Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Nonmedical Vaccine Exemptions Need An Overhaul; CDC's Opioid Restrictions Are Dangerous
We live in an age of advanced scientific knowledge that produces vaccines that can ward off diseases such as measles, rubella, mumps and polio. We also live in an age when an increasing number of parents want the option of not vaccinating their children against these highly contagious and potentially fatal diseases. (1/5)
How many innocent lives must be harmed before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changes course on prescription opioids? The CDC recently released聽opioid guidelines, a recommendation for physician prescribing practices, and an update to the original 2016 document, which wrongheadedly attempted 鈥 and failed 鈥 to solve the opioid crisis by preventing physicians from prescribing pain medication to patients. (Peter Pischke, 1/5)
When the Chinese government abruptly eased its draconian Covid-19 policies in December, I felt an uncanny combination of abject horror and relief. After three years of endless PCR tests and lockdowns 鈥 鈥渮ero Covid,鈥 which has gripped China like a vise, was finally brought to a close. (Frankie Huang, 1/5)
After more than half a century of service at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Anthony Fauci has finally retired. Regrettably, after helping to guide the country through one of the deadliest pandemics in global history, Fauci and his life鈥檚 work didn鈥檛 receive the hero鈥檚 sendoff they deserve. (Steven Solter, 1/4)
As 2023 begins, health care providers in the United States must make health records more easily available or risk losing Medicare funding under the 21st Century Cures Act. While this is a win for patients, providers, and researchers, the legislation鈥檚 failure to include dental care ignores the crucial link between oral health and overall health. (Kiltesh Patel, 1/5)