First Edition: May 26, 2021
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
KHN:
Lady Gaga And J.Lo Sell ‘Well’ Building Seal, But It’s A Payday, Not A PSA
Viewers could be excused for thinking Robert De Niro was just being a good fella in an ad promoting safe buildings amid the covid pandemic, along with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Michael B. Jordan. They would be wrong. De Niro and the other A-list celebs are backing something called the Well Health-Safety seal, offered by the International Well Building Institute. The organization, a for-profit subsidiary of a decade-old real estate service company called Delos, is piggybacking on post-pandemic anxiety to profit by popularizing its healthy building certification program. (McAuliff, 5/26)
KHN:
Minneapolis Police Injured Protesters With Rubber Bullets. The City Has Taken Little Action
As police in riot gear approached the demonstrators, Soren Stevenson raised his hands like scores of others and called out, “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Suddenly, tear gas canisters and rubber bullets rained down. The demonstrators had gathered for a sixth straight day to decry Minneapolis police officers’ use-of-force practices after the slaying of an unarmed Black man named George Floyd. On May 31, 2020, the protesters were under fire. (Wagner, 5/26)
KHN:
‘Better Than The Hospital’: Pandemic Boosts Care For Serious Illnesses At Home
Late last year, Janet Yetenekian was one of the thousands of people in Southern California whose case of covid-19 was serious enough to send her to the hospital. But Yetenekian’s recovery was not typical: She received hospital-level care in her own home in Glendale. “It was even better than the hospital,” Yetenekian said, laughing. “They were constantly reaching out — it’s time for you to do your vitals, or it’s time for you to take your medications.” (O'Neill, 5/26)
The Wall Street Journal:
Half Of U.S. Adults Are Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19
Half of U.S. adults are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, federal officials said Tuesday, a sign of the nation’s progress in fighting the pandemic. More than 129 million people in the U.S. 18 years and older have been vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health authorities want to vaccinate as many people as possible in the U.S.—children and adults—in order to drive down infections and deaths and fully move past the pandemic. (Abbott and Siddiqui, 5/25)
The New York Times:
C.D.C. Chief Urges Caution For Unvaccinated Ahead Of Memorial Day
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered a hopeful message mixed with caution on Tuesday for Americans planning to celebrate the traditional beginning of summer with friends and family. “If you are vaccinated, you are protected, and you can enjoy your Memorial Day,” the C.D.C. director, Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, said during a White House news conference. “If you are not vaccinated, our guidance has not changed for you, you remain at risk of infection. You still need to mask and take other precautions.” (Levin, 5/26)
The New York Times:
CDC Will Not Investigate Mild Infections In Vaccinated Americans
Julie Cohn was fully vaccinated when she went to cheer at her 12-year-old son’s basketball game in March. Midway through the match, he asked to remove his mask because he was getting so hot. She thought little of it. Three days later, he had a sore throat. He tested positive for the coronavirus, as did his younger brother a few days later. Ms. Cohn cared for them, thinking she was protected, but she woke up with what seemed like a head cold on March 28. The next day, she, too, tested positive. (Caryn Rabin, 5/25)
Axios:
Moderna's COVID Vaccine Safe And Highly Effective In Adolescents, Study Shows
Moderna on Tuesday announced that its coronavirus vaccine was found to be safe and 100% effective at protecting against COVID-19 in a Phase 3 trial of more than 3,700 participants between the ages of 12 and 17. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company plans to submit its data to global regulators in early June, paving the way for an emergency use authorization for adolescents. (Gonzalez, 5/25)
AP:
Moderna Says Its COVID-19 Shot Works In Kids As Young As 12
Moderna said Tuesday its COVID-19 vaccine strongly protects kids as young as 12, a step that could put the shot on track to become the second option for that age group in the U.S. With global vaccine supplies still tight, much of the world is struggling to vaccinate adults in the quest to end the pandemic. But earlier this month, the U.S. and Canada authorized another vaccine — the shot made by Pfizer and BioNTech — to be used starting at age 12. (Neergaard, 5/25)
Axios:
Children And Teens Are Next In Line For COVID Vaccine
