The Booster Bulletin: Your Weekly Dose of Immunization News
We’re committed to sharing news and information from local and national media about COVID-19, available vaccines, and immunization-related topics. Each week we’ll continue to review clips from across the U.S., from various news outlets and platforms, and bring you ten timely and relevant links.
“All vaccinated adults could soon be eligible for a Pfizer or Moderna booster” – NPR (November 17, 2021) People 18 or older who are already considered fully vaccinated could soon be eligible to get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Moderna asked for that authorization on Wednesday, one day after Pfizer made its application.
“Fauci Says COVID-19 Booster Might Become New Standard for Being Vaccinated” New York Post (November 17, 2021) – “COVID-19 booster shots may become the new standard to be considered fully vaccinated, according to the nation’s top doctor…‘I happen to believe as an immunologist and infectious disease person that a third shot boost for an mRNA [vaccine]…should be part of the actual standard regimen, where a booster isn’t a luxury,’ the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reportedly said.”
“For Pharmacists, COVID-19 Holiday Safety Preparation Has Already Begun” Pharmacy Times (November 16, 2021) – “The holiday season is upon us and this year, pharmacists will play a key role in helping patients prepare for COVID-safe travel and celebrations. This is a good time for pharmacists to do some initial checks and pre-holiday planning to make sure you are ready for the coming weeks. With the CDC’s announcement on the availability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-191 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years of age, pharmacists have a new patient demographic. For many pharmacists, this is the first time that they will be actively treating this age group and there are some easy steps to take to make the transition easier…”
“First Human Trial of Alzheimer’s Disease Nasal Vaccine to Begin at Boston Hospital” CBS (November 16, 2021) – “The start of the small, Phase I clinical trial comes after nearly 20 years of research led by Howard L. Weiner, MD, co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at the hospital. The trial will include 16 participants between the ages of 60 and 85, all with early symptomatic Alzheimer's but otherwise generally healthy. They will receive two doses of the vaccine one week apart…A Phase I clinical trial is designed to establish the safety and dosage for a potential new medication. If it goes well, a much larger trial would be needed to test its effectiveness.”
“So You Got the Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine: What a Booster Means for You” Cnet (November 15, 2021) – “…boosters are recommended for all people who got Johnson & Johnson is based on research showing it's less effective than Pfizer and Moderna, with some experts arguing Johnson & Johnson should've been a two-dose series from the beginning.”
“COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids: How We Know It’s Safe” AMA (November 15, 2021) – “With the U.S distributing enough vaccines to immunize the estimated 28 million American children between 5 and 11 years old, pediatricians, family doctors and other physicians may find themselves encountering the question: Is this vaccine safe for my child?”
Watch: “Renewed Concern about Measles Prompts Doctors to Advise Parents to Vaccinate Children” NBC 9 News – YouTube (November 15, 2021) – “The CDC said more than 22 million infants worldwide have missed their first dose of the measles vaccine during the pandemic.”
“Jill Biden: Parents, the COVID-19 Vaccine Is the Best Way to Protect Your Kids” CNN (November 15, 2021) – “Parents, we do absolutely everything to protect our kids, and in this pandemic, you did. You figured out how to support their virtual learning while working your job. Some of you even left your job to help your kids. You found ways to create online playdates and birthday parties. You chose to get yourself vaccinated.”
“The COVID-19 Vaccine and Kids. Your Questions Answered” PBS (November 11, 2021) – “Children ages 5-11 are the latest group in the United States to be eligible for coronavirus vaccines, joining nearly a quarter billion people aged 12 and up who have had at least one dose so far. In the first week of availability, an estimated 900,000 kids in the new age range will have already gotten shots, the White House announced Wednesday. But not everyone is rushing to book an appointment—many parents are waiting to see how things go with early adopters.”
“What We Know So Far about Waning Vaccine Effectiveness” New York Times (November 11, 2021) – “As tens of millions who are eligible in the United States consider signing up for a Covid-19 booster shot, a growing body of early global research shows that the vaccines authorized in the United States remain highly protective against the disease’s worst outcomes over time, with some exceptions among older people and those with weakened immune systems.”
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