Welcome to Thursday’s Overnight Healthcare, We are following up on the latest developments in policies and news that affect your health. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup..
Omicron variants have made it a more difficult proposal to mandate the sale of vaccines. In addition to this, we will keep you up to date on the battle for the president’s vaccine or testing mission at work.
Programming Note: Overnight Healthcare will be off tomorrow and will return on Monday. Happy new year!
For The Hill, I’m Nathaniel Weixel (nweixel@thehill.com).Write tips and feedback and follow us on Twitter @NateWeixel..
let’s start.
Omicron undermines Biden’s commitment to vaccination
The rapidly prevailing variant of Omicron is causing problems for the White House as authorities are trying to convince the skeptical masses that vaccine mandates are needed.
Opponents of the mission have gained early evidence that vaccines are not very effective in stopping the transmission of new strains, which undermines important government debate to defend them, they say. ..
Many US airlines require employees to be fully vaccinated, and anti-delegation groups are the worst, with hundreds of otherwise healthy crew members absent due to vaccination status. Claimed that it could not help alleviate the shortage of.
Government authorities impose vaccination obligations on health care workers and obligations or testing requirements on large employers as an essential tool for vaccination of more people.
Vaccines do not necessarily prevent someone from becoming infected with COVID-19, but they do significantly reduce the chances of hospitalization or death. If the mandate means that more people will be vaccinated and the wave of people is infected, it can also reduce the stress on the national health system.
Over 85% of US adults over the age of 18 have been vaccinated with at least one COVID-19 vaccine, but overall, nearly 40% of all Americans remain unvaccinated.
Part of the problem: Inconsistent and sometimes fatal message from the government.
If people get the impression that they are trying to get COVID-19 no matter what, it will make selling a power of attorney much more politically difficult. Also, the new guidance on isolation from the CDC does not recommend treating vaccinated and unvaccinated people the same and having a negative COVID test. Experts said it makes it difficult to convince people of the benefits of being vaccinated, and obligations can keep you safe.
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Biden asks SCOTUS to continue delegation
On Thursday, the Biden administration urged the Supreme Court to leave the obligation to vaccinate or test at work to counter the surge in COVID-19 pandemics by public health officials.
The administration outline submitted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) has responded to the legal challenges posed by stakeholder groups and employers across the country claiming that health measures are an illegal exercise of government power. increase.
The central question in this case is whether Congress has given the government broad authority to impose such drastic workplace regulations that apply to companies with more than 100 workers.
To date, more than 820,000 people have died in the United States as a result of a pandemic. Unvaccinated people are 14 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than vaccinated people, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Opponents to Mandate ask the judge to block the policy or take up the formal appeal of the Federal Court of Appeals’ decision in preliminary support for Mandate while the case passes the lower court. I did.
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Study: Most children get serious illness with COVID that is not completely vaccinated
According to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only a small proportion of children hospitalized with COVID-19 are completely vaccinated.
CDC said that 0.4% of children and adolescents admitted to 6 hospitals in July and August with a serious COVID-19 infection were completely vaccinated.
“This study shows that unvaccinated children admitted with COVID-19 may experience serious illness, provide personal protection, and children who are not yet eligible for vaccination. The study emphasizes the importance of vaccination of all eligible children to protect them. “
The new study is consistent with recent comments from Anthony Fauci
Anthony Fauci’s armed man with a “hit list” including Biden, Fauci arrested in Iowa on his way to White House Overnight Healthcare — Biden officials consider vax obligations for travelThe White House Chief Medical Advisor advised parents on Thursday to vaccinate children subject to COVID-19 shots.
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The CDC states that cruise ships should be avoided regardless of vaccination status
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises Americans to avoid traveling on cruise ships, regardless of vaccination status, as cases of coronavirus are on the rise worldwide.
In the statement The Health Agency’s COVID-19 Travel Health Notice, released Thursday, updated the warning from level 3 to level 4. This is the highest level of warning from health agencies.
Authorities said the virus was at risk of spreading on board even those who were vaccinated and boosted.
“The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily among people in tight spaces on board. Even if you are fully vaccinated and have a booster vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine, COVID- on a cruise ship- The chances of getting infected with 19 are very high, “the CDC said in a statement.
The CDC also recommended that anyone who has traveled on an unvaccinated cruise ship be vaccinated and, if eligible, receive a booster shot.
According to CDC data, the cruise line reported 5,013 COVID-19 infections on vessels operating in U.S. waters between December 15 and 29, a significant increase from 162 reported in the last two weeks. Did.
Many cruise lines have implemented vaccine requirements, and as Omicron became more widespread, ships introduced mask rules in common areas.
The jury has determined that the company will be responsible for the opioid crisis in New York.
A jury trial on Thursday confirmed that pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceuticals was responsible for facilitating the opioid crisis in New York.
The jury concluded that actions by Teva and its subsidiaries helped create “pollution” by flooding the state with pills that killed thousands of people. The pollution debate has been used by plaintiffs in thousands of other opioid proceedings nationwide.
The proceedings were first filed in 2019, and the proceedings came after a six-month trial that began with dozens of defendants throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain. Eventually, all other defendants except Teva and its subsidiaries reached a multi-million dollar settlement.
Initially, the Attorney General of New York filed proceedings against six manufacturers and the country’s largest distributor.
The proceeding was the first of its kind to the company that manufactured the drug, along with prescription distributors and pharmacies. It was jointly discussed by Suffolk and Nassau counties as well as the state.
Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, D, said other settlements from manufacturers and distributors earned about $ 1.5 billion.
“There is no amount to compensate for the lives lost due to human suffering, addiction, or opioid abuse, but we will soon proceed with a trial to determine how much Teva and others will pay,” James said. Said. statement.
Teva said in a statement that he would appeal the verdict “quickly.”
The jury did not grant damages. The amount will be decided at a later date.
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What we are reading
- The hospital is not yet fully compliant with federal price disclosure rules (The Wall Street Journal).
- Beyond the number of cases: What Omicron teaches us (statistics).
- First they ran out of PPE and then they ran out of ventilator. Currently, there is a shortage of hospital staff (Washington post).
State by state
- Whistleblowers allege that Maryland health officials did not warn hundreds of patients about potentially corrupt vaccines (Baltimore Sun).
- After losing the vaccine proceedings, John O’Connor of Oklahoma AG urges Biden to consider an exemption (Oklahoman).
- California prisons are fighting the virus outbreak in staff concerns (Associated Press).
That’s it for today. Thank you for reading. Check out Hill’s Healthcare page for the latest news and coverage. See you on monday.
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