Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pfizer CEO Says Fourth Covid Shot 'Necessary' To Fend Off Future Variants
CNN: A 4th Dose Of Covid-19 Vaccine Will Be Needed, Pfizer's CEO Says, But The Company Is Working On A Shot To Handle All Variants
To help fend off another wave of Covid-19, people will need a fourth dose of vaccine, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS on Sunday. "Many variants are coming, and Omicron was the first one that was able to evade -- in a skillful way -- the immune protection that we're giving," Bourla told CBS' "Face the Nation." "The protection we are getting from the third (dose) it is good enough -- actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths," Bourla said. But protection after three doses is "not that good against infections" and "doesn't last very long" when faced with a variant like Omicron. (Christensen and Yan, 3/13)
The Hill: Pfizer CEO Says A Fourth Booster Shot 'Is Necessary'
During his interview on Sunday, [Pfizer CEO Albert] Bourla reiterated his company's goal of creating a vaccine effective against all variants of COVID-19 for longer periods of time. "We are working very diligently right now ... to make not only a vaccine that will protect against all variants, including omicron, but also something that can protect for at least a year," he said. "And if we be able to achieve that, then I think it is very easy to follow and remember so that we can go back to really the way used to live." (Choi, 3/13)
In other news about the vaccine rollout for children —
CIDRAP: COVID Vaccine Uptake Low In Young US Kids In First Months Of Availability
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children 5 to 11 years old in the United States remained low during the first 11 weeks of vaccine eligibility, especially in high social vulnerability index (SVI) areas. The research was published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). (3/11)
WLRN 91.3 FM: Pediatricians Worry That Politics Is Driving State Guidance On COVID Vaccines For Kids
Two leading Florida pediatricians say the state's official guidance that the risks of taking the COVID-19 vaccine "may outweigh the benefits" for healthy children is dangerous and politically motivated. "The data is very clear that the vaccine does provide protection against the virus. So we're rather confused as to why or how they could make these recommendations," Dr. Lisa Gwynn, associate professor of clinical pediatrics and public health sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine said on WLRN's The Florida Roundup. "In general, healthy children with no significant underlying health conditions under 16 years old are at little to no risk of severe illness complications from COVID-19," the state Department of Health wrote on March 8. Gwynn said that's not true, and that Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo's claim that the risk of myocarditis in older teens outweighs the benefit of the vaccine is "a totally false statement." (Klingener and Hudson, 3/13)
The New York Times: Which Coronavirus Vaccine Will Work In The Youngest Children?
Over the past 10 months, as tens of millions of children and teenagers received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the companies’ main rival, Moderna, sat on the sidelines, its shot limited to adults. But Moderna may now be poised for a comeback at a critical juncture in the nation’s vaccination campaign. The company is expected to send federal officials initial data this week on how well its coronavirus vaccine works for the nation’s youngest children. (LaFraniere and Weiland, 3/14)
Also —
WMFE: Dr. Raul Pino, Placed On Leave After Vaccine Email, Is Back As Orange County's Health Officer
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says county health officer Dr. Raul Pino will be returning to work after about two months on administrative leave. Pino works for the Florida Department of Health, which placed him on leave in early January after he sent an email to his staff that cited its low COVID-19 vaccine rates and encouraged employees to get vaccinations. The state opened an investigation and issued a statement saying getting vaccinated is a personal choice and employees should be “free from coercion.” (Byrnes, 3/14)
Bay To Bay News: Delaware Public Health: Still Plenty Of Vaccine Doses Available
There is still a plentiful supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Delaware, more than a year after a shortage during the early stages of the rollout. More than 2 million vaccine doses have been delivered to the Delaware Division of Public Health’s warehouse or directly to pharmacies via the Federal Provider Program. DPH reported 1,699,832 doses have been administered as of Friday at 11:59 p.m. (Mastro, 3/13)
The Hill: Kevin Durant Rips NYC Mayor Over 'Ridiculous' Vaccine Mandate
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant calls New York City’s vaccine mandate “ridiculous” and accused Mayor Eric Adams of craving attention as his teammate Kyrie Irving remains unable to play home games. During a post-game press conference on Sunday, Durant vented about the city’s vaccine mandate as his teammate Irving, who is unvaccinated, was allowed to attend the game but couldn't suit up due to the city’s private sector vaccine mandate. (Oshin, 3/13)
