Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
A Booster, Then Yearly Shots: Likely Future Vaccinations Mapped
CNBC: Pfizer CEO Says Third Covid Vaccine Dose Likely Needed Within 12 Months
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said people will “likely” need a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated. His comments were made public Thursday but were taped April 1. Bourla said it’s possible people will need to get vaccinated against the coronavirus annually. “A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role,” he told CNBC’s Bertha Coombs during an event with CVS Health. (Lovelace Jr., 4/15)
CNBC: Moderna Hopes To Have Booster Shot Ready By The Fall, Says CEO
Moderna hopes to have a booster shot for its two-dose Covid vaccine available in the fall, CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC on Wednesday. “I want to make sure there are boost vaccines available in the fall so that we protect people as we go into the next fall and winter season in the U.S.,” Bancel said in an interview on “Squawk Box.” (Stankiewicz, 4/14)
The New York Times: Pfizer And Others Are Planning For Covid Vaccine Boosters
Scientists have long said that giving people a single course of a Covid-19 vaccine might not be sufficient in the long term, and that booster shots and even annual vaccinations might prove necessary. In recent days, that proposition has begun to sound less hypothetical. Vaccine makers are getting a jump-start on possible new rounds of shots, although they sound more certain of the need for boosters than independent scientists have. (Tumin, 4/16)
CBS News: Biden Administration Working To Ensure U.S. Will Have Booster COVID-19 Shots If They Become Necessary
The Biden administration is "in discussions" to ensure that it can obtain booster COVID-19 shots if they become necessary, a top official told lawmakers on Thursday. The announcement comes as drugmakers are touting their progress in developing the additional shots, which are designed to increase the body's immune response months after the initial doses are administered. "We are in discussions right now, making sure that we can secure those vaccines for a boost or variants. We are in that process right now," Dr. David Kessler, chief science officer for the administration's COVID-19 response, told the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. (Tin, 4/15)
In related news about mRNA vaccines —
The Washington Post: Is The Second Dose Of The MRNA Coronavirus Vaccine Necessary? Yes. Here’s Why.
More than 100 million people in the United States have taken one of the coronavirus vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on track to more than meet President Biden’s goal of 200 million inoculations during his first 100 days in office. But some people have not shown up for the second shot of the messenger-RNA vaccines, which require two doses to achieve the strongest and longest-lasting immunity. (Bever, 4/15)
The Baltimore Sun: Are The Side Effects Of The Second COVID Vaccine Worse Than The First? Your Coronavirus Vaccination Questions Answered.
Michael Berry got his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at a big clinic in Rockville run by the Montgomery County Department of Health. It was March 9, and the 72-year-old said he received a shot of the immunization made by Moderna. A Silver Spring resident, Berry said he was told to expect a series of emails when it was time for him to schedule an appointment for his second dose... But April 9 marked four weeks to the day, and Berry said no such email arrived. (Mann, 4/16)
