Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Who Will Be In First Wave Of COVID Shots? CDC Panel Hashes It Out Today
With the Food and Drug Administration set to evaluate the two COVID-19 vaccine candidates in the coming weeks -- good news for a country fatigued by what seems to be a never-ending pandemic -- who will get the first doses? On Tuesday, independent advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will weigh in on that very question. (Ebbs and Rivas, 11/30)
The committee that decides who gets the coronavirus vaccine first meets virtually Tuesday as officials prepare for distribution that could potentially come within two weeks. Look for discussion of two questions: Where should people in long-term care facilities be in the vaccine line and the power of states and governors to shift priorities for who gets immunized first. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is an independent group convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to offer advice on who should get specific vaccines and when. (Weise, 12/1)
In related vaccine news —
As the US prepares for the first round of vaccinations to tackle Covid-19, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci called on the public to "be part of the solution" and get vaccinated once it is available. "Say, 'I'm not going to be one of the people that's going to be a steppingstone for the virus to go to somebody else. I'm going to be a dead end to the virus,'" Fauci told Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Monday. (Holcombe, 12/1)
Federal government officials are promising coronavirus vaccines soon -- some even before Christmas -- and states are gearing up to begin vaccinating Americans sometime in December. It almost sounds as if people will be lining up everywhere before New Year's to get a vaccine. But while millions of health care workers may be able to get immunized against the virus before the end of the year, the rest of the population is going to have to wait for months. (Fox, 11/30)
Calling it "incredible news," Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday Kentucky expects to get its first shipment of a COVID-19 vaccine by mid-December, followed by a second, larger batch of vaccine by the end of the month. "The light at the end of the tunnel's brighter than it's ever been," Beshear said at a news conference. The first doses will be given to those considered at greatest risk, such as nursing home residents and staff and some health workers. (Yetter, 11/30)
