Stat: CDC Advisory Panel Delays Decision On J&J Covid-19 Vaccine
The U.S. government’s recommended pause on use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is unlikely to be lifted for at least another week or 10 days, after a committee of independent experts declined Wednesday to vote on whether use of the vaccine should resume. ... Many members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said they felt they had too little information to be able to estimate the benefits and risks of the vaccine, or to recommend its use be restricted to people in certain age groups. (Branswell, 4/14)

Politico: CDC Vaccine Panel Unexpectedly Delays Decision On Johnson & Johnson Shot 
The committee’s recommendations are non-binding, but top Biden administration health officials have said they would look to the CDC panel and a separate probe by officials at the Food and Drug Administration to guide their decision making on the vaccine. While many of the committee members — who include public health experts, scientists and doctors — said they needed more information before making a call, others expressed frustration about the damage that continued uncertainty would do to public confidence and vaccination efforts among underserved populations. (Owermohle and Banco, 4/14)

The Washington Post: CDC Vaccine Advisers Seek More Data On Rare Blood Clots Before Deciding Whether To Resume Johnson & Johnson Shots
At a hastily arranged emergency meeting a day after federal officials recommended a pause in use of the vaccine, advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed to reconvene within 10 days, acknowledging the urgency of making a decision about a vaccine that is a key part of the strategy to end the pandemic in the United States and globally. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed details about six cases of blood clots in women who were between the ages of 18 and 48. The women developed symptoms, most often headaches, six to 13 days after vaccination. One vaccine recipient, a Virginia woman, died in March, and another is in critical condition, health officials have said. Two have been discharged and three remain in the hospital. (Sun and Johnson, 4/14)

In related news about the pause —

CNN: Fauci Says This Is A Pause And Not A Cancellation Of The J&J Vaccine. Here's How Long A Final Decision May Take
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says the recommended pause on the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is just that: a pause -- and not a cancellation -- and will likely last days to weeks. "I doubt very seriously if we're talking about weeks to months," he told CNN on Wednesday. And that pause, he added, should help underscore and confirm "how seriously we take safety even though it's a rare event." (Maxouris, 4/15)

Axios: Fauci: J&J Pause Shows How Seriously FDA Takes Vaccine Safety 
President Biden's chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci suggested Wednesday that the decision to pause use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine could actually bolster vaccine confidence, calling it "an affirmation that safety is a primary consideration when it comes to the FDA and CDC." Tuesday's decision to pause the J&J rollout has set off a chain reaction of fears — both about the safety of the vaccine and about whether the FDA is overreacting, considering that only six cases of rare blood clots have been reported out of 7 million vaccine doses administered. (4/14)

Axios: The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause Is A Study In Uncertain Risk Psychology 
The decision to pause the use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine — and the furor that now surrounds it — underscores the confounding psychology behind risk assessment. From vaccines to emerging technologies, the future will force us to make difficult, risk-based choices that our Stone Age brains are ill-equipped to handle, especially in an environment where social trust has evaporated. (Walsh, 4/14)

Bloomberg: J&J Vaccine Pause Disrupts An Already-Slow Rollout To Minorities
The U.S. vaccination drive has  failed to equitably reach people of all races, and the pause on the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine is halting key efforts to jab hard-to-reach minority populations. The J&J shot only makes up about 4% of the more than 189 million doses administered. But because it doesn’t require expensive refrigeration and is only one dose, it’s the vaccine of choice for programs aimed at inoculating people who are homebound, homeless, and whose jobs make it hard to schedule multiple appointments. These are groups disproportionately made up of the minority populations already lagging in doses. (Green, 4/14)

CNBC: Covid Vaccine: White House Says U.S. Is Working To Accelerate Pfizer, Moderna Doses
The Biden administration is working to accelerate doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines after U.S. health officials advised states to hold off on using Johnson & Johnson’s shot while regulators investigate a rare blood-clotting issue, a top U.S. official said Wednesday. Jeff Zients, the White House’s Covid-19 coordinator, said the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended pause on J&J’s vaccine would not have a “significant impact” on the administration’s vaccination program. (Lovelace Jr., 4/14)

Politico: Sharpening Resistance: States Fret Pause In J&J Vaccine Could Drive Up Hesitancy 
The Biden administration says its decision to stop administering Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus shot should make Americans more confident vaccines are safe. A growing chorus of state officials says it could have just the opposite effect. Any interruption could harden skepticism among people who were ambivalent over getting vaccinated or scared about getting sick from side effects, some governors and state health officials say. That could make tamping down new outbreaks and ending the pandemic much harder, especially with public places reopening and travel on the rise. (Roubein and Goldberg, 4/14)

The Atlantic: The mRNA Vaccines Are Looking Better and Better
A year ago, when the United States decided to go big on vaccines, it bet on nearly every horse, investing in a spectrum of technologies. The safest bets, in a way, repurposed the technology behind existing vaccines, such as protein-based ones for tetanus or hepatitis B. The medium bets were on vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, which use adenovirus vectors, a technology that had been tested before but not deployed on a large scale. The long shots were based on the use of mRNA, the newest and most unproven technology. The protein-based vaccines have moved too slowly to matter so far. J&J’s and AstraZeneca’s vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19—but a small number of recipients have developed a rare type of blood clot that appears to be linked to the adenovirus technology and may ultimately limit those shots’ use. Meanwhile, with more than 180 million doses administered in the U.S, the mRNA vaccines have proved astonishingly effective and extremely safe. The unusual blood clots have not appeared with Pfizer’s or Moderna’s mRNA technology. A year later, the risky bet definitely looks like a good one. (Zhang, 4/14)

In related news about vaccine hesitancy —

The Washington Post: Public Health Experts Double Down On Vaccine Education After J&J Vaccine Pause 
Community leaders and those in charge of vaccinating vulnerable populations said that the pause does not appear to have immediately deterred people who want to be vaccinated or have upcoming vaccine appointments. “My concern is the people who were already not planning to get the vaccine will latch on to this as further justification just for why they shouldn’t get it,” said Leana Wen, Baltimore’s former health commissioner and an emergency physician. (Portnoy, 4/14)

The New York Times: Western Warnings Tarnish Covid Vaccines The World Badly Needs 
Safety worries about the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines have jeopardized inoculation campaigns far beyond the United States, undercutting faith in two sorely needed shots and threatening to prolong the coronavirus pandemic in countries that can ill afford to be choosy about vaccines. With new infections surging on nearly every continent, signs that the vaccination drive is in peril are emerging, most disconcertingly in Africa. (Mueller, 4/14)

Bloomberg: Vaccine Hesitancy Down In U.S., But 1 In 7 Are Still Reluctant
Vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. is shrinking, though 1 in 7 residents remain wary about getting a Covid-19 vaccine, largely because of concerns about side effects. That segment is younger and less educated than average, according to a tracker released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau that uses Household Pulse Survey data. Residents were surveyed before U.S. regulators on Tuesday recommended pausing Johnson & Johnson vaccines because of concerns about rare blood clots. (Querolo, 4/14)

CNN: Many Evangelicals Say They Won't Be Vaccinated Against Covid-19. Some Experts Say Distrust And Misinformation Have Played A Role 
At Pastor Tony Spell's Sunday sermon this week, he preached a different kind of message than usual to his congregants: Don't trust Covid-19 vaccines. "I'll just tell you today, if being anti-mask and anti-vaccine is anti-government, then I'm proud to be anti-government," Spell, who has made a national name for himself protesting Covid-19 rules in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told Life Tabernacle Church congregants. He goes on to falsely state: "If you have a 99.6% survival rate, why do you want somebody to contaminate your bloodstream with something that may or may not hurt you?" (Reeve, Guff, Waldrop and Brunswick, 4/14)

