KHN Weekly Edition: Aug. 20, 2021

Biden’s No-Jab-No-Job Order Creates Quandary for Nursing Homes
By Jordan Rau and Andy Miller Nursing home operators acknowledge that large numbers of staff members are not getting the shots but fear a federal vaccination mandate could drive away workers in a tight labor market.

‘We Sent a Terrible Message’: Scientists Say Biden Jumped the Gun With Vaccine Booster Plan
By Rachana Pradhan Many experts say the evidence doesn’t justify widespread booster shots for adults.

After Pandemic Ravaged Nursing Homes, New State Laws Protect Residents
By Susan Jaffe This year, 23 states passed more than 70 pandemic-related provisions affecting nursing homes, including measures setting minimum staffing levels, expanding visitation protections and limiting owners’ profit margins.

School or ‘Russian Roulette’? Amid Delta Variant and Lax Mask Rules, Some Parents See No Difference
By Rae Ellen Bichell Students in many places are starting the new school year with their masks off — even in one Colorado county that was one of the nation’s first delta variant hot spots.

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Booster Time
As the delta variant continues to spread around the U.S., the Biden administration is taking steps to authorize covid vaccine boosters, require nursing home workers to be vaccinated and protect school officials who want to require masks despite state laws banning those mandates. Meanwhile, the U.S. House is returning from its summer break early to start work on its giant budget bill, which includes a long list of health policy changes. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.

Covid Politics and Fatigue Work Against Contact-Tracing Foot Soldiers
By Amanda Michelle Gomez Local health officials find themselves once again behind the covid curve as the delta variant drives their case counts. With resources already stretched, along with the politicization of covid-19, county and state health departments in places like Missouri and Texas are making tough calls on whom to trace.

To Stoke Rural Vaccination Rates, Trusted Farmers Are Asked to Spread Word
By Christine Herman, WILL / Illinois Public Media Rural health experts are calling on trusted agricultural leaders — like farmers and ranchers — to use their understanding of science and nudge vaccine-hesitant neighbors to roll up their sleeves for a covid shot. But some farmers say they doubt they can change anyone’s mind.

If the Unvaccinated Want to Work, They Face a Series of Hurdles
By Julie Appleby As employers create safety protocols for workers who refuse vaccination, we ask experts if they really work. Or is the point to pressure employees into getting a shot?

Science Shows Mask-Wearing Is Largely Safe for Children
By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact Scientists have found little evidence that the kind of masks worn by students negatively affect oxygen or carbon dioxide levels.

Federal Vaccine Program Hasn’t Helped Those Whose Lives Were Altered by Covid Shot
By Arthur Allen A national vaccine court has paid out billions to families who could prove their kids were injured by vaccines. But there’s only a skeletal program for the rare victims of covid vaccination, raising concerns as the pressure for mandated shots grows.

The White House Says Boosters for All. Here’s What You Need to Know.
By Sarah Jane Tribble Federal officials are preparing to offer those who received Pfizer or Moderna covid vaccines a third dose in September. But the FDA and CDC are still reviewing the data for final clearance.

Have Vaccines, Will Travel: On the Road With a Covid Entrepreneur
By Katheryn Houghton While many businesses scaled back at the height of the pandemic, one Montana man used covid-19 to open his own mobile pharmacy. He’s now bringing covid shots to Montana’s vaccine deserts while filling his wallet. But he cannot fill all the vaccination gaps.

‘Tainted’ Blood: Covid Skeptics Request Blood Transfusions From Unvaccinated Donors
By JoNel Aleccia In another twist on covid vaccine hesitancy, blood centers say they are starting to hear from transfusion patients demanding blood from unvaccinated donors. Experts say the option is neither practical nor medically justifiable.

The Newest Disease Detection Tool for Covid and Beyond: Poop
By Anna Maria Barry-Jester Hundreds of college campuses, cities and counties around California and the U.S. are exploring sewers for the newest data stream to track covid and other infectious diseases.

In Rural America, Twisting Arms to Take a Covid Vaccine First Takes Trust
By Cara Anthony In communities across the country, the Cooperative Extension System, the same organization that supports 4-H clubs nationally, is tapping its roots in rural communities to promote vaccines. But its approach to getting people vaccinated in many communities, including Cairo, Illinois, must be nuanced.