Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Supreme Court Won't Consider Health Worker Bid For Religious Vaccine Exemption
AP: Supreme Court Won't Hear Challenge To Maine Vaccine Mandate
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear arguments in a lawsuit that sought to challenge Maine’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health workers. Justices did not explain their decision in court papers on Tuesday. The court had already turned down two emergency applications that sought to stop the mandate from going into effect. The vaccine requirement in Maine went into effect in October. Unnamed workers sued the state to try to require religious exemptions from the vaccine law. (2/22)
Bloomberg: U.S. Supreme Court Spurns Bid For Religious Opt-Out From Covid Vaccine Rule
Maine is one of three states, along with New York and Rhode Island, that require vaccination of health-care workers and allow exemptions only for medical reasons. Although the Supreme Court has limited the federal government’s power to require Covid shots or tests, the justices have allowed state and local mandates, even without religious exemptions. The court left in force New York’s requirement in December. The Supreme Court had already rejected the Maine challengers in October, when over three dissents the justices refused to intervene on an emergency basis. (Stohr, 2/22)
Politico: More GOP States Now Wagering On Vaccine ‘Passports’ Technology
Several Republican-leaning states that eschewed so-called vaccine passports over concerns that they limited freedom are now embracing the technology behind them so that their residents can travel and get their immunization and health records online. The technology — which allows proof of Covid-19 vaccination to be digitized and often includes a QR code — had been touted by supporters, largely in Democratic-leaning states, as a way to facilitate safer reopening after pandemic-related shutdowns. (Leonard, 2/23)
Deseret News: Utah Vaccine Passport Ban Advances Despite Concerns It Could Hurt Future Pandemic Response
A bill to prohibit the use of vaccine passports by employers or governments passed the House despite fears that it takes an overly broad approach that could hamstring future public health efforts. HB60 would essentially make vaccination status a protected class — similar to race, sex and religion — and prevent employers from requiring vaccination as a term of employment. The bill comes amid pushback against COVID-19 vaccination requirements but isn’t limited to the current pandemic. (Beal-Cvetko, 2/22)
USA Today: Experts Worry A Lack Of Data Is Obscuring Which Kids Aren't Getting The COVID-19 Shot
Experts worry a lack of data may be obscuring where to target strategies for vaccinating kids of color, who disproportionately suffer severe illness from COVID-19 but may lack access to the shot. Just shy of a third of children ages 5 to 11 nationwide have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and a quarter are fully vaccinated, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. About 67% of kids 12 and older have received one dose, and only 57% are fully vaccinated.But the CDC does not report children’s COVID-19 vaccination rates by race, and inconsistencies and variations remain in the ways figures are broken down and reported from state to state. (Hassanein, 2/23)
A fourth covid shot is still being considered —
Axios: America Prepares For A Potential 4th COVID Shot
Even as the Omicron wave winds down, federal health officials, experts and the vaccine makers are already preparing for a potential fourth COVID shot to protect against whatever may come next. It's not yet clear whether another booster shot will be needed. And if it is, there are even more questions around who should receive one and what kind of shot would be most effective. "The potential future requirement for an additional boost or a fourth shot for mRNA or a third shot for J&J is being very carefully monitored in real time. And recommendations, if needed, will be updated according to the data as it evolves," NIAID director Anthony Fauci told reporters last week. (Owens, 2/23)
