- Additive effects of booster mRNA vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection on T cell immunity across immunocompromised states Science
- PLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defence factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection Nature.com
- IL-9 identified as contributor to viral spread and airway inflammation in COVID-19 News-Medical.Net
- Enhanced MHC-I Suppression In Omicron Variants: A Key Factor In Sustained Infection Forbes
- Antigen test swabs are comparable to nasopharyngeal swabs for sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 | Scientific Reports Nature.com
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Tag Archives: immunocompromised
CDC backs new booster shot for people 65 and older, immunocompromised – The Hill
- CDC backs new booster shot for people 65 and older, immunocompromised The Hill
- CDC approves new COVID booster shots. Who’s eligible and when they can get it? PBS NewsHour
- CDC simplifies COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, allows older adults and immunocompromised adults to get second dose of the updated vaccine | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC CDC
- Wale Aliyu looks into extra COVID booster cleared for some ABC 10 News
- Statement from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on CDC’s Recommendation Allowing Older and Immunocompromised Adults to Receive Second Dose of Updated Vaccine HHS.gov
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Information for Persons Who Are Immunocompromised Regarding Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Context of Currently Circulating Omicron Sublineages — United States, January 2023
BOX. Prevention measures against SARS-CoV-2 for persons who are immunocompromised, their household members, and close contacts in the context of currently circulating Omicron sublineages — United States, January 2023
Because Evusheld is not currently authorized for preexposure prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States, it is important that persons who are moderately to severely immunocompromised,* those who might have an inadequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, and those with contraindications to receipt of COVID-19 vaccines, exercise caution and recognize the need for additional preventive measures to protect themselves from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Persons with immunocompromise, their household members, and close contacts can use the following steps and precautions to help prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and mitigate COVID-19 illness if they become infected.
COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses, and staying up to date*
- COVID-19 vaccines remain the best way to protect against severe COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines help the body develop protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although vaccinated persons sometimes get infected with SARS-CoV-2, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines significantly lowers the risk for severe illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19.
- CDC recommends that all persons who are eligible, especially those who are immunocompromised or have weakened immune systems,† get an updated (bivalent) booster dose and stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
Personal COVID-19 action plan§
- Persons should consider how to protect themselves and others around them should they become ill with COVID-19 or if the community COVID-19 transmission level changes. The plan should include:
- ways to protect oneself and others including considerations in case of illness, such as finding a room in which to isolate
- actions to take in case of exposure or symptom onset
- what to do in the event of receipt of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result
- Persons should share their COVID-19 plan with their family, friends, and health care providers so they can support prevention and preparation steps. CDC suggests that persons consider how others can help them if they get ill. It is important to adhere to treatment plans, keep routine health care appointments, and ensure that prescriptions are filled. Persons should make alternative plans for work, child care, and other responsibilities that might cause stress if they become ill.
Masks or respirators¶
- Masks are made to contain droplets and particles that persons breathe, cough, or sneeze. A variety of masks are available. Some masks provide a higher level of protection than others. Wearing a mask with the best fit and comfort provides the best protection.**
- Respirators (e.g., N95 and NIOSH-approved KN95) provide higher protection than masks.†† Respirators are made to protect persons by fitting closely on their face to filter out particles, including SARS-CoV-2. They can also block droplets and particles that a person breathes, coughs, or sneezes out to limit transmission to others. NIOSH approves many types of filtering facepiece respirators. The most widely available are N95 respirators, but other types (N99, N100, P95, P99, P100, R95, R99, and R100) offer the same or better protection as an N95 respirator.
Physical distancing
- Small particles that persons breathe out can contain virus particles. The closer a person is to other persons, the higher the risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Persons can minimize risk of exposure by avoiding indoor crowded areas or maintaining a ≥6 ft (1.8 m) distance from others. Such actions must be balanced against risks of avoiding such activities.
Ventilation§§
- Opening windows and doors to bring as much fresh air into the home as possible (weather permitting) can improve ventilation.
