Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Singaporeans 'Unvaccinated By Choice' Won't Get Free Covid Care
Axios: Singapore Halts Free COVID Treatment For People "Unvaccinated By Choice"
The Singaporean government will no longer cover medical bills for people who are "unvaccinated by choice" after Dec. 8, the country's Ministry of Health announced Monday. "We have to send this important signal to urge everyone to get vaccinated if you are eligible," Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said at a news conference. 82.47% of Singapore's population is fully vaccinated, per Johns Hopkins University. (Chen, 11/8)
The Hill: Singapore To No Longer Offer Free COVID-19 Treatment To The Unvaccinated
Singapore announced Monday that it will stop covering the medical bills of its citizens infected by COVID-19 if they are "unvaccinated by choice" starting next month. The government has been footing the medical bills of Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the country's Ministry of Health. (Polus, 11/8)
In other covid news around the globe —
Reuters: Israel To Rule On Child COVID Vaccines Out Of Public Eye Amid Anti-Vax Threats
Israeli health officials will decide behind closed doors on whether to allow child COVID-19 vaccinations, citing concerns that decision makers would otherwise not speak freely due to aggressive anti-vax rhetoric by members of the public. Israel has been a world leader in vaccinations and more than 40% of the population has received a third shot. (11/8)
Reuters: UK To Add China's Sinovac, India's Covaxin To Approved Vaccine List
Britain said it would recognise COVID-19 vaccines on the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing later this month, adding China's Sinovac (SVA.O), Sinopharm and India's Covaxin to the country's approved list of vaccines for inbound travellers. The changes, which come into force from Nov. 22, will benefit fully vaccinated people from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and India. (11/8)
The Wall Street Journal: Germany Hits Record Covid-19 Tally As Pandemic Rebounds Across Europe
Germany kept Covid-19 infection rates relatively low this past summer—a feat experts say might be driving a record surge in infections in the country that has prompted fears that hospitalizations and deaths could spiral in the colder months ahead. Infections are rising again in Europe, as colder temperatures and the fading of vaccine-induced immunity drive renewed case loads. Even so, Germany and some of its smaller Central and Eastern European neighbors stand out with a far steeper rise in infections than neighboring France, Italy and Spain. Germany registered over 37,000 new cases on Friday, the highest daily number on record, according to government figures, as the seven-day incidence of coronavirus rose to over 200 in 100,000 people. (Pancevski, 11/8)
Reuters: Thousands Protest In New Zealand Against COVID-19 Rules
New Zealand beefed up security measures at its parliament on Tuesday as thousands of people gathered to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and government lockdowns aimed at controlling the pandemic. All but two entrances to the parliament building, known as the Beehive, were closed off in unprecedented security measures, as mostly unmasked protesters marched through central Wellington and congregated outside parliament. (Menon and Awasthi, 11/9)
Reuters: India Could Ship Vaccines To COVAX In A Few Weeks, Say Sources
India could resume deliveries of COVID-19 shots to global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX in a few weeks for the first time since April, two health industry sources said, ending a suspension of supplies that has hurt poor countries. The World Health Organization (WHO), which co-leads COVAX, has been urging India to restart supplies for the programme, especially after it sent about 4 million doses to its neighbours and partners in October. (Das, 11/9)
The church moves on child abuse in France —
Politico: French Catholic Church Offers Own Assets To Compensate Sex Abuse Victims
France’s Catholic Church agreed on Monday to financially compensate tens of thousands of sex abuse victims by selling its own assets or taking on loans. The move comes one month after a landmark inquiry found an estimated 216,000 children were sexually abused by members of the clergy between 1950 and 2020. In a statement given on Monday, President of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) Bishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort conceded the Catholic Church bore “Institutional responsibility for the decades of abuse,” and decided to go “on a path of recognition and reparation.” (Kotkamp, 11/8)
