Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Biden Right To Ease Approach To Covid; Pandemic Had Negative Effect On Measles Vaccination
The Atlantic: Biden Is Rightsizing The COVID Crisis
This past weekend, Anthony Fauci bailed on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser concluded that the indoor event, though open only to vaccinated attendees who tested negative for COVID-19 the same day, was too risky for his own taste. Biden himself split the difference and showed up only for the speeches, not for the meal. Asked to explain this turn of events, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “Every individual will make their own decisions about whether they attend this event, other events, whether they wear a mask at it or not.” (Juliette Kayyem, 5/4)
The Washington Post: Measles Outbreak Could Follow Covid Pandemic. We Must Vaccinate
What has been feared for two years, that the global coronavirus pandemic might trigger knock-on health crises, is now becoming a reality with measles, a highly contagious disease that can be stopped by effective immunization. The pandemic interrupted vaccination campaigns aimed at children, and the disease is roaring back. (5/4)
New England Journal of Medicine: Do We Need New Covid-19 Vaccines?
The continuing spread of SARS-CoV-2 remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. What physicians need to know about transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Covid-19 is the subject of ongoing updates from infectious disease experts at the Journal. (Eric J. Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., Lindsey R. Baden, M.D., and Stephen Morrissey, Ph.D., 5/5)
Also —
USA Today: Naomi Judd: Mental Health Advocacy Was Her Greatest Triumph
Was I shocked to learn on Saturday that Grammy-winning singer Naomi Judd had died from what a statement issued by her daughters called "the disease of mental illness"? Alas not, since Judd had disclosed her battle with depression so publicly and poignantly in her 2016 memoir. In that book, "River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged With Hope," Judd wrote about experiencing the "boulder-like weight of my severe treatment-resistant depression and terrifying panic attacks." She brought focus and attention to not only her condition but also to millions of Americans – about 1 in 5 adults – who suffer from mental illness. (Steven Petrow, 5/4)
The CT Mirror: A New Mental Health Resource Is Coming To Connecticut
In October 2020, Congress passed legislation which designated 988 as the universal number to access the national mental health crisis hotline system, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) and Veterans Crisis Line. Since then, Connecticut has spent time planning for the implementation of this system, which will soft launch this summer, with a full-scale launch in July of 2022. This easy-to-remember three-digit number will act as the mental health counterpart to 911, which also relieves the burden on the 911 system. If an individual is experiencing any kind of mental or behavioral health crisis, they will be able to quickly connect with a trained specialist, a peer with lived experience, and/or a mental health clinician. As a Masters of Social Work intern this year, I’ve had the opportunity to support the planning process for 988, and I believe this will be an invaluable resource. (Mariah Chadukiewicz, 5/5)