- Portable high-efficiency particulate air cleaners are useful if a home is not outfitted with an HVAC system.
- Exhaust fans and other fans can improve air flow.
- In homes where the HVAC fan operation can be controlled by a thermostat, the fan should be set to the “on” position instead of “auto” when others are visiting. This allows the fan to run continuously, even if heating or air conditioning is not on, to ensure the HVAC system provides continuous airflow and filtration.
Time outdoors
- Spending time outdoors, when possible, instead of indoors, can also help reduce transmission. Viral particles spread between persons more readily indoors than outdoors.
Handwashing
- Frequent handwashing with soap and water, preferably, or using a hand sanitizer that contains ≥60% alcohol can reduce risk for many illnesses, including COVID-19.
Testing for SARS-CoV-2¶¶
- Persons should get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms. Viral tests are used for SARS-CoV-2 detection. There are two types of viral tests: rapid tests and laboratory tests. These tests might use nasal, throat, or saliva samples. Persons can take actions to reduce further transmission if they are aware of their SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Free at-home tests*** are available. Persons should check with their health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare plan to learn what tests are available.††† Persons with a disability can receive help from the Disability Information and Access Line§§§ to access a test or identify an accessible test location.
- Persons should be aware of free or low-cost testing locations¶¶¶ that are near their homes.
COVID-19 Treatment****
- Persons should contact their health care provider, health department, or community health center†††† to learn about treatment options. Treatment must be started within 5–7 days after symptoms develop to be effective.
- Community Test to Treat locations§§§§ can be accessed if or when persons cannot reach their health care provider or do not have one. These sites offer testing and prescriptions from a health care provider (either onsite or by telehealth) and dispense medications.
- Antiviral treatments are available for persons with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk for progression to severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Persons are at high risk of disease if they
- are aged ≥50 years
- have an underlying health condition,¶¶¶¶ especially moderate to severe immunosuppression
- are unvaccinated
- Persons who are immunocompromised should discuss a treatment plan with their doctor and identify which COVID-19 treatment would be best for them. Some persons with COVID-19 who are immunocompromised or receiving immunosuppressive treatment might benefit from a convalescent plasma treatment.*****
- CDC recommends that immunocompromised persons with COVID-19 isolate for ≥10 days and check with their health care provider before ending isolation.†††††
Abbreviations: HVAC = heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; NIOSH = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
* https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
† https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
§ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/needs-extra-precautions/FS_COVID_Plan_FINAL.pdf
¶ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html
** Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may request a clear mask to assist with lipreading or seeing facial expressions. Persons with sensory disorders or intellectual and developmental disabilities might be unable to wear masks and should consider face shields.
†† Persons with severe respiratory impairment (e.g., shortness of breath with minimal exertion or supplemental oxygen use) should consult with a health care provider regarding N95 respirator usage. Some N95 respirators might contain latex. Persons with natural rubber latex allergies should consult the manufacturer’s website for information about the specific model.
§§ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/Improving-Ventilation-Home.html; https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html
¶¶ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html
*** https://special.usps.com/testkits
††† https://www.cms.gov/how-to-get-your-at-home-OTC-COVID-19-test-for-free
§§§ https://acl.gov/DIAL
¶¶¶ https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html
**** https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html
†††† https://data.hrsa.gov/data/reports/datagrid?gridName=FQHCs
§§§§ https://covid-19-test-to-treat-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com/
¶¶¶¶ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/underlyingconditions.html
***** https://www.fda.gov/media/136798/download
††††† https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html
First US death linked to monkeypox reported in immunocompromised adult in Texas
Enlarge / A sign announcing monkeypox vaccination is set up in Tropical Park by Miami-Dade County and Nomi Health on August 15, 2022, in Miami.
A severely immunocompromised adult who tested positive for monkeypox has died in Texas, marking the first US death connected to the global outbreak, state health officials said Tuesday.
Such deaths have been a rarity in the public health emergency. While the global case count is nearing 49,000, the World Health Organization has only recorded 15 monkeypox-related deaths. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tallied 18,101 cases as of August 29. The death in Texas is the first linked to the cases.
