August 22, 2021
Boosting up
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we can feel the end of summer speeding towards us. Today, the temperature barely reached 60 degrees. Still no rain though. That rain is flooding other parts of the country, from the Southwest to Appalachia and, now, New England, which is feeling the full force of a hurricane (?!).
We were hoping that we would be seeing the back side of COVID-19 by now. By all rights, we should have. Although we have effective vaccines and data that shows masking prevents transmissions, we are facing resistance to both masking and vaccines, resulting in a surge of infections, especially in areas with slow vaccine uptake.
Now COVID anxiety is increasing again, as we go back to masking up. Data shows breakthrough infections are occurring in vaccinated people. Most cases are still in the unvaccinated. Fewer vaccinated people are hospitalized and almost half of those breakthrough cases are in the immunocompromised,
Which is why the FDA has approved a third dose for those with qualifying conditions. Data shows extra protection is needed for people who have transplants, are being treated for cancers, or are taking certain immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. You can read those recommendations here at the CDC site. These recommendations are now in effect for those who qualify, who got the mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna.
More confusing and controversial is President Biden’s plan to give booster shots to everyone, starting in October, 8 months after their first dose of an mRNA vaccine. No recommendation yet on the Johnson & Johnson one dose vaccine. Still not enough data for it. These boosters are controversial because public data doesn’t show as deep a fall off in antibody titres after 8 months, as well as the fact so much of the world doesn’t have access to vaccines at all. We would be much better off as a nation, and the world, if vaccine resistance would disappear. Then booster shots may not be so necessary. Sigh.
Although when I think of other immunizations, several are given in a series, over several months, such as Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines. Each vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots over 6 months. I suspect we may end up with a similar vaccine schedule for SARS-CoV-2 in the future, if the data supports that.
Soon, the FDA will give full approval to Pfizer for its mRNA vaccine. Maybe as soon as tomorrow. This approval will lead to more vaccine mandates, including with the military, giving more weight to countering the argument of “too fast, too soon, not enough is known”. We know the vaccines do prevent serious illness and death, just not in everyone. Hence the need for boosters.
We all need to keep in mind, that booster shots alone are not completely protective for some one who is immunocompromised. Masking and social distancing add layers of protection for them. To be continued for the time being which will continue to keep us safe.
Wash your hands, cover your nose, keep safe six, and boost yourself, if you qualify.
And finally, my caveat is that this is my experience and my opinions, which are subject to change as more information is available, and not related to the organization I work for. Thanks for reading.
https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/covid-19-vaccine-breakthrough-cases-data-from-the-states/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/covid-anxiety-rising-amid-delta-surge-ap-norc-poll-finds/
https://www.statista.com/chart/25589/covid-19-infections-vaccinated-unvaccinated/
https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/covid-19-vaccine-breakthrough-cases-data-from-the-states/
https://theconversation.com/immunocompromised-people-make-up-nearly-half-of-covid-19-breakthrough-hospitalizations-an-extra-vaccine-dose-may-help-166241
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-additional-vaccine-dose-certain-immunocompromised
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0813-additional-mRNA-mrna-dose.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/do-i-need-a-booster-if-i-got-the-johnson-johnson-vaccine/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/18/covid-booster-faq/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/20/booster-vaccine-covid-questions/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/20/biden-coronavirus-booster-shots-criticism/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/us/politics/fda-pfizer-covid-vaccine-full-approval.html
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0813-additional-mRNA-mrna-dose.html
https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/18/booster-shots-alone-wont-protect-immunocompromised-people-from-covid-19/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/05/world/moderna-vaccine-efficacy.htm