Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS Now Allows Pharmacists In All States To Give Kids Their Vaccines
AP: Pharmacists Can Give Childhood Shots, U.S. Officials Say
Pharmacists in all 50 states are now allowed to give childhood vaccinations under a new directive aimed at preventing future outbreaks of measles and other preventable diseases. Alex Azar, the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, took the step using emergency powers he has during the U.S. coronavirus epidemic, which was declared a public health emergency. The directive announced Wednesday will temporarily preempt restrictions in 22 states starting this fall. (Stobbe, 8/19)
GMA: US Will Allow Pharmacists To Administer Vaccines To Kids As Vaccine Rates Drop During Coronavirus Pandemic
The new guidelines come a few months after a May 2020 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that found a decrease in routine childhood immunizations because families were following stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatricians around the country also reported in May that they were seeing significant drops in visits during the pandemic, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (Kindelan, 8/19)
In other news on health care personnel —
NBC News: New York City Emergency Medical Workers Prepare For Layoffs
The head of New York City's emergency medical services union said Wednesday that the city is preparing to lay off hundreds of its members as the budget crisis grows during the coronavirus pandemic. Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY EMS Local 257, blamed Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration for the expected fallout. (Winter, 8/19)
AP: Another North Dakota Health Officer Resigns Amid Pandemic
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on Wednesday announced another resignation by a top health officer in the midst of a worsening coronavirus pandemic in the state. Burgum said Dr. Andrew Stahl notified him Tuesday that he would be stepping down at the end of the month to join a private practice in Bismarck. Stahl took over as interim health officer in late May for Mylynn Tufte, who resigned without explanation. (MacPherson, 8/19)
