Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Just 30% Of Parents Of Younger Teens Will Get Them Vaccinated ASAP: Poll
The New York Times: Parents Are Reluctant To Get Their Children Vaccinated For Covid-19, Poll Shows
The Pfizer vaccine is expected to be authorized for children ages 12 through 15 within days. Among parents who were surveyed, three in 10 said they would get their children vaccinated right away, and 26 percent said they wanted to wait to see how the vaccine was working. Those figures largely mirrored the eagerness with which those parents themselves sought to get vaccinated. (Hoffman, 5/6)
In related pediatric news —
ABC News: California Mayor Offers Scholarship Raffle For Vaccinated Teens
The mayor of Lancaster, California, is offering a raffle for scholarships, including a grand prize of $10,000, for teens who get the COVID-19 vaccine. The raffle is the city’s effort to combat vaccine hesitancy among young people as the state reports declining vaccinations over the last few weeks. (Lenthang, 5/6)
CNBC: Covid Vaccine Will Likely Be Encouraged But Not Required For School
Once children over age 12 are eligible for Pfizer’s Covid vaccine, the question of whether they will have to get it before going back to school in the fall will remain. “Like everything with Covid, this is going to be a school district by school district decision,” said Sharon Masling, a partner at Washington, D.C.-based law firm Morgan Lewis. Masling has been advising high schools and colleges on how to handle the desire to have students vaccinated before returning to the classroom. (Dickler, 5/6)
Health News Florida: Nova Southeastern Reverses Vaccine Mandate In Wake Of New Law
Nova Southeastern University said Wednesday it was no longer mandating that students, faculty and staff receive a COVID-19 vaccination before fall classes. The reversal of the vaccine requirement announced April 1 comes in the wake of a new Florida law that will not permit businesses, schools and governments to require proof of vaccinations. “NSU always follows the letter and spirit of the law and we must do that as the law goes into effect on July 1, 2021,” university president and CEO George L. Hanbury II wrote in a post on the school’s website. (Mayer, 5/6)
WUSF 89.7: Florida's Universities Expect Return To 'Pre-COVID Operations'
Florida’s state universities are expected to return to pre-coronavirus operations during the upcoming school year, including at athletic and social events, top system officials said Wednesday. An early evening news release signed by Syd Kitson, chairman of the university system’s Board of Governors, and Marshall Criser, chancellor of the system, said the 12 public universities “expect to increase classroom occupancy to pre-COVID capacity by the 2021-22 academic year and return to pre-COVID operations." (5/6)
The Hill: Utah Governor Says State Won't Mandate Masks In Schools This Fall
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said Thursday that he won't force students to wear masks in public schools this fall as in-person classes resume across the state. Citing rising vaccination rates and the high availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, Cox told The Associated Press that those with concerns about their children contracting COVID-19 had ample resources to ensure that their children were protected. (Bowden, 5/6)
Axios: Education Secretary: All Schools Expected To Be Fully In-Person This Fall
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told MSNBC on Thursday he expects "all schools to be open full-time in-person for all students" by September. A survey released Thursday by the Department of Education suggests Biden has met his goal of having "most" elementary and middle open for full-time in-person learning by the end of his first 100 days in office, according to AP. (Allassan, 5/6)
