NPR: Biden Sets New Goal: At Least 70% Of Adults Given 1 Vaccine Dose By July 4
President Biden on Tuesday announced a new goal to administer at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of American adults by the Fourth of July. The administration also aims to have 160 million adults fully vaccinated by then, a push to improve the level of immunity in the country to the point where the coronavirus has less of an opportunity to spread and so that more public health restrictions can be lifted, administration officials told reporters. (Wise, 5/4)

Stat: Biden’s New Goal: At Least One Vaccine Dose For 70% Of Adults By July 4
To reach that goal, Biden’s team said he will expand walk-up vaccinations at pharmacies and vaccination sites, open additional mobile vaccination units, and accelerate a public-relations campaign aimed at boosting vaccine confidence. The announcement comes as the pace of the U.S. vaccination effort has nosedived. As of mid-April, the country was administering just under 3.4 million vaccine doses each day. As of Tuesday, the rate had dropped to just under 2.3 million. (Facher, 5/4)

The Hill: Biden Acknowledges Difficulty Of Next Stage Of Vaccine Effort
President Biden acknowledged Tuesday that the next phase of the U.S. vaccination effort will be more difficult, as it will mostly be out of his control. "In one sense, it's easier because I don't have to put together this massive logistical effort, but in the other sense, it's harder because it's beyond my personal control," Biden said in response to a question after his prepared remarks. (Weixel, 5/4)

Axios: Biden's Latest Vaccine Goal Is His Hardest Yet 
President Biden's latest vaccination goal — 70% of adults receiving one shot by July 4 — will be much harder to reach than his previous ones. And if the U.S. gets there, it will likely be driven by blue states. The U.S. has already inoculated most of its vaccine-enthusiastic population. States are already beginning to see wide disparities in vaccination rates, largely along political lines. (Owens, 5/5)

The Washington Post: White House Will Make Unordered Vaccine Supply Available To Other States
The White House on Tuesday told states that coronavirus vaccine doses they choose not to order will become available to other states — the most significant shift in domestic vaccine distribution since President Biden took office, and part of an effort to account for flagging demand in parts of the country. The changes were unveiled to governors as Biden set a goal of providing at least one shot to 70 percent of adults by July 4, an increase that would account for about 40 million more people in the next two months. That level of coverage could drive down cases sharply, as it did in Britain and Israel. But achieving it, experts said, depends on efficiently delivering shots to places where people are still rolling up their sleeves — or can be persuaded to do so. (Stanley-Becker, 5/4)

Modern Healthcare: HHS To Ensure Providers Get Paid For Vaccinating Underinsured Patients
HHS will pay providers to administer COVID-19 vaccines to underinsured patients, the agency said Monday. The new COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund should ensure that providers get fully reimbursed for vaccinating patients with health plans that don't cover vaccination fees or require patient cost-sharing. Under the program, HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration will reimburse providers for such services at national Medicare rates. (Brady, 5/4)

In other news about the vaccine rollout —

Bloomberg: Is U.S. Vaccination Slowing Down? In Most States, Yes
In some places, the decline is the mark of a successful campaign: 10 states have started vaccinations for more than half their residents. But in places that have struggled, the slide has been going on for weeks. In some of those states, the number of new recipients has turned into a trickle. “The rate of vaccination has slowed down nationwide,” said Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Lara M. Anton. As of April 27, first-time shots in the state fell by 54% from an April 11 peak, according to data compiled by the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.  “Everyone who was eager to get vaccinated has gotten their shot.” (Armstrong and Rutherford, 5/4)

AP: Oklahoma No Longer Accepting Full Federal Vaccine Allocation
Oklahoma health officials are no longer accepting the state’s full allocation of coronavirus vaccines as demand has dropped, Deputy Commissioner of Health Keith Reed said Tuesday. “The allocation would exceed 200,000 a week ... I don’t have the exact numbers that we are accepting into the system right now, but it’s more in the tens of thousands versus the hundreds of thousands,” Reed said. (5/4)

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Gov. Hogan Orders Nursing Homes To Report Staff, Resident COVID Vaccinations Weekly 
In an ongoing push to improve vaccination rates, the state will now post data weekly on how many residents and staff at each nursing home in Maryland have received shots to protect against the coronavirus. Through Tuesday, about 77% of residents and 63% of employees at the state’s 227 skilled nursing facilities were vaccinated, according to the new dashboard managed by the Department of Aging. However, the rates vary widely from facility to facility and county to county. (Stole and Wood, 5/4)

The Oregonian: Oregon State University Will Require COVID-19 Vaccinations For On-Campus Students And Employees 
Oregon State University became the first public college in the state Tuesday to announce it will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty and all other employees beginning in the fall term. Three private colleges have issued similar requirements, and the rest of the state’s public colleges are mulling whether to do the same. (Manning, 5/4)

The Atlantic: The Era Of Mass COVID-19 Vaccinations Is Ending
At its peak, in late March, the mass-vaccination site at Nashville’s Music City Center was giving out 2,100 doses a day. It was all hands on deck: Local nurses, volunteers, FEMA employees, and even U.S. Forest Service EMTs were redeployed to help give COVID-19 shots. But last week, the number of daily doses dropped to less than 1,300—about 1,100 second doses and only 190 first doses. Imagine three weeks from now, when only 190 people are due back for dose two, says Brian Todd, a spokesperson for the local public-health department. At that point, the number “is going to be very low,” he told me. The Music City Center site will close for good on May 28. (Zhang, 5/4)

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Drive-Thru Vaccine Site At Convention Center Hums On First Day
With demand for COVID-19 vaccinations dwindling, public health authorities in the Las Vegas Valley are trying something new here: drive-thru inoculation sites. Clark County and Southern Nevada Health District officials debuted on Tuesday the valley’s first large-scale, drive-thru site at the Las Vegas Convention Center, a development only announced Monday. Another drive-thru site will open at Texas Station in North Las Vegas on May 11. “We’re trying to find out what works and what our community needs, so that we can get to the magic 60 percent,” said the health district’s Jonathan Wiercinski, referring to the county’s COVID-19 mitigation plan. (Hynes, 5/4)

CBS News: Target Offers $5 Coupons To Those Who Get Vaccinated In Its Stores 
Adults who get vaccinated against COVID-19 at CVS pharmacies inside Target stores nationwide will also get a $5 coupon, starting this week, the discount retailer announced on Tuesday. Target offers immunization shots at nearly all of the 600-plus CVS pharmacies inside its stores. The extra incentive for the general public and its employees comes as part of its support of public vaccination efforts, the company stated. (Gibson, 5/4)

Also —

Albuquerque Journal: Navajo Nation: 75% Of Residents Fully Vaccinated
The Navajo Area Indian Health Service and the Navajo Department of Health report that 99,254 people are fully vaccinated, equaling about 75% of the reservation’s vaccine-eligible population of residents older than 16. Jill Jim, Navajo Department of Health director, encouraged caution, even as the reservation loosens health restrictions that have been in place for nearly a year. “The magnitude of one event can put a lot of people at risk,” Jim said during a Tuesday video update. She referenced a “cluster” event late last month on the reservation where 30 individuals who were at a gathering tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracers tracked down about 100 people to determine the virus spread from the gathering. (Davis, 5/4)

AP: Montana Tribe Gifts Vaccines To Neighbors Across The Border
More than 95% of the Blackfeet reservation’s roughly 10,000 residents who are eligible for the vaccine are fully immunized, after the state prioritized Native American communities — among the most vulnerable U.S. populations — in the early stages of its vaccination campaign. The tribe received vaccine allotments both from the Montana health department and the federal Indian Health Service, leaving some doses unused. With an expiration date fast approaching, it turned to other nations in the Blackfoot Confederacy, which includes the Blackfeet and three tribes in southern Alberta that share a language and culture. (Samuels, 5/5)

Georgia Health News: Georgia Teen’s Lapel Pins Make A Point For Vaccine 
Edie Grice, 19, got the idea while talking with her father. If people receive an “I voted’’ sticker for voting, she wondered, why shouldn’t they have something to represent being vaccinated? Edie, a junior psychology major at Georgia Southern University, and her father, journalist DeWayne Grice, have been strong promoters of COVID vaccinations in the Statesboro area. (Miller, 5/4)

