Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Fauci Says Covid Vaccine Passports Unlikely To Be Government Mandated
Fox News: Coronavirus Vaccine Passports Won’t Be Mandated By Federal Government, Fauci Says
The federal government won’t be mandating so-called coronavirus "vaccine passports" — proof that one has been vaccinated against COVID-19 — for travelers or businesses after the pandemic is over, according to the nation’s top infectious disease expert. "I doubt that the federal government will be the main mover of a vaccine passport concept," Dr. Anthony Fauci, who also serves as President Biden's chief medical adviser, told the Politico Dispatch podcast on Monday. "They may be involved in making sure things are done fairly and equitably, but I doubt if the federal government is going to be the leading element of that," he added. (Farber, 4/5)
NBC News: Politicization Of 'Vaccine Passports' Could Aggravate GOP Hesitancy, Experts Warn
Growing conservative backlash to the idea of "vaccine passports" — proposed by some private-sector industries to promote a safer environment as states begin to ease coronavirus restrictions — could make Republicans even less likely to get their shots, experts warned. Last month, multiple polls found that about half of Republicans or those who identified as having voted for former President Donald Trump either want to wait and see before getting vaccinated or say they will never get the shots. So-called vaccine hesitancy among Republicans could stand in the way of the U.S.'s ultimately achieving herd immunity, which scientists estimate will be reached when 70 percent to 85 percent of the population has Covid-19 antibodies. (Smith, 4/6)
In other travel news —
Axios: CDC Guidance Says Cruise Ships Won't Need To Mandate Vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that while it recommends all staff and travelers aboard cruise ships be vaccinated for COVID-19, cruise companies do not need to mandate vaccines in order to resume travel safely. Cruise ships were some of the first super-spreader sites for the coronavirus in 2020 and have been docked ever since. (Perano, 4/5)
The Washington Post: Norwegian Cruise CEO Lays Out Plan For Return To U.S. Cruising
The chief executive of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings on Monday rolled out a plan to start sailing again from the United States with fully vaccinated passengers and crew. A big catch: He still needs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to sign off, more than a year after the agency prohibited cruising in the United States. The move by CEO Frank Del Rio is a bold salvo amid the cruise industry’s escalating frustration with the CDC, whose allegedly “outdated” rules have been the target of complaints in recent weeks. The criticism has only mounted since Friday, when the agency said travel for vaccinated people was low risk — but also laid out a raft of additional conditions, under a “conditional sailing order,” that cruise lines need to meet before getting permission to operate from U.S. ports. (Sampson, 4/5)
CNBC: Qatar Airways CEO Says Covid Vaccines Likely To Be Required For Travel
The CEO of a flagship Middle Eastern airline has said the requirement for Covid-19 vaccinations will likely be a trend in air travel, as the industry attempts to rebound from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. “In the short term, yes, I think that the vaccine passport will be helpful to give confidence both to governments and to the passengers in our industry to start travelling again,” Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on Tuesday. (Turak, 4/6)
