Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Why Are Covid Booster Rates So Low?; Chaplains Should Not Replace Trained School Counselors
Bloomberg: Low US Covid Booster Rates Show CDC Needs To Change Strategy
If officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were hoping that tying an annual Covid booster to the fall flu shot would increase uptake, it isn’t working. (F.D. Flam, 10/18)
USA Today: Having Chaplains In Schools Is Bad For Students. Leave Mental Health Care To Professionals
With half of Texas school districts lacking mental health services, state lawmakers have opted to anoint chaplains as the solution. In June, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law SB 763, a bill authorizing public schools to divert money from safety funds to support chaplain employment programs. Each Texas school district has been directed to vote on whether to implement this program. (Sheri Allen and Andy Stoker, 10/18)
Bloomberg: Telehealth Therapy Is Helping Teens Cope With Youth Mental Health Crisis
The Covid pandemic seemed to worsen teems’ and adolescents’ mental health, according to several recent studies. But now, new research shows a reason for hope: Telehealth seems to be giving many more kids access to support. That’s a win worth celebrating. (Lisa Jarvis, 10/17)
The Washington Post: Five Reforms To Reorient SNAP Toward Nutrition And Health
Here are five reforms with bipartisan support that can help reorient SNAP back to its intended purpose of promoting nutrition and improving health. (Leana S. Wen, 10/17)
Miami Herald: Black, Hispanics Are At Higher Risk Of Rare Kidney Condition
In the early 2000s, after a mandatory team exam, I learned that I had a rare form of kidney disease, and it took me out of the game. Years later, I learned that disease, known as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), was genetically driven, just like my height. (Alonzo Mourning, 10/18)