The New York Times: Pfizer To Seek Clearance In September For Vaccinating Children As Young As 2 
Pfizer expects to apply to the Food and Drug Administration in September for emergency authorization to administer its coronavirus vaccine to children between the ages of 2 and 11, the company told Wall Street analysts and reporters on Tuesday during its quarterly earnings call. The company said it also plans to apply this month for full approval of the vaccine for use in people from ages 16 to 85. And it said it expected to have clinical trial data on the safety of its vaccine in pregnant women by early August. (Anthes, 5/5)

CNN: Pfizer To Seek Authorization For Covid-19 Vaccine For Children Ages 2 To 11 In September 
The company's vaccine safety and efficacy study in children age 6 months to 11 years old is still going. "We expect to have definitive readouts and submit for an EUA for two cohorts, including children age 2-5 years of age and 5-11 years of age, in September," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said, adding that the readout and submission for children 6 months to 2 years is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021. (Thomas, 5/4)

NPR: Pfizer Says FDA Will Soon Authorize COVID-19 Vaccine For 12-15 Age Group
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old, a decision that could come by some time early next week. The vaccine is currently authorized only for people age 16 and older. A ruling should come "shortly," Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla told investors in a conference call Tuesday morning. (Chappell, 5/4)

CNN: Fauci To Adolescents On The Fence About The Covid-19 Vaccine: 'Be Part Of The Solution'
Dr. Anthony Fauci said he hopes children and teens won't hesitate when the US Food and Drug Administration authorizes a coronavirus vaccine for them. ... "You have the capability of protecting yourself as a young person, 12 to 15, but also knowing that you're not going to pass it on to someone else," Fauci told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday. "You even want to call upon the young people to say, 'I want to protect myself, but I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.'" (Maxouris, Sanchez and Waldrop, 5/5)

In related pediatric news —

Fox News: Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Study Now Includes Kids, Company Says
Vaccine development company Novavax on Monday announced it has expanded its Phase 3 clinical trial for its COVID-19 vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 17. The company said it's testing its COVID-19 vaccine —  NVX-CoV2373 — on some 3,000 pediatric patients across 75 U.S. locations. The company is testing two doses of its vaccine candidate spaced 21 days apart. "Two-thirds of volunteers will receive intramuscular injections of the vaccine and one-third will receive placebo. A blinded crossover is planned to take place six months after the initial set of vaccinations to ensure that all trial participants receive active vaccine," the company said in a news release. "Participants will be monitored for safety for up to two years following the final dose." (Farber, 5/4)

Roll Call: Vaccinating Kids For COVID-19 Poses Additional Challenges For Officials
Public health advocates who expect COVID-19 vaccines to become available for younger teens soon are concerned that a government-led distribution effort that may rely in large part on pediatricians could create glaring inequalities among children. With only three months before the next school year starts in some areas, advocates are calling on the Biden administration to develop a more detailed outreach strategy, encourage schools to offer shots and provide more funding to get kids vaccinated. (Cohen, 5/4)

Houston Chronicle: Houston Toddler First To Receive COVID Vaccine In Baylor, Texas Children's Trial For Young Kids
Nathan Galvan has spent nearly his entire life in a pandemic. At just 16 months old, he has had little opportunity to socialize with anyone outside of his nuclear family. But that could soon change for Nathan, the first child in a Pfizer vaccine study run by Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. The study will evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine in children under 2. (Wu, 5/4)

AP: US Parents Excited Over Prospect Of Virus Shots For Children
After more than a year of fretting over her 13-year son with a rare liver disease, Heather Ousley broke into tears when she learned that he and millions of other youngsters could soon be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. “This day is the best day in the history of days!!! I love this day!!!” she texted, joining other parents and educators in welcoming the news that the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s vaccine by next week for children ages 12 to 15. (Hollingsworth and Richmond, 5/5)

Detroit Free Press: Should Kids Get COVID-19 Vaccines? Michigan Doctors Say Yes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined to comment Tuesday on how soon the agency could amend the emergency use authorization of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to include children ages 12-15, telling the Free Press only that its review "is ongoing." "We can assure the public that we are working to review this request as quickly and transparently as possible," an FDA spokesperson said. In remarks about the nation's COVID-19 response Tuesday, President Joe Biden said that "the FDA and the FDA alone will make that decision." (Jordan Shamus and Hall, 5/4)

The Washington Post: Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine Revenue Projected To Hit $26 Billion In 2021 With Production Surge
Pfizer on Tuesday said it expects global sales of its coronavirus vaccine to reach $26 billion in 2021, a milestone that would make it the biggest-selling pharmaceutical product in the world and helps illustrate why Pfizer is planning to expand use of mRNA technology for other vaccines and therapies. Sales of its mRNA vaccine are likely to eclipse Humira, the rheumatoid arthritis drug made by AbbVie, with annual revenue around $20 billion, currently the world’s top seller. Pfizer had $3.5 billion in coronavirus vaccine sales in the first quarter. (Rowland, 5/4)

Axios: Pfizer Posts Crazy Good Quarter With Major Assist From COVID Vaccines 
Pfizer reported a super strong first quarter, saying it now expects about $26 billion in sales for its COVID-19 vaccine this year. That's up from an earlier projection of about $15 billion. That anticipated windfall comes as the Biden administration announced more ambitious U.S. vaccine goals and the world scrambles to get access to shots. (Reed, 5/5)

ABC News: Pfizer's Posts $4.9B 1Q Profit As Vaccine Strategy Pays Off 
Selling vaccines during a pandemic has boosted Pfizer’s bottom line and proven that a strategy it embarked upon over a decade ago is now paying off handsomely. The New York-based pharmaceutical giant reported Tuesday that it earned $4.9 billion in the first three months of the year and it dramatically raised its profit forecast for all of 2021 thanks to strong demand for its COVID-19 vaccine. The company, along with its German partner BioNTech, anticipate strong revenue from the vaccine and booster shots for the next three years. (Johnson, 5/4)

Also —

BBC News: Pfizer Expects Covid Vaccine Demand For Years 
"Based on what we've seen, we believe that a durable demand for our Covid-19 vaccine - similar to that of the flu vaccines - is a likely outcome," said chief executive Albert Bourla. The two-shot vaccine was Pfizer's top-selling product in the first quarter. Expenses and profit from the vaccine are split 50-50 between Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. (5/5 )

The Hill: BioNTech Founders Predict Pandemic Will Spread For At Least Another Year 
The founders of BioNTech, the German biotechnology company that developed a prominent coronavirus vaccine with Pfizer, are predicting that the pandemic likely will continue into 2022 as new waves of the infection surge in countries with limited vaccine supplies. During The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit on Tuesday, BioNTech CEO Uğur Şahin warned that COVID-19 will continue to spread unless countries do more to ramp up vaccine distribution in countries such as India, which on Tuesday became the second country to record 20 million coronavirus infections. (Castronuovo, 5/4)

Fox News: Fauci Says US Is In 'Bottom Of The Sixth' In COVID-19 Timeline
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the county’s top disease expert, said in an interview Tuesday that he believes the U.S. is in "the bottom of the sixth" when it comes to the likely COVID-19 timeline. Fauci told CNN that he is under the impression the President Biden’s goal of administering 100 million jabs over the next 60 days is achievable. Biden on Tuesday set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one shot to 70% of adult Americans by July Fourth.  Fauci's comments were first reported by Mediaite. (DeMarche, 5/5)

In other news about the coronavirus —

Des Moines Register: COVID In Iowa: 'India Variant' In State, Joining U.K. And Brazil
The "India variant" of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Iowa, although state health officials said they don't believe it's as much of a threat as the "U.K. variant," which has predominated here lately. The new strain of the virus, formally known as the B.1.617 variant, was reported Tuesday by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Lab tests found it in samples from two unidentified adults in Jefferson County, the department said in a news release. Two other variants of the coronavirus were confirmed in Iowa earlier this spring. (Leys, 5/4)

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Reports Sixth Straight Day Of Dropping COVID Cases 
Maryland reported fewer than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the sixth straight day Tuesday as the number of hospitalizations continued a weeklong slide. The number of new daily cases also has declined for six days straight, according to Maryland Department of Health data. (Campbell, 5/4)