ABC News: Justices Sonia Sotomayor And Neil Gorsuch Agree: Misinformation Is Threat To America 
They are ideological opposites on the U.S. Supreme Court, but Wednesday Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch united in a rare, joint public appearance to declare the spread of misinformation on social media an urgent threat to national security. ... Sotomayor cited a recent study from MIT which found false news stories are 70% more likely to be retweeted than true stories are. "That's frightening, isn't it," she said, "that people don't learn about truthful statements as much as false statements through social media. That is a true threat to our national security." (Dwyer, 4/14)

NPR: The Most Popular J&J Vaccine Story On Facebook? A Conspiracy Theorist Posted It
The most popular link on Facebook about the Johnson & Johnson news was shared by a conspiracy theorist and self-described "news analyst & hip-hop artist" named An0maly who thinks the pandemic is a cover for government control. It's a stark example of what experts warn could be a coming deluge of false and misleading information related to the one-shot vaccine. (Parks, 4/15)

Axios: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause Will Have Minimal Local Impact 
The pause on administering Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine isn’t expected to have a huge impact on vaccine rollout across local communities. Like the country writ large, most localities have vaccinated the vast majority of their citizens with the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna shots, which have more than enough supply to fill the gaps caused by the J&J pause. (4/14)

Los Angeles Times: Will J&J Woes Complicate California COVID Vaccine Rollout?
At first glance, the timing couldn’t be worse: thousands of COVID-19 vaccines going on ice at the same time California is preparing to make them available for everyone 16 and older. But how difficult will Tuesday’s decision to pause use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — made on the recommendation of federal health officials following reports of six cases of serious blood clots nationwide — actually make it to get a shot in California? (Money, Lin II, Luna and Nelson, 4/14)

The Boston Globe: Baker Expects ‘Minimal Disruptions’ To Vaccine Appointments Despite Pause In Johnson & Johnson Shots
Seeking to reassure the public after an announced pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Charlie Baker said Wednesday that he doubted the issue would significantly hamper the state’s ongoing vaccination effort, which relies mainly on the Pfizer and Moderna shots. “The J&J supply in Massachusetts is currently a small portion of our supply,” Baker told reporters during a briefing from the vaccination site at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. “In the immediate future, we’re expecting minimal disruptions to schedule new appointments.” (Andersen, Ellement and Turner, 4/14)

Philadelphia Inquirer: Philly’s Biggest COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Will Get More Doses In Response To The J&J Pause
In a reversal prompted by the pause on one COVID-19 vaccine brand over safety concerns, federal authorities said Wednesday they will continue providing another type of vaccine to the Convention Center mass clinic that is distributing more doses than any other in Philadelphia. Losing, at least temporarily, thousands of Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses was a new complication as the nation races to vaccinate its population amid rising case counts and the risk of variants developing that could prove vaccine-resistant. (Laughlin, McDaniel and Steele, 4/15)

The Boston Globe: Lowell General Hospital And Community Groups Provide Vaccines For 1,000 People Despite Pause In Johnson & Johnson Shots
A coalition of community groups and Lowell General Hospital pivoted quickly away from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Wednesday and pushed ahead with previously planned vaccines for 1,000 people using the Pfizer version of the key weapon in the battle against COVID-19. The hospital collects its vaccines through the state system and was planning to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Wednesday for the 1,000 people who were not able, for a variety of reasons, to land an appointment using the online scheduling programs run by the state and some private companies, said Amy Hoey, chief operating officer of Lowell General. (Ellement and Turner, 4/14)

WMFE: Effort To Vaccinate Florida Prisoners Not Affected By J&J Pause 
Florida’s new effort to vaccinate state prisoners is unaffected by the sudden pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. The state had previously anticipated a reduction in J&J allocations and is using the two-dose Moderna vaccine instead. The one-dose J&J vaccine has already been administered in three privately run prisons. (Byrnes, 4/14)

Dallas Morning News: Dallas’ First In-Home COVID Vaccination Program To Start Next Week With Moderna Doses
The city’s first in-home COVID-19 vaccine program for homebound Dallas residents will now begin next week after it was delayed due to federal calls to pause distribution of the Johnson & Johnson shots. Members of Dallas Fire-Rescue and the Visiting Nurse Association of Dallas will give out Moderna vaccines to residents enrolled in the nonprofit’s Meals on Wheels program starting around 9 a.m. Monday, said Rocky Vaz, Dallas’ emergency management director. That brand requires two shots about four weeks apart in order to be effective. (Bailey Jr., 4/14)

Bloomberg: Airline Middle Seats Are COVID Risk, CDC Says, With Caveats
The risk of being exposed to the coronavirus on an airline flight drops by as much as half when airlines keep middle seats open, a new study published by the U.S. government concludes, but it’s a safety practice the carriers have abandoned. The study is the latest to roil the waters on a controversial topic: just how risky it is to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study did not attempt to estimate infection risks, and it was based on modeling done before the pandemic, so it didn’t consider rules that now require face masks on flights. (Levin and Schlangenstein, 4/14)

CIDRAP: Study Suggests Airline Passenger Spacing Will Slow COVID-19 Spread
Keeping middle seats vacant on air flights has the potential to cut transmission of virus particles by 57% when multiple passengers are infected and by 23% when a single passenger is infected, according to an aerosol dispersion study that included earlier data that modeled plane airflow. Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Kansas State University reported the findings today in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) study. (4/14)

KHN: Airports Step Up Mental Health Assistance As Passenger Anxiety Soars 
Robin Hancock gently worked her steel tongue drum with a pair of mallets, producing a set of soothing, mystical tones. They blended with the soft sound of chirping birds and bubbling creeks pouring from a Bluetooth speaker. Her warm voice invited the two visitors in the dimly lit room to slip into a nature setting of their choosing. The 20-minute guided meditation took place at an unlikely location: Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which until 2020 was the world’s busiest passenger hub. The airport interfaith chapel’s executive director, Blair Walker, introduced the meditation sessions last fall in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. (Ridderbusch, 4/15)

In other covid research —

Fox News: Inactivity Increases Risk Of COVID-19 Death, Study Suggests
A recent study of nearly 50,000 coronavirus patients found that those who were consistently inactive were at greater risk of death due to the virus than those who engaged in exercise. The study, which relied on the "Exercise Vital Sign" measurement developed by Kaiser Permanente Southern California, found that even those who were active on an inconsistent basis were at lower odds for severe COVID-19 compared to those who were inactive. (Hein, 4/14)

NPR: A Year In, Here's What We Know About Vitamin D For Preventing COVID
When the pandemic hit, many Americans turned to vitamins and supplements in hopes of boosting their immune systems. Scientists also raced to study them. Vitamin D, perhaps more than any other, captured the attention of researchers. Even the nation's top infectious disease doctor, Anthony Fauci, embraced the idea of using the vitamin to help keep COVID-19 at bay, saying in September that he takes a supplement to avoid being deficient and "would not mind recommending" it to others. So should you take vitamin D to prevent or even treat COVID-19? (Stone, 4/14)

AP: Loneliness Is Rampant. A Simple Call, Or Hug, May Be A Cure
Rampant loneliness existed long before COVID-19, and experts believe it’s now worse. Evidence suggests it can damage health and shorten lives as much as obesity and smoking. In addition to psychological distress, some studies suggest loneliness may cause physical changes including inflammation and elevated stress hormones that may tighten blood vessels and increase blood pressure. Yet loneliness as a public health issue "has kind of been swept under the rug," said Dr. Ada Stewart, president of the American Association of Family Physicians. There’s no formal medical diagnosis and no mandate to screen for it. "Now the pandemic has unveiled it," Stewart said. "This is real." (4/14)

AP: More COVID State Shutdowns Unlikely, Despite CDC Suggestion
When one of the nation’s top health officials this week suggested states dealing with a spring spike of coronavirus cases should “shut things down,” the remark landed with a thud. Even Democratic governors and lawmakers who supported tough stay-at-home orders and business closures to stem previous COVID-19 outbreaks say they’re done with that approach. It’s a remarkable turnaround for governors who have said from the beginning of the pandemic that they will follow the science in their decision-making, but it’s also a nod to reality: Another round of lockdown orders would likely just be ignored by a pandemic-weary public. (Lieb, 4/14)

