September 5, 2022
Labor Day is here
I hope you all had a relaxed holiday weekend, celebrating summer and honoring all the hard workers out there. Don’t forget them. Without Labor Unions we wouldn’t have weekends. The days are shortening in the Northwest, the Equinox is fast approaching, and I feel Fall around the corner. Grateful that my tomatoes are ripening and we have plenty of basil. Barlow has grown up into an excellent dog. No, he is not perfect, but pretty darn good. He has taken to swimming and can catch a frisbee. Yay! I always wanted a Frisbee dog.
I am happy to see the number of COVID cases falling, as well as decreases in hospitalizations and deaths. Good to see the trend, although I fear the unvaccinated are still at risk.
Winter is looming, always with an increased risk of flu. Now we add COVID to the mix. The experts are hoping that there will not be as large an uptick in cases this fall compared to last year. But we have the wild card of a new variant arriving to change the picture. Let’s hope we are not surprised.
Earlier in the week, the FDA approved the new boosters focused on the BA.5 variant. But before the vaccines are recommended for public health by the CDC, they undergo further review. It’s part of the rigorous process of approving immunizations for recommended use. Friday ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) met to review safety data. ACIP is an advisory committee to the CDC consisting of outside experts. For a vaccine for the BA.1 variant, side effects were similar to the original vaccines although fever was lower this time, only 4% vs 16% with the original series. The data was only from 1400 human patients who got the BA.1 focused vaccine.
The rest of the data came from mice studies regarding the BA.5 variant which is the one we will be getting.The BA.5 variant is the most common now. Flu vaccines are updated yearly with data from mice studies too, updates show increase in Omicron fighting antibodies for B5 variants. More human studies would take longer, risking a new variant. The BA5 vaccine was effective at reducing viral replication in the lungs. The experts feel the mRNA vaccines are safe and they are comfortable with using mouse studies like with the flu vaccine.
The CDC approved their use the same day ACIP made their recommendation of approval. This means the new boosters are on their way and covered by the government so should be free. Yahoo!
The boosters are bivalent, meaning they have mRNA focused on BA.5 variant and the original SARS-CoV-2 virus to boost antibodies to the Omicron BA.5 variant and the old original virus to cover for new variants coming our way that aren’t related to Omicron.
Pfizer is for 12 and older and Moderna for 18 and older. There is not really much difference between the two. As far as mixing and matching based on your prior vaccines, you may get some slight benefit by doing that. But get the one that is available to you when you are ready, you will still benefit. The only recommendation is for a male younger than 30 to get the Pfizer since there is a lower risk of myocarditis (still rare but something to consider).
Katelyn Jetelina, who writes the excellent Your Local Epidemiologist blog, suggests getting the new booster even if you had Omicron to help boost neutralizing antibodies, waiting at least 3 months after you recover.
Wait at least two months after your last booster, preferably more if possible. If high risk, get the booster when you are due.
And it is OK to get it at the same time you get your flu vaccine or some other vaccine that is due.
I am happy to get the new booster as soon as I can arrange it. I’ll be flying in just under 3 weeks and want all the protection I can get. I hope you can get your new fangled boosters soon as well.
Wash your hands, cover your nose (still when traveling and indoors), get your booster.
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/covid-forecast-major-fall-surge-unlikely-but-variants-are-a-wild-card/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/health/covid-omicron-vaccines.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/08/31/fall-booster-shots-2/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/what-wa-needs-to-know-about-the-new-omicron-specific-covid-boosters/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/explainer-should-you-get-a-new-covid-booster-if-so-when/
https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/i/71414663/mixing-and-matching