March 29th, 2022
The Out-of-Pocket Health News Digest
Below you will find briefs about recent health policy news stories. Our hope is for students to have an information outlet at their fingertips to keep up-to-date with the most pressing news stories in health policy.
This compilation is produced by the HPSA Education Committee: Brynna Thigpen, Christopher Whitlock, Easheta Shah, Hannah Lane, Hassan Kourani, Jourdan Clements, and Lizzy Peppercorn
Climate Change Projected to Create ‘Goldilocks Zone’ for West Nile Virus in the US
by Jourdan Clements
Springtime rainfalls, summer droughts, and warmer temperatures are amalgamating to produce ideal conditions for mosquito populations to thrive and proliferate in the United States. In conjunction with this expansion of mosquitos’ niches is the spread of vector-borne diseases, like West Nile Virus. Although West Nile Virus infections are typically mild, about 1 in 150 cases are termed ‘neuroinvasive’ – resulting in serious illness that can cause swelling in the brain and spinal cord, paralysis, and death. People older than 50 and transplant patients are at higher risk for developing these symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
 
Within the past decade, the United States has experienced about 1,300 neuroinvasive West Nile cases each year. In addition, the trend in West Nile Virus cases per-year has gradually increased over time. States such as Colorado lie within the ideal climatic zone for this expansion of cases to occur. Just last year in Colorado, West Nile virus killed 11 people and caused 101 cases of neuroinvasive infection, which were linked to serious illnesses such as meningitis and encephalitis. Like in many of its neighboring states, this 2021 case rate is the highest reported in almost two decades.
 
The rise in cases may be a predictor of the future of zoonotic diseases in the United States. As climate change continues to perturb the environment, levels of drought and temperature will become elevated toward what is termed the “Goldilocks zone” for mosquitoes — not too hot, not too cold — and West Nile transmission will increase across the country. Many scientists consider a rise in emerging infectious diseases to be one of the greatest challenges globally. The combination of increased human interaction with wildlife and climatic changes is leading to the creation of novel disease transmission patterns. If action is not taken to slow climatic change, the United States will have to prepare for upsurges in vector-borne diseases in coming years.

Sources: KNH, The Scientist
Pandemic-Era School Lunch Funding Set to Expire
by Christopher Whitlock
Millions of students across the U.S. could lose access to free and reduced-price school meals by June 30th as expanded pandemic-era federal school nutrition funding is set to expire. In early 2020, the Biden administration authorized nationwide child nutrition waivers that helped give schools the flexibility and financial support to continue supplying meals to students despite widespread COVID-19 closures. These measures included providing financial reimbursements, removing the requirement for school meals to be served in a group setting, and allowing schools to substitute foods to meet nutrition requirements when they encountered supply chain disruptions.

As lawmakers continue negotiations over the new federal budget, congressional Republicans have blocked the Biden administration’s request to continue its expanded school nutrition program, citing a high price tag of $11 billion for a program that was only intended to provide temporary relief.

While U.S. schools have largely returned to pre-pandemic, in-person operations, losing the flexibility offered by these school nutrition programs could have catastrophic effects on school nutrition programs and the health of students across the country. If school nutrition waivers are not extended, the USDA estimates a 40% reduction in funding for school lunches for an average school district. Potential cuts to school summer meal programs could put children at risk of missing as many as 95 million meals in the summer alone. Rising costs for food, labor, supplies, and transportation will also force schools to cut back on the quality of meals to balance reduced funding.

School nutrition waivers have had a dramatic impact by helping school children vulnerable to hunger, especially those in rural communities where transportation can be a major obstacle for many schools. Even if the waivers are not extended in full, school nutrition advocates are at least calling for a more gradual taper of federal funding, rather than a hard pivot on June 30th. While it remains unlikely the waivers will be extended in full, discussion regarding the bipartisan funding bill will continue into next week before decisions are finalized.
One-Liners
  • Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine Dwindling: The amount of humanitarian aid arriving in Ukraine is beginning to decrease despite the persistence of Russian attacks and bombardment. (US News)
  • Moderna Requests COVID Vaccine Authorization for Children Under Age 6: This week, Moderna announced it would ask the Food and Drug Administration to authorize its COVID-19 vaccination for children over the age of 6 months. Recent results from two clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine showed similar immune responses for vaccinated children under the age of 6 compared to those seen in adults aged 18-25. (Stat)
  • 12 Years Post-ACA Passage: Last Wednesday marked the 12th anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare), with both President Biden and former President Obama making statements commemorating the legislative achievement and subsequent impacts on coverage and access. (The Hill)
  • Second boosters: The FDA announced today that it has approved second boosters, or an additional dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, for those aged 50 and older. This approval will also apply to some that have immuno-compromising conditions. Those that qualify can get their fourth vaccine four months after their previous vaccine. (NYT)