Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: US Vaccine Hesitancy Is Result Of Entitlement; Worldwide Vaccination Only Way Out Of Pandemic
NPR: Vaccine Hesitancy In The U.S. Is A Peculiar Privilege
"I want to wait and watch. "This is a peculiar response I receive from my friends and some family members in the United States when I ask them about their thoughts on COVID-19 vaccination. This is a peculiar response for a couple of reasons: COVID-19 vaccines are exceptionally effective, are now readily available and are the best way to end the pandemic and return to normalcy. This skeptical response is reflective of broader trends in the United States: An NPR/Marist poll this spring revealed that up to one-fourth of the national population would decline to get vaccinated even when offered. (Junaid Nabi, 6/22)
Bloomberg: Covid-19's Deadly Long Tail Means Only More Vaccines Can End The Pandemic
China has now delivered more than 1 billion vaccine doses, hitting that Covid-19 milestone the same weekend that Brazil passed one of its own: more than 500,000 deaths. Daily case numbers remain worryingly high, and those hospitalized and dying include larger numbers of young people. India, meanwhile, is at risk of a third wave of infections sooner than predicted, after a devastating second. The end of the pandemic is almost here. But the tail is long and — thanks to short-sighted global and national policies — this phase is no more of a “great equalizer” than the start was. Blame uneven access to immunization made worse by vaccine nationalism as rich governments focus on domestic needs. Insufficient state capacity, poor logistics, and distrust and misinformation, often fueled by populist leaders, have left millions behind and widened existing gaps in the global economy. Then there are insular policies in places like Australia or Hong Kong that focus on zero cases, making them reluctant to open up, discouraging vaccination and prolonging the endgame. (Clara Ferreira Marques, 6/22)
The Baltimore Sun: Much-Admired Greatest Generation Values Missing In Half The Country During Pandemic
Every Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Father’s Day you can count on baby boomers and Gen Xers to post Facebook tributes to the so-called “Greatest Generation,” expressing eternal gratitude for the men and women who persevered through the Depression and World War II to deliver freedom and prosperity to their children and grandchildren. I’ll tell you what else the Greatest Generation did — they got their kids vaccinated against polio. They didn’t question the vaccine. In fact, it was eagerly awaited and widely embraced. Its developer, Dr. Jonas Salk, was a national hero, like Joe DiMaggio in a lab coat. (Dan Rodricks, 6/22)
Los Angeles Times: COVID Vaccine Incentives Work, But Send The Wrong Message
As we claw our way out of the pandemic, state governments across the country are offering all kinds of rewards for getting vaccinated against COVID-19. In return for getting your shot, you could take a thrilling lap around the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, win a free fishing and hunting license in Maine, or get your own custom shotgun in West Virginia. In California, residents who get vaccinated have a chance at $1.5 million as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s vaccination lottery program, Vax for the Win. There’s some evidence that these incentives are working. Since California launched its lottery on May 27, over 900,000 residents began their vaccination process. According to the California Department of Public Health, the state saw a 13% increase in vaccinations from the last week of May to the first week of June. (Caroline Petrow-Cohen, 6/22)
The New York Times: Modi Enabled A 'Covid Massacre' In India
In the Opinion video above, Kunal Kamra, an enormously popular stand-up comedian in India, puts all jokes aside and takes a serious look at his government’s handling of the pandemic. His assessment is withering: He accuses the nation’s leadership, especially an overconfident Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of putting political vanity before common sense and opening the door to a devastating resurgence of coronavirus infections that have devastated the country. India has been struggling for weeks amid this second wave, which has sickened millions, killed hundreds of thousands and overwhelmed the nation’s health care system. At the peak of the crisis, new infections numbered about 400,000 a day, a record-breaking pace. (Kunal Kamra, 6/23)
