Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The Pandemic Has Faded, But A Survey Shows Vaccine Misinfo Is Still Rife
Vaccine misinformation, which first began spiraling during the Covid-19 pandemic, has grown in the United States in the years since, according to a new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. More than 1,500 adults responded to the survey between October 5 – 12 and according to the results, the share of people who viewed vaccines as less safe and effective has increased since April 2021, when the group was first included on a panel for the survey. (Hassan, 11/1)
In other pandemic news —
Moderna on Thursday posted a steep loss for the third quarter as the drugmaker recorded a large write-down due to unused Covid vaccines, its only marketable products. Moderna’s total revenue for the period topped Wall Street’s expectations, even amid plummeting demand for its shot. Its outlook for next year, however, came in lower than what analysts were projecting. (Constantino, 11/2)
The state of Tennessee has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by its former vaccine leader over her firing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement in the case brought by Michelle Fiscus includes provisions that limit what each of the parties can say about each other, according to a copy provided by the Tennessee Department of Health in response to a public records request. (Mattise, 11/1)
The Mass General Brigham health system does not plan to require masking for patients and visitors during the coming cold-weather months, though the organization may mandate staff to wear masks in some circumstances if respiratory illnesses rise above certain levels. The policies were released Tuesday by the state’s largest health system, developed in response to recommendations from the Department of Public Health, to mitigate the spread of not only COVID this winter, but influenza and other respiratory illnesses. (Bartlett, 11/1)
Nearly a billion dollars went to trying to boost domestic manufacturing of PPE like masks and gloves. Experts say the effort is foundering and the nation isn't better off than it was three years ago. (Greenfieldboyce, 11/1)
