Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Coronavirus Antibodies Can Be Tricky
The New York Times: Some Covid Survivors Have Antibodies That Attack The Body, Not Virus
Some survivors of Covid-19 carry worrying signs that their immune system has turned on the body, reminiscent of potentially debilitating diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, a new study has found. At some point, the body’s defense system in these patients shifted into attacking itself, rather than the virus, the study suggests. The patients are producing molecules called “autoantibodies” that target genetic material from human cells, instead of from the virus. (Mandavilli, 10/27)
The New York Times: Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Studies Showing Waning Coronavirus Antibodies
The portion of people in Britain with detectable antibodies to the coronavirus fell by roughly 27 percent over a period of three months this summer, researchers reported Monday, prompting fears that immunity to the virus is short-lived. But several experts said these worries were overblown. It is normal for levels of antibodies to drop after the body clears an infection, but immune cells carry a memory of the virus and can churn out fresh antibodies when needed. (Mandavilli, 10/27)
In other developments in the search for a COVID vaccine —
KHN: Scientists Warn Americans Are Expecting Too Much From A Vaccine
The White House and many Americans have pinned their hopes for defeating the COVID-19 pandemic on a vaccine being developed at “warp speed.” But some scientific experts warn they’re all expecting too much, too soon. “Everyone thinks COVID-19 will go away with a vaccine,” said Dr. William Haseltine, chair and president of Access Health International, a foundation that advocates for affordable care. (Szabo and Aleccia, 10/28)
The Wall Street Journal: Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout Calls For Supply-Chain Collaboration, Logistics Chief Says
Capacity-strained shipping networks should be able to manage the rush to distribute Covid-19 vaccines if governments, logistics providers and pharmaceutical companies coordinate their efforts, the head of a top global logistics operator says. “It will be a wave, but it’s nothing where we will say, ‘It’s impossible,’” said Detlef Trefzger, chief executive of Switzerland-based Kuehne + Nagel International AG. “The partners have to collaborate. If you don’t…you might run into a capacity shortage or equipment shortage.” (Smith, 10/26)
CNN: This 12-Year-Old Is Happy To Be Testing A Covid-19 Vaccine
The youngest volunteers so far to get experimental coronavirus vaccines have been given their first doses and are now being watched carefully to see if they are experiencing any unusual side effects. A team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital vaccinated 100 children as young as 12 last week, said Dr. Robert Frenck, who is leading the trial for Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine at the hospital. "Now we are pausing to watch for reactions to the vaccine. We right now are in a planned pause to make sure that everything is as safe as it can be," Frenck told CNN. (Fox, 10/26)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: How Does COVID-19 Spread Compared To The Flu
This year, the flu season has the coronavirus pandemic coinciding with it. Although both viruses have led to concern from health care officials over a “twindemic,” it’s likely that some measures people have been taken to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus has helped with influenza. (Willis, 10/27)
