Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Vaccine Record Keeping Is A Confusing Patchwork
The Hill: State Record-Keeping On Vaccinations Leads To Patchwork Approach
States are taking various approaches to keeping track of COVID-19 vaccine recipients in the absence of a national database. That’s led to a variety of methods for providing residents with documentation should they lose the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) card that’s often handed to recipients for their own records. The CDC does not keep track of individual vaccinations, and records usually are left with patients, doctors and clinics. From there, states can decide how much or how little data they want to collect. (Gans, 4/13)
CNN: Vaccine Passport Apps Are About To Be Everywhere. It Could Get Complicated
As the vaccine rollout continues to accelerate and the broader US economy prepares to reopen, talk of vaccine verification apps has heated up. Tech companies, health care providers and even retail stores are working on digital health pass apps that will allow users to show proof of vaccination before entering events and businesses. The state of New York is already scanning IBM's Excelsior app at the door of venues such as Madison Square Garden ahead of sporting events; if you've tested negative for Covid-19 or received a vaccine, you can watch a Rangers hockey game in person. (Murphy Kelly, 4/13)
Los Angeles Times: Q&A: What Are Vaccine Passports, And Why Do Some People Hate Them So Much?
As government-issued documents go, the “COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card” is about as bland as a 1099 from the IRS. The 3-by-4-inch piece of white card stock bears the logo of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and contain a few key pieces of information, including the recipient’s name, date of birth, and the type and lot number of the shot administered. Yet the country is convulsed by a debate over the information it bears and whether it will become the basis for government-issued vaccine passports. (Healy, 4/13)
The Wall Street Journal: Fake Covid-19 Certificates Hit Airlines, Which Now Have To Police Them
Airlines are battling a scourge of passengers traveling with falsified Covid-19 health certificates. The documents are often the Covid-19 test results required by many countries on arrival. The International Air Transport Association industry body says it has tracked fake certificates in multiple countries, from France to Brazil, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Border control authorities and police forces have also reported arrests of people selling documents in the U.K., Spain, Indonesia and Zimbabwe, among others. (Katz, 4/13)
Axios: NFL Effectively Mandates COVID Vaccinations For Coaches, Other Staff
The NFL outlined in a memo sent to all 32 teams that support staff, including coaches and trainers, should be vaccinated against COVID-19 "unless they have a bona fide medical or religious ground for not doing so." Anyone who doesn't fit this category and refuses vaccination will be ineligible for Tier 1 or 2 status and "will not be permitted access to the 'football only' restricted area and may not work directly or in close proximity with players," according to the memo, first reported by the NFL Network. (Falconer, 4/13)
