Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Israel To Start Giving Third Covid Shots To People Older Than 60
CNN: Israel To Offer Third Covid-19 Vaccine Dose To People Over 60
Israel's Prime Minister has announced a program to roll out a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine to people over the age of 60, becoming one of the first countries in the world to make such a move. People over 60 will need to show they received their second dose of the vaccine at least five months ago. Thursday's announcement follows a strong recommendation from the government-appointed team of experts on the pandemic to offer older adults a third dose. The experts' advice, which came overnight on Wednesday, was based on data suggesting significant waning immunity from infection over time. (Tal, Howard and Carey, 7/30)
In other global developments —
AP: Saudi Arabia Will Reopen To Tourists On Sunday
Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders to tourists on Sunday for the first time in 18 months after imposing restrictions at the start of the pandemic to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The historically closed-off kingdom introduced electronic visas for tourists in late 2019, just before the pandemic struck. (7/30)
AP: Myanmar Leaders 'Weaponizing' COVID-19, Residents Say
With coronavirus deaths rising in Myanmar, allegations are growing from residents and human rights activists that the military government, which seized control in February, is using the pandemic to consolidate power and crush opposition. In the last week, the per capita death rate in Myanmar surpassed those of Indonesia and Malaysia to become the worst in Southeast Asia. The country’s crippled health care system has rapidly become overwhelmed with new patients sick with COVID-19. (Rising, 7/30)
The Washington Post: New Zealand Moves To Outlaw LGBTQ Conversion Therapy
New Zealand introduced a new bill on Friday that, if it becomes law, will make “conversion therapy” aimed at LGBTQ people an offense punishable by up to five years in prison. Conversion therapy can refer to a wide range of efforts to alter a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. (Pannett, 7/30)
