Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Pros, Cons Of The Great Barrington Declaration; Lessons On Trump's Antibody Cocktail
Dallas Morning News: It’s Time To Take A Focused Approach To COVID-19 Protection And Stop Acting Rashly
We support the Great Barrington Declaration and its strategy of focused protection of the vulnerable and freedom to choose individual levels of protection for others. The declaration has been signed by leading epidemiologists, scientists and medical professionals. This internationally endorsed, nonpartisan, scientifically based strategy of how to respond to the pandemic and its subsequent policy responses is based on the most current COVID-19 data. (Rodney X. Sturdivant, Andrew G. Glen and Mark Arvidson, 10/18)
The New York Times: Herd Immunity? Or ‘Mass Murder’?
No matter their politics, people nearly always listen to those who say what they want to hear. Hence, it is no surprise that the White House and several governors are now paying close attention to the “Great Barrington Declaration,” a proposal written by a group of well-credentialed scientists who want to shift Covid-19 policy toward achieving herd immunity — the point at which enough people have become immune to the virus that its spread becomes unlikely. (John M. Barry, 10/19)
The Wall Street Journal: Where Do I Go To Get My Covid Antibody Cocktail?
Covid researchers are racing the clock. They’ve made enormous progress on therapies and vaccines, but they aren’t far enough along to arrest the current surge of Covid infections as winter approaches. One of the biggest challenges is making sure the new treatments reach the patients who need them most. The most immediate opportunity comes from antibody drugs that can be used both as treatment and prophylaxis. President Trump and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie both recovered after they received antibody combinations when their symptoms were worsening. These medications are likely to be most effective when used before or soon after symptoms begin. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing evidence for the emergency authorization of these drugs, aiming to get them to Covid patients before they need to be hospitalized. (Scott Gottlieb and Mark McClellan, 10/18)
USA Today: COVID Vaccine Is The Only Way To Achieve Herd Immunity On This Disease
Winter is coming and we are headed towards the feared intersection of COVID-19 and flu season. Yet already the coronavirus is surging across the world and the United States, the global leader in number of coronavirus deaths, is moving closer to a quarter-million fatalities. Our medical system could be overwhelmed if hospitalizations increase. This is why I am concerned about the reports that some officials and policymakers in the White House are considering “herd immunity” as a strategy to combat the pandemic. This is dangerous, callous and flawed thinking. (Thomas Ken Lew, 10/19)
Stat: The Rose Garden Superspreader Convocation Was A 'Never Event'
President Donald Trump’s surprisingly rapid discharge from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, coupled with conflicting and vague statements on his condition, has created a whirlwind of confusion among the public. There’s a lot we don’t know, such as how he was exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, what kind of treatments he may still be receiving, and how effective they may be. But there is one thing we do know: His infection was absolutely preventable. In health care, the term “never event” refers to a serious, preventable occurrence that could have severe implications for a patient. These are normally things like operating on the wrong knee, giving the wrong medication, or discharging an infant to the wrong person. (Richard J. Baron, Marianne M. Green and Yul D. Ejnes, 10/19)
The New York Times: There’s A Word For Why We Wear Masks, And Liberals Should Say It
Joe Biden does a pretty good job of talking about this. At a recent town hall in Miami, he said: “I view wearing this mask not so much protecting me, but as a patriotic responsibility. All the tough guys say, ‘Oh, I’m not wearing a mask, I’m not afraid.’ Well, be afraid for your husband, your wife, your son, your daughter, your neighbor, your co-worker. That’s who you’re protecting having this mask on, and it should be viewed as a patriotic duty, to protect those around you.” (Michael Tomasky, 10/17)
Bloomberg: Ardern's NZ Election Victory Shows Voters Want Covid Action
For governments facing a growing wave of coronavirus cases as fall turns to winter, there’s a stark lesson in Saturday’s stunning election victory for New Zealand’s incumbent Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: Voters really want their governments to suppress the pandemic. A landslide victory means Ardern could govern with the first outright majority since her country adopted proportional representation in the 1990s, with her Labour party on track to win the largest share of the vote in 70 years. (David Fickling, 10/17)
