What We’re Reading: Legal Challenges to Health Equity Programs; Children Underrepresented in COVID-19 Clinical Trials; China’s Surge in Respiratory Illness

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Lawsuits target initiatives aimed at reducing racial disparities; less than 10% of trials for COVID-19 treatments included children in the first 3 years of the pandemic; the World Health Organization requests more information on increased respiratory illnesses in China.

Legal Challenges Threaten Programs Addressing Racial Disparities in Health Care

Legal actions challenging programs designed to address racial disparities in health care, such as the Abundant Birth Project in San Francisco, raise concerns about the potential impact on efforts to reduce racial inequities, according to Kaiser Health News. The project, which provides a $1000 monthly stipend to pregnant Black and Pacific Islander women, is facing a lawsuit alleging discrimination. Similar legal challenges targeting racial preferences in various institutions reflect a broader effort to eliminate affirmative action. Advocates argue that the initiatives are essential to address health disparities, particularly in maternal and infant health, where racial differences persist.

Children Underrepresented in US COVID-19 Clinical Trials Despite Significant Infection Rate

A research letter published in JAMA Health Forum reveals that less than 10% of interventional COVID-19 trials conducted in the United States during the first 3 years of the pandemic included children, despite this age group accounting for 18% of infections, according to CIDRAP. The researchers from Harvard and Boston Children's Hospital identified all trials of a COVID-19 intervention registered on ClinicalTrials.gov from January 2020 to December 2022. The study highlights the need for greater inclusion of children in clinical research to understand transmission patterns and identify treatments for pediatric patients with severe disease.

China Says Surge in Respiratory Illnesses Not Caused by Novel Virus

The recent surge in respiratory illnesses across China, which prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to seek more information, is caused by known pathogens such as the flu and common viruses, according to China's health ministry, reports ABC News. The respiratory infections are attributed to common viruses like influenza, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, or adenovirus, and bacteria like mycoplasma pneumoniae. The WHO had formally requested information on the spike in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia clusters in children. The Chinese health ministry advises local authorities to open more fever clinics, promote vaccinations, and focus on preventing the spread in crowded places.