AP: Michigan Expands Antibody Treatment To Cut Hospitalizations
Michigan will expand its use of a COVID-19 treatment in the hopes of substantially reducing its rising numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, state officials announced Wednesday amid their efforts to bring down the nation’s highest infection rate. Additional doses of monoclonal antibodies will be given to hospitals and other providers, which will be asked to expand the number of sites where patients can get infusions from the more than 70 that are operating in 37 of Michigan’s 83 counties. (Eggert, 4/14)

AP: Michigan Health Chief Traveled Out Of State Amid Virus Spike
Michigan health director Elizabeth Hertel traveled with family to Alabama for spring break last week despite her department’s guidance to avoid out-of-state travel while Michigan suffers a raging coronavirus outbreak. (Eggert, 4/15)

AP: North Dakota Officials Say Virus Trend Headed The Wrong Way
North Dakota health officials say the number of confirmed variant cases of the coronavirus has doubled this month and are warning about the possibility of another wave of infections. The state lab has identified 79 total cases of four variants, said Kirby Kruger, director of the Health Department’s Disease Control Division. The includes 50 of the one first identified in the United Kingdom, 28 of the two California variants and one of the South African variant. (4/14)

Bangor Daily News: Small Maine Towns Take Brunt Of Recent Rise In COVID-19 Cases
Maine’s recent rise in COVID-19 cases has disproportionately affected small towns outside of population centers in York and Androscoggin counties, challenging the state’s vaccine effort as well as assumptions about how the virus spreads. Maine has seen some of the highest reported new case numbers in the last two days since January. Although the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention often reports large blocks of new cases at a time, reported cases have been on a steady upward creep over the last month as cases have risen nationally. It is occurring despite more available vaccines and 35 percent of Maine residents being fully vaccinated. (Andrews and Piper, 4/15)

The New York Times: As Infections Surge In Puerto Rico, People Are Urged Not To Drop Their Guard
Puerto Rico is reporting a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations amid a lagging vaccine rollout, and officials are worried that a combination of new variants and people neglecting basic pandemic safety measures may be making things worse. (McDonnell Nieto del Rio and Ngo, 4/15)

Axios: Variants Drive More Coronavirus Cases, Despite Vaccines 
The number of new coronavirus infections in the U.S continues to rise, making a quick, clean end to the pandemic less and less likely. Much of the U.S. is relying almost exclusively on vaccines to control the virus, abandoning social distancing and other safety measures. And that’s helping the virus to steadily gain ground even as vaccinations barrel ahead. (Baker and Witherspoon, 4/15)

The New York Times: What The Coronavirus Variants Mean For Testing 
In January 2020, just weeks after the first Covid-19 cases emerged in China, the full genome of the new coronavirus was published online. Using this genomic sequence, scientists scrambled to design a large assortment of diagnostic tests for the virus. But the virus has mutated since then. And as the coronavirus has evolved, so has the landscape of testing. The emergence of new variants has sparked a flurry of interest in developing tests for specific viral mutations and prompted concerns about the accuracy of some existing tests. (Anthes, 4/14)

CBS News: FEMA Funeral Program Inundated By 1 Million Calls At Launch 
The federal government program designed to help cover funeral costs for people who have died of COVID-19 was inundated with more than 1 million calls on its launch day. The Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA) rolled out its hotline Monday, inviting Americans to apply for up to $9,000 per funeral and up to $35,500 per applicant to help with expenses related to coronavirus deaths occurring after January 20, 2020. (Sganga, 4/14)

KQED: FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Phone Message Could Scare Off Applicants Who Need Help Most, Advocates Say
Starting this week, U.S. citizens and some lawful immigrants can apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursements of up to $9,000 for each COVID-related funeral. But when applicants call an agency phone line to request the aid, they first hear a prerecorded message on eligibility requirements warning that the information they provide may be shared with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with other government agencies. "FEMA may share your information with these partners to make sure you receive all disaster assistance available to you, prevent duplicating benefits or to prevent future disaster losses,” states the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance helpline. (Jhabvala Romero, 4/14)

In related news —

North Carolina Health News: In 2020, Deaths Outpace Births In 64 NC Counties 
The news during 2020 was filled with tragic scenes of families visiting their senior loved ones through windows, health care professionals breaking down over the lonely deaths of patients in intensive care wards, and funerals carried out without families receiving the caresses and comfort of loved ones. There have been some points of hope. For one thing, the Tar Heel state still experienced more births than deaths overall last year, according to provisional resident data provided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In total, 115,076 residents of North Carolina were born, while 87,987 community members died. (Critchfield, 4/14)

AP: Colorful Coffins Lighten Mood At New Zealand Funerals
When the pallbearers brought Phil McLean’s coffin into the chapel, there were gasps before a wave of laughter rippled through the hundreds of mourners. The coffin was a giant cream donut. “It overshadowed the sadness and the hard times in the last few weeks,” said his widow, Debra. “The final memory in everyone’s mind was of that donut, and Phil’s sense of humor.” (Perry, 4/15)

CNN: CDC Reports 5,800 Covid Infections In Fully Vaccinated People
About 5,800 people who have been vaccinated against coronavirus have become infected anyway, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells CNN. Some became seriously ill and 74 people died, the CDC said. It said 396 -- 7% -- of those who got infected after they were vaccinated required hospitalization. It's the first indication from CDC of how effective the vaccine is in real life -- and the first indication the vaccines do not protect completely against severe disease and death. (Tinker and Fox, 4/14)

San Francisco Chronicle: 'Breakthrough' Cases Of Vaccinated People Who Get COVID May Be Key To Unlocking Immunity
Nearly 30% of Californians age 16 and older — those who are approved for the vaccines thus far — are now fully immunized, according to state data. As those numbers continue to climb, public health officials are increasingly interested in breakthrough cases, which are defined as people who test positive and have symptoms of COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated. These cases should be rare — and are fully expected. The vaccines are not 100% effective, and with the virus still circulating fairly widely across California, a few cases in people who are fully vaccinated are bound to happen. California doesn’t yet publicly report breakthrough cases, but a survey of Bay Area counties found more than 100 confirmed or suspected. (Allday, 4/14)

In other updates on the vaccine rollout —

The Washington Post: U.S. Could Have 300 Million Extra Coronavirus Vaccine Doses By End Of July, Raising Concerns Over Hoarding
The United States is on track to have gathered an oversupply of hundreds of millions of coronavirus vaccine doses by as soon as July, even while many countries in the developing world will have to wait years to vaccinate a majority of their population, according to a report released Thursday by the Duke Global Health Innovation Center. The new estimates, included in the paper alongside recommendations, come as the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to facilitate equitable vaccine distribution around the world. (Taylor, 4/15)

Los Angeles Times: Vaccine Appointments Will Be Open To All 16+ In California
Everyone in California 16 and older can now book COVID-19 vaccine appointments on the state’s My Turn appointment system. The changes to the system went into effect Wednesday night. (Lin II, Shalby and Money, 4/14)

Los Angeles Times: COVID-19 Vaccine Inequities Persist In L.A. County Despite Progress In Underserved Areas
Los Angeles County has made significant strides in administering COVID-19 vaccines in communities of color hardest hit by the pandemic, but those areas continue to lag far behind both wealthier neighborhoods and the county as a whole, according to a Times data analysis. Some neighborhoods in South Los Angeles — where the spread of the coronavirus was particularly devastating — saw the biggest increase in how many of their residents had received at least one vaccine dose between March 1 and Monday, the data show. Other areas that saw major improvement include Thai Town in Hollywood, Lennox and Cudahy. (Money and Stiles, 4/15)

