Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Emergent BioSolutions Withdraws From Troubled Vax-Making Effort
The Baltimore Sun: Emergent BioSolutions, Operator Of Troubled Baltimore Facility, Ends Contract With Federal Government To Produce COVID Vaccines, Respond To Pandemic
The specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer that operates the troubled Baltimore facility where millions of Johnson & Johnson vaccines went to waste this year announced the end of its involvement Thursday in a federal program that prepares for and responds to infectious diseases and other threats to public health. Gaithersburg-based Emergent BioSolutions discussed its withdrawal from the federal government’s Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing program Thursday afternoon during a virtual earnings call with investors. (Miller, 11/4)
In other news about the vaccine rollout —
Axios: Moderna Falls Behind On COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries
Moderna lowered the expected number of its COVID-19 vaccine doses that will be delivered this year, from a previous high of 1 billion doses down to 800 million. Exporting vaccines outside of the U.S. to more countries took longer than expected, and is the primary reason behind the reduced shipments, CEO Stéphane Bancel said on an earnings call Thursday. (Herman, 11/4)
CNN: These States And Cities Are Offering To Pay Kids If They Get Vaccinated
Millions of children in America became eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine this week. And some officials are sweetening the deal by including them in various incentive programs. In New York City, children can claim $100 if they get their first dose of Pfizer's vaccine at city-operated vaccine site. Alternatively, they can get tickets to city attractions such as the Statue of Liberty or the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team. The incentive program was already available to other New Yorkers who got vaccinated. (Elamroussi, 11/5)
The Boston Globe: Here’s What Parenting Expert Emily Oster Says About Vaccinating Your Kids Against COVID-19
Brown University economics professor Emily Oster, who has been both lauded and vilified for suggesting it was safe for schools to reopen amid the pandemic, is now weighing in on vaccines for school children. On the Rhode Island Report podcast, Oster said the evidence indicates that children ages 5 to 11 should get vaccinated now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending it and Rhode Island is expanding COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to that age group. (Fitzpatrick, 11/4)
Los Angeles Times: Study Shows Dramatic Decline In COVID Vaccine Effectiveness
As the Delta variant became the dominant strain of coronavirus across the United States, all three COVID-19 vaccines available to Americans lost some of their protective power, with vaccine efficacy among a large group of veterans dropping between 35% and 85%, according to a new study. Researchers who scoured the records of nearly 800,000 U.S. veterans found that in early March, just as the Delta variant was gaining a toehold across American communities, the three vaccines were roughly equal in their ability to prevent infections. But over the next six months, that changed dramatically. (Healy, 11/4)