Bloomberg: Two Pandemics Clash As Doctors Find That Covid Spurs Diabetes
When Ziyad Al-Aly’s research team told him how often diabetes appeared to strike Covid-19 survivors, he thought the data must be wrong, so he asked his five colleagues to crunch the numbers again. Weeks later, they returned the same findings after sifting through millions of patient records. By then Al-Aly had also gone digging into the scientific literature and was starting to come to terms with an alarming reality: Covid-19 isn’t just deadlier for people with diabetes, it’s also triggering the metabolic disease in many who didn’t previously have it. (Gale, 5/5)

CBS News: At-Home COVID-19 Rapid Tests Could Play Critical Role During Pandemic 
For Americans, getting tested for the coronavirus just got a little easier. The Food and Drug Administration authorized five over-the-counter COVID-19 tests that can give you results at home in just minutes. In San Francisco, before watching Steph Curry lead the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, unvaccinated fans at home games are required to score a negative COVID test either at the arena or before leaving home. The Warriors are offering ticket-holders the Lucira Test. It's one of the five over-the-counter COVID-19 tests authorized. (5/4)

Axios: Poll: Mask Use Drops After CDC Relaxes Guidelines 
Vaccinated Americans are easing up on wearing masks — but so are unvaccinated Americans, according to a new Ipsos poll. The latest findings are an early snapshot of how people are modifying their behavior since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that fully vaccinated people don't have to wear masks outside. (Nather, 5/5)

AP: Michigan Lifts Outdoor Mask Requirement For Crowds Under 100
Michigan late Tuesday lifted an outdoor mask requirement except in gatherings of at least 100 people and in organized contact sports, and said teen athletes no longer must undergo regular COVID-19 testing if they are fully vaccinated. Under a revised pandemic order that takes effect Thursday, the state also eased caps on outdoor event sizes and said vaccinated people are not required to be masked at indoor residential gatherings even if others are unvaccinated. (Eggert, 5/5)

Tampa Bay Times: Pinellas Rescinds Mask Mandate After DeSantis’ Executive Order
Pinellas County on Tuesday announced the removal of three initiatives enacted during the pandemic, including its mask ordinance, one day after Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that immediately lifted local governments’ COVID-19 restrictions. County officials rescinded the mask ordinance adopted on June 23, which required face coverings in most indoor public places except while eating and drinking. The ordinance also required social distancing, groups no larger than 10 and for customers to be seated in order to be served. (McManus, 5/4)

Tampa Bay Times: In Tampa Bay Schools, The End Is In Sight For Mask Mandates
Pinellas County district schools won’t require students to wear masks after the current semester ends on June 9. Superintendent Mike Grego announced the decision, first discussed at the School Board’s April 20 workshop, a day after Gov. Ron DeSantis declared Florida’s health emergency essentially over. Grego said it made sense to continue the rule through the end of classes, because it was a promise made to families who agreed to send their children back to campuses for in-person learning. (Solochek, 5/4)

Patch: Anti-Mask Protesters Harass Students, Parents Outside Schools
A group of anti-mask protesters stood outside Santa Monica schools Monday, harassing students and parents just outside the campus. "You're not supposed to talk to other people's children, OK?" One father, who confronted the group outside the school said. "You're walking around a school. Creepy." He told them to stay away from kids at John Adams Middle School and Will Rogers Elementary. A woman confronted the group and described losing three loved ones to the coronavirus. Another man walking his dog told the group to get out of his neighborhood. Students even told them to go away. (Charky, 5/3)

CNN: Why Some Vaccinated People Keep Wearing Their Masks -- Even Outdoors 
The vaccinated are emerging from 14 months of social isolation into a world where key questions remain about where and when to wear a mask. Is that unmasked person near me vaccinated? If I don't wear a mask, am I setting a bad example or making others uneasy? This confusion is sparking political debates similar to ones seen in the early days of the pandemic. And while places are reopening and things feel safer, lingering anxieties remain. (Karimi, 5/4)

But Oregon takes a different approach —

The Oregonian: Oregon Indefinitely Extends Mask, Distancing Rules Aimed At Protecting Workers From COVID-19 
Oregon is indefinitely extending a workplace rule adopted last fall that requires employers to adhere to specific safety measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Under the rule, employers must ensure that their employees wear masks and maintain physical distance in the workplace, among other requirements. (Goldberg, 5/4)

Philadelphia Inquirer: Pennsylvania Will Fully Reopen On Memorial Day, Lifting COVID-19 Rules. Philadelphia Won’t Follow Suit — Yet
Pennsylvania will lift its coronavirus mitigation measures on Memorial Day, state officials announced Tuesday, marking a milestone in the pandemic recovery and freeing businesses and patrons to prepare to fill restaurants, bars, and stores for the first time in more than a year. Philadelphia, however, was not yet set to follow suit: The city will said it will review the state’s policy but retain its own restrictions. Officials are working on the city’s reopening plans. (McCarthy and McDaniel, 5/5)

The New York Times: Sudden Decision To Reopen Leaves New Yorkers Dizzy And Divided
The news longed for by so many for so long landed like a jolting boom: New York City is reopening — not someday, not hopefully soon, but in two weeks. Last year’s erasure of the city’s nightlife, culture, dining and shopping — the things that make New York New York — would be suddenly undone. By Tuesday, a day after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s announcement, New Yorkers were responding with a mix of joy, did-I-hear-that-right double-takes and doubt. The idea of having so much come back so soon — on May 19, a seemingly random Wednesday around the corner — was, for many, dizzying. (Wilson, 5/4)

Fox News: DeSantis Emergency Order Does Not Convince Publix, Florida Public Schools To Ditch Masks
Many Florida schools and the state’s largest grocery store chain will continue to require masks for the time being, despite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive action this week to suspend local COVID-19 emergency orders, according to multiple reports. DeSantis’ executive order does not block businesses within the state from requiring mask or social distancing. During a press conference earlier in the week, the governor noted that establishments such as supermarkets or Disney theme parks could still implement mask mandates on-site. Grocery giant Publix told FOX 13 that it will still require customers to wear masks while shopping at its stores. The chain has mandated masks on-site throughout the pandemic. (Barrabi, 5/4)

Bloomberg: LA, San Francisco Move To Lowest Tier For Covid Restrictions
Los Angeles and San Francisco entered California’s least-restrictive tier for economic reopenings, increasing capacity for a wide range of businesses and private gatherings as the state tamps down new Covid-19 cases. Restaurants, gyms and movie theaters can expand to 50% of their regular occupancy. Bars will be able to open at 25% capacity indoors. Stadiums and other outdoor events may expand to as much as 67% of capacity. The new health orders will go into effect Thursday. (Palmeri and Baker, 5/4)

Also —

The Oregonian: Oregon To Lift Indoor Dining Restrictions Because Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Increased By 14.9%, Not 15% 
To the relief of cash-strapped restaurants and residents desperate for a return to normalcy despite a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases, Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced that by the end of the week she’ll lift a set of “extreme risk” restrictions that have stifled businesses in 15 counties across Oregon. What’s more, Brown said she doesn’t expect to restore those restrictions again during the pandemic. (Green, 5/4)

The Oregonian: Oregon Businesses Challenge COVID Restrictions In Federal Lawsuit Against Gov. Kate Brown 
A group of businesses has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Kate Brown over her recent extension of Oregon’s state of emergency, which was first implemented in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of emergency, which Brown extended by 60 days last week, gives her the authority to issue restrictions on business operations, among other things. (Ramakrishnan, 5/4)

The Washington Post: Organ Collection Agencies Told To Improve Performance Or Face Tighter Rules 
Lawmakers on Tuesday grilled leaders of the groups that collect organs for transplant, warning that they might seek tighter regulations if the organizations do not increase the number of kidneys, hearts, lungs and other organs they procure and reduce racial disparities among donors and recipients. Before a congressional hearing on the industry even began, six of the 57 groups — known as organ procurement organizations, or OPOs — announced that they were withdrawing from their own trade group, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations. In a news release, they cited AOPO’s “lobbying against lifesaving reforms” being implemented by the federal government, and said they wanted to provide clearer information on waste and mismanagement in their ranks. (Bernstein, 5/4)

