Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CDC Report: Immunocompromised People Are Less Protected By Vaccines
The New York Times: Pfizer, Moderna Covid Shots Less Effective For Immunocompromised, Study Shows
Coronavirus vaccines were significantly less effective in protecting people with weakened immune systems than they were for other people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday, buttressing the agency’s call for immunocompromised adults to receive third or fourth doses of vaccines. Two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines were 77 percent effective against Covid-related hospitalization for immunocompromised people. That was a significant degree of protection, the agency said, but far lower than the shots’ benefit to people without immune deficiencies: In those people, the agency said, the vaccines were 90 percent effective against Covid hospitalizations. (Mueller, 11/2)
CIDRAP: Vaccine Plus Previous Infection May Offer Enhanced COVID-19 Protection
Two new studies in JAMA find that COVID-19 survivors who receive two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines may have stronger protection against coronavirus infection, one detailing much lower breakthrough infection rates in previously infected Qataris and one describing higher spike antibody levels among recovered US healthcare workers (HCWs). (Van Beusekom, 11/2)
In other news from Pfizer —
The Wall Street Journal: Pfizer Raises Covid-19 Vaccine Forecast As Sales More Than Double
Pfizer Inc. increased its forecast for sales of its Covid-19 vaccine this year to about $36 billion, a roughly 7% boost that comes as the U.S. prepares to distribute the shot to 28 million children ages 5 to 11 years old. The New York-based drugmaker said its sales projection for the vaccine it developed with partner BioNTech SE takes into account expected deliveries of about 2.3 billion vaccine doses this year. The companies have grown their capabilities for manufacturing doses, and are working with other firms overseas to produce doses. (Hopkins and Grossman, 11/2)
Axios: Pfizer CEO: Poorer Countries "Need To Place" COVID-19 Vaccine Orders
"Rich countries have given out more boosters in three months than poor countries have given total doses all year," the Financial Times reports. "Most of the negotiations for doses in the next year are coming from high-income countries and some middle-income countries," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on an earnings call yesterday. "I think we are producing enough. But for the low- and middle-income countries to receive ... a very severely discounted price ... they need to place orders ... The low- and middle-income countries will be behind in deliveries because they didn't place their orders." (Herman, 11/3)
