Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Vaccine Outreach Efforts Leave Out Latino Community
Philadelphia Inquirer: Lack Of Targeted Outreach, Translated Materials Leaves Latino Community Behind As Pa. Struggles With Vaccine Rollout
More than a month into the rollout, the Pennsylvania Health Department hasn’t done any targeted outreach on the vaccine to communities that don’t speak English, many of whom have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The state’s map of vaccine providers — which includes information on how and where to book coveted appointments — appears only in English. And a translated fact sheet on the vaccine for Spanish speakers hasn’t been updated since late December, before adults 65 and over and younger people with select health conditions became eligible. (Olumhense, 2/9)
In other news on the vaccine rollout —
Houston Chronicle: CVS Health Pushes Vaccine Rollout Back To Friday
People looking to get their COVID-19 vaccinations at CVS Health will have to wait another day as the pharmaceutical giant pushes its vaccine rollout back to Feb. 12. Pharmacies such as CVS will receive vaccine allocations from a federal partnership, and shipping delays in the chain have forced CVS to open its appointment sign-ups and start vaccination later than originally announced, said Monica Prinzing, a CVS Health spokesperson. The company will provide 38,000 vaccines across 70 Texas locations, including an undisclosed number in Houston. CVS will not provide a full list of participating locations because “active stores will change regularly based on vaccine supply.” (Wu, 2/8)
Philadelphia Inquirer: PrepMod Vaccine Registration Software Blamed For Delays, Confusion In Pa. Counties
When Allentown started vaccinating health workers last month, people who weren’t tech-savvy had trouble signing up for appointments. Sites were sometimes overbooked. Clinic employees would be ready to vaccinate 500 people, health director Vicky Kistler said, and 600 would show up with appointments. The city was using a registration software called PrepMod, which it could access for free under a state contract and, most important, synced with the commonwealth’s immunization record system. It sounded like the easiest option for scheduling thousands of vaccinations and saved workers hours of tedious work manually inputting demographic data that must be reported within 24 hours of vaccination. (McCarthy and McDaniel, 2/8)
Salt Lake Tribune: Utah County Had Hundreds Of Unfilled COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Monday
Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine is surging in Utah, but on Monday, Utah County couldn’t fill hundreds of appointment slots it had available on its website. Utah County Health Department spokeswoman Aislynn Tolman-Hill said it’s the first time the county has seen less demand for the vaccine. Meanwhile, the Salt Lake County Health Department’s website says its vaccination appointments are full through Feb. 27. (Wahlberg, 2/9)
KHN: Vaccine Hesitancy Vs. Vaccine Refusal: Nursing Home Staffers Say There’s A Difference
It had been months since Tremellia Hobbs had an excuse to bring out the pompoms. Before the pandemic, they were a crowd favorite at movie nights and bingo tournaments that Hobbs organized as activities director at the Brian Center Health & Retirement/Cabarrus nursing home. On Jan. 14, she finally had a reason. After nearly a year of living with pandemic restrictions and a summer outbreak that killed 10 residents and infected 30 staff members, the nursing home was hosting its first covid-19 vaccine clinic. (Pattani, 2/9)
Also —
AP: Biden, Harris Get Virtual Tour Of Arizona Vaccination Site
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris got a virtual tour Monday of a federally funded, mass vaccination site in Arizona, but they did not address the governor’s request for more doses of the vaccine. Dr. Cara Christ, state Department of Health Services director, guided Biden and Harris through the outdoor command center at State Farm Stadium in Glendale that operates around the clock. (2/8)
CNN: Fauci Says New Guidance Might Come Soon For People Who Have Been Fully Vaccinated For Covid-19
As of now, even if you have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19, the advice from health officials is to keep wearing your mask, keep social distancing and keep away from get-togethers. But Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday there might be new guidance coming soon. (Howard, Neville and Maxouris, 2/9)
KHN: Scalise’s Claim That Unauthorized Immigrants Are Getting Priority For Vaccination Misses The Point
During a Feb. 2 interview on Fox News, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) claimed President Joe Biden was allowing unauthorized immigrants to move ahead of American citizens to get their covid-19 vaccines. “Now [Biden’s] saying that people who came here illegally can jump ahead of other Americans who have been waiting to get the vaccine,” said Scalise, who is also the No. 2 Republican leader in the House. (Knight, 2/9)