For now, health officials are not yet sure if monkeypox was the cause of the person’s death. The adult died on August 28 in Harris County, which includes Houston. Harris County officials said in a news release that an autopsy is in process, and the results will be released in the next few weeks.
A separate release from the state health department noted that the adult was “severely immunocompromised” and that there is an “investigation to determine what role monkeypox played in the death.”
“Monkeypox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems,” John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, said in the release. “We continue to urge people to seek treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms consistent with the disease.”
In a White House press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of CDC’s Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, highlighted the uncertainty around the death and rarity of fatalities from monkeypox in this outbreak.
“It’s our understanding this patient also had underlying health conditions and had a number of things going on,” McQuiston said. “I think that additional investigation is needed to know what role monkeypox may or may not have played in their death.” In the meantime, she emphasized that death “remains very rare” and “we have mitigation efforts in place to prevent monkeypox.” These include vaccination, testing, and treatment.
Of the international deaths reported, some have involved people with compromised immune systems, but others have not. A 41-year-old man in Brazil who died with monkeypox reportedly had lymphoma and was immunocompromised. But, two people who died in Spain from monkeypox-associated encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) were not thought to be immunocompromised and were considered previously healthy.
Why Monkeypox Vaccine Shortage May Threaten the Immunocompromised
The shortfall of monkeypox vaccine doses in the United States, expected to last for months, is raising urgent questions about how well and for how long a single shot may protect against the virus.
The vaccine, called Jynneos, is approved as a two-dose regimen, but most people at risk of infection have been receiving one dose — if they can find it. Now the shortage has led federal officials to consider a rarely used approach: a so-called dose-sparing strategy, which gives shots that each contain just one-fifth of a single dose.
For most recipients, one shot should be enough to ward off serious illness, and there is some evidence that even smaller doses can be effective. But preliminary research suggests that people with H.I.V. or other conditions that weaken the immune system may be less protected than people who don’t have such illnesses, according to some experts.
“One dose is better than none,” said Dr. Alexandra Yonts, an infectious diseases physician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. But people with “H.I.V. and other immunocompromised individuals need to be aware that they may not have an adequate level of protection from infection, even with vaccination,” she added.
Even two weeks after the shot, when the antibody response is underway, immunocompromised people still may need to “use all other precautions to prevent being exposed, per public health guidance,” she said.
The findings also suggest that some men should be prioritized for full vaccination. Given the supply constraints, that may be difficult.
Federal officials have ordered nearly seven million doses of Jynneos, but the shots will not arrive for months. So far, the Biden administration has shipped about 600,000 doses to states. It said last week that 800,000 additional doses were being allocated to states, but the distribution could take weeks.
Faced with shortages, some cities, including Washington and New York, are restricting second doses to stretch their supplies. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration and the C.D.C. have disagreed with that strategy, noting that Jynneos is approved as a vaccine to be given in two doses spaced 28 days apart.
But as federal health officials declared a public health emergency on Thursday, Dr. Robert Califf, the commissioner of the F.D.A., said the agency was now considering authorizing shots that contain just one-fifth of the regular dose, delivered between layers of the skin instead of under it.
What to Know About the Monkeypox Virus
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What is monkeypox? Monkeypox is a virus similar to smallpox, but symptoms are less severe. It was discovered in 1958, after outbreaks occurred in monkeys kept for research. The virus was primarily found in parts of Central and West Africa, but in recent weeks it has spread to dozens of countries and infected tens of thousands of people, overwhelmingly men who have sex with men. On July 23, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency.
The F.D.A. would need to grant Jynneos an emergency use authorization in order for it to be administered this way.
The dose-sparing approach has been used when supplies of other vaccines are scarce. But giving intradermal shots requires more skill than is needed for more traditional immunizations.
One shot is probably enough to forestall severe symptoms in most people, and the dose-sparing strategy may work just as well. But it’s unclear whether a scaled-back regimen is enough to prevent infection, and if so, how long that immunity may last, federal health officials said.
