COVID-19 Federal Responses: Monday, December 6, 2021

The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Faucisaidpreliminary information about the Omicron variantshowsitmight notcause as severe disease as frequently as expected. However, more data is needed to confirm this information.
Even though the Omicron variant is spreading throughout the country, theDelta variantremains a serious challenge.
As part of the Administration’s plans to improve COVID vaccinations and preventive strategies, it plans to require health plans to cover the costs of over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests.

White House and Federal Agencies

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)announcedit plans to require health plans to cover the costs of over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests. This is part of a broader White Housecampaignto improve vaccinations and other prevention strategies.
HHSappealeda court ruling to temporarily prevent the agency from implementing its COVID-19 vaccine mandate on health care workers while a legal challenge to the mandate works its way through the court system.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is要求的事情uiringstate Medicaid programs to cover vaccine counseling visits for beneficiaries under age 21. The federal government will provide a 100% match for these services.
The Biden Administrationsaysit is not considering any new vaccine requirements for domestic travel ahead of the holidays. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) istightening要求的事情uirements for international travelers to show a proof of negative test within one day of travel.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Faucisaidpreliminary information about the Omicron variantshowsitmight notcause as severe disease as frequently as expected. However, more data is needed to confirm this information.
- As we steadily learn new information about the Omicron variant, it could takemore timeto piece the information together into a cohesive picture about the projected impact of the new variant.
- Dr. Fauci alsoexpressed confidencethat booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be effective against the Omicron variant.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)must weighthe threat of the Omicron variant in its decision for how to authorize new COVID-19 antiviral pill therapies.
Even though the Omicron variant is spreading throughout the country, theDelta variantremains a serious challenge.
Pfizersaysit could have data on its vaccine’s effectiveness in children under the age of five by the end of this year.
NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Faucisaidthe U.S. could soon end the temporary travel ban for African countries where the Omicron variant was first detected.
Newresearchfrom the Department of Veterans Affairs shows the COVID-19 vaccines provide good protection against COVID-19 infection for cancer patients.
Data from Houston, Texasshows a linkbetween COVID-19 mortality and diabetes, with over half of people who died from COVID-19 also having diabetes.