“There may be benefits in having a 3 month dose interval over a shorter dose interval program for the introduction of a pandemic vaccine to protect as many people in the population as possible as early as possible. when supply is scarce and also improves immunity after receiving a second dose, ”they wrote in the explanatory section of the abstract
The researchers had already reported their results in an introduction several weeks ago, so the dose interval data was not new news, but a publication. Lancet he will give him credit.
Evidence from Israel that one picture of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may suffice
Results of a study of 9,109 healthcare workers at Israel’s largest hospital showed that the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 47% effective in days 1-14 after first inoculation and 85% effective in days 15-28. At both full doses, the Pfizer-BioNTech is 95% effective so a 10 percent point reduction could be managed if it means a one-and-done vaccine schedule.
The results, which were published online in Lancet Thursday (Feb. 18) is from speculative study so the usual, carefully interpreted caverns apply.
At the same time, Pfizer is urging the FDA to reconsider the required storage temperature for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Currently, the vaccine must be stored at between 80 degrees Celsius and minus 60 (call 112 degrees Fahrenheit and minus 76). But Pfizer says it has data that shows the vaccine is stable when stored at 20 degrees Celsius (remove 4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Evidence that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may be less protective against the South African variety
Evidence finds that the standard crop of vaccines may not be as effective against the South African version of SARS-CoV-2 than other strains. On Wednesday (February 17), another piece of evidence was added to the mast.
A team of researchers from Pfizer Medical Branch, BioNTech and the University of Texas reported results in the New England Journal of Medicine which shows that the Pfizer-BioNTech received a weaker antibody response – weaker by two-thirds – to the South African virus than to other modifiers.
The lower antibody response does not mean that the vaccine against the South African virus will not work; antibodies are just one part of the immune response that helps a primary vaccine. Also, the RNA vaccines will be suitable for modifications that would protect against changes.
Reserve of 6 million doses not distributed due to winter storms
The winter storms that hit Texas, Louisiana and other states this week led to a backlog of 6 million undiagnosed vaccine doses, Andy Slavitt, senior advisor of the White House COVID-19 White House Response Team, said preparatory meeting Friday (Feb. 19).
Slavitt said severe winter weather affected outbreaks by Fedex, UPS, and McKesson and shut down 2,000 vaccination sites due to power outages. The unvaccinated vaccines have been “sitting, safe and stable in our factories and hubs,” he said.
“Now that the weather is getting better we are already working to clear this backdrop. 1.4 million doses have been moved today (February 19) and we expect the full doses to be delivered within the next week, ”Slavitt said at the meeting.
One-third of soldiers turn down the injection
About a third of U.S. soldiers are refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Pentagon’s chief official said in evidence Wednesday (Feb. 17).
“Capture rates are somewhere in the two-thirds range and, of course, vary by different agencies,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Jeff Taliaferro, deputy director of staff operations, joined the committee..
Vaccination is not mandatory. “Of course, the vaccine has a right to do, it is clearly safe for members of our service and we need to educate our faces to help them understand the benefits,” Taliaferro said.
The US, other rich countries pledge $ 4.3 billion towards poor COVID-19 efforts
The world’s poorest countries cannot afford COVID-19 vaccines, so the World Health Organization and other organizations have come together to raise money from rich countries to support vaccination efforts in those countries. On Friday (February 19), the effort vaccine, known as COVAX, announced a $ 4.3 billion pledge from G7 (US, Germany, European Commission, Japan and Canada).
COVAX is a vaccine-based component of a larger group called COVID-19 Instrumental Access (ACT), which also includes treatment and diagnosis. ACT says it needs $ 38.1 billion in 2020-21 and has $ 10.3 billion in commitments to date.
Don’t be selective about the vaccine you receive, says Brown ‘s dean of public health, Jha
The FDA Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Related Biological Products (VRBPAC) is expected to meet on Friday (February 26) to discuss the EUA for Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. If things go as expected the FDA will approve the vaccine shortly thereafter, so three vaccines will be available in the U.S. in mid-March.
However, research results show that the J&J vaccine is 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that already have EUAs are 95% effective. There is a good chance that the J&J vaccine will be considered lower, at least in a public opinion court. Americans may be holding out for the “advanced” Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine.
In a comment piece published by the Washington Post on Tuesday (February 16) Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s new School of Public Health, tried to reduce such thinking.
“The forthcoming vaccines exceed everyone’s safety expectations and prevent hospitals and deaths,” he wrote. Jha, which has a large Twitter follower (for a public health official). “Any vaccine that converts COVID-19 from a deadly pandemic that has killed nearly half a million Americans to a mild disease is a worthwhile vaccine to allow to get our lives back on track.
Jha wrote that the most important finding from the main clinical trial for the J&J vaccine was that the vaccine was 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.