Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Poised To OK Second Covid Booster For People 50 And Older
The Washington Post: FDA Expected To Authorize Second Coronavirus Booster For 50 And Older
The Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorize a second coronavirus vaccine booster for anyone 50 and older, a bid to provide an extra layer of protection amid concerns Europe’s rise in infections from an omicron subvariant could hit the United States, according to several government officials. The authorizations for second Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters could be announced as soon as Tuesday, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to discuss the situation. They said talks continue, and it was possible, but unlikely, that major changes could occur. (McGinley and Sun, 3/26)
NPR: The FDA Is Expected To Authorize 2nd Boosters For People 50 And Up
The plan comes as evidence increases that protection from three shots is fading and a fourth shot would help boost immunity back up. And as BA.2, an even more contagious version of the omicron variant continues to spread in the U.S., concern is mounting it could fuel another surge. "We have a large number of people who are at least four to six months past their third shot," says Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, who supports the move. "Without protection against the omicron variant, particularly now we're confronting BA.2, there's a very high risk of hospitalization and death," he says. (Stein and Greenhalgh, 3/27)
ABC News: Officials Expected To Offer 2nd Booster Shot For Those Over 50 Years Old
As soon as Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could authorize COVID-19 booster shots for Americans over 50 years old, two officials familiar with the matter told ABC News, though the fourth shots are likely to be only offered and not formally recommended. The officials stressed that the details are still under discussion and could change in the next few days. (Haslett and Strauss, 3/27)
In other news about the vaccine rollout —
USA Today: COVID Vaccine For Kids Under 5: Will They Get Shots Before BA.2 Surge?
After enduring months of confusion and multiple setbacks, parents of young children were elated to find out Moderna plans to request the Food and Drug Administration to authorize a COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 6. Although parents welcomed the much-anticipated news, the BA.2 strain of the omicron variant continues to gain ground in the U.S., and access to these life-saving vaccines for 18 million of the nation's youngest is still weeks away. (Rodriguez, 3/25)
Detroit Free Press: COVID-19 Vaccines For Kids With Autism Present Challenges For Families
Autism, which affects as many as 1 in every 44 kids in the U.S., causes difficulties with communicating, social interaction and sensory processing. It can make things like wearing a mask or going to a crowded pharmacy or a vaccine clinic to get a shot challenging. Health leaders say those unique obstacles could be among the reasons the COVID-19 vaccination rate for people with autism isn't high enough in Michigan. The state health department said it doesn't collect that data and there isn't even a census of the number of people in Michigan who have an autism diagnosis. But Jill Matson, health education manager for the Autism Alliance of Michigan, said the alliance has anecdotal evidence that shots aren't getting to enough people. (Jordan Shamus, 3/28)
The Hill: 5 Things To Know About Coronavirus Vaccines For Young Children
Pfizer’s vaccine for children under five has been on a roller coaster. It appeared in February that the vaccine could be moving towards authorization, with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel meeting scheduled. But that was delayed in a surprise move as the company said it would wait for data on a third dose, which is expected to have higher effectiveness. Those third dose data could come soon, helping clear the way for potential authorization. Pfizer has previously said the data would come in “early April.” (Sullivan, 3/27)
The Wall Street Journal: Pfizer, Moderna And J&J Face Shareholder Pressure To Broaden Covid-19 Vaccine Access
Socially conscious investors and global-health activists are turning to shareholders to press Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson to make more of their shots available to people in poorer countries. Groups including the antipoverty organization Oxfam have succeeded in placing proposals on shareholder proxy ballots that ask drugmakers to do more to widen access to the Covid-19 vaccines, such as exploring the transfer of their technology to other manufacturers. (Loftus, 3/27)
