The United States will start offering booster shots next month. Some health professionals are worried.
United States -- With evidence accumulating that a third dose of vaccine will be needed to maintain protection against the virus, the Biden administration plans to begin providing booster doses of Covid-19 to all U.S. adults on September 20.
In his speech on Wednesday afternoon, President Joe Biden said, "This will make you increasingly secure and help us end the pandemic faster." “Now is not the time to let our guard down. Now we just have to finish the job with scientific evidence, evidence and trust. "
At a press briefing earlier today, senior health officials said new data showed that the effectiveness of vaccines in protecting against mild to moderate Covid-19 had worsened over time. time, largely due to the development of the Delta shape.
The government's plan to deliver booster doses introduces it into a new, more difficult phase of its year-long vaccination campaign. Health officials are struggling to prevent the disease from recurring and are also trying to convince millions of unvaccinated Americans to get vaccinated for the first time. Some health experts argue that the available evidence does not indicate a clear need for additional doses for all adults - especially at a time when large parts of the world are still unvaccinated - and that the revaccination policy has sparked controversy both inside and outside the administration.
The policy will apply to persons over 18 who have received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine and is subject to FDA approval and review by the CDC Vaccine Advisory Group. Obama administration officials have said they plan to offer booster doses to those who have received a single Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but are waiting for more data before making the offer.
Under the proposed plan, Americans will be eligible for booster shots eight months after receiving a second vaccination, a strategy that will prioritize healthcare professionals and patients in healthcare facilities.
Jeff Zientes, White House Covid-19 coordinator, promised, “Getting a booster injection will be as easy and convenient as getting your first injection today. "We're ready for the boosters, and we'll be ready immediately."
The doses will be offered at around 80,000 vaccination sites across the country, Biden said, and will be given to any adult with a vaccination card showing they received their first vaccines at least eight months ago.
The rocket fire is a turning point in the federal government's immunization program. Biden kicked off the summer by focusing on his plan to get the country back to normal by July 4. However, as Delta swept the country over the past month, administration officials gradually backed away from the message, mainly advising vaccinated Americans to disguise indoors again.
The decision to appoint recalls is likely to create a communications problem for the government, which is already working to increase resistance to the Covid-19 vaccination.
Health officials stressed on Wednesday that vaccinations were still very effective against serious illnesses that can lead to hospitalization and death, but they wanted to avoid any potential deterioration in their effectiveness.
“If you wait for something terrible before you respond, you will be considerably late,” famed infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci said. "Better to be early than to continue."
After weeks of intense debate within the administration's task force on Covid-19 over whether new data on the vaccine's effectiveness over time indicates Americans need a second round of doses , the decision was made to revaccinate. These discussions coincided with pressure from the administration to continue administering doses of the vaccine to low- and middle-income countries that have not yet completed their first round of vaccinations.
Biden administration officials looked at vaccine data from the CDC on Sunday, which showed vaccine protection had waned in recent months as Delta took hold and cases began to spread across the country. According to a confidential government briefing to public health professionals on Wednesday morning, a study of adults in New York City showed that the effectiveness of vaccination against infection had increased from 91.7% in early May to 79.8% end of July. During the same period, the most transmissible form of Delta caused an increase in infections in the state.
The agency released an analysis on Wednesday that included data on both vaccinated and unvaccinated people from local and state reporting systems.
Evidence from the Mayo Clinic that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were less effective against infection with the Delta strain was also cited by CDC director Rochelle Walenski. Pfizer's vaccine was 76% effective against previous generations of Covid-19, compared to just 42% against Delta. Against Delta, the effectiveness of Moderna's vaccine increased from 86% to 76%.
Officials looked at similar data from Israel, which showed that when the Delta variant took over, the vaccine's effectiveness against the infection rose from around 95% in June to 64% in July.
While a New York study found that vaccines are still effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalizations, data from the United States and other countries has convinced Biden officials that Americans need reminders to starting this fall in addition to other public health measures such as cover-up and social distancing.
"I strongly support this revaccination strategy, and I hope that it will usher in a pandemic phase where patients can make the best decisions for themselves in consultation with their doctors," said Leana Ven, emergency physician and professor of health public at George Washington University. “While some patients may be satisfied with the current level of vaccine protection against serious disease, others may need amplification to reduce symptomatic infection. People should consider their personal medical situation, exposure, and tolerance for risk when it comes to booster doses.
However, a rushed delivery of boosters in a few weeks is sure to generate international outrage and may confuse Americans, who have learned for months that vaccination offers effective protection against infection.
