Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Teachers Now Eligible For The Shot In Every State
The New York Times: All U.S. States Are Now Offering Vaccines To Teachers
As of Monday, all K-12 educators nationwide are officially eligible to be vaccinated against Covid-19, though the situation is more straightforward in some states than others. President Biden had urged states last week to make vaccinating teachers a priority, with a goal of “every educator, school staff member, child-care worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March.” Mr. Biden said all teachers should be able to get vaccinated starting March 8. (3/9)
In other news about who's lining up for the vaccine —
Axios: Many Vulnerable Americans Have Received The Coronavirus Vaccine
More than two-thirds of Americans 75 and older have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, as have more than half of those 65-74, per CDC data. Any future surge in cases almost certainly wouldn't be as deadly as previous waves, because older people are the most likely to die from the virus. (Owens, 3/9)
The New York Times: Some Elderly African Americans Are Hesitant About The Covid Vaccine
Flossie West was not at all interested in taking the coronavirus vaccine. Carla Brown, the nurse overseeing her care, was determined to change her mind. Ms. West, 73, has ovarian cancer, congestive heart failure and breathing difficulties — conditions that place her at grave risk should she contract the virus. As it is, Covid-19 has killed far too many of her neighbors in Mid-City, a low-rise, predominantly Black community that sprawls to the east of the Louisiana state capital. (Jacobs, 3/6)
The Washington Post: Meet The GOP Voters Who Could Decide Whether The U.S. Reaches Herd Immunity
Margaret, an 80-year-old retiree who lives outside Tulsa, has spent the past year living in fear of the coronavirus. She’s constantly worn masks, toted hand sanitizer and used drive-throughs to run her errands. Her age and preexisting health conditions — including heart failure, diabetes and blood clots — put her at elevated risk if she gets sick. But unlike many at-risk Americans seeking safety and an end to the pandemic, Margaret refuses to get a coronavirus vaccine. “There’s too many unanswered questions,” said Margaret, who agreed to be interviewed only if her last name was withheld because of concerns she might be harassed. (Diamond, 3/8)
Houston Chronicle: Nearly Half Of Houston Businesses Plan To Require Employees To Get Vaccinated, PNC Survey Shows
Small and medium-sized business owners in Houston said they strongly support vaccinations to protect against COVID-19 and plan to encourage their employees to get the shots, according to a survey of small business owners. Three-quarters of Houston businesses plan to encourage or require their workforce to vaccinate, according to the survey by the bank PNC, which recently entered the Houston market. More than four in 10 plan to require employees to get vaccinated, more than three in 10 will provide assistance or education about vaccination and two in 10 plan to provide incentives to vaccinate. (Carballo, 3/8)
Also —
CBS News: 12-Year-Old Helps More Than 1,600 People Get Vaccines After Building A Website To Help Seniors
Twelve-year-old Sam Keusch knows how difficult the pandemic has been on seniors. Many older people, like his grandparents, haven't seen their families in months — and now there's a struggle to find vaccines. So the seventh grader from Scarsdale, New York, found a way to help others who might not be as tech savvy book appointments online. Keusch told CBS News he first saw his dad helping his grandparents and neighbors book appointments. "I was already thinking of a Bar Mitzvah project, and I thought that it couldn't be that hard. So I decided to help them out," he said. (O'Kane, 3/8)
