Health Care — House Panel Dings Trumpera Officials Over Pandemic

George Newall, the last surviving member of the "Schoolhouse Rock" writing team, has passed away. Readers of a certain age know this: three is the magic number.

The House Health Committee today released its final report on the Covid-19 crisis, accusing the previous administration of mishandling and exacerbating the first part of the outbreak.

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Panel: The Trump White House has stepped up its response to the pandemic

A special House subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis released its final report last Friday before Republicans take control of the House in the next Congress, revealing new findings on how the Trump administration's actions have negatively impacted the U.S. response.

The Democratic-led subcommittee's report, led by R. James Clyburn (AC), highlighted "the White House's mismanagement of the pandemic response and continued political interference."

The committee determined that the previous administration was unable to adjust its response to the Covid-19 outbreak due to a change in public health experts' understanding of the virus and also failed to coordinate properly with public health authorities.

• In particular, the report shows that the Trump White House's focus on certain goals has prevented the spread of the virus from decreasing. Infectious disease. .
  

• Later in the pandemic, the committee found that the Trump administration's economic relief efforts were incomplete and unfair, allowing millions to lose their homes and many small and medium-sized businesses without the same amount of support for large companies. .

The committee's main conclusion was that the United States had invested in public health infrastructure long before the outbreak. The commission called on the country to "renew" its public health capacity.

"During the mandate of the select subcommittee, I have emphasized that our regulatory work must certainly be forward-looking. The coronavirus crisis will not be the last public health emergency or economic crisis," Cliburn said.

Learn more here.

The repeal of the mandate shows the evolution of the epidemic policy

The Pentagon's repeal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, part of the Defense Policy Act, marks a surprising compromise by Democrats and shows how the politics of the pandemic have changed.

• Vaccination mandates have been defeated by the Biden administration, congressional Democrats and blue-state governors as an essential tool to fight the coronavirus.
  

• Republicans in both chambers have threatened to block the $847 billion bill, seeing the annual defense bill as an opportunity to wrest control from the Pentagon.
  

• Democrats bowed to Republican demands, realizing that the public had mobilized and had little interest in anti-virus laws.

Background: The Pentagon policy took effect in August 2021 at the height of the micro wave, when the Biden administration pulled out all the stops to restore delayed vaccination rates.

The White House and the Department of Defense have said the military's vaccination order is critical to protecting soldiers from Covid-19. The Pentagon has been giving away certain vaccines for a long time, and the coronavirus was no exception.

Key quote: “The policy that the Department of Defense implemented in August 2021 was absolutely the right policy. It has saved lives and ensured that our forces are as prepared for a pandemic as possible," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) in remarks before the House Rules Committee.

Since we are here in December 2022, does this August 2021 policy still make sense? Is this still the right policy? We don't believe it is, and I don't believe it is," Smith said.

Learn more here

Fauci blasted 'coward' to many women and children.

Anthony Fauci told the BBC Americacast podcast: "They're out there harassing my wife and kids because they know where they live and what their phone number is.

Fauci, the White House's chief medical adviser, has been the public face of the administration's efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. He is expected to retire from public service at the end of the month.

• In the year Since being appointed to fight Covid-19 in 2020, he says he has been regularly abused by those close to him, while the doctor himself has been the target of right-wing conspiracies and hate speech.
  

• But he says focusing on hate "takes away your ability to do your job" and tries to avoid it.
  

• "I have good security, but I think it's cowardly to harass people who are completely harmless, including my children," she said.

Learn more here

NYC mandates internal masking without replacement

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has issued a health advisory recommending that residents wear masks in public indoor spaces at all times, regardless of vaccination status.

The department has noticed an increase in respiratory viral diseases and a significant increase in hospitalizations.

• Along with indoor public spaces, the department advised people to wear masks when they are sick and cannot be separated from others.
  

• People who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 must wear a mask in public at all times, the department said.

New York Health Commissioner Ashwin said: "The holiday season is all about coming together, and even though respiratory viruses are at their highest in our city, there is a way to come together safely. Vasan in the statement.

The department also stated that people who are at high risk of serious illness should take other precautions when going out.

Pregnant women, people over 65, immunocompromised people or people who are not up to date on vaccinations are advised to avoid large indoor gatherings, and people around them should also cover up during gatherings.

Learn more here.

CDC expands updated Covid-19 vaccines for children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday approved bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years.

The move follows a green light from the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, allowing improved vaccines to be used in young people immediately.

Vaccinations are allowed only as an incentive in adults, it is a little difficult for young children.

• Children aged 6 months to 5 years who have completed a two-dose primary series of Moderna may receive a Moderna bivalent booster two months after the final dose of the primary course.
  

• Children 6 months to 4 years of age who are completing the three-dose Pfizer primary series receive Pfizer bivalent vaccine as the third primary dose.

Learn more here

What do we read?

• A rural hospital's dilemma: $3.2 million a year or patient care? (The New York Times)

• Is lecanumab the Alzheimer's drug that will finally make a difference? (NPR)

• Hospital financial decisions play a role in the acute shortage of pediatric beds for RSV patients; "It's Really About the Money" (Kaiser Health News)

From state to state

• DeSantis plans to hold covid vaccine makers liable for side effects (WFLA)

• Delayed Texas maternal mortality report to be released next week, state says (Texas Tribune)

• Oregon governor extends state of emergency as respiratory viruses rise in children and adults (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

That's it for today, thanks for reading! Check out the Hill Health page for the latest news and reports. See you next week.

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Shocking. The House Health Department has blamed Trump-era officials for the outbreak