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COVID-19 Federal Responses: Thursday, December 16, 2021

COVID-19 Federal Responses: Thursday, December 16, 2021
  • New research shows that COVID-19 infection poses a greater risk of myocarditis than the vaccines. The CDC’s ACIP issued a new recommendation for the MRNA vaccines over the J&J vaccine, due to the blood clotting risks associated with the J&J vaccine.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $9 billion “Phase IV” distribution from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF).
  • An appeals court scaled back its preliminary injunction that blocked CMS from enforcing its healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine mandate to only apply to states that challenged the mandate in court. This decision allows the mandate to temporarily take effect in 26 states, pending the outcome of the legal challenge to the mandate.
  • The federal government has already ordered 10 million courses of Pfizer’s new COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid.

White House and Federal Agencies

  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $9 billion “Phase IV” distribution from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF).
  • White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients says there will not be a need to impose new economic lockdowns in response to the Omicron variant.
  • An appeals court scaled back its preliminary injunction that blocked CMS from enforcing its healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The injunction now applies only to states that challenged the mandate in court. This decision allows the mandate to temporarily take effect in 26 states, pending the outcome of the legal challenge to the mandate.

Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment

  • Pfizer reported its pill to treat COVID-19, Paxlovid, was 89% effective against hospitalization and death. The pill was not tested against the Omicron variant but Pfizer is confident the pill will remain effective against the new variant.
    • The federal government has already ordered 10 million courses of the treatment.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) forecasts that the Omicron variant will overtake the Delta variant as the dominant version of COVID-19 in the U.S.
  • The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci does not believe a new version of the COVID-19 vaccines tailored to the Omicron variant is necessary, since a booster dose of the current MRNA vaccines offer sufficient protection.
    • New data show that two doses of MRNA vaccines do not offer sufficient protection against the Omicron variant. However, the booster dose does provide greater protection.
  • Dr. Fauci described his vision for a “universal vaccine” that would protect against a variety of coronaviruses.
  • HHS forecasts the Omicron variant could strain our COVID-19 testing capacity.
  • The federal pandemic response caused a significant increase to the national growth rate in healthcare spending.
  • New research shows how MRNA vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna) lose efficacy against the Delta variant over time.
  • New research shows that COVID-19 infection poses a greater risk of myocarditis than the vaccines.
    • However, the CDC ACIP issued a new recommendation for the MRNA vaccines over the J&J vaccine due to the myocarditis risk associated with the J&J vaccine.
  • A new analysis from FAIR Health highlights the costs associated with complex COVID-19 hospitalization.
  • The Federal Reserve outlined its plans to combat rising inflation in 2022, including up to three interest rate hikes next year.

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