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.

“Coronavirus Contextualized, 60th edition: Cases remain high as Northern Nevada hospitals face crush of COVID-19 patients” The Nevada Independent (September 24, 2021) - “Coronavirus Contextualized” publishes on a semi-regular basis, meaning that if cases are increasing or decreasing, you can expect to see a new story every week or every other week, and if cases are stable, you might not see a new story for a few weeks.

“CDC Says Nursing Home Residents Are Still at Risk for COVID with Low Vaccination Rates among Staff” CNBC (September 22, 2021) – “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that an average of 60% of nursing home personnel in the U.S. are vaccinated against Covid, a rate officials say leaves the care facilities at higher risk for outbreaks among residents and staff. To curb the delta variant, President Joe Biden issued a vaccine mandate on Aug. 18 for staff in approximately 15,000 nursing homes serving residents using Medicare or Medicaid. The Biden administration will block Medicare and Medicaid funding for any nursing home that fails to comply.”

“COVID Vaccines Don’t Increase Risk of Miscarriage or Birth Defects, CDC Says” CNBC (September 23, 2021) – “Vaccinating against Covid does not increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The CDC tracked 1,613 pregnant women who received a Covid-19 vaccine, 30% of whom were vaccinated in the second trimester, while the remaining 70% received their inoculations in the third trimester, Dr. Christine Olson, a CDC medical officer, told the agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday.”

“In a Matter of Days, Pfizer CEO Says They’ll Be Ready to Ask For Approval of a COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids” CNN (September 27, 2021) – “Pfizer/BioNTech plans to ask for authorization of a Covid-19 vaccine for some children under 12 soon, bringing the US one step closer to offering protection to a population that has grown particularly vulnerable as the fall season gets underway. ‘It is a question of days, not weeks,’ Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla told ABC News Sunday about when the company will submit data on children ages 5 to 11 to the FDA for consideration.”

 “Pfizer Begins Study of mRNA Flu Vaccine” Reuters (September 27, 2021) – “Pfizer Inc said on Monday it had dosed the first patient in a trial testing a flu vaccine based on messenger RNA, the same technology used in the COVID-19 shots made by the U.S. drugmaker and BioNTech. The early-stage trial, conducted in the United States, will test the vaccine in healthy adults ages 65- 85.”

“What Has Motivated People to Get the Vaccine?” Local SYR Family Healthcast (September 28, 2021) – “The threat of losing their jobs has pushed many healthcare workers across New York to get a COVID shot…At the top of the list, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation poll, the highly transmissible Delta variant tops the list. Among those vaccinated since June 1, 39% said they were motivated by transmission of the Delta variant, 38% said they got the shot because if the growing burden of COVID-19 on hospitals, and 36% said they did it because they by knew someone who became seriously ill or died.”

“Vatican orders all employees to get vaccine or submit to testing” Axios (September 28, 2021) – “The Vatican City State said Tuesday that it will require all employees to provide proof of vaccination or documentation of a recent negative COVID test, the Washington Post reports.

“Sen. Feinstein introduces bill to require vaccine or negative test for domestic flights” The Washington Post (September 30, 2021) – “This latest proposed legislation follows a bill introduced earlier this month by Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) that would require proof that air or Amtrak travelers have been vaccinated or tested negative.”

“How Is The COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Going In Your State?” NPR (September 30, 2021) – “Vaccinating a high percentage of the population against COVID-19 is a crucial part of the U.S. strategy to curb the pandemic.  Since COVID-19 vaccine distribution began in the United States on Dec. 14, more than 391 million doses have been administered, fully vaccinating over 184 million people or 55.5% of the total U.S. population. 

“Am I fully vaccinated without a COVID-19 vaccine booster” AP News (September 30, 2021) - Am I fully vaccinated without a COVID-19 vaccine booster?  Yes, people who got a two-dose vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot are considered fully vaccinated — even without a booster.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you’re fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of the J&J.  The vaccines offer strong protection against serious illness. But U.S. health officials now recommend boosters for some people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 based on evidence that protection against milder disease can wane, especially among older adults.”

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