Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Why Is Polio Proving So Hard To Eliminate?; Heat Waves Are More Deadly Than People Realize
The Washington Post: Despite A New Vaccine, Polio Eradication Remains Elusive
A variety of new hurdles has emerged in the long, difficult struggle to eradicate polio, a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus that can infect the spinal cord and cause paralysis. World health authorities have the tools to fight back. But the effort will require sustained attention — and funding. (9/28)
Scientific American: Classifying Heat Waves Will Help People Better Understand Their Dangers
Heat is now the deadliest weather effect in the U.S. It kills more people per year than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 1,710 heat-related deaths, and researchers have consistently found deaths increase on extreme heat days. In 2019, one study found 1,373 additional deaths could be attributed to extreme heat days in the U.S. each year. In July, another study estimated that last year there were 60,000 heat-related deaths in Europe. (Gina Jimenez, 9/28)
The New York Times: For The F.D.A., Cold Medicine That Doesn’t Work Is Just The Tip Of The Iceberg
Nearly two decades ago, several pharmacists started calling into the University of Florida Drug Information and Pharmacy Resource Center hotline with the same query: Does phenylephrine, a common ingredient in cold medicine sold over the counter, actually work? (Randy C. Hatton and Leslie Hendeles, 9/29)
Chicago Tribune: It's Time We Address Isolation And Loneliness As The Systemic Issues They Are
A 2020 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found that social isolation significantly increases our risk of premature death, a risk that may rival those associated with smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. (Amy Eisenstein, 9/29)
USA Today: Racial Disparities In Health Care Cost Lives. Medical School Needs Race-Conscious Admissions
As three Black men in the medical field, one of whom served as an officer in the Air Force, we seek to make the case that a diverse medical workforce is of compelling national health and security interest, and that race-conscious admissions should be considered in medical institutions. (Victor Agbafe, Dr. Lawrence Brown and Dr. Brian Williams, 9/29)
Also —
Chicago Tribune: Scientists: This Is The Missing Puzzle Piece To Getting COVID-19 Vaccines Into Arms
On Sept. 11, the Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency use authorization for updated COVID-19 vaccines. The next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement that recommended updated vaccines for people 6 months and older. As these new vaccines become available, it is critical that we improve access to save lives. (Amelia E. Van Pelt, Sara Becker and Rinad S. Beidas, 9/28)
The Washington Post: The CDC Needs To Change Its Covid-19 Isolation Guidance
The end-of-summer increase in covid-19 infections has brought renewed attention to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s isolation guidance. These outdated recommendations must be revised, as they disincentivize testing, sow confusion and fail to achieve the most important objective of protecting vulnerable individuals. (Leana S. Wen, 9/28)
