What We’re Reading: Pediatric Vaccine Schedule Updated; Workplace Toll on Health; Drugmakers Lobby Against IRA Impact

CDC Advisory Group Votes to Add COVID-19 to Pediatric Immunization Schedule

In a unanimous 15-to-0 vote, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the recommended immunizations for children, according to CIDRAP. States often use the immunization schedule as a guide, but not all states require the vaccines on the schedule. The recommendation came a day after ACIP approved adding vaccines for COVID-19 to a program that provides free vaccines for children who either can’t afford them or who are uninsured.

Work Can Be Hazardous to Mental and Physical Health

Workplaces can be hazardous to Americans’ mental health and well-being, as well as their physical health, according to a new report from the United States Surgeon General. According to STAT, the report drew attention to factors like racism, bullying, and powerlessness at work, which contribute to ill health. The report calls on companies to protect employees from physical harm, by implementing basic safety, and psychological harm, by protecting against harassment. In addition, the report calls for workers to have adequate time off.

Drug Makers Lobby Against Impacts of the IRA

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) gives Medicare the authority to negotiate drug prices for certain therapies, and drug makers are seeking to ease the impact of the law, reported The Wall Street Journal. Both the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the 2 largest grade groups for the pharmaceutical industry, say the law threatens investment in drug development without doing enough to lower drug costs for patients. Both groups are working to limit the effect the law will have on drug research.