Axios Vitals: We need a COVID end game

Plus, Vaccine hesitancy crumbles | Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By UnitedHealth Group   Axios Vitals By Tina Reed ·Aug 31, 2021 Good morning, Vitals readers. Today's newsletter is 817 words, or a 3-minute read.     1 big thing: Axios-Ipsos poll: Mandates may be the cure Data: Axios/Ipsos Poll; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios Vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. is showing signs of crumbling, Axios' Margaret Talev writes from the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index. The big picture: Many factors are playing a role — including the Delta variant's strength, kids' return to school and FDA approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine — but the biggest drivers appear to be the rise of mandates. Driving the news: Fewer adults than ever now say they won't take the shot. And in the past two weeks, the share of parents who plan to get their younger kids vaccinated as soon as it is allowed has spiked. By the numbers: 68% of parents said they either have already vaccinated their children or are likely to as soon as it's permitted for their age group — the highest share ever in this survey, and a 12-point spike from just two weeks ago. Between the lines: Over the past two weeks, the survey also found an across-the-board rise in indicators related to mandates. 19% said their employers are requiring all workers to get vaccinated, up from 16% 54% said employers are requiring all workers to wear masks in the workplace, up from 51% 22% said their employers had extended or returned to a work from home policy, up from 17% 40% also reported their state or local government required masks be worn in public places, up from 33%; and another 40% said teachers or government workers in their area were being required to get the vaccine, up from 34% What they're saying: "Schools, organizations, companies, governments implementing mandates are forcing people to deal with them," said Cliff Young, president of Ipsos U.S. Public Affairs. "That's what going on." Go deeper.     2. The U.S. needs a COVID goal Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios   A huge reason why the pandemic response — or the lack of one — feels so chaotic right now is that the U.S. doesn't have a well-defined goal, Axios' Caitlin Owens writes. What they're saying: "We think much of the confusion and disagreement among scientists and nonexperts alike comes down to undefined and sometimes conflicting goals in responding to the pandemic," Harvard's Joseph Allen and Boston University's Helen Jenkins wrote yesterday in the New York Times. State of play: The federal government is pushing ahead with a vaccine booster effort while state and local governments are taking a patchwork approach to masking and vaccine policies. But the U.S. as a country hasn't agreed on a set of outcomes we're trying to achieve. "If the goal is getting to zero infections and staying at that level before dropping restrictions, one set of policies apply. If the goal is to make this virus like the seasonal flu, a different set of policies follow," Allen and Jenkins write. Share this story.     3. Hospitals face the elements Hospitals in both Louisiana and California were forced to evacuate patients this week due to a pair of natural disasters. What's happening: Oschner Health said it transferred about 65 patients on Monday from two of its hospitals, which had roof damage and power issues, Modern Healthcare reported. The health system also helped evacuate about 100 patients from a third hospital in the region, per Modern Healthcare. Meanwhile, patients were evacuated from South Lake Tahoe hospital in California as the Caldor Fire moved toward the city on Monday, the Sacramento Bee reported. Catch up quick: The growing climate threat to public health is on the Biden administration's mind. On Monday, HHS established the Office of Climate Change. Officials said the office is tasked with protecting "vulnerable communities who disproportionately bear the brunt of pollution and climate-driven disasters."     A message from UnitedHealth Group Expanding access to care in underserved communities     UnitedHealth Group is helping to address social determinants of health for uninsured individuals and underserved communities. See how we're advancing health equity through community partnerships that have helped more than 6 million people access care, nutritious food and stable housing.     4. Oxygen shortages hit Florida hospitals Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   A shortage of medical-grade oxygen has hit COVID hotspots across the U.S. South, including Florida, Axios' Kate Marino writes. Zoom in: Liquid oxygen, also known as compressed oxygen, is one of the primary treatments for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. This grade of oxygen is the same as what's used to purify water, as well as to produce high-quality metals that are in turn sold to manufacturers in fields like aerospace and medical implants. Cities like Orlando have asked residents to cut back on water usage so they don't sap the precious oxygen supply, as the Orlando Sentinel recently reported. The intrigue: This is part of a much bigger economic story when it comes to supply chain chaos rippling across the pandemic economy. Oxygen suppliers like Airgas have diverted all their supply to hospitals, leaving industrial customers in a lurch — and potentially putting themselves in legal jeopardy for breaching contracts. Read more.     5. Catch up quick The U.S. Department of Education is launching an investigation into five GOP-led states that banned mask mandates in schools — the first major federal intervention into how states handle COVID mitigation. (Axios) Vaccines appear slightly less effective at preventing hospitalization this summer, the CDC said Monday. (ABC News) Lotteries and other incentives offered by 24 states were not associated with a significant change in COVID-19 vaccination rates, according to pre-print study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers. (SSRN)     A message from UnitedHealth Group Advancing health equity by addressing social determinants of health     UnitedHealth Group is committed to addressing social barriers that influence disparities in health care access, outcomes and affordability. We have helped: Create 12,000 homes by investing $550 million in affordable housing. Provide over 100 million meals during the pandemic. Learn more.   Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. 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