The Washington Post: D.C. Announces New Walk-Up Vaccine Clinics For Seniors
The District will offer walk-up coronavirus vaccination clinics for seniors starting Monday, furthering its efforts to reach residents who have not yet signed up through the city’s preregistration portal. The 10 vaccine clinics will administer either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, city health officials said in a news release, and will initially accommodate up to 30 walk-in appointments each day they are open. They are located at several city recreation centers as well as Arena Stage, Entertainment and Sports Arena and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. (Brice-Saddler, 4/14)

Anchorage Daily News: Anchorage’s Vaccine Clinics Are Getting Site Reviews After 16-Year-Old Receives Dose Of Moderna Vaccine
Anchorage health officials were asked this week to review practices at local vaccine clinics after a 16-year-old reportedly received a dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which hasn’t yet been approved for their age group. Anyone 16 and older who lives or works in Alaska is now eligible to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. However, only Pfizer’s vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in 16- and 17-year-olds. The other two vaccines currently available in Alaska — by drug companies Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — have so far only been approved for use in adults. (Berman, 4/14)

AP: Homeless Americans Finally Getting A Chance At COVID-19 Shot
Homeless Americans who have been left off priority lists for coronavirus vaccinations — or even bumped aside as states shifted eligibility to older age groups — are finally getting their shots as vaccine supplies increase. While the U.S. government has only incomplete data on infections among homeless people, it’s clear that crowded, unsanitary conditions at shelters and underlying poor health increase the danger of COVID-19 infections, severe complications and death. (Johnson, 4/15)

The Oregonian: Latino Network Blasts State For Failing To Ensure Access To COVID-19 Vaccine 
Oregon’s premier Latino advocacy group put state officials on blast Wednesday for what it described as a state failure to get coronavirus vaccines to the people the group represents. The Latino Network will convene at least six speakers Thursday to outline accusations that officials have failed to tear down barriers to COVID-19 vaccinations for the Latinx community. (Zarkhin, 4/14)

And "Harry Potter" fans get a surprise —

NBC News: Real-Life Professor Snape Goes Viral For Leading Covid-19 Vaccine Study
A recent study of coronavirus vaccines led by Dr. Matthew Snape, a professor at the University of Oxford in the U.K., sent Twitter users and "Harry Potter" fans into a frenzy this week. The coincidence of names spawned jokes and memes about the real-life Professor Snape in connection with the one from the "Harry Potter" books. (Vaughn, 4/14)

San Francisco Chronicle: Stanford Enrolls Children As Young As 2 In Pfizer Vaccine Trials
Stanford Medicine on Wednesday began administering shots to children ages 2 to 5 in a trial for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, marking another step forward in getting younger children vaccinated. Stanford’s trial is part of a larger, nationwide Pfizer study that is testing the vaccine in children as young as 6 months old. The advancement of pediatric vaccine trials is important because even though children are at lower risk than adults of developing severe disease and dying from COVID-19, many have nonetheless fallen ill and died. It will also be critical to inoculate children in order to reach higher immunity levels in the overall population, since they can spread the virus to others even if they themselves do not become ill. (Ho, 4/14)

Kansas City Star: Children’s Mercy Studies Pfizer COVID Vaccine For Kids 
Children as young as 6 months of age could get COVID-19 vaccines as part of a nationwide pediatric trial led locally by Children’s Mercy, the hospital announced Wednesday. The study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and whether it can stimulate an immune response. The vaccine could be available to babies and children up to age 11 in the general public by early 2022, according to Pfizer. (Gutierrez, 4/14)

In related pediatric news —

Cincinnati Enquirer: Vaccine For Kids As Young As 5 Possibly By Late Summer
Parents have put more than 3,000 children on waitlists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to participate in clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine on younger children. Work on the trials is moving so quickly that Dr. Robert Frenck, director of the Gamble Vaccine Research Center at Cincinnati Children’s, believes it's "even a possibility that we'll see a vaccine (allowed for children) as low as age 5" by August or September. The vaccine could be approved for children as young as 2 by December or January. (4/12)

Pioneer Press: ‘Kids Are Going To Be The Key’ To Get To Herd Immunity, Mayo Experts Say 
Children are roughly 20% of the U.S. population, and health officials believe 75% -80% vaccination will be required to get to herd immunity. Over one-third of the population has now received at least one dose. That hope of achieving herd immunity is coming closer,” said Dr. Joseph Poterucha, pediatric and critical care specialist, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, “and it is so important to get those kids vaccinated to get there. . . Kids are going to be the key.” Besides an enormous population for the goal of herd immunity, vaccinating children is “a mechanism of liberation to connecting back with family, grandparents, loved ones,” Poterucha said. “This is a mechanism to get back to reality.” (Scott, 4/14)

The Motley Fool: Here's The Surprising Amount Of Money Pfizer's Vaccine Might Make Immunizing Adolescents 
Pfizer has racked up multiple firsts with its vaccine. BNT162b2 was the first COVID-19 vaccine to win Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the U.S. for adults. It was the first to win EUA for teens ages 16 and up. And now another first could be on the way. A couple of weeks ago, Pfizer and its partner BioNTech reported results from a late-stage study of BNT162b2 in children ages 12 to 15. BNT162b2 achieved an efficacy of 100% in the study. The companies announced on April 9 that they've filed for an expanded EUA for this lower age group with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pfizer previously estimated that BNT162b2 would generate sales of around $15 billion this year. However, that figure was based on the supply deals it had in place in early February. How much money could Pfizer make in 2021 if it wins authorization for the vaccine in adolescents? You might be surprised. (Speights, 4/14)

The New York Times: The Vaccinated Parent's Guide To Life With Unvaccinated Kids
As more parents get vaccinated ahead of their children, some families are finding themselves with questions that seem to have no clear answers: Is it finally OK to have indoor play dates? Can we take summer vacations, or fly on airplanes? What if my kids are high risk? If this new and perplexing reality has added to your stress, you’re not alone. (Wenner Moyer, 4/13)

NPR: Biden Administration Moves To Undo Trump Abortion Rules For Title X
The Biden administration is moving to reverse a Trump-era family planning policy that critics describe as a domestic "gag rule" for reproductive healthcare providers. The proposal published on Wednesday would largely return the federal Title X family planning program to its status before Trump took office. The current rules, implemented in March 2019 under Trump, forbid any provider who provides or refers patients for abortions from receiving federal funding through Title X to cover services such as contraception and STD screenings for low-income people. (McCammon, 4/14)

KHN: Biden Moves To Overturn Trump Birth Control Rules
The Biden administration Wednesday formally proposed the repeal of Trump-era regulations barring abortion referrals and making other changes intended to evict Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from the federal family planning program, Title X. The 2019 rules dramatically limited access to these family planning services for many low-income people. In promising to return to the pre-Trump rules for the program, the new regulations by the Department of Health and Human Services note that the Trump policy “has been devastating to the hundreds of thousands of Title X clients who have lost access to critical family planning and related preventive health services.” Since the Trump rules took effect, Planned Parenthood and many city and state health departments have dropped out of the program, resulting in six states with no Title X providers and six more with dramatically reduced services. (Rovner, 4/14)

In other news about abortion —

CNN: Judges Are Split On How Seriously To Take John Roberts' Abortion Opinion
Almost a year after Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the Supreme Court's liberals to cast the determinative vote to block a Louisiana abortion law, his opinion in the case is causing deep divisions among lower court judges and lawyers. Last June, Roberts, who had never voted against an abortion restriction, spelled out his thinking in a concurring opinion, perhaps to bring clarity to lower courts dealing with the explosive issue. Instead, that opinion has added to the tangle of cases and rulings throughout the country, some of which are now making their way up to the high court. (de Vogue, 4/14)

The Washington Post: Nebraska Corrections Official Hayden Thomas Resigns After Inmate Denied Abortion, Citing ‘Shame’ To Public Service 
A Nebraska corrections official resigned in protest this week after his superiors tried to block a recently admitted inmate from getting an abortion, highlighting tensions over health-care access for female prisoners at a time when women represent the fastest-growing part of the incarcerated population. Hayden Thomas, who served as disability coordinator at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, wrote in a scathing resignation letter to the director Monday that it was unlawful and immoral for the department to deny the woman’s request for an abortion. (Hawkins, 4/14)

