Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Vaccine Sites Close As Snowstorm Looms
The New York Times: Snowstorm Disrupts Vaccinations Across Northeast
Vaccine sites in the New York metro area are closing Monday because of a looming winter storm that is expected to dump up to 16 inches of snow on the region. Winter storm warnings were in place for a large swath of the eastern United States on Sunday, disrupting vaccinations in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New Jersey and elsewhere. At a news conference on Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he did not want older New Yorkers on the road traveling to vaccine appointments, warning of blizzard-like conditions with gusty winds. Vaccinations scheduled for Tuesday in New York City have not been canceled, for now, Mr. de Blasio said. (2/1)
The Baltimore Sun: Coronavirus Vaccination And Testing Sites Close As Snowstorm Hits The Baltimore Area
Several Maryland coronavirus vaccination and testing locations run by the state and the counties announced closures Sunday amid heavy snow, in a development that may briefly hamper the state’s effort to combat COVID-19. (Condon, 1/31)
In other news about the covid vaccine rollout —
Burlington Free Press: COVID Vaccine Doses Thought To Be Spoiled In Vermont Are Safe For Use
Hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine doses thought to be spoiled in Vermont have been deemed safe for use by the manufacturer, Moderna. Vermont officials announced earlier this week that the viability of 860 doses at Springfield Hospital was in question because it appeared they had been stored at a temperature that was 1 degree higher than required. General guidance from Moderna indicated that doses may need to be discarded as a result, the Vermont Health Department said. After a comprehensive review over the last few days, Moderna determined the doses were not impacted by temperature inconsistencies and could be used with "full public confidence," a news release stated. (Murray, 1/29)
NPR: LA COVID-19 Vaccinations Delayed By Protesters
For nearly an hour Saturday, about 50 vaccination opponents and right-wing supporters of former President Donald Trump delayed COVID-19 vaccinations when they protested at the entrance to Dodger Stadium, the site of a mass vaccination campaign. Holding signs that said things such as "COVID=Scam," "Don't be a lab rat" and "Tell Bill Gates to go vaccinate himself," the protesters caused the Los Angeles Fire Department to close the stadium entrance as a precaution. People in hundreds of cars, waiting in line for hours, had to wait even longer. The site was shut down around 2 p.m. Saturday as several Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived at the scene. No arrests were made, and by 3 p.m., the site was reopened. "We will not be deterred or threatened," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter. (Schwartz, 2/1)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia Deputy Health Commissioner Resigns Following Philly Fighting COVID Controversy
Deputy Health Commissioner Caroline Johnson has resigned after records obtained by The Inquirer show she gave an advantage in a city bidding process to Andrei Doroshin, Philly Fighting COVID’s young CEO who until this week the city entrusted to run its largest vaccination site. Johnson sent a similar message of advice to the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, which was provided to The Inquirer by Health Department spokesperson James Garrow. In late December, emails obtained by The Inquirer show Johnson messaged Doroshin about the city’s requests for proposals to administer vaccines. Although the RFPs had been publicly posted, officials are not permitted to selectively encourage people to apply. The Health Department was unaware of this email until questions from The Inquirer. (Silverman, Rushing, Goodin-Smith and Feliciano Reyes, 1/30)
San Francisco Chronicle: 'Nightmare' Of Confusing Tech, Guidelines Thwart Bay Area Seniors Trying To Get Vaccinated
California health care providers are desperately trying to get vaccine shots in arms as fast as possible. While numbers are improving, a chaotic rollout created a confusing maze of different rules and directions, depending on each county and provider. Now the state is prioritizing older people, yet many are still struggling to make an appointment, much less get to the vaccination site. Getting a shot can require internet savvy, a cell phone and a car. The irony is that the highest-risk seniors can have the hardest time finding information about whether they’re eligible, navigating technology to book a slot, or mustering the physical strength to get to vaccine sites and sometimes wait in line to get the shot. The process can be even harder for seniors with cognitive impairment or English language barriers. (Moench, 1/29)
Also —
KHN: Older Adults Without Family Or Friends Lag In Race To Get Vaccines
A divide between “haves” and “have-nots” is emerging as older adults across the country struggle to get covid-19 vaccines. Seniors with family members or friends to help them are getting vaccine appointments, even if it takes days to secure them. Those without reliable social supports are missing out. Elders who can drive — or who can get other people to drive them — are traveling to locations where vaccines are available, crossing city or county borders to do so. Those without private transportation, are stuck with whatever is available nearby. (Graham, 2/1)
KHN: How A Bounty Of Vaccines Flooded A Small Hospital And Its Nearby College
When administrators at Hillsdale College, a conservative liberal-arts school in Michigan, heard its local hospital didn’t have a way to store the Pfizer-BioNTech covid vaccine, they offered the use of its science department’s ultra-low temperature freezer. The vaccine must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit. With that help, the small hospital — employing about 400 — was able to receive vaccines from the state: 1,950 doses in late December, more than twice what it requested, according to the hospital CEO. (Appleby, 2/1)
