Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Rollout Of Free N95 Masks Begins At Stores And Clinics
CNN: Here's how to get free N95 masks from pharmacies or community health centers
The rollout of free N95 masks for the public began this week across the United States, with some pharmacies already handing out the masks and other expecting to do so in the coming days. The program is part of the Biden administration's effort to distribute 400 million free N95 masks from the Strategic National Stockpile via pharmacies and community health centers. The program is expected to be fully up and running by early February. The masks are arriving at their destinations with accompanying flyers and signage from the US Department of Health and Human Services, which paid for the masks. (Howard, 1/25)
NBC News: Free N95 Masks Arriving At Pharmacies And Stores Around The Country
Masks are expected to begin arriving at Southeastern Grocers locations as early as Friday, and they will be available at the company's Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie in-store pharmacies. A spokesperson for Walgreens told NBC Chicago that the chain expects to start giving out masks at some locations by Friday, as well. "Participating stores will have signage indicating mask availability," the spokesperson said. (Gregorian and Egan, 1/24)
Detroit Free Press: Meijer Customers Can Receive Free N95 Masks
Metro Detroit Meijer stores as well as those across the Midwest are participating in the federal free N95 mask program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Grand Rapids-based chain announced Monday that it is providing free N95 masks to customers who need them. Meijer received about 3 million masks from the program, according to a news release. The N95 masks will be on a table near the grocery entrance and greeter stand. A Meijer greeter, who will be wearing gloves, will arrange the masks in piles of three for customers to take. (Selasky, 1/24)
NBC Chicago: Walgreens Gives New Look At Timing For Free N95 Masks
Walgreens is preparing to begin distributing free N95 masks this week, but when exactly can customers expect to be able to get one and how will they know which stores have them? ... "We expect the first stores to begin offering masks on Friday, January 28 and will continue on a rolling basis in the days and weeks following," a spokesperson for the company told NBC 5 in a statement. "Participating stores will have signage indicating mask availability." (1/24)
Also —
Axios: Axios-Ipsos Poll: Biden's Free COVID Tests And Masks Are Popular, But They're Not Helping Him
Two new Biden administration initiatives — mailing at-home COVID-19 tests to those who ask and making free N95 masks available — are hugely popular, each backed by 84% of Americans in the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index. Those who may need these most — the unvaccinated — are less likely to take advantage of the offerings, the survey found. And neither has boosted President Biden's numbers so far, meaning it's too little too late, or too soon to see a change. (Talev, 1/25)