In other news from Capitol Hill —

Roll Call: Congress, White House Plan Action On Maternal Health Policies 
The White House and lawmakers are seeking to build momentum on what they view as a more comprehensive policy solution to address the nation’s rising rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. Advocates and lawmakers are working on comprehensive legislation to curb maternal deaths, which has emerged as a bipartisan priority in recent years. Maternal mortality, or death during or up to a year after childbirth, is a growing problem in the United States. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation. (Raman, 5/4)

CIDRAP: Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Urges More Funding For AMR Response
A bipartisan group of congressional representatives called on House appropriators last week to increase funding for the federal response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In a letter signed by more than 60 lawmakers from both parties, Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., said Congress must fully support the funding necessary to significantly reduce the burden of AMR. ... "Drug-resistant infections sicken at least 2.8 million and kill at least 35,000 people annually in the U.S.," the lawmakers wrote to the House Appropriations Committee. (5/4)

Stat: Pharma Showers Menendez With Rare, Off-Cycle Burst Of Campaign Cash 
Sen. Bob Menendez doesn’t face reelection until 2024, but pharmaceutical executives are already flooding his campaign with cash — a sign of the central role he will play in deciding whether Democrats are able to pass substantial drug pricing reforms this year. Since March, the New Jersey Democrat has received at least $1,000 from each of the CEOs of eight different drug companies: Pfizer, Merck, Eli Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, UCB, Otsuka, and Sage Therapeutics, according to federal election disclosures. The Pfizer and Merck executives both personally gave Menendez $5,000 and $5,800, respectfully. Top executives from Amgen and Lundbeck also wrote Menendez personal checks totaling $1,000 and $1,500. (Florko, 5/5)

Courier-Journal: Ohio Senator Calls Out Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul For Not Wearing A Mask
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on Tuesday singled out his colleague from Kentucky, Sen. Rand Paul, for not wearing a mask while conducting Senate business. Brown, asked about senators who don't wear face coverings, acknowledged that most of them are before mentioning Paul, a Republican from Bowling Green. "One of them that's an M.D., isn't, but he's kind of a lunatic," Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, said during a Tuesday visit to a Columbus mass vaccination site. (Borchardt, 5/4)

Also, President Biden officially extends a ban on fentanyl-like substances —

NBC News: Biden Extends Ban On Fentanyl-Like Substances
President Joe Biden signed legislation Tuesday extending a ban on addictive fentanyl-like substances into October, which comes two days before the previous ban was set to expire. Under the extension of the order, these fentanyl analogues are classified by the federal government as a schedule I drug and are subject to the strictest controls like heroin. (Shabad, 5/4)

Modern Healthcare: Unnecessary Tests And Procedures Widespread In Much Of U.S.
Many hospital doctors continue to perform unnecessary medical procedures and surgeries every year, according to a new report from the nonpartisan healthcare think tank Lown Institute. The second annual Hospitals Index found that in the U.S., for-profit, non-teaching and Southern hospitals were associated with the highest rates of overuse. Hospitals like Houston Methodist Sugarland Hospital, CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial Livingston in Tennessee and Adventist Healthcare Fort Washington Medical Center in Maryland all scored in the bottom 50 hospitals as having the most Medicare claims for 12 unnecessary tests, procedures and surgeries. (Gillespie, 5/4)

In other health care industry news —

Modern Healthcare: Hospital Leaders Make Pledge To Improve Healthcare Worker Safety
CEOs from 10 hospital systems are working together to create a new safety standard for healthcare workers as the pandemic has highlighted the risks and inequities in the industry. The group, formed early this year and known as the CEO Coalition, shared their signed declaration on Tuesday and said they hope to kick off a national movement to protect workers' psychological, emotional and physical safety as well as promote health justice. (Christ, 5/4)

Modern Healthcare: HCA Shareholders Reject Two Union-Backed Proposals At Annual Meeting
HCA Healthcare's shareholders shot down two union-backed proposals at the investor-owned company's recent annual meeting, one that would have made quality a bigger factor in executive pay and another to oust a director. The owners of 9.2% of Nashville-based HCA's common stock—representing just shy of 28.5 million shares out of 308.3 million total shares—voted in favor of a bid to study the feasibility of increasing the impact of quality performance on executive compensation. The measure would have needed 'yes' votes from owners of more than 50% of shares to pass. (Bannow, 5/4)

The Baltimore Sun: Susan G. Komen Maryland To Dissolve, Donate Remaining Assets To Breast Cancer Treatment 
The Maryland branch of Susan G. Komen announced Monday that it will shut down amid downsizing by its parent organization, a national nonprofit that funds breast cancer research and treatment. Susan G. Komen Maryland board members voted April 1 to dissolve the charity, lay off its staff and donate its remaining assets to a number of local organizations, including the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System Foundation and the Saint Agnes Hospital Foundation. The list also includes nonprofit organizations like Blossoms of Hope, Moveable Feast Inc. and Nueva Vida. (Condon, 5/4)

Stat: The Editor Of Digital Health’s New Journal Wants To Democratize Data
As an ICU physician, Leo Anthony Celi knows the immense power health data can hold. If it’s harnessed thoughtfully, it could speed diagnoses and drive better care. And if it isn’t wielded carefully, it can make matters worse. That’s why he’s become a prominent advocate for open data sharing as a way to make medical research not only more democratic, but also more robust. (Palmer, 5/5)

KHN: Hit By Higher Prices For Gear, Doctors And Dentists Want Insurers To Pay 
Treating patients has become more expensive during the pandemic, and doctors and dentists don’t want to be on the hook for all the new costs. For instance, the box of 100 gloves that cost $2.39 in February 2020 costs $30 now, said Dr. Judee Tippett-Whyte, president of the California Dental Association, who has a private dental practice in Stockton. (Bluth, 5/5)

KHN: A Primary Care Physician For Every American, Science Panel Urges
The federal government must aggressively bolster primary care and connect more Americans with a dedicated source of care, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine warn in a major report that sounds the alarm about an endangered foundation of the U.S. health system. The urgently worded report, which comes as internists, family doctors and pediatricians nationwide struggle with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, calls for a broad recognition that primary care is a “common good” akin to public education. (Levey, 5/4)

KHN: Covid Shot In The Arm Not Enough To Keep Pharmacies In Business
Tobin’s pharmacy and department store had already stocked its shelves with Easter and Mother’s Day items last spring, and the staff had just placed the Christmas orders. The shop in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, had been operating on a razor’s edge as retail sales moved online and mail-order pharmacies siphoned off its patients. It was losing money on 1 out of 4 pill bottles filled, so the front of the store, where it sold clothing, cosmetics and jewelry, had been compensating for pharmacy losses for years. “And then covid hit,” said Dave Schultz, who co-owned the store with his brother. “And that was the final straw.”(Hawryluk, 5/5)

Bloomberg: Opioid Distributors Sold ‘Mountain Of Pills,’ Lawyer Tells Judge
The biggest drug distributors in the U.S. were accused of swamping a West Virginia county with millions of doses of painkillers as testimony is set to begin in the first trial over the companies’ role in the opioid crisis. McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp. wrongfully “sold a mountain of opioid pills into our community, fueling the opioid epidemic,” Paul Farrell, a lawyer for Cabell County, told a judge Monday in his opening statement. The county and the city of Huntington want distributors to pay $2.6 billion to beef up treatment and policing budgets strained by years of opioid overdoses and addictions. (Feeley, 5/4)

In other pharmaceutical industry news —

Boston Globe: Affinia Therapeutics Raises $110 Million For Gene Therapy Treatments
Affinia Therapeutics, a Waltham-based biotech working on gene therapies to treat diseases using technology developed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, said Monday it has raised $110 million in a new venture capital round. The company, which was founded in 2019 based on work pioneered by Luk Vandenberghe, an associate professor at Mass. Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, plans to use the money to advance its gene therapy technology and move experimental drug programs into clinical trials. (Jonathan Saltzman, 5/4)

