Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Can Employers Mandate Vaccinations?; In-Home Shots for High-Risk Patients Needed
CNN: Can Your Boss Require You To Get Vaccinated?
We've heard it many times over the past few months: vaccines won't end the pandemic, vaccinations will. One way to increase vaccinations is for employers to require them in the workplace. But employers should not rush to do this. Although vaccine mandates are likely legal, other tools are probably better. (Dorit Reiss, 3/22)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘House Call Heroes’ Can Get More People Vaccinated In Philly And Beyond
When I arrived for work at the health center on a chilly recent Monday morning, I didn’t know I’d end my day on Sheila Holloway’s cozy sofa watching Meghan, Oprah, and Harry. For Ms. Sheila, a mother and family caregiver, getting to our health center with one child was a challenge. A debilitating chronic condition made that commute difficult. For Ms. Sheila and her two adult children with developmental disabilities, a family vaccination trip was nearly impossible. To Pennsylvania health-care providers like me, the increased availability of COVID-19 vaccinations has meant more opportunities to make house calls to patients like Ms. Sheila and her children. The 15-minute post vaccination observation window allowed me to learn more about this loving family, share a few laughs in their living room — and even briefly catch up on the former royals. (Tarik S. Khan, 3/22)
Bay Area News Group: The Case For The J&J COVID Vaccine In The Herd-Immunity Quest
COVID-19 vaccines are finally helping us see light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. Unfortunately, early reporting suggested that the most-recent vaccine entrant — from Johnson & Johnson — doesn’t live up to the standard set by the first two, from Pfizer and Moderna. Some speculated that it would be “dumped” on populations as a second-rate alternative. To the contrary, the J&J vaccine very effectively prevents severe disease and death — and should be celebrated as another tool speeding protection for all of us. (H. Westley Clark, Margaret McLean and Craig Stephens, 3/20)
The New York Times: What Went Wrong With AstraZeneca?
The most important thing to know about AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is that it’s safe and it works — in spite of the missteps that have marred nearly every stage of its rollout. New data shared Monday shows the vaccine was 79 percent effective in preventing symptomatic infections in a trial of over 32,000 people, and the company says it will prepare to apply for emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks. (Dr. Keren Landman, 3/23)
Chicago Tribune: They Had This Vaccine Thing And It Was Golden
Ultimately it will be up to Loretto Hospital’s board of directors to decide how to handle alleged violations of vaccine protocol involving the hospital’s top executives. They’re now caught in a controversy first exposed by Block Club Chicago over how they distributed coveted COVID-19 vaccinations. This was, ahem, not about vaccine shortages or long lines. First, the executives offered vaccines to hotel staff at Trump Tower, where hospital Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed lives. Oh, a few residents might have been inoculated as well. And maybe Eric Trump. But who’s counting, right? A shot in the arm is a shot in the arm. (3/22)
Also —
The Washington Post: We Can’t Stop Risky Behavior, So We Just Need To Make It As Safe As Possible
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday changed its guidelines for physical distancing in elementary schools from six to three feet. This was the right decision, but not because the shorter distance is suddenly more safe. As I’ve argued before, we as a society will never agree on the level of virus transmission deemed safe. Rather, we should focus on whether an activity must occur, then work backward to reduce risk. If full-time, in-person schooling is essential, as President Biden and many public health experts have said, then many schools wouldn’t have space to accommodate six feet of distancing. The question isn’t whether to do away with the six-foot rule, but how to work around it. What more must be done to replace a previously crucial layer of protection? (Leana S. Wen, 3/22)
