Today ACIP— the external advisory committee to the CDC— met to discuss the bivalent fall boosters in the United States. This committee’s main purpose is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of vaccines as well as policy recommendations for dissemination (who should get one and when).
Thank you for pointing out that the risk of myocarditis from infection is higher than from vaccination. I feel like that point was missed in many stories about vaccination side effects.
Why still require 2 original formulation vaccines before the omicron boost? Why not give an omicron series followed by an omicron boost? (admittedly, there are probably not many who are not vaxed who would start now, but the rule seems to be start with the old series.) If the vaccines are only a few amino acids different, why delay for months omicron coverage for the (sadly) few new converts?
yes, thanks! I appreciate your updates. I am curious too whether you think there is a difference between Pfizer's or Moderna's. Mostly Moderna's data was reviewed by you today.
so should we stay with the vaccine mfr that did our original shot, or do you think it matters at all? I mean for an adult who would be eligible for either one, and assuming equivalent availability (which is a big assumption of course).
What about Novavax as a booster? Isn’t it more durable since it focuses on the S2?
Haven’t been boosted since last November and holding out for Novavax booster since I rarely leave the house and presume BA2.75 will be the dominant in US in winter.
Any idea when Novavax as a booster could be approved?
Thank you for this summary! I was off and on the meeting this morning, and I wonder if heard anything that helps make a comparison between Moderna and Pfizer in terms of which might be the best bet? Moderna seemed to talk more about enhanced ability of their bivalent booster (including the info you share), but I didn’t hear the same detail from Pfizer (though I had to be off and on through Pfizer).
Please comment on optimum timing for the annual "Flu Shot" relative to the new booster's timing since the former is nigh and the latter might seem even "nigher".
Why does the Moderna bivalent booster only raise neutralizing antibodies by 1.22x but the equivalent on Pfizer looks like over ten fold vs the original formulation on BA1?
Did they discuss timing of the bivalent booster? 5 months after the last primary series vaccine? Any thoughts on timing of the bivalent booster after a documented infection? Thanks as always for the information!
No question the vaccines are a critical component for mitigating both acute and potentially long-term effects from this corona virus. A significant segment of the population has been identified as having Long-Covid signs and symptoms, but there are many who believe "it won't happen to me" or "I'll take chances because it's just another bad cold". We need some durable treatments. This is being addressed thru the NCATS, FDA, CDC and C-Path having recently established a website for providing personal case reports for COVID19 infections. This follows their mobile app for community physicians to anonymized report cases using repurposed, effective protocols for patients infected with SARS-Cov2 (and other infections). Repurposed drugs are safe , FDA-approved and one such drug is actively being prescribed to treat COVID19 positive people off-label. To be sure, off-label does not in any way infer that the drug is experimental. Such a drug has been used for other serious conditions and the pathologies in the previously approved condition have common pathophysiologies with progressive COVID19. Read more about repurposing here: "The CURE Drug Repurposing Collaboratory (CDRC), a public-private partnership initiated in June 2020 by C-Path and the FDA in partnership with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) part of the NIH. Info: CDRC: <https://c-path.org/cdrc> and also CURE ID website <https://cure.ncats.io> to read more about repurposing for a variety of infections. COVID19 is a pressing issue as ~30% of our population remains unprotected with no or incomplete vaccination. Whether that percentage will drastically change with the next booster offering is highly doubtful according to many sources. Ray Sullivan, MD
re the 72% of Americans getting the booster, is that 72% of the population that has previously got at least two of the vaccinations, or 72% of the total population.
Thank you so much for the detailed breakdown of this process. I always appreciate reading your thoughts -- it helps me digest all the info. As someone who has had 3 Moderna boosters, I'm not sure if I should get Pfizer or Moderna for this one -- any data on that?
Thank you for pointing out that the risk of myocarditis from infection is higher than from vaccination. I feel like that point was missed in many stories about vaccination side effects.