Half of U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated, less than six months after Pfizer got the first emergency authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 287 million doses have been administered in the U.S. (5/25)
CIDRAP:
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rises But Needs Boost
Two new studies reveal that although COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has declined in the United States, 35.2% of adults 18 to 39 years and 8.7% of those 65 and older still said they would not partake as of March 2021 and November 2020, respectively. UK researchers leading the first study, published yesterday in JAMA, sent online questionnaires to participants in the Understanding America Study every 14 to 28 days from Oct 14, 2020, to Mar 29, 2021. (Van Beusekom, 5/25)
NBC News:
Breakthrough Infections After Covid Vaccination Are Rare, CDC Says
Of the more than 130 million people in the United States who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, there have been reports of at least 10,262 breakthrough infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A breakthrough infection occurs when someone tests positive for coronavirus more than 14 days after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or the single Johnson & Johnson shot. (Syal, 5/25)
Axios:
Black And Hispanic Americans Seeing Higher COVID Case Rates As Vaccinations Lag
Black and Hispanic Americans are once again seeing higher coronavirus case rates than white Americans — as their vaccination rates continue to lag, per CDC data. The virus will continue to infect and kill people who aren't protected from it. If fewer people of color are vaccinated, that means more are at risk of getting sick — which is exactly what's happening among some groups. (Owens, 5/25)
CNN:
Despite Declining Cases, Expert Warns Unvaccinated Americans Are Still At High Risk For Covid-19
The US is hitting major Covid-19 vaccination milestones, but health experts say those who are not inoculated should not rely on protection from those who are, as their infection risk hasn't gone down in response to declining cases. "The work ahead of us is going to be really challenging because while the people who are fully vaccinated are well protected, we still have to keep on convincing individuals who are not yet vaccinated that they are not safe," CNN medical analyst Cr. Leana Wen told Wolf Blitzer. "The pandemic is not over for them." (Holcombe, 5/26)
Axios:
Scientists: Canceling Tokyo Olympics "May Be The Safest Option"
With less than two months until the Tokyo Olympics' opening ceremony, scientists are warning that "canceling the games may be the safest option," according to a paper published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. As Japan anticipates 20,000 athletes and support staff from 200 different countries, the country remains in a state of emergency with nearly 70,000 active cases and only 5% of the population vaccinated, the lowest rate within OECD countries. (Fernandez, 5/26)
AP:
Major Japan Newspaper Asahi Calls For Olympic Cancellation
Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper on Wednesday called for the Tokyo Olympics to be canceled with the games set to open in less than two months. It is the first of Japan’s major newspapers to make the move and joins some regional newspapers that have recently added to the growing opposition to holding the Olympics. Coming out against the Olympics could be significant since the newspaper, like many in Japan, is a sponsor of the postponed Olympics that are to open on July 23. Asahi is typically liberal-leaning and often opposes the ruling party led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. (Wade and Komiya, 5/26)
The Hill:
HHS Commits $4.8B For Testing Uninsured People For COVID-19
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Tuesday that it is designating $4.8 billion to provide relief funding for COVID-19 testing for uninsured people in the U.S. The administration intends the funding from the American Rescue Plan to ensure the approximately 29 million uninsured U.S. residents have access to COVID-19 testing in order to track where the virus is prevalent for appropriate responses. (Coleman, 5/25)
Roll Call:
Democrats Try To Counter Attack Ads Over Drug Prices
Facing a $5 million barrage of ads attacking their health care plans as “socialist,” Democrats are hitting back with a “five-figure” digital campaign thanking members in battleground districts for supporting a bill they say would lower the cost of prescription drugs. The ads, launched Tuesday by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, come as groups from both sides of the aisle are waging a messaging war over a Democratic proposal that would allow Medicare to negotiate prices for a subset of drugs with drugmakers based on average prices in certain foreign countries. (Akin and McIntire, 5/25)
