Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
California To Resume Using Batch Of Moderna Shots After Safety Review
Los Angeles Times: California Will Resume Using Questioned Doses Of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
California’s top epidemiologist, Dr. Erica Pan, said late Wednesday that an expert panel’s review of apparent allergic reactions believed to be tied to a specific lot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine found “no scientific basis” for continuing to withhold the doses. The state had received about 330,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine from the specific lot, which were distributed across the state. Last week, seven people experienced reactions at a drive-through clinic in San Diego, some of which involved rapid swelling. But none were anaphylaxis or life-threatening reactions, according to the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. (Gutierrez, 1/20)
San Francisco Chronicle: California Says It’s Safe To Use Huge Lot Of Moderna Vaccines Paused After Allergic Reactions
“Yesterday, we convened the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and additional allergy and immunology specialists to examine the evidence collected,” the California Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday night. “We had further discussions with the County of San Diego Department of Public Health, the FDA, CDC and manufacturer, and found no scientific basis to continue the pause. Providers that paused vaccine administration from Moderna Lot 41L20A can immediately resume.” The vaccines in question were from a batch of 330,000 Moderna vaccines that were sent to 287 health care providers in California earlier in January, and were halted Sunday because six health care workers who got the vaccine in San Diego last week apparently developed allergic reactions after receiving it. The six people were treated and have recovered. (Ho, 1/20)
In related news from California —
Fox News: Woman Will Get Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Second Dose Despite Allergic Reaction To First
One woman who suffered an allergic reaction to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine said she will "absolutely, positively" get the second dose citing concerns about the virus itself. Cheryl Brennan, who received the dose at Petco Park in San Diego last week, said her reaction started about 18 minutes after receiving the first dose. Moderna on Tuesday said that it has received a report from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that several individuals were treated for possible allergic reactions at a vaccination center after receiving a dose from one lot of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. The state epidemiologist has already recommended that providers stop administering remaining doses from the lot. (Hein, 1/20)
Politico: ‘Come With Me If You Want To Live’: Schwarzenegger Gets Vaccinated
Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, making him among the first residents 65 and older to get the shot in Los Angeles County. Schwarzenegger, 73, booked an appointment himself at one of the city’s large-scale vaccination sites Tuesday after county health officials announced that individuals 65 and older could begin receiving vaccines Thursday, according to his spokesperson Daniel Ketchell. (Nieves, 1/20)
SF Gate: Did Shutting Down Outdoor Dining Contribute To California's COVID-19 Surge?
There has been no such linkage between outdoor dining and COVID-19 transmission, but California banned the activity in most of the state in early December, despite being one of the few states with a winter climate that would support it. Despite the ban, California has had one of the worst winter COVID-19 surges in the country, which begs the following question: Is it possible that shutting down outdoor dining made the state's surge even worse? (Ting, 1/20)
