Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Childhood Polio Vaccination Must Increase; Why Is There No RSV Vaccine?
Unlike many other diseases, eradicating polio is scientifically possible. The challenge is mustering the will. (10/27)
As a mom to two children under the age of 5, there鈥檚 one thing I wish more than anything I could give them this holiday season: a pediatric vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. (Alyssa Rosenberg, 10/27)
Two new, small studies are stirring up more controversy over the new Covid boosters, updated to match the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains. The research suggests the shots are no better than old boosters. (Lisa Jarvis, 10/27)
Since July, BA.5 has been the dominant coronavirus variant in the United States. That could soon change as several other variants are on the rise. (Leana S. Wen, 10/27)
The United States has defaulted to treating life with the coronavirus as the new normal, but this normal, sadly, is anything but new. (Celine Gounder, 10/27)
A patient鈥檚 ability to make healthy choices, to live with a chronic health condition, to follow their specific medication or therapy regimen, and to fully recover from an illness or injury depends greatly on knowing what they must do and how to do it once they leave the doctor鈥檚 office or hospital. (Teresa Canfield, Jayne Moreau, Cathy Patton and Marcie L. Rehmar, 10/26)
The National Academy of Medicine launched its National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being in early October. The report focused on seven priority areas 鈥 culture, inclusion, institutionalization, mental health, policy, research, and technology 鈥 and called upon 鈥渁ctors鈥 in 10 different groups (spoiler alert: if you鈥檙e reading this, you鈥檙e likely an actor) to take immediate action to improve the well-being of the health workforce. (Sarah Smithson, 10/28)