Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: How Will US Handle Vaccinating Young Kids?; Why Some Believe The Vaccine Causes Infertility
CNN: US Covid-19 Response Faces Doozy Of A Challenge: Vaccinating Kids
Weeks after the US Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer vaccine for adolescents, the United States hit a crucial milestone: More than half of the US population age 12 and older is now fully vaccinated. While this was a remarkable accomplishment, it was actually the easy part. The next challenge in the US vaccination program is a real doozy: vaccinating little kids. (Kent Sepkowitz, 6/28)
The Washington Post: There’s No Reason To Think Covid-19 Vaccines Could Cause Infertility. But It Matters How We Talk About It
The White House acknowledged Tuesday that the United States will not reach President Biden’s goal of getting 70 percent of adults vaccinated with at least one dose by the Fourth of July. While the vaccination rate among Americans age 30 and up has hit this benchmark, it remains much lower for those 18 to 29. And one major reason for that is misinformation about the coronavirus vaccines. We can lament how misinformation can affect the health-care decisions of millions of people, but that won’t solve the problem. What we can do instead is fight bad information with good information. (Leana S. Wen, 6/28)
The New York Times: Vaccine Mandates Are Needed In The U.S.
It would be nice if the United States could reach herd immunity with just vaccination incentives like tickets to ballgames and free beer. Americans don’t like to be told what to do, and public officials would almost always rather hand out cash than have to punish. Some even view vaccine mandates as un-American, but they are part of our foundational fabric. During the Revolutionary War, inoculation against smallpox was common in Europe. Because of this, the British Army was largely safe from the disease, but the colonists’ army was not. (Aaron E. Carroll, 6/28)
Chicago Tribune: Nations Must Act Urgently On Delta Variant In COVID Response
Over the weekend, Sydney was put under a mandatory stay-at-home order for two weeks in response to the risk posed by the Delta variant of COVID-19. This came as a surprise to many, especially those who rightly view Australia as having been among the best in managing COVID-19, with its very low infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Australia was not the only recent COVID-19 surprise in advanced countries. Israel, long a vaccination leader, reimposed an indoor mask requirement last Friday. Once again, the catalyst was the Delta variant. Then there was the United Kingdom, which, other than India, has been battling longest against Delta. According to government reports, the number of Delta infections rose 46% in just one week. Indeed, whether it is the evidence from there or the reactions of Australia and Israel, four issues should be front and center for many more countries, including the U.S., which need to realize that new COVID-19 risks are likely and do not respect borders. (Mohamed A. El-Erian, 6/28)
Kansas City Star: With Delta Variant Spiking In Missouri, Those Who Got J&J Vaccine May Need A Booster
Infectious disease experts say those who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may need a booster shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, particularly to fight off the more contagious delta variant that’s raging here in Missouri. Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not yet recommending such boosters, some doctors who specialize in infectious disease and got the J & J vaccine are already getting them. Stanford professor Dr. Michael Lin is among those arguing that getting one not only makes sense but is a “no-brainer.” (6/29)
