Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Million-Dollar Question: Will There Even Be Demand For Zika Vaccine When It's Ready?
Stat: Zika Vaccines Are In Rapid Development, But Is There A Market For Them?
When top US health authorities convened in late January to brief President Barack Obama on the Zika outbreak in Latin America, the post-meeting scuttlebutt was that the president was eager to push development of a Zika vaccine. The officials attending the meeting tried to convey an inconvenient reality: Real-world need and vaccine development speed are rarely in sync. Vaccines take years to produce, test, and license. The Zika virus, which had received scant study before 2016, was unlikely to prove to be an exception to that truth. And yet a mere 10 months later, despite funding delays from a fractious pre-election Congress, three experimental Zika vaccines are already being tested in people; another four or five should start human trials between now and next fall. (Branswell, 12/5)
Health News Florida: Little River Zika Zone Lifted
Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that the state Department of Health is lifting the Zika zone in Miami’s Little River neighborhood because 45 days have passed without any new local cases in the area. “This is a good news day,” the governor said repeatedly. But he urged residents to remain vigilant. Zika infections have been linked to the birth defect microcephaly, which can cause intellectual disabilities, seizures and cerebral palsy. (Stein, 12/4)
Orlando Sentinel: Zika Update: 198 Travel-Related Cases In Central Florida So Far
Florida confirmed two new travel-related cases of Zika on Friday, in Collier and Hillsborough counties.This brings up the state's total to 1,222, including 174 pregnant women. The four Central Florida counties, including Orange and Seminole, have reported 198 travel-related cases so far. No local cases have been reported here. (Miller, 12/2)