Stat: FDA Urged To Move Faster To List Medicines Withdrawn Over Safety Concerns
Arguing patient safety is at risk, an advocacy group is urging the Food and Drug Administration to create a new policy for updating an official list of medicines that are withdrawn after being deemed unsafe or ineffective. In a petition filed with the agency, Public Citizen noted that the FDA has, in most cases over the past two decades, taken “at least several years” to update this list. Meanwhile, patients could be potentially harmed by compounded formulations that physicians and pharmacists are legally permitted to make in the interim. (Silverman, 4/14)

KHN: The FDA Seeks A New Way To Review Old Drugs Without Causing Prices To Soar
Chuck Peterson of Omaha, Nebraska, recently experienced a swollen, painful knuckle caused by arthritis. He got a prescription for colchicine. Doctors have used the drug for treating gout and other rheumatic conditions for well over two centuries. When Peterson went to the pharmacy, he was shocked to discover that a two-month supply of 120 pills, distributed by Par Pharmaceutical, would cost him $225 out-of-pocket on his Medicare Part D drug plan. Taking it for an additional three months, as his rheumatologist wanted him to do, would cost him nearly $600 under his drug plan. (Meyer, 4/15)

Health News Florida: Federal Officials Design New Mask Guidelines To Better Protect More Workers 
Federal officials announced new measures to help get fresh, new N95 masks to health care workers and expand their use in other industries after scientists argued that the highly protective masks are essential to keep workers safe from COVID-19. The changes come as U.S. mask-makers say the demand from hospitals is so sluggish that they’ve laid off 2,000 workers and fear some new protective gear companies could collapse. Yet in a letter to lawmakers, hospitals cite ongoing concerns about scarce supplies, saying limits on which workers should get N95s must stay in place. (Jewett, 4/14)

Al Jazeera: Former World Leaders Urge Biden To Waive COVID Vaccine Patents
A group of more than 170 former world leaders and Nobel laureates is calling on United States President Joe Biden to make COVID-19 vaccines more readily available by waiving US intellectual property rules. In an open letter shared by Oxfam on Wednesday, the signatories also urged Biden to support a proposal spearheaded by South Africa and India demanding the World Trade Organization (WTO) temporarily waive COVID-19 vaccine patents. (4/14)

Yahoo News: Biden's Top Intelligence Officials Won't Rule Out Lab Accident Theory For COVID-19 Origins
President Biden’s top intelligence chiefs have yet to determine how people first became infected with COVID-19, but they say they haven’t ruled out the possibility that it escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China. “It is absolutely accurate that the intelligence community does not know exactly where, when or how the COVID-19 virus was transmitted initially,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told lawmakers Wednesday during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. (McLaughlin, 4/14)

McKnight's Senior Living: Medicare Sequestration Moratorium Officially Extended 
President Biden Wednesday signed legislation extending the moratorium on Medicare sequestration. That occurred after the U.S. House of Representatives late Tuesday passed the Medicare Sequester Relief Act, which extended mandated 2% Medicare cuts to healthcare providers until the end of the year. The Partnership for Home Healthcare said the extension will give providers additional breathing room as they continue to battle fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and adapt to the new Patient Driven Grouping Model (PDGM) payment system. (Estabrook, 4/15)

Axios: CMS Says Hospitals Cannot Use Code To Hide Treatment Costs From Google 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has told hospitals they can't hide their prices from web searches, the Wall Street Journal reports. New federal rules require hospitals to post their pricing information online, but some large systems were using code that prevented that information from appearing in search results. (Fernandez, 4/15)

Modern Healthcare: CMS Issues New Guidance To Enforce Price Transparency Rule
CMS issued new guidance on Github for "developers and consumers of the machine-readable files required through the Transparency in Coverage rule" after an investigation into hospital pricing websites revealed hundreds were using code to block information from showing up on search engines. In a statement to Modern Healthcare, CMS said they are "committed to ensuring consumers have the information they need to make fully informed decisions regarding their healthcare… and will enforce these rules to make sure Americans know what a hospital charges for health care." (Gellman, 4/14)

Also —

KPRC 2: Richmond Health Care Worker Accused Of Copying, Pasting Doctor Signatures As Part Of Medicare Fraud Scheme
A Richmond health care worker is now in custody after authorities said he falsified multiple documents as part of a scheme to defraud Medicare. Paul Njoku, 60, was the owner and operator of Opnet Healthcare Services Inc. and did business with P&P Healthcare Services, according to legal records. Officials said Medicare had made several requests to Njoku and the company for them to send documentation proving multiple billed claims. (Sternitzky-Di Napoli, 4/13)

Crain's Detroit Business: Macomb County, Mich., Hospitals Reach Bed Capacity With Mix Of COVID-19 And Medical Patients
McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mt. Clemens has reached 100 percent bed occupancy capacity with all 68 rooms in its emergency department full of patients either waiting to be admitted or undergoing treatment. It is one of three hospitals in Macomb County at or exceeding inpatient capacity, according to data provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on April 12. Statewide, four hospitals have reached 100 percent bed capacity — McLaren Macomb, Ascension Macomb-Oakland in Warren, Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City and Ascension Standish Hospital — and 15 more have exceeded 90 percent, said MDHHS. (Greene, 4/14)

The Oregonian: Oregon State Hospital Seeks Pause On Admissions As New Patient Numbers Spike 
As the Oregon State Hospital grapples with major staffing shortages because of the COVID-19 pandemic, administrators asked a judge on Tuesday to halt admissions for the next two weeks, saying they’re getting an influx of new patients faster than they can make room for them. Under state law, people accused of a crime who have severe mental illness may be sent to the state hospital for mental health treatment so they can become able to “aid and assist” in their own defense. (Ramakrishnan, 4/14)

In other health care industry news —

Modern Healthcare: Massachusetts To Crack Down On Highest-Cost Hospitals, Insurers
Massachusetts providers and insurers that have exceeded the state's cost-growth benchmark will receive more aggressive oversight, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission said during its board meeting Wednesday. Hospital executives urged the HPC to adjust the 3.1% cost growth benchmark in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the commissioners said they will take those considerations into account, they voted to hold the benchmark at 3.1% and double down on performance improvement plans, particularly for organizations that have repeatedly and egregiously exceeded the benchmark. (Kacik, 4/14)

Crain's Cleveland Business: UH Reports $54.7M Operating Income For 2020 Despite Significant COVID-Related Costs
Despite the significant stress that COVID-19 added to health system finances, University Hospitals was able to hit its adjusted budget for last year. UH rounded out 2020 with operating income of $54.7 million on $4.5 billion in revenue. The numbers are in line with the adjusted budget projections the system set as the pandemic took hold. Mike Szubski, UH chief financial officer, called the system's recovery "nothing short of amazing." (Coutre, 4/14)

The Advocate: Amedisys Inks Deal To Expand Home Health Operations In North Carolina
Baton Rouge-based Amedisys signed a deal to acquire the rights to conduct home health care visits in another North Carolina county. Amedisys expects to close on the deal for the expanded North Carolina network by acquiring 'regulatory assets' by April 30. Financial terms were not disclosed. The company will be able to operate as a certified home health business in Randolph County and any areas within 50 miles. At the end of the month Amedisys expects to open a care center in the region. “Expanding our footprint into this key market further establishes Amedisys as America’s solution for aging in place," said Teonie Aurelio, president of home health at Amedisys in a news release. (Mosbrucker, 4/14)

Modern Healthcare: Some Healthcare Associations Moving Full Steam Ahead With Conferences Starting In Summer
Some healthcare associations—eager to ramp up one of their most important revenue streams—are bringing back in-person events this summer. Trade groups that support healthcare providers pivoted to virtual events when the pandemic struck, but quickly learned they make far less money that way. Now that COVID vaccines are gaining momentum, some groups are betting their members will want to get together in person—with masks and plenty of space—as early as June. (Bannow, 4/14)