Los Angeles Times:
Democrats Promised To Lower Drug Prices, But Plans Are Sputtering
With control of Congress and the White House, Democrats have an opportunity to bring down prescription drug prices, addressing one of voters’ top concerns and finally fulfilling a campaign pledge Speaker Nancy Pelosi made to voters 15 years ago. Despite widespread support among Democrats, the idea has sputtered, however, as President Biden left it out of his infrastructure plan and is expected to leave it out of his budget while congressional Democrats remain noncommittal about how they might enact it. The initiative has fallen victim to extremely slim majorities and division among Democrats. (Haberkorn and Stokols, 5/26)
Roll Call:
These Pro-Life Amendments Could Be On The Biden Budget Chopping Block
Earlier this year, President Joe Biden followed through on a major campaign promise to the abortion lobby — and broke with decadeslong bipartisan consensus — by signing a massive stimulus bill without pro-life Hyde Amendment protections. In the guise of COVID-19 relief, the so-called American Rescue Plan was the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion since Obamacare. Now with the administration’s budget proposal expected this week, a slew of life-saving policies modeled after Hyde could also be on the chopping block. (Marjorie Dannenfelser, 5/25)
The Hill:
Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Reintroduces Bill To Give Inmates Medicaid Access
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday reintroduced legislation that would provide inmates with access to Medicaid. A press release from Rep. Annie Kuster’s (D-N.H.) office stated that passing the Humane Correctional Health Care Act would repeal Medicaid Inmate Exclusion, which keeps incarcerated Medicaid enrollees from accessing benefits and shifts the “cost burden to states and counties.” Kuster, who sits on the House Subcommittee on Health, was joined by a bipartisan group of House members, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), in reintroducing the bill. (Choi, 5/25)
CNN:
Pompeo-Led Effort To Hunt Down Covid Lab Theory Shut Down By Biden Administration Over Concerns About Quality Of Evidence
President Joe Biden's team shut down a closely-held State Department effort launched late in the Trump administration to prove the coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab over concerns about the quality of its work, according to three sources familiar with the decision. The existence of the State Department inquiry and its termination this spring by the Biden administration -- neither of which has been previously reported -- comes to light amid renewed interest in whether the virus could have leaked out of a Wuhan lab with links to the Chinese military. (Atwood, 5/25)
Politico:
US Succeeds In Efforts To Delay Pandemic Treaty
The United States and other countries opposed to the imminent penning of a pandemic treaty have succeeded in delaying discussion, with a World Health Organization draft text published today pushing any decisions to November. The draft decision, which countries will discuss this week at the World Health Assembly, signals that Washington's strong opposition ultimately won out after difficult discussions among member countries, aided in part by the reluctance among some other capitals that said they couldn't discuss a treaty in the midst of the pandemic. (Furlong, 5/25)
AP:
Senate Confirms Brooks-LaSure To Run Health Care Programs
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Joe Biden’s pick to run U.S. health insurance programs, putting in place a key player who’ll carry out his strategy for expanding affordable coverage and reining in prescription drug costs. Obama-era policy adviser Chiquita Brooks-LaSure will be the first Black person to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, which also administers children’s health insurance and the Affordable Care Act. Together, the programs cover more than 130 million people, from newborns to nursing home residents, and play a central role in the nation’s health care system. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 5/25)
Stat:
Most Clinical Trials Are Still Not Reported On Time To Federal Database
Amid ongoing calls for greater clinical trial transparency, a new analysis finds just 40% of study results were reported to a U.S. database within a required one-year deadline, although sponsors did a better job of complying with several other mandates. For instance, 89% of nearly 8,900 trials were registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on a timely basis and registration data was verified annually in 76% of the studies. In addition, protocols and statistical analysis plans were submitted in nearly all of the trials, but only two-thirds indicated sponsors made timely requests to delay reporting the results. (Silverman, 5/25)
