CDC Now Advises All Adults To Get A Covid Booster

AP: CDC Says Ages 18 And Up Should Get Booster Shot
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday broadened its recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots for all adults as the new omicron variant is identified in more countries. The agency had previously approved boosters for all adults, but only recommended them for those 50 years and older or if they live in a long-term care setting. CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the new guidance reflects the emergence of the omicron variant, which has not yet been identified in the U.S. but that officials say will inevitably reach the country. (11/29)

CNN: All Vaccinated Adults Should Get A Covid-19 Booster Shot Because Of The Omicron Variant, CDC Says
It's a slight but significant tweak to the wording of guidance issued earlier this month when the CDC endorsed an expanded emergency use authorization for boosters from the US Food and Drug Administration. "Today, CDC is strengthening its recommendation on booster doses for individuals who are 18 years and older," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement." The recent emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19," she added. (Fox, 11/29)

Axios: Omicron Fuels The Case For COVID Boosters 
The emergence of the Omicron COVID variant is turbocharging the push for vaccine boosters, and experts say a booster may soon become a requirement to be considered "fully vaccinated." Booster uptake has been sluggish so far, and adding a third shot to vaccine mandates would be highly controversial. "It's now abundantly clear we all need the boosters," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told Axios. (Reed, 11/30)

In news on medical industry responses —

The Washington Post: Epidemiologists: If Omicron Is Less Severe Than Delta, It Could Be A Path Out Of The Pandemic
As a new coronavirus variant of concern spreads globally, some experts read a possible positive future in the limited tea leaves gathered so far on omicron. Tony Blakely, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Melbourne, said omicron could represent a path out of the pandemic, if it turns out to be more infectious while causing less-severe symptoms than previous variants. “That may actually be a good thing because it means that as it washes through populations, you’ll have less morbidity and mortality,” he said. (Vinall, 11/29)

Reuters: Moderna CEO Warns COVID-19 Shots Less Effective Against Omicron, Spooks Markets
"There is no world, I think, where (the effectiveness) is the same level . . . we had with Delta," Moderna CEO Bancel told the Financial Times in an interview. "I think it's going to be a material drop. I just don't know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I've talked to . . . are like 'this is not going to be good'," Bancel said. Moderna did not reply to a Reuters' request for comment on the interview and on when it expects to have data on the effectiveness of its vaccine against Omicron, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says carries a "very high" risk of infection surges. (Zaharia and Jose, 11/30)

Stat: Pfizer Research Head Sees A Sprint To Develop Omicron Vaccine, If Needed
A top Pfizer executive says the company is hopeful that booster shots will provide sufficient protection against the Omicron variant — but has already envisioned a timeline for the development of a new vaccine if that’s not the case. Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, likened the company’s role to that of firefighters: It doesn’t know how serious the blaze will be, but needs to prepare for the worst. And in this case, the worst would mean the need to develop new vaccines. (Herper, 11/30)

The Wall Street Journal: Omicron Variant Has Covid-19 Vaccine Makers Preparing For Worst Case
Drugmakers raised the prospect that existing Covid-19 vaccines might be less effective against the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which could create a need for modified vaccines that better target the concerning new strain. The prospect of new demand for booster shots, as well as medicines to treat disease caused by the new strain, have lifted the stock prices of several drug companies in recent days, including Pfizer Inc. PFE -2.96% and Moderna Inc. MRNA 11.80% Though the knowledge of Omicron is limited at this point, investors are already making bets that its emergence will become a significant source of sales for drugmakers. (Loftus, 11/29)

Meanwhile, antiviral drugs are inbound —

NPR: New Antiviral Drugs Are Coming for COVID. Here's What You Need to Know
An FDA advisory committee is meeting Tuesday to consider whether to recommend a new antiviral pill for the COVID-19 treatment toolkit. Take-at-home pills could be a game changer for keeping COVID-19 in check, and helping people recover from early stages of the disease. (Huang, 11/30)

The New York Times: Antiviral Covid-19 Pills Are Coming. Will There Be Enough Tests?
One of the drugs, developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck, could receive emergency authorization as early as this week. Another, made by Pfizer, is likely to be close behind. Although the drugs are not a replacement for vaccination, they could drastically expand access to treatments for a disease that is still killing 1,000 Americans a day. But the pills, which interfere with viral replication, are designed to be taken as soon as possible after symptoms appear. Fully harnessing their benefits is likely to depend upon timely, accurate Covid testing — something that the United States has struggled to achieve since the beginning of the pandemic. At times, especially in the summer and fall of 2020, getting tested for the virus has required an hourslong wait in line, followed by a weeklong wait for results. (Anthes, 11/29)