In pharmaceutical and biotech industry news —

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: $172,000 Worth Of Heart Stents Expire On The Shelf At Atlanta VA Health Care System
The Veterans Hospital in Decatur was recently forced to dispose of thousands of dollars worth of unused heart stents, despite a 2019 federal audit warning that the facility’s mismanagement of its medical supplies was contributing to waste. The audit says record keeping was so shoddy that it has been impossible to track which implants were being used. That could jeopardize patients, experts say. The hospital discovered $122,000 worth of expired heart stents on its shelves in December, according to internal VA documents reviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A year earlier, VA auditors discovered $52,000 in expired stents. (Quinn, 4/14)

Stat: Digital Health Startups Want To Bring Glucose Monitors To The Masses
For the 1.6 million people in America living with type 1 diabetes, a continuous glucose monitor can be a lifesaver. Since the first CGM was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999, the diabetes community has advocated for lower prices and better insurance coverage for the quarter-sized devices, which regularly sample a proxy for blood glucose levels and can sound an alarm when they swing too high or too low. But the cost-cutting has had an unexpected side effect: Today, glucose monitors are so cheap they’ve spawned a new crop of digital health startups selling the devices to consumers, many of whom don’t have diabetes. (Palmer, 4/15)

Boston Globe: Tango Therapeutics To Go Public In $353 Million SPAC Deal
Cambridge biotech Tango Therapeutics is going public through a $353 million deal with a special purpose acquisition company, the precision cancer medicine firm announced on Wednesday. The SPAC, called BCTG Acquisition Corp., is backed by Boxer Capital, one of the biotech’s investors. (Gardizy, 4/14)

NBC News: Psychedelic Drug Worked For Depression As Well As Common Antidepressant, Small Trial Finds
A couple of doses of a psychedelic drug may treat depression as well as one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, a small and short study published Wednesday shows. A Phase 2 clinical trial, conducted by researchers in London, was the first randomized trial to compare therapeutic doses of psilocybin — the psychedelic compound found in so-called magic mushrooms — with a daily medication. The results were released in The New England Journal of Medicine. (Sullivan, 4/14)

Stat: First Of Its Kind Study Pits Psilocybin Against A Common Antidepressant
Can psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, match the depression-combatting capabilities of a commonly prescribed antidepressant? The first head-to-head comparison, conducted by scientists at the Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London and published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicated that the psychedelic reduced the symptoms of condition at least as well as escitalopram, an antidepressant better known by the brand name Lexapro. Outside experts, though, said the study was designed in a way that made it impossible to know whether psychedelic mushrooms were actually more effective than escitalopram with regard to other measures of well-being, a limitation they described as “unfortunate.” (Brodwin, 4/14)

In other public health news —

CIDRAP: Sexually Transmitted Diseases In US Reached All-Time High In 2019
In 2019, rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reached an all-time high in the United States after being on the rise for 6 consecutive years, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday. "Less than 20 years ago, gonorrhea rates in the U.S. were at historic lows, syphilis was close to elimination, and advances in chlamydia diagnostics made it easier to detect infections," said Raul Romaguera, DMD, MPH, acting director for the CDC's Division of STD Prevention, in a media statement. "That progress has since unraveled, and our STD defenses are down. We must prioritize and focus our efforts to regain this lost ground and control the spread of STDs." (4/14)

KQED: Once On The Brink Of Eradication, Syphilis Is Raging Again 
In certain circles of San Francisco, a case of syphilis can be as common and casual as catching the flu, to the point where Billy Lemon can't even remember how many times he's had it. "Three or four? Five times in my life?" he struggles to recall. "It does not seem like a big deal." (Dembosky, 4/14)

New York Post: Snoring Linked To Learning Hurdles In Kids, Study Finds
Children who snore on a regular basis show signs of structural changes in their brain that may lead to behavioral troubles, such as lack of focus, hyperactivity and cognitive challenges — much to the detriment of their education. The new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, observed for the first time that children who snore three or more times a week presented thinner gray matter in the brain compared to kids getting normal sleep. Poor sleep has been shown to reduce gray matter, the areas of the brain most densely packed with neurons, which play a critical role in day-to-day activities, particularly in terms of impulse control and reasoning skills. (Sparks, 4/14)

Los Angeles Times: DDT's Toxic Legacy Can Harm Granddaughters Of Women Exposed
Now, a team of toxicologists, molecular biologists and epidemiologists at UC Davis and the Public Health Institute in Oakland have confirmed for the first time that granddaughters of women who were exposed to DDT during pregnancy also suffer from significant health threats: Higher rates of obesity and menstrual periods that start before age 11. Both factors, scientists say, may put these young women at greater risk of breast cancer — as well as high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. (Xia, 4/14)

AP: Colorado Boy Dies After Taking Part In 'Blackout Challenge' 
A 12-year-old Colorado boy who was hospitalized after his family said he tried a TikTok challenge that dared people to choke themselves until they lose consciousness has died. Joshua Haileyesus died last Saturday, according to an obituary published online by Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery in Denver. (4/14)

AP: Defense Expert: Floyd Died From Heart Trouble, Not Restraint
George Floyd died of a sudden heart rhythm disturbance as a result of his heart disease, a forensic pathologist testified for the defense at former Officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, contradicting prosecution experts who said Floyd succumbed to a lack of oxygen from the way he was pinned down. Dr. David Fowler, a former Maryland chief medical examiner who is now with a consulting firm, said Wednesday the fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd’s system, and possibly carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust, were contributing factors in the 46-year-old Black man’s death last May. (Forliti, Karnowski and Webber, 4/15)

WLRN 91.3 FM: Miami Heat End Use Of Vaccinated-Only Sections, COVID-Sniffing Dogs 
The Miami Heat is eliminating the use of vaccinated-only sections and COVID-19-sniffing dogs for home games at American Airlines Arena, the Miami Herald confirmed. The Heat made the vaccinated-only sections available April 1, becoming the first team in the NBA to have sections of seats designated for fully vaccinated fans. (4/14)

Politico: Florida House Passes Contentious Transgender Sports Ban
The GOP-controlled Florida House on Wednesday passed controversial legislation banning transgender athletes from playing girls’ sports, shifting attention to the state Senate where final approval is needed to send the bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The 77-40 mostly party-line vote, with all but one Democrat opposing, came one day after House Democrats held up a floor session for hours attempting to scale back the measure. GOP lawmakers say the bill is needed to protect the sanctity of women’s sports, but opponents contend it would only “legalize bullying” for transgender students. (Atterbury, 4/14)

Houston Chronicle: Brushing Aside NCAA Warnings, Texas Republicans Plow Ahead With Transgender Sports Bill
Despite having so much to lose with the NCAA, the Texas Senate plowed ahead on Wednesday with a bill that would bar transgender girls from playing in girls’ scholastic sports. On Monday the NCAA issued a nationwide statement affirming its support for transgender athletes and warning it would monitor anti-transgender legislation and weigh future NCAA championship locations based on whether locations are “free of discrimination.” (Wallace, 4/14)

Charleston Gazette Mail: As NCAA Threatens To Pull Championship Events Over Transgender Sports Bans, Justice Says He’ll Let Ban Become Law
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice reiterated Wednesday that he doesn’t plan to veto a bill banning transgender middle school, high school and college girls and women from playing on women’s sports teams — even though he conceded it could lead the NCAA to “penalize us.” “There is some talk, you know, that we could come back into a special session and retroactively look back at it and everything,” Justice said in response to a question from WOWK-TV journalist Mark Curtis, “but, Mark, I am either going to let it become law or sign it. You know I’m absolutely not — I am not supportive of a veto.” Bills automatically become laws if a governor doesn’t officially sign them or veto them. (Quinn, 4/14)

