Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: Examining Covid Long Haulers' Plight; LA Needs To Stop Delaying Mandate Enforcement
Stat: Don't Give Covid-19 Long-Haulers The Silent Treatment
“I feel like I’m getting the silent treatment and it’s killing me,” Pamela Bishop confided in me about her months-long interactions with physicians as she tried to get answers about a strange array of symptoms that have plagued her since recovering from Covid-19. As Covid-19 survivors and families careen into the months and years ahead, those with long Covid — long-haulers, as they’ve come to be known — face uncertainty and confusion given the array of unexplained and fluctuating symptoms that are remote from their original illness. (E. Wesley Ely, 10/22)
Los Angeles Times: COVID Mandates Work. Why Is L.A. Delaying Vaccine Deadline?
In August, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles City Council decided that all city employees absolutely, positively had to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Wednesday. Well, the deadline came and went, and nearly 30% of city workers hadn’t complied, either because they refused to get vaccinated or wouldn’t disclose their vaccination status. And what happened? Nothing. So much for consequences. (10/21)
The Tennessean: COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries: Change Law And Treat All Americans Fairly
It’s time we afford individuals who are injured from the COVID-19 vaccine the same recourse we provide individuals harmed by other vaccines. Under The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, vaccine manufacturers and parties who administer vaccines cannot be sued. In exchange for immunity, vaccine companies pay a 75-cent tax on every vaccine they sell. These funds become part of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP). If a person is injured by a covered vaccine, they can file a NVICP claim. (Daniel Alholm, 10/21)
Bloomberg: China Should Step Up Vaccine Diplomacy In Africa
A friend in need is, as Beijing well knows, a friend indeed. In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the West turned inward, China sent African nations protective equipment and test kits, enlisting support from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. co-founder Jack Ma. Beijing promised vaccines and economic support, and President Xi Jinping said Africa’s shots would be a priority. Today, though, the continent accounts for just 8% of China’s global bilateral vaccine deliveries, according to figures compiled by Bridge Consulting, and those are not evenly distributed. That total is a third of what Beijing has provided to Latin America. The same data suggest no African country makes it into the 10 most significant bilateral sale or donation destinations. (Clara Ferreira Marques, 10/21)
Houston Chronicle: How The WNBA Led With 99% Vaccination Rate - Without A Mandate
Can’t find a role model when it comes to getting workers vaccinated against COVID-19 without a mandate? Maybe you’ve been looking in the wrong places. Sunday’s conclusion of the dramatic WNBA playoffs offers a pointed reminder not only of the growing success of the women’s pro basketball league, but also of its triumph way back in June in getting 99 percent of players fully and voluntarily vaccinated. (10/20)
The Washington Post: The U.S. Government Is Rushing To Resume Risky Virus Research. Not So Fast.
Although we don’t know how the covid-19 pandemic started, it’s now clear there were serious gaps in oversight of U.S.-government-funded projects around the world that focused on digging up dangerous viruses in the wild. Why, then, is the U.S. government barreling forward with a new, huge project to expand this very research, before those problems have been properly addressed? (Josh Rogin, 10/21)
Dallas Morning News: U.S. Mask Company In Arlington Battles China With A New Invention, A High-Quality Face Mask For Kids
When I first told you about United States Mask Company of Tarrant County back in January, they couldn’t find customers for their high-quality N95 face masks. Too many fake N95 masks had flooded the market. So major sellers including Amazon and Google banned the sale of all N95s as a matter of consumer protection. You couldn’t find them.In the next three days, after The Watchdog’s story ran, the new company quickly sold 250,000 masks through its website. Overnight, company owners John Bielamowicz and David Baillargeon went from standing in line to ship a couple of boxes at a UPS Store to filling tractor trailers with pallets for shipment. (Dave Lieber, 10/21)
