- CDC report on Paxlovid distribution: A major study from the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report this week: researchers at the CDC and collaborators studied the distributions of antiviral COVID-19 drugs Paxlovid and Lagevrio (also called Molnupiravir) by ZIP code, comparing ZIP codes with the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. More than one million prescriptions were dispensed between late December 2021 and late May 2022, the study found. But, by the end of that period, prescription rates were twice as high in low- and medium-vulnerability ZIP codes as in high-vulnerabilty ZIP codes—indicating that these antivirals are not reaching the people who most need them.
- CDC booster shot data update: The CDC has added a new chart to its “COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States” page, showing booster shot eligibility and uptake by age. The chart includes two rounds of boosters for seniors; according to the data, 64% of eligible seniors have received their first booster, but only 21% have received their second booster. The data are also available for download.
- COVID-19 vaccinations among children: I also recently learned about this CDC page focused on kids’ vaccinations, including vaccination coverage by demographic factors such as poverty status, parents’ education level, and insurance. The data come from a national survey previously used to monitor flu vaccinations among children. Data are updated monthly, and don’t yet include figures for children under 5; but existing data for children ages 5-17 affirm that vaccine uptake for kids has been low so far.
- Guide to finding government COVID-19 documents: The Digital Public Library of America has released a free ebook with an archive of over 3,000 government documents related to the pandemic response. These documents were collected by the COVID Tracking Project during its year of work, and have been meticulously categorized and indexed in true CTP fashion. CTP alum Jennifer Clyde was the project’s editor.
- Commonwealth Fund report on improving our public health system: A new report from healthcare-focused foundation The Commonwealth Fund provides recommendations for improving the country’s public health system. It focuses on organizing local agencies, providing more funding, improving trust, and other key topics.
- History of exposure notification apps: Jenny Wanger, whom I interviewed about COVID-19 exposure notification apps back in spring 2021, sent me this paper she wrote about the technology, which was published earlier in June. The paper provides a report of how exposure notification protocols were developed, how states used the technology, and how limited data made it difficult to assess the technology’s success.