Given the urgent unmet need for vaccination against Covid-19 in many countries around the world, the World Health Organization has opposed this initiative. To help meet WHO's goal of vaccinating at least 10% of people in each country by the end of September, wealthy countries have been asked to postpone the introduction of the boosters until the end of September. However, other countries like Israel, France and Hungary have started or are planning to start providing boosters to certain segments of the population.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO emergency program, said: “We intend to distribute additional life jackets to those who already have life jackets, but we let other people die without a single life jacket. "
Several outside public health professionals questioned the administration's policies during a private government briefing on Wednesday, according to many interlocutors.
They also raised concerns about the potential impact on the global immunization campaign, criticizing the administration's swift implementation of the plan after weeks when senior health officials downplayed the likelihood of boosters. will soon be needed.
Céline Gunder, infectious disease specialist and former Covid-19 adviser on the transition to Biden, tweeted on Wednesday: "I still don't understand why the administration is moving forward with additional doses of vaccine for the general population" , reflecting the private disappointment of many. in recent days, health experts have reached out to Biden's team.
Biden and his senior health advisers on Wednesday denied accusations that the revaccination campaign would jeopardize the United States' international vaccination efforts.
"We are going to be the arsenal of vaccines to defeat this pandemic, just as we were the arsenal of democracy to win World War II," Trump said, referring to the planned United States delivery of more than 600 million vaccines to countries in need. According to Biden, that amount exceeded the contribution of all other countries combined. However, this is only a small fraction of the vaccine supply needed to deliver the initial doses to everyone on the planet.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said the United States is stepping up efforts to meet global vaccine needs.
"I reject the idea that we have to choose between America and the rest of the world," he said. “We will also continue to step up our efforts to immunize the rest of the world. It is a responsibility that we take very seriously. "
Despite the administration's plans to conduct a second round of vaccinations, more than 40% of the US population over the age of 12 are still unvaccinated. It is unclear how the federal government will convince the entire population of the country to not only sign up for the initial vaccination, but also to come back for revaccinations.
Officials at Biden's office did not disclose details of how the booster doses would be distributed, but hinted that they would rely primarily on the huge network of federal and state agencies and pharmacies. which were used to distribute the first set of vaccinations. They also stress the importance of prioritizing vulnerable populations such as health workers and patients in health facilities.
According to a second CDC study, released Wednesday, the effectiveness of vaccinating nursing home patients who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was around 75% before Delta emerged and 53% during the spread. from Delta.
There are currently 100 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available, according to two senior officials familiar with the situation. The government has signed a contract for an additional $ 400 million, which will be distributed as needed.
In his speech on Wednesday afternoon, President Joe Biden said, "This will make you increasingly secure and help us end the pandemic faster." “Now is not the time to let our guard down. Now we just have to finish the job with scientific evidence, evidence and trust. "
At a press briefing earlier today, senior health officials said new data showed that the effectiveness of vaccines in protecting against mild to moderate Covid-19 had worsened over time. time, largely due to the development of the Delta shape.
The government's plan to deliver booster doses introduces it into a new, more difficult phase of its year-long vaccination campaign. Health officials are struggling to prevent the disease from recurring and are also trying to convince millions of unvaccinated Americans to get vaccinated for the first time. Some health experts argue that the available evidence does not indicate a clear need for additional doses for all adults - especially at a time when large parts of the world are still unvaccinated - and that the revaccination policy has sparked controversy both inside and outside the administration.
The policy will apply to persons over 18 who have received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine and is subject to FDA approval and review by the CDC Vaccine Advisory Group. Obama administration officials have said they plan to offer booster doses to those who have received a single Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but are waiting for more data before making the offer.
Under the proposed plan, Americans will be eligible for booster shots eight months after receiving a second vaccination, a strategy that will prioritize healthcare professionals and patients in healthcare facilities.
Jeff Zientes, White House Covid-19 coordinator, promised, “Getting a booster injection will be as easy and convenient as getting your first injection today. "We're ready for the boosters, and we'll be ready immediately."
The doses will be offered at around 80,000 vaccination sites across the country, Biden said, and will be given to any adult with a vaccination card showing they received their first vaccines at least eight months ago.
The rocket fire is a turning point in the federal government's immunization program. Biden kicked off the summer by focusing on his plan to get the country back to normal by July 4. However, as Delta swept the country over the past month, administration officials gradually backed away from the message, mainly advising vaccinated Americans to disguise indoors again.
The decision to appoint recalls is likely to create a communications problem for the government, which is already working to increase resistance to the Covid-19 vaccination.
Health officials stressed on Wednesday that vaccinations were still very effective against serious illnesses that can lead to hospitalization and death, but they wanted to avoid any potential deterioration in their effectiveness.
“If you wait for something terrible before you respond, you will be considerably late,” famed infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci said. "Better to be early than to continue."