The Wall Street Journal:
Covid-19 Vaccine Makers Press Countries To Oppose Patent Waiver
Covid-19 vaccine makers have dialed up lobbying and public-relations efforts to rally opposition to a proposal to temporarily waive their patents. Since the Biden administration threw its support behind the waiver proposal early this month, pharmaceutical industry trade groups have been moving to support Germany, Japan and other countries that expressed opposition, people familiar with the lobbying said. The industry lobbyists have told the governments, in meetings and phone calls, that a waiver wouldn’t address shortages any time soon, while straining raw material supplies, the people said. (Hopkins and Loftus, 5/26)
NBC News:
CDC Looking Into Possible Link Between Heart Problem And Covid Vaccines In Young People
Doctors offered reassurance Tuesday following several dozen reports of mostly mild heart problems after Covid-19 vaccinations, but suggested recipients and their families pay close attention to possible symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath. It remains unclear whether the vaccine is the cause of the heart problem, called myocarditis. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine safety group said it was looking into "relatively few reports" of the condition in vaccinated individuals — primarily teenagers and young adults. (Edwards and Miller, 5/25)
CIDRAP:
Dentists May Have Fewer COVID-19 Infections Than Other Health Workers
Monthly dentist surveys showed a cumulative infection rate of 2.6%, according to a study yesterday in the Journal of the American Dental Association (ADA). The researchers say these rates are lower than those in other health workers, such as physicians or emergency medical service professionals. While 2,196 participants responded at least once from June to November 2020, only 785 answered all six surveys. Of the total cohort, most were male (59.2%), White (76.1%), in private practice (94.8%), or were general dentists (82.1%). Almost one in four (24.4%) had at least one medical condition associated with higher COVID-related risk, with the most common being obesity (7.6%) and asthma (7.3%). The median age was 52.6 years. (5/25)
CIDRAP:
Tocilizumab Associated With Less Death In Moderate-To-Severe COVID-19
Tocilizumab was associated with a lower risk of death 90 days after treatment in COVID-19 patients with moderate-to-severe infection or pneumonia at the time of enrollment, particularly those with high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine research letter yesterday. CRP is a marker of inflammation. In the continuation of a previous JAMA Internal Medicine study that found an association between tocilizumab and reduced ventilation or death by day 14 (but not mortality by day 28), the researchers followed up with the 63 patients who received tocilizumab and the 67 in the control group. By day 90, 7 in the intervention group (11.1%) and 11 in the control group (16.4%) died (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25 to 0.65). (5/25)
Axios:
New Alzheimer's Drug Could Enter The Market Soon
A new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease may soon enter the market, but getting it to patients could be challenging, Bloomberg reports. The drug, which is called aducanumab and made by Biogen, is the first Alzheimer's treatment thought to slow the progression of the disease in people who show early signs of cognitive impairment. (Owens, 5/25)
Health News Florida:
CDC To Study Health Effects Of Cyanotoxin Exposure From Blue-Green Algae
In 2018, Southwest Florida suffered through two massive harmful algal blooms: the red tide bloom that persisted off the Gulf coast and the blue-green algae bloom that started in Lake Okeechobee and choked the Caloosahatchee River and its estuary. While research has been conducted on how far cyanotoxins produced by the blue-green algae can travel through the air, health officials don’t have a clear understanding of possible health effects from breathing them. (Kiniry, 5/25)
Michigan Radio:
Some Home Garden Fertilizers Contain PFAS
If you buy some kinds of bagged fertilizer for your garden, you might be getting more than you want. The Ecology Center and Sierra Club sampled different kinds of fertilizers made from biosolids. That’s the sludge left at a wastewater treatment plant after water is cleaned up. Almost all of them had PFAS compounds in them. Some of them were being marketed as "organic" or "natural." (Graham, 5/25)
Scientific American:
The Maximum Human Life Span Is 150 Years, New Research Estimates
