Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Studies: Omicron Infection Protects As Well As Booster Shot
Fortune: Omicron Breakthrough Infection Can Provide A Better Immune Response Than Booster, Studies Show
With Omicron subvariants causing COVID cases to jump nationwide, two new studies offer a small consolation for vaccinated individuals who suffer breakthrough infections. The infection leaves you with protections that may be more effective than those offered by a second booster. One study was conducted by German biotechnology company BioNTech SE and the second by the University of Washington in collaboration with San Francisco-headquartered Vir Biotechnology. Both studies investigated the immune responses of various groups based on their vaccination and infection status. (Lodewick, 5/16)
In news about Pfizer and Novavax shots —
The Washington Post: Pfizer Vaccine Booster For Kids 5 To 11 Will Soon Be Approved
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 as soon as Tuesday, making an extra dose available to protect school-age children as a descendant of the omicron variant is becoming dominant and cases tick upward. Outside experts who counsel the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, are scheduled to meet Thursday and are expected to recommend boosters for that age group. CDC director Rochelle Walensky is expected to concur shortly afterward. (McGinley and Johnson, 5/16)
Axios: Novavax Is Confident COVID Vaccine Approval Is Coming
Officials at Novavax say they're confident their COVID-19 vaccine will receive an emergency use authorization from the FDA early next month, CNBC reports. The Maryland company received $1.6 billion from the federal government to speed the development of the shots early during the pandemic but has yet to make it to the U.S. market. Yet its protein-based COVID vaccine — which uses moth cells to produce shots — has been slowly gaining favor in the EU and the U.K. (Reed, 5/16)
More on the vaccine rollout —
Stat: What Happens When The Government Stops Buying Covid-19 Vaccines?
The federal government has distributed Covid-19 vaccines and treatments for free so far, but most likely, the handouts won’t last forever. At some point, Covid-19 vaccines and treatments will be bought and sold just like other drugs and medical products. But big questions loom about how and when the transition will happen, about how bumpy it will be. (Cohrs, 5/17)
CIDRAP: COVID Vaccines May Cut Hospital Omicron Cases In Youth
Two new observational studies detail Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine protection among US children and adolescents amid the Omicron variant surge, one finding 71% efficacy against infection after a third dose in 12- to 15-year-olds, and the second showing lower risks of infection and hospitalization in vaccinated youth aged 5 to 17 in New York state. The studies were published late last week in JAMA. (Van Beusekom, 5/16)
In updates on vaccine mandates —
WUSF Public Media: Florida's 'Vaccine Passport' Ban Will Be Heard In A Federal Appeals Court
Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans took aim at so-called “vaccine passports” as they pushed to end COVID-19 restrictions. But Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings had other ideas. After the cruise industry had been sidelined by the pandemic, the Miami-based company wanted to require passengers to show documentation they had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Norwegian filed a federal lawsuit last year that challenged a state law banning vaccine passports. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams agreed with the company’s arguments that the ban violated the First Amendment and what is known as the dormant Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution and issued a preliminary injunction that applied only to Norwegian. (5/16)
Cincinnati Enquirer: Miami University Approved 94% Of Its COVID Vaccine Exemption Requests
Students, staff and faculty pulled from the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, Ohio law, letters from religious leaders and pro-life rhetoric in hundreds of requests to obtain an exemption from Miami University's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Others gave no reason at all. One student wrote they would not get the vaccine "because I personally don't want to, which is OK." "I prefer not to give my personal reasons because it's not mandatory and neither is the vaccine," the student wrote in their vaccine exemption request form. The request was approved. (Mitchell, 5/16)