After weeks of intense debate within the administration's task force on Covid-19 over whether new data on the vaccine's effectiveness over time indicates Americans need a second round of doses , the decision was made to revaccinate. These discussions coincided with pressure from the administration to continue administering doses of the vaccine to low- and middle-income countries that have not yet completed their first round of vaccinations.
Biden administration officials looked at vaccine data from the CDC on Sunday, which showed vaccine protection had waned in recent months as Delta took hold and cases began to spread across the country. According to a confidential government briefing to public health professionals on Wednesday morning, a study of adults in New York City showed that the effectiveness of vaccination against infection had increased from 91.7% in early May to 79.8% end of July. During the same period, the most transmissible form of Delta caused an increase in infections in the state.
The agency released an analysis on Wednesday that included data on both vaccinated and unvaccinated people from local and state reporting systems.
Evidence from the Mayo Clinic that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were less effective against infection with the Delta strain was also cited by CDC director Rochelle Walenski. Pfizer's vaccine was 76% effective against previous generations of Covid-19, compared to just 42% against Delta. Against Delta, the effectiveness of Moderna's vaccine increased from 86% to 76%.
Officials looked at similar data from Israel, which showed that when the Delta variant took over, the vaccine's effectiveness against the infection rose from around 95% in June to 64% in July.
While a New York study found that vaccines are still effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalizations, data from the United States and other countries has convinced Biden officials that Americans need reminders to starting this fall in addition to other public health measures such as cover-up and social distancing.
"I strongly support this revaccination strategy, and I hope that it will usher in a pandemic phase where patients can make the best decisions for themselves in consultation with their doctors," said Leana Ven, emergency physician and professor of health public at George Washington University. “While some patients may be satisfied with the current level of vaccine protection against serious disease, others may need amplification to reduce symptomatic infection. People should consider their personal medical situation, exposure, and tolerance for risk when it comes to booster doses.
However, a rushed delivery of boosters in a few weeks is sure to generate international outrage and may confuse Americans, who have learned for months that vaccination offers effective protection against infection.
Given the urgent unmet need for vaccination against Covid-19 in many countries around the world, the World Health Organization has opposed this initiative. To help meet WHO's goal of vaccinating at least 10% of people in each country by the end of September, wealthy countries have been asked to postpone the introduction of the boosters until the end of September. However, other countries like Israel, France and Hungary have started or are planning to start providing boosters to certain segments of the population.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO emergency program, said: “We intend to distribute additional life jackets to those who already have life jackets, but we let other people die without a single life jacket. "
Several outside public health professionals questioned the administration's policies during a private government briefing on Wednesday, according to many interlocutors.
They also raised concerns about the potential impact on the global immunization campaign, criticizing the administration's swift implementation of the plan after weeks when senior health officials downplayed the likelihood of boosters. will soon be needed.
Céline Gunder, infectious disease specialist and former Covid-19 adviser on the transition to Biden, tweeted on Wednesday: "I still don't understand why the administration is moving forward with additional doses of vaccine for the general population" , reflecting the private disappointment of many. in recent days, health experts have reached out to Biden's team.
Biden and his senior health advisers on Wednesday denied accusations that the revaccination campaign would jeopardize the United States' international vaccination efforts.
"We are going to be the arsenal of vaccines to defeat this pandemic, just as we were the arsenal of democracy to win World War II," Trump said, referring to the planned United States delivery of more than 600 million vaccines to countries in need. According to Biden, that amount exceeded the contribution of all other countries combined. However, this is only a small fraction of the vaccine supply needed to deliver the initial doses to everyone on the planet.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said the United States is stepping up efforts to meet global vaccine needs.
"I reject the idea that we have to choose between America and the rest of the world," he said. “We will also continue to step up our efforts to immunize the rest of the world. It is a responsibility that we take very seriously. "
Despite the administration's plans to conduct a second round of vaccinations, more than 40% of the US population over the age of 12 are still unvaccinated. It is unclear how the federal government will convince the entire population of the country to not only sign up for the initial vaccination, but also to come back for revaccinations.
Officials at Biden's office did not disclose details of how the booster doses would be distributed, but hinted that they would rely primarily on the huge network of federal and state agencies and pharmacies. which were used to distribute the first set of vaccinations. They also stress the importance of prioritizing vulnerable populations such as health workers and patients in health facilities.
According to a second CDC study, released Wednesday, the effectiveness of vaccinating nursing home patients who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was around 75% before Delta emerged and 53% during the spread. from Delta.
There are currently 100 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available, according to two senior officials familiar with the situation. The government has signed a contract for an additional $ 400 million, which will be distributed as needed.
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