AP: Pharma Company To Pay $12.6M To Settle Kickback Allegations 
A Delaware pharmaceutical company has agreed to pay $12.6 million to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by paying kickbacks. Department of Justice officials said in a news release Tuesday that the settlement resolves allegations that Incyte Corp. improperly used an independent foundation to cover the copays of certain people taking the company’s cancer drug Jakafi from November 2011 to December 2014. Jakafi is approved to treat a bone marrow cancer called myleofibrosis. (Chase, 5/4)

Cincinnati Enquirer: Experts Say Methadone Rules Relaxed In Pandemic Should Stay Flexible
In March 2020, federal officials relaxed methadone dosing restrictions, letting more people take home their methadone to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Ohio was among the first to come up with a plan. On April 15, the Department of  Health and Human Services renewed the pandemic public health emergency declaration, so the rules can continue for at least through the emergency, said Dr. Neeraj Gandotra, chief medical officer for the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. But Ohio will stick with a May 9 end to the extra take-home medication now that COVID-19 vaccines are widely available. (Demio, 5/4)

The Wall Street Journal: Elizabeth Holmes Makes First Courtroom Appearance In Over A Year 
Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes appeared in a federal courtroom in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday for the first time in more than a year, attending arguments between her lawyers and prosecutors over what evidence jurors can hear at her approaching criminal fraud trial. (Randazzo, 5/4)

AP: US Birth Rate Falls To Lowest Point In More Than A Century
The U.S. birth rate fell 4% last year, the largest single-year decrease in nearly 50 years, according to a government report being released Wednesday. The rate dropped for moms of every major race and ethnicity, and in nearly age group, falling to the lowest point since federal health officials started tracking it more than a century ago. Births have been declining in younger women for years, as many postponed motherhood and had smaller families. Birth rates for women in their late 30s and in their 40s have been inching up. But not last year. (Stobbe, 5/5)

The Wall Street Journal: Births In U.S. Drop To Levels Not Seen Since 1979 
The number of babies born in America last year was the lowest in more than four decades, according to federal figures released Wednesday that show a continuing U.S. fertility slump. U.S. women had about 3.61 million babies in 2020, down 4% from the prior year, provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics shows. The total fertility rate—a snapshot of the average number of babies a woman would have over her lifetime—fell to 1.64. That was the lowest rate on record since the government began tracking it in the 1930s, and likely before that when families were larger, said report co-author Brady Hamilton. Total births were the lowest since 1979. (Adamy, 5/4)

The New York Times: The U.S. Birthrate Has Dropped Again. The Pandemic May Be Accelerating The Decline
Early in the pandemic, there was speculation that the major changes in the life of American families could lead to a recovery in the birthrate, as couples hunkered down together. In fact, they appeared to have had the opposite effect: Births were down most sharply at the end of the year, when babies conceived at the start of the pandemic would have been born. Births declined by about 8 percent in December compared with the same month the year before, a monthly breakdown of government data showed. December had the largest decline of any month. ... The birthrate — measured as the number of babies per thousand women ages 15 to 44 — has fallen by about 19 percent since its recent peak in 2007. (Tavernise, 5/5)

ABC News: Some Black Parents Say Remote Learning Gives Racism Reprieve 
Before schools shuttered during the pandemic, Ayaana Johnson worried every time she dropped her daughters off at school. Johnson, a Black woman, says racism is rampant in her predominantly white Georgia town. At her daughters’ school, a student once used racial slurs and told another child he doesn’t play with “brown people.” She says teachers are quick to punish or reprimand Black children and Ku Klux Klan flyers can be found in mailboxes. (Fernando, 5/4)

Bloomberg: U.S. Employers Brace For Covid Mental Health Fallout As Workers Return To Office
From casual Fridays to after-work drinks, those weekly rituals once taken for granted are returning as Americans head back to the office. And while masks, plexiglass and empty conference rooms will alter the cubescape, employers are nevertheless invested in getting things back to normal—or at least as normal as possible. But that won’t be easy. Covid-19’s damage may be felt in the workplace long after the disease has receded. That’s thanks to the mental and emotional toll the pandemic has taken on employees who, like everyone else, have spent the past year living in fear, isolation and sorrow. (Cohen, 5/5)

The Wall Street Journal: Despite Divorce, Bill And Melinda Gates To Remain Co-Chairs, Trustees Of Their Foundation
Bill and Melinda Gates have transformed the world’s fight against poverty, inequity and disease over more than two decades as philanthropists, using their enormous wealth and influence to shape policies and drive innovation in global health, agricultural development, gender equality and American education. Now the impending divorce of one of the world’s most high-profile couples puts into question the future of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the philanthropy they lead together. (McKay, 5/4)

KHN: Trouble Managing Money May Be An Early Sign Of Dementia 
After Maria Turner’s minivan was totaled in an accident a dozen years ago, she grew impatient waiting for the insurance company to process the claim. One night, she saw a red pickup truck on eBay for $20,000. She thought it was just what she needed. She clicked “buy it now” and went to bed. The next morning, she got an email about arranging delivery. Only then did she remember what she’d done. Making such a big purchase with no forethought and then forgetting about it was completely out of character for Turner, then a critical care nurse in Greenville, South Carolina. Although she was able to back out of the deal without financial consequences, the experience scared her. “I made a joke out of it, but it really disturbed me,” Turner said. (Andrews, 5/5)

The Wall Street Journal: Medical Expenses And Taxes: What You Need To Know 
Medical-expense deductions, once on the congressional chopping block, are alive and well, including a recent newcomer stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. Here is what you need to know about claiming unreimbursed medical expenses on your tax returns, as well as a few easily overlooked deductions. (Herman, 5/3)

In obituaries —

The Washington Post: Helen Murray Free, Chemist Who Revolutionized Diabetes Testing, Dies At 98 
When Helen Murray Free entered college in 1941, young women enjoyed few professional opportunities upon their graduation. For the most part, she said, they could hope to become “secretaries, nurses or teachers.” In keeping with the limitations of her time, Mrs. Free had enrolled at the College of Wooster in Ohio planning to become an English and Latin teacher. But when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, precipitating the U.S. entry into World War II, her horizons shifted. As young men emptied out of college campuses to join the armed forces, their seats in university science courses were suddenly vacant, although the country still needed scientists. (Langer, 5/4)

The Hill: Indiana Governor Vetoes Legislation Curbing Local Health Orders
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would limit the authority of local health departments to issue orders during an emergency. Holcomb wrote in a letter announcing his veto that having local health departments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a key part of the effort to combat the disease in the state. (Oshin, 5/4)

Anchorage Daily News: Anchorage Mayoral Candidate Bronson Said The Pandemic Was ‘Over Last Summer’ And He Will Not Necessarily Follow The CDC’s Advice
Dave Bronson, one of two remaining candidates for Anchorage mayor in the May 11 runoff, has made a series of statements downplaying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Anchorage, rejecting the advice of public health experts who continue to urge precautions and warn that virus transmission rates in the city remain high. Bronson has centered much of his campaign on criticizing the city’s handling of COVID-19 and has targeted his opponent, Assembly member Forrest Dunbar, for supporting pandemic-related restrictions. (Goodykoontz, 5/4)

The Washington Post: Montgomery County To Spend $500,000 On Push For Global Pandemic Center
An ambitious push to create a “Global Pandemic Center” in suburban Maryland got a $500,000 boost Tuesday from the Montgomery County Council, which said the project could help drive the county’s post-pandemic economic recovery and foster resilience against the next major health crisis. Spearheaded by the regional nonprofit Connected DMV, the center would involve scientists and policymakers from across the globe but operate primarily from the D.C. region, with a likely headquarters in Montgomery. (Tan, 5/4)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WMC Asks State Supreme Court To Hear Case On COVID Data
The state's largest business lobby asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday to weigh in on a lawsuit over the release of state data on coronavirus outbreaks at businesses. The case concerns records requested by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel nearly a year ago from the state Department of Health Services, after meatpacking workers and nursing home residents told the newspaper they were left in the dark about outbreaks at their facilities. The records in question contain the names of roughly 1,000 businesses that are public-facing or employ at least 25 people that saw two or more employees test positive or identify as close contacts. (Chen, 5/4)

