Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Free Covid Tests Now Available To Order; Biden Gets New Vaccine
Politico: Biden Receives Updated Covid Shot Amid Rocky Rollout, Vaccine Polarization
President Joe Biden received the updated Covid-19 vaccine, according to a memo from White House physician Kevin O’Connor released Saturday. “As we enter the cold and flu season, the President encourages all Americans to follow his example and to check with their healthcare provider or pharmacist to assure that they are fully vaccinated,” O’Connor wrote in the memo. (Alafriz, 9/23)
Axios: COVID Test Kits From Government Available To Order At COVIDTests.Gov
Starting today, Americans can order four free COVID-19 tests from the government with the reopening of the Biden administration's at-home testing program. The program's relaunch comes as COVID hospitalizations have continued creeping up, passing 20,000 for the first time since March this month, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Tyko, 9/25)
The Hill: COVID Surge Shouldn’t Close Schools, Says Biden Education Secretary: ‘I Worry About Government Overreach’
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says schools should not be shutting down due to surges in COVID-19 and expressed worry about government overreach. “I worry about government overreach, sending down edicts that will lead to school closures because either folks are afraid to go in or are infected and can’t go,” Cardona told The Associated Press. Despite the new wave of COVID-19 cases, “schools should be open, period,” Cardona said, according to the AP. (Lonas, 9/22)
In other covid developments —
NBC News: As Covid Cases Rise, What To Know About Paxlovid
Paxlovid lowers the amount of virus in the body. Research has shown that it is associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization or death — but only for those who are already at higher risk of severe illness from Covid because they are older or have underlying health conditions. Plus, there are potential downsides: Paxlovid can clash with many medications and it can cause some side effects, including a particularly weird one. (Ryan, 9/24)
The Hill: COVID Conspiracies Return In Force, Just In Time For 2024
An increase in COVID-19 cases has spawned a corresponding flare-up of conspiracy theories around the virus, a phenomenon that experts warn will only get worse as the 2024 election approaches. The White House and President Biden’s reelection campaign will now be tasked with promoting awareness and the latest vaccines while also countering misinformation spread by anti-vaxxers, some conservative pundits and even a small number of Republican officials. (Lee and Gangitano, 9/23)
USA Today: Consumers Seeking COVID Vaccine Face Insurance Denials, Cancellations
The major snarl comes amid a systemic shift, as the federal government no longer pays for or distributes all COVID-19 vaccinations. Public and private-sector health insurance providers must pay the full cost of the shot plus an administrative fee. Uninsured patients can still get free shots through a federal government program. In response to an uptick in cases, the Biden administration announced plans Monday to restart another federal program that allows consumers to order four free tests per household. (Alltucker and Cuevas, 9/23)
The New York Times: In Hospitals, Viruses Are Everywhere. Masks Are Not.
Amid an uptick in Covid infections, administrators, staff and patients are divided over the need for masks in health care settings. (Mandavilli, 9/23)