Also —

NBC News: Texas Bill Could Send Parents To Prison For Providing Gender-Affirming Care
A wave of anti-transgender bills across the country would ban health care providers from offering gender-affirming care to minors. But a smaller number are targeting parents who support their transgender kids’ desire to transition, levying punishments that critics say could range from jail time to having their children taken away. A bill heard in committee in the Texas Senate on Monday would redefine child abuse to include administering, supplying or consenting to provide puberty suppression drugs, hormone replacement therapy, or surgical or medical procedures to anyone under 18 “for the purpose of gender transitioning or gender reassignment.” (Avery, 4/14)

AP: Conservatives Propose Revised Sex Ed Rules In LGBTQ Pushback
Two years after Arizona lawmakers repealed a ban on any HIV/AIDS instruction that “promotes a homosexual lifestyle" as they faced a lawsuit, they have approved revamping the state's sex education laws to make them some of the strictest in the nation when it comes to teaching about LGBTQ issues. The measure pushed by a powerful social conservative group is framed as a parental rights issue and would require schools to get parents' permission for discussions about gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV/AIDS in sex education classes. (Christie, 4/14)

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Clark County ‘Can Absolutely’ Meet 100% Capacity Goal By June 1
Clark County Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick said Wednesday that she believed the county “can absolutely” meet a June 1 goal to fully reopen businesses, which would signal a major step toward economic recovery in Nevada. “I think that we can absolutely get there as long as people continue to get vaccinated and get tested to ensure that (the virus is) not spreading within our community,” she said in a briefing with reporters. Kirkpatrick also said that the county will consider whether to lift social distancing mandates starting in May. (Johnson, 4/14)

AP: California Governor Says All Schools Must Reopen
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging all schools in the state to reopen, saying there are no health barriers to getting children back into classrooms and ending distance learning. Speaking Wednesday, he said: “Money is not an object now. It’s an excuse.” His wishes remain an expectation rather than a mandate because California’s decentralized education system lets the 1,200 school districts govern themselves. (4/14)

WUSF 89.7: Pinellas To Consider Repeal Of Face Mask Ordinance Following Public Hearing 
Pinellas County could soon repeal an order that requires face masks be worn inside public places. The Pinellas County Commission on Tuesday said it would hold a vote on May 11 following a public hearing to discuss the face mask ordinance. At that hearing, commissioners will decide to repeal or amend the order, which also puts certain restrictions on bars and restaurants. (4/14)

Also —

Albuquerque Journal: Medical Cannabis Shortage Predicted
The ink is still drying on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signature approving a landmark cannabis legalization bill, but questions are already being raised about possible conflicts between the new law and New Mexico’s medical marijuana program. Five medical cannabis producers wrote in a letter to state officials this week about concerns that the recently approved legalization could lead to a supply shortage for medical marijuana patients starting this summer. (Boyd, 4/14)

North Carolina Health News: Sweeping Bills Aim To Combat Black Maternal Mortality 
For 35 weeks, Tomeka Isaac had a normal pregnancy. As a 40-year-old Black woman, she was at high risk for preeclampsia, a complication characterized by high blood pressure that can cause organ damage. But she diligently went to every doctor’s appointment, and to her relief, was told her blood pressure was fine. (Critchfield, 4/15)

AP: With 200,000 In 1 Day, India Skyrockets Past 14M Virus Cases
India reported more than 200,000 new coronavirus cases Thursday, skyrocketing past 14 million overall as an intensifying outbreak puts a grim weight on its fragile health care system. In the capital, New Delhi, more than a dozen hotels and wedding banquet halls were ordered to be converted into COVID-19 centers attached to hospitals. “The surge is alarming,” said S.K. Sarin, a government health expert in New Delhi. (Sharma, 4/15)

The New York Times: Changing Strategy, E.U. Bets Big On Pfizer To Battle Covid 
Bruised by major disruptions in supplies of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines, the European Union on Wednesday said that it was putting trust and money into the Pfizer-BioNTech shot to salvage its vaccination rollout and secure doses for the future. The pivot away from AstraZeneca, once a pillar of the E.U. inoculation program, comes after months of discord over delayed shipments and as the company battles worries over rare potential side effects of its shots. (Stevis-Gridneff, 4/14)

The Washington Post: Jump The Vaccine Line? In Germany, You Could Face Prosecution. 
Coronavirus vaccine line jumping in the United States has raised eyebrows and tested friendships. British Home Secretary Priti Patel has called people who skip ahead in the queue "morally reprehensible." But Germany has taken prioritization rules to another level, investigating and threatening to prosecute people who don't wait their turn. In various German cities, prosecutors have probed politicians, police officers and others. A mayor accused of deliberately circumventing the official vaccine priority list was suspended last week after having his office searched. (Noack, 4/14)

AP: Russian President Putin Gets 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine Shot
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he got his second COVID-19 vaccine shot, three weeks after getting the first dose. The Russian leader announced getting the jab, which was kept out of the public eye, at a session of the Russian Geographical Society, in which he took part via video link. (Litvinova, 4/14)

In other global news —

Reuters: Are The Olympics Canceled? Japan Official's Comments Sow Doubts 
A senior Japanese ruling party official said on Thursday that cancelling this year’s Olympics in Tokyo remains an option if the coronavirus crisis becomes too dire, dropping a bomb on a hot-button issue and sending social media into a frenzy. “If it seems impossible to do it any more, then we have to stop, decisively,” Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, said in comments to broadcaster TBS. (Nussey and Kim, 4/14)

Reuters: New Zinc-Fortified Wheat Set For Global Expansion To Combat Malnutrition 
Scientists at a leading global grains research institute expect to sharply ramp up new wheat varieties enriched with zinc that can boost the essential mineral for millions of poor people with deficient diets, the institute’s head told Reuters. (Garcia, 4/15)

Reuters: Sweden Faces Sperm Deficit As Pandemic Keeps Donors Away From Clinics
Sweden is facing an acute shortage of sperm for assisted pregnancy as would-be donors avoid hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic, halting inseminations in large parts of the healthcare system and driving up waiting times by years. “We’re running out of sperm. We’ve never had so few donors as during the last year,” said Ann Thurin Kjellberg, head of the reproduction unit at Gothenburg’s University Hospital. (Fulton, 4/15)

CIDRAP: Suicides stagnate or decline in wealthier countries during pandemic
Suicide rates largely remained stagnant or even declined during the early pandemic months in high- and upper-middle-income countries, according to a report yesterday in The Lancet Psychiatry. The researchers first looked at real-time suicide data from 21 countries (11 of which had whole-country data with the rest composed of area-specific spots) from April to Jul 31, 2020, and compared rates with previous data from 1 to 4 years ago. Significant decreases in expected suicide rates were found in 12 areas (8 countries), ranging from New South Wales, Australia (rate ratio [RR] 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.91), to Ecuador (RR 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.82). (4/14)

KFF: COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Excess Mortality And Potential Years Of Life Lost In The U.S. And Peer Countries
In this brief, we review excess death rates in the U.S. and peer countries by age groups to examine how the pandemic has affected excess mortality rate among younger people. We look specifically at the excess deaths that arose in 2020 to examine how the age at death during the pandemic has differed between the U.S. and peer nations. ... We find that, among similarly large and wealthy countries, the U.S. had among the highest excess mortality rates in 2020, and younger people were more likely to have died due to the pandemic in the U.S. than younger people in other countries.(Amin and Cox, 4/7)

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: COVID-19 Incidence And Mortality Among American Indian/Alaska Native And White Persons — Montana, March 13–November 30, 2020
During March 13–November 30, 2020, COVID-19 incidence and mortality among AI/AN (American Indian or Alaska Native) persons in Montana were approximately twice and nearly four times those among White persons, respectively. In addition, the case-fatality rate among AI/AN persons was close to twice that among White persons. Several factors might have contributed to the higher COVID-19 incidence and mortality ....AI/AN communities in Montana have higher levels of social vulnerability, including living in shared housing, challenges accessing health care and transportation, and lower household incomes. As well, AI/AN persons might be more likely than White persons to live in multigenerational households or be unable to work from home. (Williamson et al., 4/8)