In news about abortion in North Carolina and elsewhere —

The Hill: North Carolina Advances Bill Banning Abortions Based On Race Or Down Syndrome 
A bill that would outlaw abortion on the basis of race or Down syndrome advanced in North Carolina on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported. North Carolina’s House Health Committee approved the bill, which would fine doctors who performed abortions despite knowing the motivation behind the procedure aligned with either of those two factors. The legislation is now being sent to the Judiciary Committee, where it's slated to be evaluated Wednesday. (Polus, 5/4)

The Washington Post: What To Know About The Surge In Antiabortion Bills At The State Level 
In Oklahoma and Idaho, state lawmakers just banned most abortions at the first sign of a fetal heartbeat. In Arizona, a new law bars patients from seeking an abortion for genetic abnormalities. In Montana, providers can no longer perform abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, while abortion pills, available via mail in other states, must be taken with a doctor present. (Branigin, 5/4)

In news from Georgia, California, Massachusetts and Montana —

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Veterans' Wait Grows For Medical Appointments
A Veterans Affairs system to quicken access to health care by sending military veterans to private doctors is showing backlogs and strains in Atlanta. The number of North Georgia veterans who had not gotten a response from the Atlanta VA Health Care System more than 30 days after applying for such help ballooned from about 6,700 last September to more than 18,000 in early May, according to an internal VA document reviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Also stacking up: The total number of area veterans who have applied for an outside doctor or have seen one and are waiting for VA staff to collect all the test results and paperwork to close out the case. There were 25,000 of them last September. There are more than 37,000 now, according to another internal VA document reviewed by the AJC. (Quinn, 5/5)

San Francisco Chronicle: S.F. Looks To Dramatically Reduce Number Of Sheriff's Deputies Guarding Hospitals, Clinics
The number of sheriff’s deputies who guard public hospitals and clinics in San Francisco would be dramatically reduced under a plan proposed Tuesday by San Francisco health officials who want to hire more psychiatric nurses and non-sworn staff to respond to crises. The Department of Public Health presented a plan to the Health Commission at its Tuesday meeting to drop the number of deputies from 29 to about 18 at San Francisco General and replace around seven more at Laguna Honda Hospital and four community clinics. (Moench, 5/4)

The Boston Globe: DCF To Visit Every Child It Supervises In Person By Month’s End, State Officials Tell Lawmakers
For the first time since COVID-19 scrambled daily life last year, social workers within Massachusetts’ child welfare agency will resume in-person visits for all of the 40,000-plus children they oversee, state officials said Tuesday, adding that they expect to see each child by month’s end. Linda Spears, the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, announced the policy change, which took effect last week, in response to questions during a wide-ranging legislative oversight hearing into the death of David Almond. The intellectually disabled Fall River teen died in October, and was starved and abused by his father and his father’s girlfriend while under the watch of DCF, investigators said. (Stout, 5/4)

AP: Montana Governor Ends Extra Unemployment Payments, Citing Worker Shortage
Montana is ending its participation in the federal unemployment program that gives people extra weekly unemployment benefit payments as the state struggles with a worker shortage, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Tuesday. Beginning June 27, unemployed workers in the state will no longer receive $300 in weekly extra benefits funded by the federal government through Sept. 6. (5/4)

In news from Texas —

Houston Chronicle: Texas House Blocks Bill That Would Ban Transgender Girls From Playing On Sports Teams
A bill to ban transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams died in committee in the Texas House on Tuesday, severely damaging its chances of passing during this legislative session. The House Public Education Committee fell one vote short in passing Senate Bill 29, which had come under intense opposition from LGBTQ rights groups and provoked a stern warning from the NCAA that future championship games — and the hundreds of millions of dollars in business they bring — could be moved away from states where such legislation is enacted. (Wallace, 5/4)

Dallas Morning News: House OKs Bill Letting Texas Farm Bureau Sell Health Coverage Exempt From Insurance Laws
Leaders of the Texas House are promoting bills that critics say would revive the bad old days of health insurance when coverage was prohibitively expensive or outright denied for people with pre-existing conditions. On Tuesday, the chamber initially approved legislation that would let the Texas Farm Bureau sell health plans exempt from insurance laws and many consumer protections. It requires one more vote to advance to the Senate for further debate. Backers say the new coverage could provide cheaper alternatives for people who cannot afford health insurance. It would apply to the relatively small number of Texans who purchase coverage on their own and aren’t insured through an employer, Medicaid or Medicare. (Morris, 5/4)

Reuters: In COVID-Hit India, A 26-Year-Old Doctor Decides Who Lives And Who Dies 
Rohan Aggarwal is 26 years old. He doesn't even complete his medical training until next year. And yet, at one of the best hospitals in India, he is the doctor who must decide who will live and who will die when patients come to him gasping for breath, their family members begging for mercy. As India's healthcare system teeters on the verge of collapse during a brutal second wave of the novel coronavirus, Aggarwal makes those decisions during a 27-hour workday that includes a grim overnight shift in charge of the emergency room at his New Delhi hospital. (Pal, 5/5)

The Boston Globe: Local Indian Executives Rally To Send Badly Needed Medical Equipment To COVID-Ravaged Country
As a devastating second wave of COVID-19 infections began to hit India, Dr. Naresh Ramarajan knew what the country would need: portable oxygen concentrators. Ramarajan, an emergency room physician and health-tech entrepreneur in Cambridge, saw firsthand how the equipment — which increases the oxygen level in room air and feeds it to patients through tubes attached to their nostrils — saved lives during the second wave in Los Angeles, where he trained and has on occasion returned to help. The concentrators, which can be used at home, allow hospitals to free up beds for the sickest patients. (Leung and Edelman, 5/4)

Reuters: 'Human Catastrophe' As India's COVID-19 Surge Spreads To Nepal 
Nepal is being overwhelmed by a COVID-19 surge as India's outbreak spreads across South Asia, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Wednesday. ... Nepal is now recording 57 times as many cases as a month ago, with 44% of tests now coming back positive, the statement said. Nepalese towns near the Indian border could not cope with the growing number of people needing treatment, while only 1% of the country's population was fully vaccinated. (5/5)

Also —

CNN: Companies Scramble To Protect Their Workers From India's Covid Surge 
Big banks and accounting firms do most of their business in New York, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. But they wouldn't be able to function without their back offices, many of which are located in Covid-stricken India. Financial services firms have outsourced a huge number of information technology and operations jobs to India in recent decades, attracted by an educated workforce and cheaper labor costs. Almost 4.4 million people in the country are employed in IT and business process management, according to the National Association of Software and Service Companies, a trade body. (Ziady and Tappe, 5/5)

Reuters: COVID Scare At G7 Meeting After Indian Delegates Test Positive 
India’s entire delegation to the Group of Seven summit in London is self-isolating after two of its members tested positive for COVID-19, the British government said on Wednesday. "Two delegates tested positive so the entire delegation is now self isolating," a British official said. "The meeting had been enabled by a strict set of COVID protocols, including daily testing of all delegates," the British official said. (James and Bruce, 5/5)

USA Today: US To Begin Talks On Worldwide Vaccine Distribution
The U.S. top trade negotiator will begin talks Wednesday with the World Trade Organization on ways to overcome intellectual property issues that are keeping critically needed COVID-19 vaccines from being more widely distributed worldwide. President Joe Biden has faced calls from fellow WTO members, activists, and U.S. lawmakers to temporarily waive the restrictions as some states are turning down planned shipments from the federal government given a decrease in demand. 82% of shots have been given in high- and middle-income countries and just 0.3% in low-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. (Aspegren, 5/5)

The Washington Post: Club Of Rich Countries To Address Unequal Global Vaccine Rollout
The foreign ministers of some of the world’s richest and most powerful countries are meeting in London Wednesday where they are expected to address the unequal global rollout of vaccines. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed on Tuesday that “the global roll out of vaccines will be key in defeating the pandemic” and they highlighted the role the Group of Seven nations “to increase international manufacturing capability” for vaccines. (Schemm, 5/5)

