Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Strong Start For Kids' Covid Vaccinations
Reuters: Fewer Than 1 Mln U.S. Kids Get COVID-19 Shot In First Eligible Week, White House Projects
More than 900,000 U.S. children aged 5 to 11 are expected to have received their first COVID-19 shot by the end of Wednesday, the White House said, as the government ramped up vaccinations of younger children. The United States began administering Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11 on Nov. 3, the latest group to become eligible for the shots that provide protection against the illness to recipients and those around them. (Aboulenein and Alper, 11/11)
AP: Nevada Encouraged By Demand For COVID-19 Shots For Ages 5-11
Nevada health officials said Wednesday they are encouraged by initial demand for COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-11 and local pediatricians are reporting strong interest. But some logistical issues and technical glitches in the state’s scheduling platform have slowed the rollout of the doses at county and community health clinics, they said. Experts also expressed concerns that a recent uptick in new coronavirus cases statewide could signal a similar trend as last November when the pandemic began a climb to its most serious level in December 2020. (Sonner, 11/11)
As shots began to be administered around the country —
AP: 'Strong' Start To Kids Vaccine Campaign, But Challenges Loom
The campaign to vaccinate elementary school age children in the U.S. is off to a strong start, health officials said Wednesday, but experts say there are signs that it will be difficult to sustain the initial momentum. About 900,000 kids aged 5 to 11 will have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in their first week of eligibility, the White House said, providing the first glimpse at the pace of the school-aged vaccination campaign. “We’re off to a very strong start,” said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients, during a briefing with reporters. (Miller and Stobbe, 11/10)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Vaccine Events For St. Louis Children Fill Up As City Officials Work To Leave No Kids Behind
Jaidyn Johnson, 6, got a high-five from the mayor after receiving his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday at Affinia Healthcare, which has several clinics across the city that play a key role in getting families vaccinated. St. Louis Mayor Tishuara O. Jones was visiting the clinic near downtown to encourage the newly eligible age group to get vaccinated and explain how city government is working to remove barriers to getting the shots. (Munz, 11/10)
The Washington Post: As Children’s Coronavirus Vaccines Roll Out, Pediatricians Are Overwhelmed And Understaffed
The moment April Lowe learned that a coronavirus vaccine had been recommended for children ages 5 to 11, she called her kids’ pediatrician. Before federal health authorities gave the green light, Lowe, 36, of Jackson Springs, N.C., had tried unsuccessfully to persuade the doctor to vaccinate her oldest son, explaining that he was almost 12 and that his history with asthma and other respiratory issues put him at higher risk for severe disease. She also attempted to get her children into a clinical trial. So when she got the doctor’s office on the phone last week, she booked the earliest appointment and got her 7- and 11-year-old sons vaccinated. (Iati and Bever, 11/10)
