Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: Doubts About Vaccines; Inequities Among Vulnerable Kids; Non-Maskers
The Washington Post: Growing Public Skepticism On Vaccines Is An Indictment Of Trump’s Record
Six in 10 Americans worry political pressure from the administration will lead the FDA to rush vaccine approval before confirming it’s safe and effective, the Kaiser Family Foundation has found. And only about 4 in 10 would get the vaccine, even if it were free, if the FDA approved it before the election. Fearful that these suspicions might reduce the market for a drug that tremendous resources have gone into developing, Big Pharma took an unusual step Tuesday. The chief executives of nine drug companies publicly pledged to “make the safety and well-being of vaccinated individuals the top priority in development of the first COVID-19 vaccines.'' (Catherine Rampell, 9/10)
Stat: The Pharmaceutical Industry Stands In For A Politically Impaired FDA
How can Americans tell when the Food and Drug Administration has become so politically impaired that it cannot serve its mission to protect the public? One measure is when pharmaceutical manufacturers become the voice of caution and prudence about when new vaccines should be released to the public. (Russell Teagarden and Arthur L. Caplan, 9/10)
The Hill: How COVID-19 Exacerbates Inequities Among Vulnerable Children
The COVID-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented impact on our society, and for many children, its impact could be far-reaching. An estimated 74 million children under the age of 18 live in the United States. Many of these children have experienced illness and death of loved ones, disruptions in their education and care, limited social interactions with friends and family, and much more due to COVID. (Kelly R. Fisher, 9/10)
St. Louis Post Dispatch: GOP Reticence On Masks Has Turned A Health Issue Into A Political One.
A new study confirms a senseless yet unsurprising phenomenon: States led by Republican governors have been slower than those led by Democrats to issue mask orders during the pandemic — if they’ve issued them at all. That data came as the White House coronavirus task force last week singled out Missouri as a “red zone” and urged the state to close bars and mandate the wearing of masks.Republican Gov. Mike Parson, like so many in his party, has resisted such advice in the past. The party that holds most of America’s political power today should be judged this November by how it has handled the worst public health crisis in a century. The judgment deserves to be brutal. (9/10)
Orlando Sentinel: Parents Need More Detailed COVID Information From Schools
Some students are back in schools for face-to-face learning. As COVID-19 cases crop up, parents in Orange and Seminole counties need more information than they are getting about infections at schools. Some students are back in schools for face-to-face learning. As COVID-19 cases crop up, parents in Orange and Seminole counties need more information than they are getting about infections at schools. (9/10)
Detroit Free Press: Free Education For Frontline Workers In COVID-19 Pandemic
Over the past six months, Americans across the country have put their lives on the line every day to protect others from a deadly virus. Home health care workers taking care of elderly patients. Janitors and custodians working in our hospitals. Grocery store workers stocking the shelves to make sure we can put food on the table. Postal workers delivering our mail. These men and women have emerged as the real heroes of this crisis. But it is not enough to just call them heroes. We must also work around the clock to ensure that long after this crisis is over, our frontline workers have the support they need to get ahead in this country. (Gretchen Whitmer, 9/10)
The Hill: Provide Seniors The Flexibility And Coverage They Need And Deserve
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust the United States into an unprecedented period of uncertainty. America has been ravaged by this public health crisis as states across the country continue to report tens of thousands of new cases daily. While individuals of all ages, race and creed have been impacted by COVID-19, older Americans and individuals with underlying conditions have borne the brunt of this virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80 percent of COVID-19 related deaths in the United States have occurred among adults 65 and older. (Mary R. Grealy, 9/10)
