Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CDC Study Finds Moderna, Pfizer Vaccines Are Keeping Seniors Out Of Hospital
CNBC: CDC: Pfizer, Moderna Covid Vaccines 94% Effective At Preventing Elderly Hospitalizations
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are 94% effective at preventing hospitalizations among fully vaccinated adults ages 65 and older, according to a real-world study published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The two-dose mRNA vaccines were also found in the study to be 64% effective at preventing hospitalizations in the elderly who received just one shot. The study evaluated 417 hospitalized adults across 14 states from January to March. The U.S. agency said the findings were consistent with those found in clinical trials. (Lovelace Jr., 4/28)
Axios: Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines 94% Effective In Preventing Hospitalization In Adults 65 And Older
The research, which studied 417 hospitalized adults in 14 states between January and March, adds real-world evidence from the clinical trials that vaccination protects against severe illness and hospitalization. "These data suggest that continuing to rapidly vaccinate U.S. adults against COVID-19 will likely have a marked impact on COVID-19 hospitalization and might lead to commensurate reductions in post-COVID conditions and deaths," the report reads. (Fernandez, 4/28)
In other news from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna —
Reuters: BioNTech Expects Vaccine Trial Results For Babies By September
BioNTech expects results by September from trials testing the COVID-19 vaccine that it and Pfizer have developed in babies as young as six months old, German magazine Spiegel cited the company's CEO as saying. "In July, the first results could be available for the five to 12 year olds, in September for the younger children," BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin told Spiegel. He added it takes about four to six weeks to evaluate the data. (Dowson, 4/29)
The Wall Street Journal: Moderna To Boost Covid-19 Vaccine Production To Meet Rising Global Demand
Moderna Inc. plans to spend billions of dollars to boost production of Covid-19 vaccines and potentially triple its yearly output of doses in 2022, as the company seeks to meet rising global demand. The Cambridge, Mass., biotech company said Thursday it could produce up to three billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines in 2022, compared with a projected output of up to one billion this year. (Loftus, 4/29)
CNBC: Moderna Covid Vaccine Can Remain Stable At Refrigerated Temperatures For 3 Months, Company Says
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine can remain stable at temperatures found in refrigerators for 3 months, the company said Thursday, citing new data. The mRNA vaccine is currently approved to be stored in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 days and up to seven months in the freezer at minus 4 Fahrenheit, according to the company. But Moderna said Thursday it now has data that could support a three-month refrigerated shelf life for the vaccine. (Lovelace Jr., 4/29)
In updates on the Novavax vaccine —
Axios: Why Novavax Is The "Dark-Horse" COVID-19 Vaccine
Novavax's shot could become the next coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. arsenal, potentially jumping ahead of AstraZeneca in the line for U.S. authorization, Politico reports. The vaccine proved to be just as effective as Pfizer and Moderna's mRNA vaccines in a U.K. clinical trial, and could become a crucial tool in the global vaccination effort. (Owens, 4/28)
