Trump Readies Another Executive Order, This Time With A Focus On Creating Better Flu Vaccine
According to Politico's reporting, President Donald Trump's executive order would also encourage more Americans to get vaccinated. The move reflects growing concern about the state of U.S. emergency preparedness. The flu vaccine during the vicious 2017-18 season was only 40 percent effective. The current year's vaccine was even less effective, at 29 percent, but the disease was less virulent.
Politico:
Exclusive: Trump To Order Drive For Improved Flu Vaccine
President Donald Trump is readying an executive order that would direct HHS to overhaul the development of flu vaccine and encourage more Americans to get vaccinated, say nine people with knowledge of the plan and according to internal documents reviewed by POLITICO. The move represents a significant reversal from a president who spent years attacking the safety of vaccines prior to taking office. However, it would largely codify work that's already underway at HHS, and budget officials and Congress have yet to sign off on additional funding, said four individuals with knowledge of the strategy. (Diamond, 7/16)
In related news —
The Washington Post:
Nurses Are Teaching Doctors How To Treat Anti-Vaccine Fears And Myths
It’s late on a Tuesday night during the worst measles outbreak in decades, and doctors, nurses and other health-care providers are gathered at a medical center to learn better ways of talking to parents who are reluctant to vaccinate their children. Blima Marcus, an oncology nurse, leads the two-hour session on how to do a better job listening to and responding to parents’ questions — and, in the process, cultivating their trust. The key, she says, is hearing people’s questions about the science behind vaccines, and addressing those directly. (Sun, 7/16)
KCUR:
Missouri's Low Measles Vaccination Rate Poses Deadly Risks For Already-Sick Children
Vaccinations not only protect your health, they protect the health of the community by slowing or stopping the spread of illness. But Missouri now has some of the lowest measles vaccination rates in the nation, and that’s especially troubling for families with children who can’t get the shots for medical reasons. ...Only .1% of Missouri Kindergarteners have vaccine exemptions for medical reasons, but for these children, measles, which is highly contagious, can be deadly. The latest survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2017, Missouri had the lowest rate among the 50 states for measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations for children between 19 and 35 months: just 85.8 percent. (Smith, 7/17)