In other global developments —

The Wall Street Journal: Europe’s Troubled Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout Turns The Corner
A spring surge in Covid-19 cases is beginning to recede in Europe as the continent’s vaccine rollout is finally gathering pace, boosting hopes of a broad reopening of the region’s economy before the summer. Unlike the U.S., the U.K. or Israel, which brought the coronavirus somewhat under control earlier this year thanks in part to an early and rapid vaccine rollout, continental Europe faced a late-winter rebound in infections as governments there struggled to get shots to people. (Benoit, Legorano and Kostov, 5/4)

Bloomberg: U.K. Builds New Labs To Bolster Vaccines Against Covid Variants
The U.K. is setting up a Covid-19 testing center aimed at speeding up the deployment of vaccines tailored to tackle new coronavirus variants. The government will invest 29.3 million pounds ($40.6 million) in “state of the art” laboratories at the Porton Down military research facility to assess the effectiveness of existing and new vaccines against variants of concern, the Health Department said in an emailed statement. The extra funding means scientists will be able to test 3,000 blood samples a week, up from 700 now, in order to measure the level of antibodies to Covid-19 generated by the vaccines. (Ashton, 5/5)

NPR: COVID-19 Death Rates Are Impressively Low In Haiti
Haiti has one of the lowest death rates from COVID-19 in the world. As of the end of April, only 254 deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in Haiti over the course of the entire pandemic. The Caribbean nation, which often struggles with infectious diseases, has a COVID-19 death rate of just 22 per million. In the U.S. the COVID-19 death rate is 1,800 per million, and in parts of Europe. the fatality rate is approaching 3,000 deaths per million. Haiti's success is not due to some innovative intervention against the virus. Most people have given up wearing masks in public. Buses and markets are crowded. And Haiti hasn't yet administered a single COVID-19 vaccine. (Beaubien, 5/4)

AP: Iraq Pushes Vaccine Rollout Amid Widespread Apathy, Distrust
Iraq’s vaccine roll-out had been faltering for weeks. Apathy, fear and rumors kept many from getting vaccinated despite a serious surge in coronavirus infections and calls by the government for people to register for shots. It took a populist Shiite cleric’s public endorsement of vaccinations — and images of him getting the shot last week — to turn things around. Hundreds of followers of Muqtada al-Sadr are now heading to clinics to follow his example, underscoring the power of sectarian loyalties in Iraq and deep mistrust of the state. (Zeyad, 5/5)

Reuters: Canada's Alberta Confirms First Death Linked To AstraZeneca Vaccine 
The Canadian province of Alberta reported its first death of a patient from a rare blood clot condition after receiving the AstraZeneca (AZN.L) COVID-19 vaccine, its chief medical officer said. Canada has reported at least five cases of blood clots following immunization with the vaccine, but public health officials maintain the benefits of the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the potential risks. (5/5)

The Washington Post: What American Travelers Need To Know About Getting A Covid-19 Test In Mexico
Throughout the pandemic, Mexico has been one of the most popular travel destinations for American tourists seeking an international vacation in a mostly-closed world. As vaccine-era travel continues to pick up, airports in Mexico have reported record numbers of visitors this year, rivaling even pre-covid statistics. Traveling to and from Mexico became more complicated last year, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order requiring Americans to get a coronavirus test before returning home from trips abroad. (Compton, 5/4)

Also —

Reuters: Nearly 20 Million More People Hit By Food Crises In 2020
Nearly 20 million more people faced food crises last year amid armed conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and weather extremes, and the outlook for this year is again grim, according to a report by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC). The humanitarian agency, set up in 2016 by the European Union and United Nations, also warned that acute food insecurity has continued to worsen since 2017, the first year of its annual report into food crises. (Angel, 5/5)

The Hill: Pallone Commits To Using 'Whatever Vehicle I Can' To Pass Democrats' Drug Pricing Bill
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) on Tuesday said he would use “whatever vehicle I can” to pass the Democrats’ drug pricing bill, known as H.R. 3, that would allow the federal government to negotiate for decreased prices on behalf of Medicare. Pallone joined health advocates from Protect Our Care New Jersey in calling for Congress to move forward with H.R. 3, or the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, to reduce prescription drug prices. (Coleman, 5/4)

Fierce Healthcare: House Republicans Push To Make Drug Price Legislation Bipartisan 
House Republicans want their Democratic counterparts to endorse more bipartisan-friendly reforms to drug pricing as the chances of a bill to give Medicare negotiating power look dim. Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee endorsed during a hearing on Tuesday legislation that includes a series of reforms including an out-of-pocket cost cap for seniors on Medicare Part D. The comments come as Democrats are pressing for the inclusion of legislation to grant Medicare power to negotiate for lower drug prices in a massive infrastructure package. (King, 5/4)

AP: Democrats Look For Path To Rein In Medicare Drug Prices
President Joe Biden's call for authorizing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices has energized Democrats on a politically popular idea they've been pushing for nearly 20 years only to encounter frustration. But they still lack a clear path to enact legislation. That's because a few Democrats remain uneasy over government price curbs on pharmaceutical companies. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 5/3)

FiercePharma: Biden's Call To Action On Drug Pricing Draws Applause, But Don't Expect Reform From A Deadlocked Congress 
President Joe Biden’s remarks on drug pricing during his first State of the Union address struck the right tone and drew a standing ovation. But the message rang hollow to many considering Biden’s $1.8 trillion American Families Plan includes no major proposals on the issue. “Let’s give Medicare the power to save hundreds of billions of dollars by negotiating lower drug prescription prices,” Biden said. “It won’t just help people on Medicare. It will lower prescription drug costs for everyone.” Cue the applause. (Dunleavy, 4/29)

Also —

Daily Inter Lake: Bill Targets Skyrocketing Drug Prices In Montana 
A bill that would give Montana officials the power to license and regulate pharmacy benefit managers — the middlemen that negotiate drug prices and determine which medications are covered by health insurers — is headed to Gov. Greg Gianforte's desk. Proponents say the measure would shine a light on a powerful yet obscure part of the health-care industry and create opportunities to address skyrocketing drug prices. (Sokol, 5/4)

Albany Herald: Prescription Drug Price Rules Tightening Draws Concern, Praise 
Prescription drug price negotiators are taking stock of new state laws that aim to clamp down on predatorial pharmaceutical practices that some companies worry could hamper efforts to lower medication costs in Georgia. Patient advocates and representatives from groups called pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) contracted with health insurers to negotiate lower drug prices are awaiting data from new prescription cost reporting required in legislation state lawmakers passed last year. (Evans, 5/2)

Stat: Rising Wholesale Prices Led To Higher Expenses For Half Of Insured Patients
Although the pharmaceutical industry argues that wholesale prices do not accurately reflect prescription drug costs, a new study finds that rising wholesale prices have, in fact, led to higher out-of-pocket expenses for roughly half of insured patients. The analysis examined 79 brand-name medicines from 2015 through 2017 and found that average wholesale prices — also referred to as list prices — increased by 16.7%. At the same time, there was a 5.4% rise in so-called net prices, which are paid by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers after drug makers offer rebates for more favorable insurance coverage. (Silverman, 5/4)

Stat: H.R. 3’s International Reference Pricing Misses The Mark
The White House and Congress have declared that reining in Medicare prescription drug costs to help older adults and people with disabilities is a top priority. But one drug pricing strategy on the table would have an outsized negative impact on people with Alzheimer’s disease and decimate research trying to find effective treatments for it. This strategy, known as international reference pricing, ties the price that Medicare pays for some drugs to those paid by other countries. The idea was first introduced as a model for Medicare Part B drugs by then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar in 2018. The next year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s drug pricing plan, known as the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), significantly expanded the scope to allow federal government use of foreign price controls in direct negotiations with pharmaceutical companies for the cost of 250 prescription medicines in Medicare Part B and Part D. It also extended the negotiated price to insurers and the commercial market at large. (Susan Peschin and Duane Schulthess, 4/28)

The Washington Examiner: Democratic Drug Pricing Bill Is A House Of Cards
House Democrats just introduced H.R. 3, a bill that would allow the government to cap drug prices based on what they cost in six other developed nations. President Joe Biden is sympathetic to the idea. In his speech to Congress this week, he called for giving the federal government the power to negotiate drug prices under Medicare Part D directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Both approaches are tantamount to imposing price controls on prescription drugs. In so doing, they would hamper medical research. That's bad news for countless patients suffering from diseases without effective treatments. (Sally Pipes, 5/2)