Yet what if death simply cannot be hacked and longevity will always have a ceiling, no matter what we do? Researchers have now taken on the question of how long we can live if, by some combination of serendipity and genetics, we do not die from cancer, heart disease or getting hit by a bus. They report that when omitting things that usually kill us, our body’s capacity to restore equilibrium to its myriad structural and metabolic systems after disruptions still fades with time. And even if we make it through life with few stressors, this incremental decline sets the maximum life span for humans at somewhere between 120 and 150 years. In the end, if the obvious hazards do not take our lives, this fundamental loss of resilience will do so, the researchers conclude in findings published on May 25 in Nature Communications. (Willingham, 5/25)
Illinois Public Radio:
With Black Women At Highest Risk Of Maternal Death, Some States Extending Medicaid
When a woman dies during pregnancy or within a year of childbirth in Illinois, that’s considered a maternal death. Karen Tabb Dina reviews cases like this in the state of Illinois. She’s a maternal health researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who serves on a state-level committee that’s trying to figure out what’s causing these mothers to die. The group’s most recent analysis found that about 75 women in Illinois die from pregnancy-related causes each year. Consistent with national trends, Black women are at greater risk than white women, and the vast majority of the deaths were preventable. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation where the maternal death rate is rising. Each year, 700 women die due to pregnancy, childbirth or subsequent complications, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Herman, 5/25)
NBC News:
Woman Suing Fertility Doctor, Accusing Him Of Impregnating Her With His Own Sperm
A New Jersey woman accused a doctor of "medical rape" by secretly using his own sperm to impregnate her nearly 40 years ago, she said in a federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday. Bianca Voss, 75, said she paid her New York City OB-GYN, Dr. Martin Greenberg, $100 to secure sperm from an anonymous donor at a sperm bank in 1983, according to her civil complaint filed in New York. The procedure led to a successful pregnancy and birth of her daughter, Roberta Voss, in 1984. t wasn't until Roberta Voss purchased a DNA kit from 23andMe in the fall of 2020 that she discovered her biological father was a man named Martin Greenberg, born in 1943 and now living in Florida. (Li, 5/25)
NBC News:
Healthiest States In The U.S. During The 2020 Pandemic Were In The Northeast
For the first time in years, Hawaii didn't top digital health company Sharecare's Community Well-Being Index, which was released on Tuesday morning. Instead, Massachusetts made a surprise appearance at the top of the list. Hawaii came in second, followed by New Jersey, Maryland and New York. The rankings, which have been shared every year since 2008, look at social determinants of health like access to health care, food, housing, transportation and personal health risk factors including physical health, community and social bonds, financial management skills and strength of purpose in daily life. To make the list, researchers from Sharecare and the Boston University School of Public Health assessed more than 450,000 respondents across all 50 states. (Breen, 5/25)
Axios:
Why Drug-Discount Programs Aren't Always A Good Deal
Buying prescription drugs through GoodRx, Amazon and other alternative avenues does not guarantee patients are getting a good deal. More people are purchasing their drugs with cash instead of using their health insurance, in large part because they are getting sizable discounts. But discounted prices often still have no relation to a drug's actual cost. (Herman, 5/26)
CNBC:
Racial Trauma Effects On Mental Health: How To Cope At Work
Returning to “normal” life amid Covid, like going back to the office or school, will not be business as usual. In addition to living through a pandemic that has killed more than 570,000 people in the United States, Black, Indigenous and people of color have experienced immense racial trauma in the past year, from the murder of George Floyd exactly one year ago on May 25, 2020, to the Atlanta spa shooting in March. (Stieg, 5/25)
Stat:
Ro’s Deal With Modern Fertility Puts A Spotlight On Health Tech’s Gender Gap
After raising $500 million earlier this year — bringing its total funding up to $897 million — Ro, which made its name selling erectile dysfunction and hair loss drugs to men, this month announced it would acquire women-centric brand Modern Fertility for a reported $225 million. To some observers, Ro’s acquisition of Modern Fertility follows a well-established pattern: Companies founded by men might have an easier time raising capital, even very early in their histories, while companies focused on or founded by women might struggle to scrape together a seed round or secure further financing. (Brodwin, 5/25)
The New York Times:
