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CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that the agency is not anticipating that Americans will need yearly covid shots, though given the unpredictability of the virus she added: "I don't want to say never." Meanwhile, some scientists are criticizing the Biden administration’s push for covid booster shots, saying the data provided isn't compelling enough to support the move.
The week-over-week average of covid jabs administered jumped 31%. There's still a long way to go with only 60% of eligible Americans fully vaccinated.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial pages weigh in on expanded access, synthetic pandemics and menthol cigarettes.
Opinion writers tackle these covid and vaccine issues.
Data on South Africa's case-fatality rate and excess deaths suggest 80% of the population may have had covid, making it one of the worst-hit nations. Meanwhile, the U.S. is suggesting that next month's UN General Assembly should be virtual to prevent it from becoming a superspreader.
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
Officials in California plan to expand covid requirements for large indoor events to gatherings of 1,000 people or more. Separately, the San Francisco Chronicle reports on the closure of local homeless hostels. Lead risks, wildfires, nurses' pay, and medical marijuana are also in the news.
Modern Healthcare reports on how the pandemic has boosted efforts to roll dental checkups into normal medical appointments. SSM Health and Medica, Johnson & Johnson, Vigil Neuroscience plus Illumina and Grail are also in the news.
The Sacklers made threats to withdraw from a $4.5 billion settlement payment unless they had immunity from opioid lawsuits, and Richard Sackler now says the family and OxyContin maker Purdue bear no responsibility at all for the crisis.
The law prohibits a dilation-and-evacuation abortion method and requires doctors to use alternative methods, The New York Times reported. Abortion advocates say dilation and evacuation is one of the safest abortion methods in the second trimester of pregnancy.
The Trump administration had sought to continue the use of chlorpyrifos on food crops, issuing a proposal to do so in December, the Hill reported. Chlorpyrifos has been linked to lower IQ, impaired working memory and negative effects on motor development.
Covid-positive Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is receiving monoclonal antibodies — not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Wall Street Journal covers sparse supply of Roche's drug tocilizumab, which Stat says is the subject of pressure from the WHO over equitable access issues.
Though the social network hasn't shared hard numbers on how frequently vaccine misinformation is being shared, it pointed out its data says more actual vaccine uptake is happening. Meanwhile, smartphone developers are tackling the problem of proving covid vaccine status around the world.
Reports from Louisiana, Maryland and elsewhere show large numbers of covid cases, including in children, are swamping hospital systems. But staff shortages in Mississippi are limiting how hospitals can use their facilities. Hot spots on the Gulf Coast and in Alabama are also in the news.
"No fee" programs for covid patients are expected to end for some insurers starting Oct. 1. Meanwhile, the American Medical Association notes financial health systems are set up and ready for the upcoming booster program. Reports say some people are wrongly billed for covid shots already.
Police departments are responding to the ongoing covid crisis with new Las Vegas police employees facing a vaccine mandate and the NYPD planning on disciplining cops who don't use masks indoors or outdoors. News outlets also report on other pros and cons of mask and vaccine mandates.
AP and Politico report on how school districts in Texas and Florida — where Republican governors have enacted strict bans on requiring masks — continue to rebel against these new laws. Separately, experts predict even as Texas' surge stresses hospitals, the covid death peak is still to come.
Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, announced the covid vaccine mandate includes all public, charter and private school teachers and staff plus those working at the state's colleges and universities, on threat of losing their jobs. Separately, a judge OKs school mask mandates in New York.
President Joe Biden made the announcement Wednesday. Some nursing home workers say the mandate, which could take effect as early as next month, would likely worsen staffing situations.
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