Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In The Vaccine They Trust: Biden, Pence To Be Inoculated Soon
NPR: Biden, Pence Make Preparations To Get COVID-19 Vaccine
High-ranking officials, including President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President Pence, are making preparations to get the COVID-19 vaccine, hoping to instill trust and confidence in the vaccine ahead of its widespread distribution as the death toll climbs to new heights. Biden, who is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, said Tuesday it was recommended he get the vaccine "sooner than later" by infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, who will become the Democrat's chief medical adviser. "I want to just make sure we do it by the numbers. When I do it, you'll have notice, and we'll do it publicly," Biden said. (Wise, 12/15)
The Hill: Pence Says He Will Receive Coronavirus Vaccine 'In The Days Ahead'
Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that he looks forward to receiving the coronavirus vaccine “in the days ahead” as officials work to build public confidence in the product. Pence made the remarks Tuesday afternoon during a roundtable discussion on Operation Warp Speed with other officials in Indiana. (Chalfant, 12/15)
The Hill: Fauci Says Trump, Biden Should Be Vaccinated Immediately
The nation's leading infectious disease doctor on Tuesday said it is imperative both President Trump and President-elect Joe Biden receive doses of the coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible. "For security reasons, I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can," Anthony Fauci said in an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America." (Mastrangelo, 12/15)
The Hill: Lawmakers Grapple With Implementing COVID-19 Vaccine On Capitol Hill
Members of Congress are grappling with the question of whether they should be prioritized for receiving a coronavirus vaccine as the first doses begin to be distributed to health care workers across the country. Lawmakers are wary of appearing to privilege themselves over their constituents, a factor that also made congressional leaders slow to implement a testing regime in the Capitol. (Marcos, 12/15)
And the government wonders: How do you keep COVID out of the White House? —
Stat: Misting The White House Won’t Kill Covid-19, Experts Say
The federal government is putting $29,000 in taxpayer funds toward a type of cleaning that many experts advise against: misting a disinfectant all over the White House. A Virginia-based contractor will spray a disinfectant mist throughout the East and West Wings before President-elect Biden moves in, according to a federal contract first reported by TMZ and Politico. The same contractor has done the same procedure for the Navy, including at a weapons station in Virginia. (Sheridan, 12/16)
AP: Biden's Challenge: Creating A COVID-19-Free White House
Three blocks from the White House, office space for more than 500 Biden transition staffers sits mostly idle. The government is shipping out laptops so staffers can work from home. President-elect Joe Biden, surrounded by just a handful of aides in Delaware, is using Zoom to oversee his plans to assume power. But Biden soon will be entering a no-Zoom zone at the White House — just one sign of the challenges his new administration will face when it moves to Washington in the midst of a pandemic. (Miller and Madhani, 12/16)
