Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
High Demand For New RSV Shots Leads To Shortages
CBS News: Newly Approved RSV Vaccine In High Demand, Causes Supply Shortage Problems
A big complication right now is the cost – at nearly $500 a dose. While the shot is expected to be covered by most insurance plans, providers need to order the shot before knowing how much they'll be reimbursed. That's created a lot of frustration. "We're angry. As pediatricians, we're angry because it feels like we have an opportunity that may be missed," Dr. Fitzpatrick said. This summer, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged federal leaders to provide support so the shots can be administered widely and equitably. (Stahl, 10/11)
CBS News: RSV Antibody Shot For Babies Hits Obstacles In Rollout: "As Pediatricians, We're Angry"
Dr. Lauren Fitzpatrick ... says pediatricians were optimistic the drug could help reduce cases after a record year in 2022. "We thought that this was groundbreaking, that this could be our game-changer, that we could potentially really reduce the risk of patients being admitted for RSV," she told CBS News. "I think there was our hopes, and then there was our reality," "There was not an infrastructure in place to roll out this vaccine, or monoclonal antibodies, so even though we have families that are requesting it, we can't meet their demands." (Brand and Moniuszko, 10/11)
FiercePharma: Widespread Use Of Pfizer's Maternal RSV Shot Would Reduce Costs And Prevent Infant Hospitalizations: Study
After a recent FDA approval and CDC recommendation, Pfizer's Abyrsvo is the first maternal vaccine to protect babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Now, new research from the company suggests that widespread uptake of the shot could significantly reduce infant hospitalizations and save hundreds of millions of dollars in annual costs. Widespread uptake of the vaccine could slash annual hospitalizations in half, reduce emergency department visits by 31.8% and cut outpatient clinic visits by 32.2% among the 3.7 million U.S. babies that are less than one year old, according to projections shared by the drugmaker ahead of the annual IDWeek meeting. (Becker, 10/11)
Noticias Telemundo: Latinas Behind RSV, COVID Vaccines Aim To Boost Hispanic Rates
Latinas who had key roles in the development of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 vaccines are hopeful their work can contribute to improving vaccination rates among Hispanics. The big picture: Latinos in the U.S. have consistently low inoculation rates against the flu, polio, HPV or hepatitis, and are less likely than other racial or ethnic groups to be vaccinated against COVID-19, research shows. (Franco, 10/12)
Undark: For An RSV Vaccine: Trial, Error, And Two Young Lives
The new RSV vaccines are celebrated medical milestones. But what is owed to the families who unknowingly helped pave the way? (Schulson, 10/9)
In related news about the flu —
The Colorado Sun: How Two Anthropologists Busted A Myth About The 1918 Pandemic
Dead men tell no tales, but their bones sure do. Even more than 100 years later. And now a pair of researchers — one from the University of Colorado Boulder and another from McMaster University in Canada — are using those skeletal stories to question a conventional wisdom about the 1918 flu pandemic. (Ingold, 10/12)