Why still require 2 original formulation vaccines before the omicron boost? Why not give an omicron series followed by an omicron boost? (admittedly, there are probably not many who are not vaxed who would start now, but the rule seems to be start with the old series.) If the vaccines are only a few amino acids different, why delay for months omicron coverage for the (sadly) few new converts?
yes, thanks! I appreciate your updates. I am curious too whether you think there is a difference between Pfizer's or Moderna's. Mostly Moderna's data was reviewed by you today.
so should we stay with the vaccine mfr that did our original shot, or do you think it matters at all? I mean for an adult who would be eligible for either one, and assuming equivalent availability (which is a big assumption of course).
What about Novavax as a booster? Isn’t it more durable since it focuses on the S2?
Haven’t been boosted since last November and holding out for Novavax booster since I rarely leave the house and presume BA2.75 will be the dominant in US in winter.
Any idea when Novavax as a booster could be approved?
Thank you for this summary! I was off and on the meeting this morning, and I wonder if heard anything that helps make a comparison between Moderna and Pfizer in terms of which might be the best bet? Moderna seemed to talk more about enhanced ability of their bivalent booster (including the info you share), but I didn’t hear the same detail from Pfizer (though I had to be off and on through Pfizer).
Please comment on optimum timing for the annual "Flu Shot" relative to the new booster's timing since the former is nigh and the latter might seem even "nigher".
Why does the Moderna bivalent booster only raise neutralizing antibodies by 1.22x but the equivalent on Pfizer looks like over ten fold vs the original formulation on BA1?
It's fascinating that Offitt criticizes existing boosters for the risk of OAS (original antigenic sin) because they use the original formulation.
Then he turns around and votes against the Omicron booster.
What's his motive? Who's funding him?
clear and coherent as usual. I liked knowing it will be simpler for people starting out (firstshot, booster, biValent booster).
Did they discuss timing of the bivalent booster? 5 months after the last primary series vaccine? Any thoughts on timing of the bivalent booster after a documented infection? Thanks as always for the information!
No question the vaccines are a critical component for mitigating both acute and potentially long-term effects from this corona virus. A significant segment of the population has been identified as having Long-Covid signs and symptoms, but there are many who believe "it won't happen to me" or "I'll take chances because it's just another bad cold". We need some durable treatments. This is being addressed thru the NCATS, FDA, CDC and C-Path having recently established a website for providing personal case reports for COVID19 infections. This follows their mobile app for community physicians to anonymized report cases using repurposed, effective protocols for patients infected with SARS-Cov2 (and other infections). Repurposed drugs are safe , FDA-approved and one such drug is actively being prescribed to treat COVID19 positive people off-label. To be sure, off-label does not in any way infer that the drug is experimental. Such a drug has been used for other serious conditions and the pathologies in the previously approved condition have common pathophysiologies with progressive COVID19. Read more about repurposing here: "The CURE Drug Repurposing Collaboratory (CDRC), a public-private partnership initiated in June 2020 by C-Path and the FDA in partnership with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) part of the NIH. Info: CDRC: <https://c-path.org/cdrc> and also CURE ID website <https://cure.ncats.io> to read more about repurposing for a variety of infections. COVID19 is a pressing issue as ~30% of our population remains unprotected with no or incomplete vaccination. Whether that percentage will drastically change with the next booster offering is highly doubtful according to many sources. Ray Sullivan, MD
Do you know anything about plans for boosters for kids? It's been almost a year since my 6yr old received his primary series.
re the 72% of Americans getting the booster, is that 72% of the population that has previously got at least two of the vaccinations, or 72% of the total population.
Thanks again for the excellent synopsis.
Excellent info again, YLE, and very clear, as usual. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the detailed breakdown of this process. I always appreciate reading your thoughts -- it helps me digest all the info. As someone who has had 3 Moderna boosters, I'm not sure if I should get Pfizer or Moderna for this one -- any data on that?