Nutrients: Cocoa Flavanols Improve Vascular Responses To Acute Mental Stress In Young Healthy Adults
Mental stress has been shown to induce cardiovascular events, likely due to its negative impact on vascular function. Flavanols, plant-derived polyphenolic compounds, improve endothelial function and blood pressure (BP) in humans, however their effects during stress are not known. This study examined the effects of acute intake of cocoa flavanols on stress-induced changes on vascular function. (Baynham et al, 3/27)

New England Journal of Medicine: Hypothermic Machine Perfusion In Liver Transplantation — A Randomized Trial
Transplantation of livers obtained from donors after circulatory death is associated with an increased risk of nonanastomotic biliary strictures. Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion of livers may reduce the incidence of biliary complications, but data from prospective, controlled studies are limited. (van Rijn et al, 4/15)

Scientific American: How Health Care Leaders Can Support Their Frontline Workers 
Health care leaders have typically pointed to resource constraints as the reason for the United States health care system’s high costs and poor outcomes. Now, as the COVID pandemic has claimed over 550,000 lives and led to over 30 million cases across a country with immense resources, it is clear that health leaders have been asking the wrong questions. Given the prominent leadership failures in containing the pandemic, and politicization of the public health response, it is clear that health care organizations and leaders need to pay more attention to frontline workforce issues that have faced neglect for years. While COVID has led to catastrophic loss of life, it also has several important organizational lessons for health care leaders and reveals what initiatives they need to be investing in, to support the next generation of health care workers. Using recent data, the major lessons are summarized below. (Junaid Nabi, 4/14)

New England Journal of Medicine: Back To The Future — The Therapeutic Potential Of Psychedelic Drugs
In The Doors of Perception, Aldous Huxley described his trial of mescaline as “the most extraordinary and significant experience available to human beings this side of the Beatific Vision.” His exegesis was preceded by the synthesis of the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) by Sandoz chemist Albert Hoffman in 1938 and was followed by Hoffman’s extraction of psilocybin from Psilocybe mexicana in 1959.1 The convergence of scientific research and natural substances historically used by Indigenous peoples in healing and religious rituals sparked interest in what the British psychiatrist Sir Humphrey Osmond termed psychedelic (Greek for “mind manifesting”) drugs. (Jeffery A. Lieberman, M.D., 4/15)

Newsweek: We Need To Be Outraged About Birth Control Blood Clots Too 
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food Drug Administration announced a "pause" on the distribution of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. More than 6.8 million J&J doses were distributed in the United States. Six people reportedly developed severe blood clots, each a woman between the ages of 18 and 48. Like many birth control users, when I heard the news of the AstraZeneca blood clots, I immediately thought of 72.2 million women aged 15 to 49 in the U.S who use contraceptives. Now, hearing of the six women impacted by the J&J vaccine, my mind again goes to birth control users. Birth control users are at a much higher risk to develop a blood clot than the average person not on birth control. That risk increases if they received the J&J vaccine. (Sam Stroozas, 4/14)

Stat: It's Time To Get Health Care Value Assessment Right 
Trying to gauge the value of new drugs and devices is becoming increasingly important in the U.S. health care system, something that other countries have done explicitly for years. Pressure to get value assessment right is accelerating. The Biden administration is reportedly considering creating a health technology assessment board to evaluate drug and other health care pricing. But if it doesn’t incorporate essential elements into the definition of value — such as data on underrepresented groups and impacts on health equity — it may worsen the health disparities that many in the health care community are attempting to eliminate. (Jennifer Bright and Richard H. Chapman, 4/15)

The New York Times: These People Should Be Required To Get Vaccinated 
The next coronavirus surge seems to be underway. Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the states with rising cases, hospitalizations and intensive care occupancy, and hospitalization rates among younger people are increasing nationally. The causes of this pronounced rush of cases — the spread of a more infectious B.1.1.7 variant and lockdown fatigue — are not going away. We need to sharply reduce coronavirus infections to turn the tide and quell the pandemic. The best hope is to maximize the number of people vaccinated, especially among those who interact with many others and are likely to transmit the virus. How can we increase vaccinations? Mandates. ( Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Aaron Glickman and Amaya Diana, 4/14)

Bloomberg: Fourth Pandemic Wave Defies Predictions By Experts
So are we having a fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.S. or not? University of Minnesota’s Michael Osterholm has forecast a Covid “category 5 hurricane” this spring. To some people, a look at hard-hit Michigan could justify this level of alarm. But Paul Offit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia could also claim to be right with his much more optimistic view that vaccines will mostly tame the pandemic from this point forward. After all, U.S. death rates and hospitalizations are not spiking and may never return to anything close to the fall/winter peak. (Faye Flam, 4/14)

The Washington Post: Vaccines Won’t Save Michigan From Its Covid-19 Surge 
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is calling on the Biden administration to surge covid-19 vaccines to her state, where overall cases are as high as they were in November thanks in part to the B.1.1.7 variant of the virus first identified in Britain. I feel for the governor, but vaccines are not going to save her state. The best strategy for Michigan at this point is to implement the same public health measures that we’ve been using for more than a year. This is an important lesson not only for Michigan, but also in other places experiencing a surge. The B.1.1.7 variant, now the dominant strain of covid-19 in the United States, is wreaking havoc in Michigan and Minnesota. It’s driving an increase in cases in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida and parts of Texas. B.1.1.7 is landing even younger adults in the hospital with severe covid-19. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association found that hospitalizations increased by 633 percent among adults in their 30s and by 800 percent for adults in their 40s over the course of March. (Celine Gounder, 4/13)

New England Journal of Medicine: Vaccine Successes And Vaccine Adverse Events 
The continuing spread of SARS-CoV-2 remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. What physicians need to know about transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Covid-19 is the subject of ongoing updates from infectious disease experts at the Journal. In this audio interview conducted on April 14, 2021, the editors discuss the current state of Covid-19 vaccination, including the rare occurrence of thrombotic thrombocytopenia in recipients of the ChadOx1 nCoV-19 and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines. (Eric J. Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., Lindsey R. Baden, M.D., and Stephen Morrissey, Ph.D., 4/15)

CNN: A Number On Covid-19 Vaccinations That Will Leave You Shaking Your Head In Wonder 
There's one way to end the Covid-19 pandemic that has gripped the country (and the world) for the last year-plus: Get vaccinated against it! Which is why the latest numbers from a Monmouth University national poll about the vaccination -- and peoples' plans (or not) to get it -- is so, so baffling and troubling. (Chris Cillizza, 4/14)

Stat: Rethinking Triage In An Era Of Vaccine Nationalism 
Just about every schoolchild learns that Napoleon Bonaparte was a small man. But few know that he cast as large a shadow over the history of medicine as over the nature of warfare. That’s because his surgeon-in-chief in the Napoleonic Wars, Dominique Jean Larrey, transformed how wounded soldiers are cared for. His innovation — triage — is still used today in battlefield medicine and responses to public health crises. Yet it needs to be reimagined in how it is being applied to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. (Ethan Dmitrovsky, 4/15)

NBC News: The Johnson & Johnson Covid Vaccine Pause Is Good For Science But Rough For Public Trust
We are currently seeing — or, at least, until this week, we had seen — an all-time low of Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy: According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the percentage of Americans who planned to wait to get a Covid-19 vaccine had dropped from 39 percent in December to 17 percent in late March. Those who say they won’t ever get it — unless, perhaps, it’s required — has, over the same period, remained fairly constant at 20 percent or just over. The news on Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were recommending a several day “pause” in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine to give them time to investigate a potential link between the vaccine and six cases of rare blood clots may complicate that picture. (Yuliya Shneyderman, 4/14)