Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pfizer Says Vaccine Likely Available For Younger Kids By September Or October
Fox News: Pfizer To Request COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Approval For Kids Ages 5-11 By Fall
Younger children could become eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this fall, according to a top executive at Pfizer who noted plans to request emergency approval for use of its vaccine in kids aged 5 to 11 by September or October. Dr. Alejandra Gurtman, vice president of vaccine clinical research and development at Pfizer, appeared along with representatives from other major drugmakers to talk data and timelines behind pediatric clinical trials Thursday during a Johns Hopkins University-University of Washington virtual symposium. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is currently authorized for use in individuals aged 12 and older. (Rivas, 6/30)
The Baltimore Sun: COVID Experts, Speaking At Symposium Co-Hosted By Johns Hopkins, Lay Out Risks, Benefits Of Vaccines For Young Children
As more adults become vaccinated against COVID-19, the coronavirus has targeted more children not yet eligible for shots. But the first vaccine for those as young as 5 could be ready as soon as September. A collection of experts laid out the benefits — and a few risks — of vaccinating kids during a symposium hosted Wednesday by the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington. (Cohn, 7/1)
In other news on vaccine development and research —
USA Today: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine May Protect Against Delta Variant
A top U.S. official suggested Wednesday that people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine likely are protected against the delta variant. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told CNBC that data shows the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot — a "cousin" of the J&J — is highly effective against the variant first identified in India and currently surging across the nation. “While we are still awaiting direct studies of Johnson & Johnson and the delta variant, we have reasons to be hopeful, because the J&J vaccine has proven to be quite effective against preventing hospitalizations and deaths, with all the variants that we’ve seen to date,” Murthy said. (Aspegren, 7/1)
Reuters: CureVac COVID-19 Vaccine Records Only 48% Efficacy In Final Trial Readout
CureVac said its COVID-19 vaccine was 48% effective in the final analysis of its pivotal mass trial, only marginally better than the 47% reported after an initial read-out two weeks ago. The German biotech firm said that efficacy, measured by preventing symptomatic disease, was slightly better at 53% when excluding trial participants older than 60 years, an age group that is by far the most severely affected. (Burger, 7/1)
The New York Times: AstraZeneca Booster Shot Lifts Immune Response, Study Finds
A third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford generated a strong immune response in clinical trial volunteers, Oxford researchers reported on Monday. The finding indicates that the AstraZeneca vaccine could be an option should third shots end up being needed, for example, to extend immunity. To date, the vaccine has been given as two doses, typically between four and 12 weeks apart. (Robbins, 6/28)
Stat: 12 Lessons Covid-19 Taught Us About Developing Vaccines
The extraordinary drive to develop Covid-19 vaccines was like a moonshot — and like that fabled acceleration of space exploration science, it delivered. Just a little over six months after the first Covid vaccines were authorized for use, nearly 3 billion vaccine doses have been administered around the globe. The world got very lucky; so much went right in the quest for vaccines to end this pandemic. But there have been setbacks (see: Sanofi) and failures (see: Merck) along the way, and the progress toward supplying vaccine to less affluent parts of the world has been scandalously slow. (Branswell, 6/30)
Axios: We Still Don't Know Whether Anyone Will Need Coronavirus Vaccine Booster Shots
There's no evidence that anyone who's been vaccinated against the coronavirus needs a booster yet. Deciding who needs one — and when — could be complicated. With vaccination rates plateauing at the same time the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus spread across the U.S., it has raised new fears among Americans, including many vaccinated individuals who worry about how long they'll remain protected against COVID. (Owens, 7/1)