Puerto Rico, Recovering From A Spring Surge, Lifted A Curfew That Was In Effect Throughout The Pandemic
As Puerto Rico recovers from a spring coronavirus surge and cases decline, the U.S. territory is steadily relaxing pandemic restrictions, including lifting a nightly curfew that was in effect since March 2020. The island is taking a big step toward returning to normal not long after experiencing its worst outbreak. Toward the end of April, Puerto Rico was reporting over 1,000 cases a day, up from about 200 new daily cases in mid-March. (Waller, 5/25)
AP:
Hawaii Governor Eliminates Mask Mandate For Outdoors
Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Tuesday people will no longer have to wear masks outdoors as the number of COVID-19 cases drop and more people get vaccinated. The governor said he would maintain a requirement that people wear masks indoors. The same rules will apply regardless of whether someone is vaccinated. Still, the governor said he would encourage those who are in large groups outside to continue to wear masks. (McAvoy, 5/26)
AP:
ACLU Lawsuit Challenges Arkansas Trans Youth Treatment Ban
The American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal judge Tuesday to strike down a new Arkansas law that made the state the first to ban gender confirming treatments or surgery for transgender youth. The ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging the new prohibition, which is set to take effect on July 28. It prohibits doctors from providing gender confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery to anyone under 18 years old, or from referring them to other providers for the treatment. (DeMillo, 5/25)
Michigan Radio:
Michigan Shows The Challenge Of Replacing Lead Pipes
President Biden has proposed a jobs and infrastructure plan of more than $2 trillion that would set aside billions to replace the nation's lead water pipes. When he announced his American Jobs Plan in April, the president pointed to Flint's troubles as a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting infrastructure decay. ... But Flint is also an example of how to fix the problem — and the many challenges along the way that could slow progress. (Carmody, 5/25)
ABC News:
Tennessee Bans Teaching Critical Race Theory In Schools
The legislation, which was amended several times in the final days of the legislative session, takes effect July 1. Among other things, Tennessee's teachers can't instruct that “an individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously.” “Impartial discussion of controversial aspects of history” is still permitted under the law, and limits on teacher speech won’t apply when a teacher is responding to a student’s question or referring to a historic figure or group. (Kruesi, 5/25)
The New York Times:
Mount Sinai Seeks To Expand School Virus Testing Program
Every week, students at KIPP Infinity Middle School, in West Harlem, file into a large auditorium and take their places on the designated floor markings, making sure to stand six feet apart. Then they pull down their masks and fill sterile tubes with their spit. The school’s teachers try to make the experience fun, running competitions to see who can fill their tube fastest and holding dance contests while students wait for their classmates to finish. (Anthes, 5/25)
The Baltimore Sun:
Despite Progress, Marylanders Are Still Being Hospitalized With COVID — And They’re Younger Now
Shirlonda Tucker didn’t leave the house much in the past year, and she double-masked when she did. So her positive COVID-19 test came as a shock. “I said, ‘Are you sure, you’re really sure?’” she quizzed the nurse who tested her last month after she began showing symptoms. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all down significantly in Maryland from the winter surge, but people continue to get sick — in some cases, very sick. On Tuesday, 442 were hospitalized, 118 in intensive care. Seven more deaths were reported, bringing the state’s coronavirus death toll to 8,838. (Cohn, 5/26)
AP:
Michigan Senate: No COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Minors
Michigan Republicans on Tuesday advanced a bill that would prohibit state and local health officials from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for children under age 18. The concept is not under consideration in the state. But GOP senators said they want to be proactive. “While they might not be mandating something, they’re certainly creating a scenario where mandates are being pushed. I just wanted to ensure that that wasn’t going to happen in this space. Parents should be allowed to make the decision on this,” Sen. Lana Theis, of Brighton, said of her legislation that would prevent the use of a state or local emergency order to require coronavirus vaccines for minors. It won Senate approval on a 20-16 party-line vote and was sent to the Republican-controlled House. (Eggert, 5/26)