“We’re in a data-free zone,” said Dr. Emily Erbelding, an infectious diseases expert at the National Institutes of Health, who oversaw testing of Covid vaccines in special populations.
One oft-cited statistic says that the vaccine is 85 percent effective against monkeypox. That data derives not from trials of Jynneos, but from a small 1988 study that looked at the incidence of monkeypox among people who had been inoculated for smallpox earlier in their lives.
No large clinical trial of Jynneos as a monkeypox vaccine was conducted in humans before its approval. Instead, the F.D.A. relied on measures of antibody responses in small groups of people after immunization with Jynneos compared with those produced by ACAM2000, an earlier vaccine for smallpox.
In studies led by its manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic, two doses of Jynneos yielded antibody levels in humans that were about the same as those after one shot of ACAM2000.
Antibody levels after the first shot of Jynneos initially rose for two weeks and then remained flat until the second dose four weeks later, when they soared to very high levels — higher than those recorded with ACAM2000.
Scientists read that to mean if the first dose is not followed by a second, the protection may not be long-lasting.
“Ideally, a second dose would be administered if protection for more than that four-week period is desired,” Dr. Yonts, who reviewed the data for the F.D.A. as a staff scientist, said.
She added that delaying the second dose to eight weeks might be reasonable. “But if it’s going to be like six months, then I think that prioritization would lean more toward those that are more severely immunocompromised,” she said.
Injecting one-fifth of a regular dose of Jynneos between skin layers, as the F.D.A. suggested on Thursday, may be effective, according to limited research. The skin has many more of the immune cells that respond to vaccines.
But the research is very limited. Scientists at the N.I.H. had planned to test the dose-sparing strategy in a clinical trial set to begin in a few weeks. It is unclear whether those plans will be shelved or sped up.
Information about how Jynneos performs in people with H.I.V., particularly in those with severe immune problems, was already scant. In one study conducted by Bavarian Nordic, antibody response to vaccination tended to be diminished: At 28 days after the first shot, 67 percent of those with H.I.V. produced antibodies, compared with 84 percent of uninfected people.
While Dr. Yonts said the data from that trial was not conclusive, reduced antibody response is often seen among immunocompromised people given other vaccines. While evaluating Covid vaccines, for example, researchers found that patients with H.I.V. were more likely to have breakthrough infections.
“Individuals with severe or moderate immune suppression are recommended for additional doses of common vaccines,” said Keri Althoff, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who led the Covid vaccine study. “As immune suppression increases, the response to the vaccines does decrease.”
The C.D.C. and the New York City Department of Health say Jynneos is safe for people with H.I.V., but the agencies have not addressed its effectiveness in that population.
By contrast, health officials in Britain say that for people who “are H.I.V. positive or have any other condition or treatment leading to a weakened immune system, the vaccine may not protect you as well.”
The vaccine’s package insert also notes that immunocompromised people “may have a diminished immune response.”
“Two shots may be very important in this population, which is something that is not actually happening in the public health response,” said Dr. Chloe Orkin, an infectious disease physician at Queen Mary University of London, referring to immunocompromised people.
But until more doses are available, state and local health departments may not have much of a choice other than to stick with scaled-back regimens.
“In an environment of scarcity, we have to do everything we can to get the benefits of vaccine to the city as quickly as possible,” said Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman for New York City’s health department, in a statement.
How some immunocompromised can cut Covid risk
As more and more Americans doff their masks, immunocompromised individuals may be concerned about their risk levels among largely unmasked crowds.
The latest change came Monday, when a federal judge struck down the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention’s rule that mandated that all travelers wear masks on public transportation, including planes and trains.
Full coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic
But experts say that while immunocompromised individuals do remain at a greater risk of Covid, the landscape looks much different than it did even a year ago, with a number of tools available to provide the extra protection they need.
Now, options including additional vaccine doses and boosters, preventative monoclonal antibodies injections and antiviral drugs may help some immunocompromised people take steps toward resuming a more normal life.
