US CDC Analyzes Whether Third Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine Is Needed In Immunocompromised Patients

Advisors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyze studies to quickly determine the relevance of a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines to more effectively protect immunocompromised patients, as is the case with people who have had organ transplants and who suffer from various pathologies that weaken the immune system.

The United States health authorities, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC had clarified in early July that a new third dose of the vaccine was not necessary to avoid the coronavirus. “Fully vaccinated people are protected against serious illness and death, even against variants currently circulating in the country, such as Delta,” the FDA and CDC said in a joint statement. Three weeks later, at least the disease watchdog’s senior advisers appear to be assessing this position.

Authorities have looked at a few small studies that suggest, but do not prove, that a third dose could help at least some immunocompromised patients. This team of specialists does not have the power to formally recommend an additional dose without the authorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but several advisers have asked if the government could allow the patients concerned to enroll in a file. as part of a study.

In early July, a global debate on booster doses emerged. The World Health Organization (WHO) and groups defending the human right to health have argued that attention must continue to be focused on delivering the first doses to the world’s most vulnerable. So far, only 25.4% of the world’s population has had access to a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In low-income countries, only 1% of the population received a dose. “The global vaccine supply gap is extremely uneven and inequitable,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

WHO has called on Member States to be “extremely careful” and “not be tempted” to start administering a third puncture, because this measurement will not make it possible to balance the overall distribution of the sera. But in developed countries, the appearance of new variants of the coronavirus, in particular Delta which has gained the upper hand since last April, and the lack of knowledge of the duration of the vaccine’s protection have led some scientists to further study the possibility of ” apply the booster dose.

Despite WHO recommendations, countries like Israel continue to aim to strengthen protection for their most vulnerable citizens. This was confirmed by Emilia Anis, head of the epidemiological unit of the country’s health ministry. “There is growing evidence that immunocompromised patients do not develop a satisfactory antibody response after two doses of the vaccine, and some of them may develop antibodies after a third dose,” he noted.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus, which was detected in India last year and is more transmissible, is believed to be one of the reasons there is an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in Israel. This change in the epidemiological situation has prompted the government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to adopt a new strategy in response to the pandemic.

On Monday, representatives of the Pfizer Company met with senior federal health officials in the United States to advocate for the application of a third dose in some people, particularly those over 60 and those with immunocompromise, between six and six. twelve months after receiving the two-dose regimen. . The meeting came after the US Department of Health and Human Services publicly criticized the two companies for considering seeking emergency use authorization for the booster dose. The health authority said fully vaccinated Americans did not need a booster at this time.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced that in August they would seek authorization from the American health authorities for a third dose in order to boost the production of antibodies and thus protect the organism from new variants. Pfizer and BioNTech suggest booster doses will be needed this year, but government officials say science will dictate when. Some U.S. health officials fear that if the U.S. government delays too long in making a decision on the booster dose, the Delta variant could cause another wave of the virus in September among the unvaccinated and could infect vulnerable people who are vaccinated.

While vaccines are very effective in most people, many people with immunosuppressive health problems are left in limbo after vaccination, not knowing how much protection they really are. France and Israel have already started offering an additional dose to transplant recipients and other immunocompromised people. In the United States, these patients are pushing harder and harder to get another injection, even lying to get it.

On Thursday, July 22, advisers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed a few small studies that suggest, but do not prove, that a third dose could help at least some immunocompromised patients. The panel cannot officially recommend an additional dose without permission from the Food and Drug Administration, but several advisers have asked if the government can allow affected patients to enroll in one for a study.

“We are actively looking for ways to do this,” replied Amanda Cohn of the CDC. “Stay tuned. We are working on these issues,” he said.

The delta variant accounts for 83% of cases of the virus circulating in the United States, recalled Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, adding that it is one of the most transmissible respiratory viruses that we have seen. Even though Americans have already gotten sick with COVID-19, ”Walensky said, urging people to get vaccinated because he said it provided stronger and more lasting protection against the virus.

“These vaccines are among the most effective we have in modern medicine,” said Walensky, adding that these vaccines work very well against the delta variant. “Whether you are vaccinated or not, know that together we are not out of the woods yet,” he added.

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