Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Ivermectin Misinformation Amended; Environmental Sampling Can Identify New Variants
The Washington Post: Reuters Corrects Article That Oversold Ivermectin As Treatment For Omicron
No, a Japanese company did not find that ivermectin was “effective” against the omicron variant in a clinical trial, as Reuters originally reported on Monday. The wire service was forced to correct the article. The actual news, as the current version of the article reads, is that ivermectin carries an “‘antiviral effect’ against Omicron and other coronavirus variants in joint nonclinical research.” (Erik Wemple, 2/1)
The New York Times: Clues To The Next Variant Are All Around Us
When scientists in South Africa noticed an uptick in Covid-19 cases in the Gauteng Province last November, they began investigating the source. These researchers and others in Botswana quickly discovered the Omicron variant and heroically shared their discovery with the rest of the world. And yet it was still too late — Omicron was already rapidly infecting people across the globe. The question for a world enduring the variant’s astonishing surge is how can we discover the next one early enough to stop its spread. (Rick Bright, 2/2)
New England Journal of Medicine: Universal Coronavirus Vaccines — An Urgent Need
We need a research approach that can characterize the global “coronaviral universe” in multiple species, characterize the natural history and pathogenesis of coronaviruses in laboratory animals and in humans, and apply this information in developing broadly protective “universal” vaccines (protecting against all betacoronaviruses, and ideally all coronaviruses). (David M. Morens, M.D., Jeffery K. Taubenberger, M.D., Ph.D., and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., 1/27)
The Washington Post: Yes, More Variants May Emerge In The Future. That’s Why We Should Lift Restrictions Now
Many areas are already seeing a steep decline in infections. New York City’s case numbers are about seven times lower than just three weeks ago, and hospitalizations are down. Others in the throes of the omicron wave are expected to emerge by the end of February. A new sub-variant — the so-called stealth omicron — could complicate recovery due its heightened contagiousness, but vaccinated and boosted people still appear to be protected. Between the vaccinated and those with at least temporary immunity due to recent infection, we should have enough population immunity to experience a lull in the coming months. (Leana S. Wen, 2/1)
CNN: Dr. Tom Frieden: Why I'm Cautiously Optimistic About Covid-19
Although it's possible that deadly new coronavirus variants could emerge, I'm more optimistic today than at any point since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Here's why. Despite growing pandemic fatigue and rough weeks ahead as the Omicron tsunami recedes, we're better defended against Covid than ever. Vaccines and prior infection have steadily strengthened our collective immune defenses. We have now built up a wall of immunity -- although we have lost far, far too many people along the way to get here. In 2020, failure to follow public health recommendations greatly increased the death toll in the United States and elsewhere. In 2021, failure to reach people with vaccination -- largely due to partisan opposition and entrenched resistance in the US, and lack of access in many countries -- had lethal consequences. (Dr. Tom Frieden, 2/1)
Stat: Race Alone Shouldn't Be Used To Allocate Scarce Covid-19 Treatments
In hospitals and health care systems, life and death decisions are being made about who should get scarce antiviral medications from Pfizer and Merck and monoclonal antibodies from AstraZeneca and Vir/GSK. These medicines can keep people out of the hospital and save lives. Given the limited supplies of these medicines, race — along with other variables — is being used to determine who gets them in many states battling the Omicron surge. Hospitals and health care workers are forced to make agonizing triage decisions tantamount to deciding who shall live or die. (Lawrence O. Gostin and David Beier, 2/2)
Seattle Times: Here Within This Very Column, We Have Two COVID Experts …
When officials announced that the Spanish flu pandemic was on the wane in Seattle back in 1918, people poured into the streets in celebration. It happened to coincide with the end of World War I, giving double cause for joy. But the demise of the disease was a major part of the revelry. "The Flu Ban is Lifted!" trumpeted a clothing store ad in the Seattle Daily Times, in November 1918, inviting everyone to come back downtown after weeks of lockdowns and quarantines. (Danny Westneat, 2/1)
