrenchment against vaccination. (Anupam B. Jena and Christopher M. Worsham, 12/21)
Stat: Vaccine Hesitancy Claims In African Countries Is At Odds With Reality
When word gets out that Covid-19 vaccines are locally available, crowds rush to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in western Uganda. Hundreds of people will wait for hours in the sweltering heat outside the hospital’s always full vaccination tent; many are turned away when vaccine doses run out. As public health workers supporting vaccination efforts in Uganda — two of us (A.H. and S.A.) on the ground in Uganda — we are constantly confronted with the challenges of getting people vaccinated in places like Mbarara. (Azfar Hossain, Stephen Asiimwe and Louise Ivers, 12/21)
Scientific American: The Biden Administration Should Offer Free, At-Home COVID Testing
A few days ago, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would provide 500,000 free at-home COVID tests to city residents through community centers. This step toward more equitable testing came days after a heated exchange between White House spokesperson Jen Psaki and a National Public Radio reporter in which Psaki scoffed at the idea of a national COVID testing strategy that included mail-order free tests. In that recent press conference, Psaki outlined the effort the Biden administration has made to improve both the availability of at-home testing and the cost, noting that, after insurance, many people would pay nothing. But the reporter, Mara Liasson, asked why we couldn’t make it simple, make them free and give them out as needed? (Megha Satyanarayana, 12/20)
Bloomberg: New York City’s Sweeping Covid Vaccine Mandate Will Help Stop Omicron
The omicron variant of Covid-19 is moving into New York City with astonishing speed. The percentage of tests coming up positive doubled in three days last week. Lines at testing sites are again lengthening. Breakthrough cases are closing restaurants and canceling Broadway shows. Strengthening the city’s defenses needs to be a top priority. Mayor Bill de Blasio is right to impose a new mandate for everyone who works in the city to show proof of vaccination. Beginning Dec. 27, businesses will be required to keep track of their employees’ vaccine status and post signs affirming their compliance. Documented medical or religious exemptions are allowed. (12/20)
The Washington Post: Emergency Rooms Are Not Ready For Omicron To Cause Another Covid-19 Surge
ERs are already experiencing strains on all fronts. Patient volumes seemed to have returned to pre-pandemic levels this fall (though some systems still experiencing delta surges are well beyond that), but our capacity to manage that volume has changed. We have lost unprecedented numbers of health-care workers from our ranks. Many patients are sicker or more complex to manage, having put off care earlier in the pandemic. (Esther Choo, 12/20)
The Atlantic: Let's Remember The Point Of COVID Restrictions
A new coronavirus is here. It is highly contagious, and case numbers are climbing. New York is the epicenter in the United States. This feels terribly familiar, even reminiscent of March 2020. And yet the situation is also very different because much of the population has acquired some form of immunity. Vaccination is extremely protective against severe illness and death, even for those infected with the Omicron variant. Of course, many people remain unvaccinated, including all children younger than 5, and some vaccinated people are still quite vulnerable. (Emily Oster, 12/21)
Newsweek: We Can Prevent New COVID Variants If We Support Africa With Their Response
Earlier this year, when countries were experiencing COVID-19 surges that overwhelmed health systems, Africa appeared to have avoided that fate. Given the early predictions that Africa would suffer gravely from COVID due to their comparatively weaker health systems, official figures say Africa now accounts for just 3.3 percent of global cases and 4.3 percent of deaths. In contrast, Europe accounts for 28 percent of global cases. (Adam Bradshaw, 12/20)
The Star Tribune: How Biden Needs To Help Fight Omicron
Meteorologists don't wait until a tornado is on the ground to issue watches and warnings. Alarms sound when conditions are right for violent weather, giving those in its path time to seek shelter and secure their homes. The same batten-down-the-hatches approach is required for COVID's new, highly infectious omicron variant. While there are mixed signals about whether it causes milder illness, the uncertainty and the hurricane-force ferocity with which it has spread merit urgent action from individuals and political leaders. Testing before holiday gatherings (and not going if positive) is especially prudent. (12/20)
The Washington Post: Omicron Is A Threat, But Vaccinated People Should Not Be Canceling Their Holiday Plans
For the second year in a row, a winter coronavirus surge is upon us. Infections were already on the rise before the extremely contagious omicron variant emerged; now, some projections have the United States on track to reach more than 1 million new infections a day. Despite these staggering numbers, I don’t think vaccinated people should have to cancel their plans for Christmas, New Year’s Eve and other holidays. Growing research shows that existing vaccines provide significant protection against severe illness as a result of omicron. Those recently boosted with the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines have the best protection, including a decreased likelihood of mild breakthrough infections. (Leana S. Wen, 12/20)