AP:
COVID Vaccinations Offered Aboard Washington Ferries
People in Washington state can now get a COVID vaccination on the ferry. The state Department of Transportation and Peninsula Community Health Services are offering shots aboard the Seattle-Bremerton ferry runs from Tuesday until Thursday. Another round of shots will be given next week, from June 1 to 3. KOMO reports that interested passengers can get the vaccine on sailings departing from mid-morning until late afternoon. (5/26)
WUSF Public Media:
Florida's Daily Tally Of New COVID Cases Lowest Since October: 1,606
The Florida Department of Health on Monday reported 1,606 new coronavirus cases, fewest in a day since mid-October. Statewide, the deaths of 28 people from COVID-19 complications were recorded Monday. That brings the total number of deaths from the virus in Florida to 37,235. Numbers are traditionally low on Monday. The state reported only 49,857 tests were returned, the lowest number in a month, and about 32,000 fewer than the daily average for the last two weeks. (Newborn, 5/25)
KCRW:
High Cost Of Los Angeles Homeless Camp Raises Eyebrows And Questions
In Los Angeles, city officials grappling with an ongoing homelessness crisis have turned to an idea that for decades was politically unpopular and considered radical: a government-funded tent encampment. But the high cost of LA's first sanctioned campground — more than $2,600 per tent, per month — has advocates worried it will come at the expense of more permanent housing. (Scott, 5/25)
The Hill:
France Probing Whether Russia Involved In Campaign Against Pfizer Vaccine
A France security official said Tuesday that authorities were looking into whether Russia was involved in efforts to gather social media influencers for an online campaign aiming to sow doubt in the safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The official told The Wall Street Journal that it suspected the Kremlin could be behind a series of emails that several French bloggers said they had received in recent days from a person who claimed to work for the marketing firm, Fazze. (Castronuovo, 5/25)
Reuters:
New Zealand Health Systems Hackers Release Patient Details To The Media
Hackers who targeted hospitals in New Zealand’s Waikato district have released what appears to be private patient information to media outlets, as health systems struggled to come back online more than a week after the attack. A group claiming responsibility for the Waikato District Health Board cyberattack that took place last week released scores of official looking records and documents containing names, phone numbers, and addresses of patients and staff, Radio New Zealand and other local media reported. (5/26)
The Washington Post:
Taiwan’s Tsai Accuses Beijing Of Blocking BioNTech Vaccine Deal
Taipei’s war of words with Beijing around the pandemic took a sharp turn on Wednesday when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of preventing German biotechnology company BioNTech from supplying the self-governing island with coronavirus vaccines. It was the first time that Taiwan had directly specified China’s alleged involvement in blocking such an agreement. “We were close to completing the contract with the original German plant, but because of China’s intervention, up to now there’s been no way to complete it,” Tsai told members of her Democratic Progressive Party, according to Reuters. (Ang, 5/26)
The Wall Street Journal:
WHO Seeks More Data On Second Chinese Covid-19 Vaccine Up For Approval
The World Health Organization is seeking more data on Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s CoronaVac as it weighs whether to authorize a second Chinese Covid-19 vaccine under international pressure to help distribute more shots to poor countries. In recent weeks, the WHO has asked for more details regarding the safety of the shot and requested data about Sinovac’s manufacturing process to assess whether it is compliant with WHO standards, according to people familiar with the matter. One senior WHO official now expects a decision to be delayed into June. (Deng and Hinshaw, 5/26)
CNBC:
Covid: Malaysia Now Has More Cases Per Million People Than India
Malaysia’s daily Covid-19 cases are climbing rapidly and have surpassed India’s on one critical measure, according to statistics site Our World in Data. India has been experiencing a devastating second wave since April and has the world’s second largest Covid caseload. The country’s daily case count, while trending downward, has remained elevated at hundreds of thousands of infections — far exceeding Malaysia’s few thousands a day. But Malaysia’s daily Covid infections per million people — on a seven-day rolling basis — have exceeded that of India since Sunday, data compiled by Our World in Data showed. (Lee, 5/26)