Also —

Delmarva Now: Soaring Drug Costs Need Federal Plan, And Andy Harris Should Support It
As a state delegate, my constituents are always sharing the details of their economic struggles with me. Too often, these struggles stem from their health issues. Time and again, they tell me about how hard it is for them to pay for the medications they need to maintain their health. In some cases, they are rationing their own drugs, taking half a dose to stretch out the supply, knowing they cannot afford to renew the prescription. Nobody should have to be put in that position. Drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. (Maryland State Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes, 4/30)

Reno Gazette Journal: Nevada Public Option Best Way To Tackle Rising Health Care Costs
As a physician, I see firsthand the complex and often devastating way health care — and lack of it — can affect people’s lives. The best way to help people who don’t have health care get the treatment and therapy they need in a timely fashion is to expand access through a public option. This path is the best way forward for Nevada: A public option provides affordable choices for individuals and small businesses, while compelling private health corporations to compete for business through lower premiums, fewer out-of-pocket costs and more services. What concerns me, on a nearly daily basis, are patients who delay care for too long until an otherwise manageable chronic condition gets worse. (Nita Schwartz, 4/30)

MarketWatch: Here’s Why Local Hospitals, Not Insurance Companies, Are To Blame For Exploding Healthcare Costs 
As the threat from COVID-19 recedes, Americans can once again worry about rising medical costs. While they tend to blame drug companies, insurers or even the government, the lion’s share of the responsibility belongs with our healthcare providers, whose decisions account for 85% of health spending. The providers most to blame are local hospital systems that dominate nearly every metro area, from Partners HealthCare in Boston to SutterHealth in the San Francisco Bay Area. These megaproviders don’t deliver better quality than smaller systems and independent providers; they just get paid more, sometimes twice as much for the same medical procedure. (David Dranove and Lawton Robert Burns, 5/4)

Chicago Tribune: FDA’s ‘Abundance Of Caution’ Should Extend To Supplements 
It’s a weird system when an effective vaccine was suspended during a deadly pandemic for a maybe-one-in-a-million chance of blood clots, but you can get free two-day shipping on an elixir of elk antler velvet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is known for being cautious — in the case of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the watchwords were “abundance of caution.” I can’t help but think: I sure wish these folks were more risk-averse when it comes to the supplements in my medicine cabinet. (Sarah Green Carmichael, 5/4)

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Period Products Should Be Free In Public Bathroom
Period poverty impacts a staggering 500 million people globally — a systemic problem that has gotten worse during COVID-19. Despite its prevalence, it continues to be largely ignored and limited access to menstrual products remains widespread, including in the United States. Changes to the U.S. federal tax code and important safety net programs could substantially reduce the number of Americans affected by this hardship. Period poverty — the inability to afford menstrual products due to financial constraints — exacerbates income inequality and amplifies the shame and stigma that continue to surround menstruation. (Misha Valencia, 5/4)

Modern Healthcare: The Evolving Scope Of Practice For Nurse Practitioners
Nearly half the states allow broad practice authority for nurse practitioners. Some of their limitations were also loosened in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What restrictions, if any, do you believe should be part of licensing nurse practitioners? (Sophia Thomas and Dr. Susan Bailey, 5/4)

CNN: The Pandemic Can't End Unless The World Helps India. Immediately 
This time a year ago, as Indian American physicians, we watched helplessly as the United States, our home, succumbed to the first wave of Covid-19. This past week, we watched our ancestral home, India, succumb to a catastrophic surge of the virus with no end in sight. As hospital beds fill, so do our WhatsApp messages with pleas from family and friends abroad who are suffering -- and dying -- amid a medical apocalypse. Our social media feeds are filled with horrifying images of Indians gasping for air rejected by hospitals devoid of oxygen and beds, mass cremations and burials and people dying in the streets. (Bhavna Lall, Pooja Gala, Reshma Gupta, Jay Bhatt, Shikha Jain, Ali Khan, Lipi Roy and Vineet Arora, 5/5)

NBC News: White Covid Vaccine Rejectors Threaten Herd Immunity. Can We Change Their Minds In Time?
As physicians who practice on opposite ends of the United States and in vastly different communities, we’re watching the national race to vaccinate our fellow Americans with both optimism and alarm. First, the optimism: To date, over 147 million Americans have received at least one vaccine dose; nearly 100 million people, or close to 30 percent of the U.S. population, are now fully vaccinated. We are now averaging three million vaccinations a day. Our two states, Florida and Michigan, are reaching out to, and vaccinating, residents. And we have witnessed firsthand the public health workers, nurses and fellow physicians who continue to provide compassionate care for very sick people, more than one year into an emotionally and physically exhausting pandemic. Over 580,000 Americans have died due to coronavirus; at least 3,600 of them have been health care workers. (Dr. Rob Davidson and Dr. Bernard Ashby, 5/4)

The Washington Post: Dollars And Doughnuts Alone Won’t Conquer Vaccine Hesitancy 
In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has announced a $100 bonus for every state employee who gets vaccinated against covid-19 and keeps the vaccine up to date. Maryland joins a long list of governments, philanthropies and corporations dangling every sort of incentive — literally from dollars to doughnuts (in the form of a free Krispy Kreme glazed) — to entice Americans to take a jab or two for the team. But such incentives are unlikely to move the needle on vaccine hesitancy. With the medical doctors Anthony S. Fauci and Deborah Birx reduced to cannon fodder in the covid culture war, the psychologists Daniel Kahneman and the late Amos Tversky are now dominating the persuasion effort. Pioneers in the field of behavioral economics, they rank among the most influential thinkers of the late 20th century. (David Von Drehle, 5/4)

Los Angeles Times: COVID 'Herd Immunity' May Be Out Of Reach. Deal With It 
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have collectively focused on that point in the future when so many people have been inoculated or have obtained natural immunity, normal life could resume and this painful period would dissolve into the mists of history. But it seems that this magical moment in which the U.S. hits “herd immunity” and COVID-19 is stopped dead in its tracks isn’t likely to happen soon, if ever. (5/4)

Stat: Vaccine 'Heist' By India Imperils Global Access To Covid-19 Vaccines 
When Covid-19 began sweeping across the globe in 2020, many experts expected India to be the vaccine savior of the developing world. That thought bubble has burst. In the early days of the pandemic, as multiple vaccines were being rushed into clinical trials, intellectual property laws and patents were being viewed as big barriers that would prevent low-income countries from accessing lifesaving vaccines. That hasn’t come to pass. Instead, the real problems stem from the abject lack of procurement planning by a country that has immense vaccine manufacturing capacity and its shoddy regulatory oversight. (Dinesh Thakur, 5/5)

Chicago Tribune: No To Mandating Vaccine Passports 
The COVID-19 vaccines have been a gift from science to control the worst health pandemic in a century. Developed and deployed in less than year, they have become a potent weapon against an unpredictable virus. But their success raises a question: Under what circumstances might Americans be required to show proof of immunization? The city of Chicago is exploring the idea of a “Vax Pass,” particularly for younger people, which would be required as proof of immunization before they’d be allowed into certain venues, such as concerts. The passes might be applied toward preferred seating to encourage more people to get vaccinated. (5/4)

San Francisco Chronicle: The Case For Showing Your Face: Why Californians Should Drop The Masks Outdoors
The politicization of the mask is one of many calamities of the country’s pandemic response. Former President Donald Trump led his fellow partisans in turning an easy, effective, community-spirited precaution into yet another tribal signifier, pitting bare-faced conservatives against masked liberals, with untold and unnecessary consequences for public health. Left-leaning enclaves such as the Bay Area responded in kind, adopting masks so eagerly and faithfully that public masklessness is widely regarded with suspicion. But our masks are at long last coming off, at least according to official guidance in certain circumstances. Local and state officials have joined the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in advising that face coverings be forgone in uncrowded outdoor settings. In light of research showing outdoor transmission of the coronavirus to be extremely rare, the CDC advised last week that anyone walking, running or biking alone outdoors could do so without a mask. (5/4)