The tools immunocompromised patients now have at their disposal, while not as effective as when given to those with healthy immune systems, can still allow them to feel more comfortable, said Dr. Bob Wachter, chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
“For a patient who’s immunocompromised to say, ‘I still feel like I need to stay home’ and not go outside and live life is incredibly sad,” Wachter said. “I think at this point, it isn’t necessary.”
Dr. Alfred Kim, a rheumatologist at Washington University in St. Louis, acknowledged the progress that’s been made.
“Certainly, we’re in much better shape” than last year, Kim said. Still, “when you consider all the unmasking,” high quality masks like N95s remain an important tool for people with weakened immune systems.
Wachter agreed that wearing a mask is still a “significant piece of protection,” particularly in indoor spaces.
An estimated 2.7 percent of adults in the U.S. are immunocompromised. This includes organ transplant recipients, certain cancer patients and people with HIV or other conditions that impair the immune system.
Some groups, such as organ transplant recipients, are at particularly high risk, while others, such as those with rheumatoid arthritis, may still be able to mount some type of immune response.
Additional vaccines
While the Covid vaccines have been available to immunocompromised patients for well over a year, scientists’ understanding of how to best use the vaccines in this group has evolved.
Last August, the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC signed off on an additional dose for immunocompromised individuals. This dose was not considered a booster — instead, it was part of the primary series.
“For those who are immunocompromised, that additional dose is kind of that primary series, where three doses is kind of the same as two” doses in people with healthy immune systems, said Dr. David Boulware, an infectious disease physician at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Data suggests that the additional dose of the vaccine has proven beneficial.
A study published in January in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Report found that three doses of a vaccine raised protection to 88 percent amongst adults who were immunocompromised, an increase of nearly 20 percent in those who just received two doses. The study took place when the delta variant was dominant in the U.S.
Since then, two additional booster doses have been authorized, to combat waning immunity. That means a person with a weakened immune system can receive a total of five shots.
Antibodies
Kim, of Washington University, said the most essential tool to emerge is Evusheld, which was authorized by the FDA in December.
Evusheld, made by AstraZeneca, is a monoclonal antibody cocktail, given in two injections, to prevent Covid. For people who can’t mount an immune response even with vaccinations, the drug provides patients with a direct infusion of antibodies. Patients can receive an additional dose every six months.
“It provides them antibodies that can protect them from Covid that they should have generated by vaccination but can’t” because of their impaired immune systems, Kim said.
In clinical trials, Evusheld was found to be 83 percent effective against symptomatic illness over six months.
Antivirals
Antivirals such as Paxlovid — a pill made by Pfizer — may also be an option for immunocompromised individuals, should they get infected, Kim said.
However, the drug isn’t a sure fit for everyone, because it can react with a number of other medications, some of which are needed by the immunocompromised.
This is “a bit of a tricky point, because you’ll have to hold some of your medication for your autoimmune diseases so you can be on Paxlovid even for a brief period of time,” Kim said.
The FDA doesn’t recommend Paxlovid for people with severe kidney or liver disease.
At UCSF, Wachter said that doctors and staff have been making efforts to raise awareness of the resources that immunocompromised individuals have at their disposal to prevent both infection and severe disease.
“It’s important, I think, for people to understand that if they’re still in hunker-down mode and waiting, it’s important for them to really look hard at that and say, what are you waiting for?” he said. “Because it may not get better than this.”
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COVID vaccine 4th dose: CDC releases new guidance for some immunocompromised Americans to get additional shot
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is issuing new advice for people who are immunocompromised.
The health organization said people who’ve had the MRNA vaccines should look to get a fourth shot at least three months after the previous booster.
The CDC had previously been recommending a wait of at least five months.
RELATED: Could there be a universal vaccine for any type of coronavirus, not just COVID-19?
The new guidance applies to people 18 and older who’ve had the Moderna vaccine, as well as those ages 12 and older for the Pfizer-BioNTech version.
Government health officials are making the revision amid reports some pharmacies were turning away immunocompromised people looking for a fourth vaccine dose.
