Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
States Adapt Inoculation Plans, Extend Access To More Age Groups
The New York Times: Andrew Cuomo Outlines New York's Plan To ‘Win The Covid War’
Facing a daunting budget crisis and a surging second wave of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday unveiled his vision of New York’s agenda for the year, focused on righting the state’s finances and its citizens’ health in a moment of profound concern about the nation’s well-being. Speaking from a nearly empty room in the State Capitol — the ceremonial War Room just steps from his office — Mr. Cuomo unveiled a seven-point plan for the state, with many of the points touching on the coronavirus and its ramifications. (McKinley and Ferre-Sadurni, 1/11)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Criticizing The Feds, Pa. And N.J. Are Opening Vaccine Sites, Increasing Shots, Still Waiting For More Supply
Top New Jersey and Pennsylvania officials criticized the federal government’s rollout of the coronavirus vaccine on Monday, saying the president’s administration hasn’t delivered enough doses and set unrealistic expectations about how many people could be vaccinated. Touring a new vaccination “mega-site” in South Jersey, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, both Democrats, expressed frustration with the federal government for delivering fewer than the expected number of doses to the state. (McDaniel, Steele and McCarthy, 1/11)
The Washington Post: Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout Reaches Next Phase In D.C., Northern Virginia
The District and much of Virginia moved into their next phases of coronavirus vaccinations Monday, targeting older residents and other vulnerable populations as a post-holiday surge of new infections in the Washington region continued to reach record highs. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said the city will begin vaccinating residents 65 and older, while some jurisdictions in Virginia on Monday began making appointments to inoculate residents 75 and older. Health officials previously had worked to inoculate residents of nursing homes and assisted-living communities before moving to the next phase. (Olivo, Fadulu and Wiggins, 1/11)
In updates from West Virginia, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada and Alaska —
Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail: After Antibody Mix-Up, State Bars Boone Health Department From Vaccine Distribution
Since late last month, the Boone County Health Department has been barred by the state from receiving and distributing COVID-19 vaccines, according to Allison Adler, spokeswoman with the state Department of Health and Human Resources. The exclusion came after more than 40 Boone County residents were mistakenly given an antibody treatment instead of COVID-19 vaccines at the health department on Dec. 30. (Coyne, 1/11)
Georgia Health News: Georgia Grapples With Low COVID Shot Rate, Overwhelming Demand
Georgia’s worst-in-the-nation status for COVID vaccination rate is a glaring hole in the state’s fight against the disease. Some hospital officials are pointing to trouble inputting data into the state immunization registry about shots that have been given. Gov. Brian Kemp has talked about “a significant underreporting’’ of how many vaccinations have been carried out. (Miller, 1/11)
Chicago Tribune: Illinois To Allow Local Health Departments To Move Into Next COVID-19 Vaccination Phase
Local health departments soon will be able to start vaccinating those 65 and older against COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday, preparing the way for the much-awaited next phase of the vaccination program. Currently, the state is in phase 1a of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, which provides shots to health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities, amounting to some 850,000 people. (McCoppin and Petrella, 1/11)
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Sisolak To Provide Update On Nevada COVID-19 Efforts, Vaccinations
Nevada has revised its COVID-19 vaccination plan to put front-line and essential workers and the general public on concurrent paths, a rollout that would deliver more doses to more senior Nevadans sooner. The new approach would start after the initial vaccinations of health care workers are completed, perhaps by the end of this month. With its parallel lanes, the new plan sets people in the general population on equal footing with groups such as police officers, educators and supply chain workers, roughly in descending age order, with those 70 and older getting initial priority. (Dentzer, 1/11)
Anchorage Daily News: Amid ‘Incredibly Limited’ COVID-19 Vaccine Supply In Alaska, Calls Grow To Bump Up Teachers And Others
Numerous industry sectors and groups, including teachers, are urging state officials to move up their eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine even as it became clear Alaska’s allocation for the month is all but used up. During a hearing Monday, several educators and the president of the Anchorage teachers union urged the state’s vaccine allocation committee to move teachers into “immediate” vaccine status before in-person learning begins for K-2 and special education classes through sixth grade at the Anchorage School District in about a week. (Hollander, 1/11)
