Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: Congress Must Quit Stalling Before The Next Covid Wave; Persuading The Over 50s To Get Boosters
The Washington Post: Are We Ready For Another Covid Wave? Not If Congress Keeps Stalling
Thankfully, a moment of relative calm has arrived in the pandemic. Daily new cases have plunged from January peaks, and the initial omicron wave, terrible as it was, is passing. This is precisely the moment when the government should be preparing for the future — a readiness made possible because we now have the technology and the time. A funding package for vaccines, antivirals, testing and more would be smart and forward-looking. (3/31)
Stat: Narrowing The Vaccine Gap As Boosters Begin For People Over 50
The Food and Drug Administration this week authorized a second booster for individuals 50 and older. Although some people over the age of 50 are mulling whether and how soon to get their fourth jab, a significant vaccine gap exists within this group which needs to be addressed. There are 118.5 million Americans over the age of 50; 18.4 million (15%) of these individuals are not fully vaccinated and 59 million (50%) have not received their first booster. (Rebecca Weintraub, Benjy Renton and David C. Grabowski, 4/1)
The Washington Post: How Can We Put Covid Behind Us Without Guaranteed Paid Sick Leave?
Tracy Kitchen Delong lives in the Tampa Bay area with her 11-year-old grandson. When he contracted covid-19 in August 2021, she had to take three weeks off work to care for him. Her employer didn’t offer paid family medical leave, so she canceled the Internet and cut back on groceries. But she still got behind on rent and, under threat of eviction, moved out of her apartment in November. (Celine Gounder and Mollyann Brodie, 3/31)