A CDC official said there’s been “recent confusion about the recommendations” for people in this group. It was in October when the agency released guidance those Americans get a fourth vaccine dose.
ALSO SEE: Nurses accused of making $1.5M selling fake vaccine cards in New York
There’s also revised guidance for immunocompromised people who’ve had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is a recommendation to get an MRNA dose at least 28 days after the first shot, followed by a third dose at least two months later.
Why Vaccinated People Aren’t Getting Boosted
Roughly half of those eligible to receive a booster shot of the COVID vaccine have not gotten one, according to data from the CDC.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said he’s baffled about that.
Fauci addressed the issue during a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing Wednesday.
“Why would people who had enough understanding of the risk to go ahead and get a primary series – why we don’t have more getting the booster? I don’t have an easy explanation for that. That’s one of the reasons why we keep trying to put the data out,” Fauci said.
CDC Director Dr. Rachel Walensky said at the briefing that 54% of people hospitalized for COVID over the age of 65 are unvaccinated.
That’s despite data showing just 12% of Americans in that age group are unvaccinated.
Unvaccinated people are 97% more likely to die of COVID than those who are fully vaccinated and boosted, according to new CDC information.
Walensky also presented the data Wednesday at the White House COVID meeting.
The findings are based on information collected in early December.
CNN contributed to this post.
Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
COVID vaccine 4th dose: CDC releases new guidance for some immunocompromised Americans to get additional shot
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is issuing new advice for people who are immunocompromised.
The health organization said people who’ve had the MRNA vaccines should look to get a fourth shot at least three months after the previous booster.
The CDC had previously been recommending a wait of at least five months.
RELATED: Could there be a universal vaccine for any type of coronavirus, not just COVID-19?
The new guidance applies to people 18 and older who’ve had the Moderna vaccine, as well as those ages 12 and older for the Pfizer-BioNTech version.
Government health officials are making the revision amid reports some pharmacies were turning away immunocompromised people looking for a fourth vaccine dose.
A CDC official said there’s been “recent confusion about the recommendations” for people in this group. It was in October when the agency released guidance those Americans get a fourth vaccine dose.
ALSO SEE: Nurses accused of making $1.5M selling fake vaccine cards in New York
There’s also revised guidance for immunocompromised people who’ve had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is a recommendation to get an MRNA dose at least 28 days after the first shot, followed by a third dose at least two months later.
Why Vaccinated People Aren’t Getting Boosted
Roughly half of those eligible to receive a booster shot of the COVID vaccine have not gotten one, according to data from the CDC.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said he’s baffled about that.
Fauci addressed the issue during a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing Wednesday.
“Why would people who had enough understanding of the risk to go ahead and get a primary series – why we don’t have more getting the booster? I don’t have an easy explanation for that. That’s one of the reasons why we keep trying to put the data out,” Fauci said.
CDC Director Dr. Rachel Walensky said at the briefing that 54% of people hospitalized for COVID over the age of 65 are unvaccinated.
That’s despite data showing just 12% of Americans in that age group are unvaccinated.
Unvaccinated people are 97% more likely to die of COVID than those who are fully vaccinated and boosted, according to new CDC information.
Walensky also presented the data Wednesday at the White House COVID meeting.
The findings are based on information collected in early December.
CNN contributed to this post.
Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
COVID Omicron Updates: CDC releases new guidance for some Americans to get additional vaccine booster shot
NEW YORK (WABC) — The CDC has shortened the amount of time people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised need to wait before getting a fourth COVID vaccine booster dose.
They now recommend that the severely immunocompromised can get an additional Pfizer or Moderna shot three months after their third dose instead of five months.
The CDC also encourages people with weakened immune systems who originally got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine to take two additional doses, instead of just one.
RELATED: What are the symptoms of the COVID omicron variant?
Here are more of today’s COVID-19 headlines:
US death toll hits 900,000, sped by omicron
Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 hit 900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000. The two-year total, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Indianapolis, San Francisco, or Charlotte, North Carolina. The milestone comes more than 13 months into a vaccination drive that has been beset by misinformation and political and legal strife, though the shots have proved safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.
