by Vaccines are by far the most powerful tool available against the coronavirus, protecting people from becoming seriously ill, being hospitalized and dying from the virus.
Unlike many less developed countries, the United States has enough doses to vaccinate everyone in addition to the necessary infrastructure to support rollout.
The problem: not everyone wants the shot.
“We have a very serious vaccine problem in the United States, and anything we can do to make people more comfortable accepting these potentially life-saving medical products is something we feel compelled to do,” said Dr. Peter. Marks, director of the Center for Biological Evaluation and Research.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48.7% of people over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated and received at least one booster dose in the United States.
This is a lower proportion than in other countries with similar access to vaccines. For example, 69.6% of people over the age of 12 have received a boost in the UK and 55.5% in Canada. Across the 27 EU countries, 62.6% of adults have received a boost.
Marks spoke with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee when it discussed the approval of a new Covid-19 vaccine developed by the US biotechnology company Novavax on Tuesday.
Vaccine withdrawal was among the topics discussed at the meeting.
When asked why another Covid-19 vaccine is needed in the US when three vaccines are already authorized for use – Pfizer / BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnsons Janssen, the latter a non-mRNA shot – Marks replied: “Janssen “The vaccine is not currently used as a front-line vaccine, in the same way as the mRNA vaccines, which leaves the problem of vaccines for those who may not want to take an mRNA vaccine due to concerns they may have with an mRNA vaccine.”
Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine – administered as two doses three weeks apart – is made using small laboratory-built parts of the coronavirus to stimulate immunity.
This protein-based approach is a more traditional method of vaccine development than the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna.
YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.
Q: Has the pandemic caused mental illness in children or made it worse?
ONE: The pandemic has not increased mental illness in teens, but instead “revealed symptoms” that might otherwise have been managed, according to Dr. John Walkup, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Walkup said that this means that only around 15% of children who have mental health problems receive help.
“Then you take away school, family, peer support and sports, and you force them to stay home. You know those kids are not going to do well over time,” he explained.
WEEKLY READINGS
Covid is likely to get “worse, not better” in North Korea
North Korean state media KCNA has said that the Covid wave has slowed after the daily number of “fever” cases peaked at 390,000 about two weeks ago.
But Pyongyang has never directly confirmed how many have tested positive for the virus, and experts suspect underreporting in the figures released through government-controlled media. This makes it difficult to assess the extent of the situation.
The Shanghai neighborhoods return to lockdown one day after the restrictions were lifted
The rapid return to lockdown is the latest reminder that despite easing restrictions, the Chinese government’s zero-Covid policy, which includes mass testing, including quarantine and snap-lockdowns, will continue to dominate everyday life.
The CDC adds four destinations to its ‘high’ risk list, including a Caribbean charmer
The CDC overhauled its rating system to assess Covid-19 risk for travelers in April. Level 3 “high” risk category is now the top when it comes to risk level. This applies to countries that have had more than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 28 days. There were about 115 destinations at level 3 on June 6th. Level 3 sites now make up almost half of the approximately 235 sites monitored by the CDC. Level 2 is considered a “moderate” risk, and level 1 is a “low” risk.
TOP TIPS
CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen said people who are generally healthy, vaccinated and empowered have a low risk of serious illness due to Covid-19.
“It is reasonable for many people to say that, given their low risk, they are fine with resuming pre-pandemic activities and are not going to limit travel or other activities,” she said.
Wen said people should always consider their individual risk factors such as being fully vaccinated with boosters, their own medical risk and the number of Covid cases at their intended destination.
“There will be many people who still choose to be careful. The good news is that there are also many more tools available for those who were not before in the early stages of the pandemic. There are, for example, antiviral pills that reduce the chance of serious illness. “And, of course, making sure they are vaccinated and up to date on boosters also reduces the risk of both serious illness and symptomatic infection,” she added.