Scientists study why some never catch coronavirus
Scientists are trying to unlock the mystery of why some people seem never to catch COVID. While there is no clear-cut answer, one factor may lie in our DNA, giving people with certain genetic traits more pre-existing protection. Researchers in London have also found that people with higher levels of T-cells generated from other previous coronavirus infections like a common cold were less likely to get COVID. “If there are overlapping sequences that are shared between the common cold coronaviruses and the sarscov2, that T-cell can react very quickly to mount a defense against sarscov2,” said Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, professor of immunology, Yale University.
More vaccinations will lead to lifting mask rules: Hochul
Records show 80% of 12-to 17-year-olds in New York State have gotten their first dose of the COVID vaccine, and Gov. Kathy Hochul says more vaccinations will lead to the lifting of mask mandates in schools. “The more children we have vaccinated, the safer they will be in school,” she said, explaining vaccination rate will be a factor in decisions on mask rules. “And they wont need a mask anymore,” Hochul promised. “But we are just not there yet. It is all based on data.” Data shows 40% of 5-to 11-year-olds have gotten their first dose.
COVID falling in 49 of 50 states as deaths near 900,000
With omicron easing, new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are falling in 49 of the 50 states, even as the nation’s death toll closes in on another bleak round number: 900,000. The number of lives lost to the pandemic in the U.S. stood at about 899,000 as of Friday afternoon, with deaths running at an average of more than 2,400 a day, back up to where they were last winter, when the vaccine drive was still getting started. But new cases per day have tanked by almost a half-million nationwide since mid-January, the curve trending downward in every state but Maine.
CT crosses grim milestone
Connecticut reported an additional 175 COVID deaths since last week, bringing the state’s total across the 10,000 threshold to 10,083. The state’s positivity rate is currently 6.57%, with 869 current hospitalizations.
Palin resumes court battle with NY Times after COVID illness
Sarah Palin’s libel suit against The New York Times went to trial Thursday in a case over the former Alaska governor’s claims the newspaper damaged her reputation with an editorial linking her campaign rhetoric to a mass shooting. The trial is a rare example of a jury deciding the validity of a persistent refrain from Palin and other Republicans: That a biased news media is willing to bend the truth to make conservatives look bad. Palin, a one-time Republican vice presidential nominee, told journalists as she arrived at the courthouse that she was looking for “Justice for people who expect truth in the media.” Opening statements to the jury were initially scheduled for last week, but were postponed when Palin tested positive for COVID-19.
“We come to this case with our eyes wide open and keenly aware of the fact we’re fighting an uphill battle,” Palin attorney Shane Vogt said. “Give us a fair shot. We’re not here trying to win your votes for Governor Palin or any of her policies.”
Medicare opens up access to free at-home COVID-19 tests
The Biden administration says people with Medicare will be able to get up to eight free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month, starting in early spring. It’s seeking to fill a frustrating gap in coverage for coronavirus tests. Last month, the administration directed private insurers to cover rapid COVID-19 tests for people on their plans. But until now officials were trying to figure out what to do about Medicare, which covers older people particularly vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19. Laws and regulations that govern the program stood in the way. Free tests will be available through participating pharmacies and other locations. AARP has praised Medicare’s decision.
Russia mulls loosening restrictions amid record virus surge
The Russian president says his government is considering loosening some coronavirus restrictions, even as the country is facing a record-breaking surge of infections because of the highly contagious omicron variant. Vladimir Putin on Thursday insisted that authorities are not planning any lockdowns or other additional restrictions because of the surge. Moreover, the government is considering lifting restrictions for those who come into contact with COVID-19 patients, “to give people the opportunity to continue working in peace.” Existing regulations mandate that people who come in contact with someone with COVID-19 must self-isolate for seven days. On Thursday, the country’s state coronavirus task force reported 155,768 new infections, a daily tally 10 times higher than a month ago.
How many times can I reuse my N95 mask?
How many times can I reuse my N95 mask? It depends, but you should be able to use N95s and KN95s a few times. The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says health care workers can wear an N95 mask up to five times. But experts say how often the average person can safely wear one will vary depending on how it’s used. Using the same mask to run to the grocery store, for example, is very different than wearing it all day at work.
When am I contagious if infected with omicron?
When am I contagious if infected with omicron? It’s not yet clear, but some early data suggests people might become contagious sooner than with earlier variants – possibly within a day after infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the few days before and after symptoms develop. But that window of time might happen earlier with omicron, according to some outside experts. That’s because omicron appears to cause symptoms faster than previous variants – about three days after infection, on average, according to preliminary studies. Based on previous data, that means people with omicron could start becoming contagious as soon as a day after infection.
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CDC: Third COVID-19 vaccine shots reduce risk of hospitalization for immunocompromised
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said this week that third shots of coronavirus vaccines significantly reduced the risk that people who are immunocompromised would be hospitalized due to COVID-19.
In a Thursday study in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the agency said that – compared to hospitalized adults who had received two mRNA vaccine doses – the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech and mRNA vaccines against hospitalization for patients with weak immune systems increased to 88%.
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For immunocompromised people who had only had two doses, or a “primary series,” the vaccines were 69% effective.
The data was gathered looking at nearly 3,000 – 1,385 case-patients and 1,567 non-COVID-19 controls – at adults admitted to 21 hospitals across 18 states from Aug. 19 through Dec. 15 of last year.
The agency noted the analysis start date was one week after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized an additional dose for emergency use for people aged 12 and older with immunocompromising conditions 28 days following their second dose.
Vaccine effectiveness was calculated for both groups by comparing the odds of previous vaccination between COVID-19 case-patients and control patients who did not have the disease. The regression model was adjusted for admission date, region of hospital, age group, sex and self-reported race and ethnicity. Separate models were generated for immunocompetent adults and adults with immunocompromising conditions and analyses were conducted using Stata software.
Those who had COVID-19-like illness received positive test results by a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) or antigen test and control patients received negative NAAT tests.
Patients or their proxies were interviewed regarding demographic and clinical characteristics and medical record searches were conducted. Information regarding receipt of prior vaccine doses was obtained through self-report and review of source documentation.
Three vaccination groups were considered including unvaccinated patients, two-dose mRNA recipients and three-dose mRNA recipients.
Three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines were roughly 97% effective in preventing hospitalizations in those with stronger immune systems, compared with 82% of those with two doses.
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Notably, the study was conducted when the delta variant was predominant in the U.S., whereas omicron now makes up nearly 100% of new cases nationally.
Limitations to these findings include that vaccine recipients in both dose groups were similar in terms of most demographic and clinical characteristics but may have varied with respect to exposure risk for infection, that vaccine effectiveness was not assessed against mild illness or infection, that vaccine effectiveness with a fourth mRNA vaccine dose in immunocompromised individuals was not assessed and that most three-dose mRNA vaccine recipients were vaccinated within several weeks of enrollment and durability of protection will require future analysis.
“Early evidence suggests that a third mRNA vaccine dose elicits markedly stronger neutralizing antibody responses to the omicron variant compared with responses to two vaccine doses, and increases [vaccine effectiveness] against severe disease following infection with the omicron variant,” the CDC wrote. “The effectiveness of three doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines against a range of disease severity associated with the omicron variant needs to be carefully evaluated in different populations.”
In January, regulators said adults could receive boosters at least five months after their second dose.
As omicron spread, the White House has called on Americans to get their booster and the CDC said that administration of a third COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose as part of a primary series among immunocompromised adults, or as a booster dose among immunocompetent adults, provides improved protection against COVID-19 hospitalization.
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Among adults with and without immunocompromising conditions who were eligible to receive a third dose of an mRNA vaccine, third doses were found to increase protection beyond that of a two-dose vaccination series for the prevention of COVID-19 hospitalization.
According to the American Medical Association, there are about seven million people with weakened immune systems in the country.