Booster shots exceed first and second doses of Covid-19 in the United States. And unvaccinated millions could trigger ‘future waves’, expert warns

An average of 384,963 doses of the booster vaccine are given daily, while about 281,303 people receive their first dose each day and about 292,927 people are fully immunized each day, according to data from the CDC on Wednesday.

More people in New Mexico are getting vaccinated, but it’s not happening fast enough to bring down cases of Covid-19, says Dr. David Scrase, acting director of health in the Department of Health of State.

“Our Delta curve has increased quite sharply, and it’s not going down,” said Scrase. “In fact, he’s leveled off.”

Scrase explained that he was concerned that healthcare workers were getting burned out.

“In the northwest (New Mexico area)… the hospitals are really, really, really overwhelmed,” Scrase said. “I’ve just talked to too many people who say that as soon as that curve goes down, they take a step back from their entire healthcare career. They just can’t do it anymore.”

Vaccine mandates are no different from smoking restrictions, says senior health official

Authorities are notably aiming to increase the number of vaccinations through warrants, but some are strongly opposed to governments and companies demanding vaccinations.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy on Wednesday compared vaccination warrants to speed limits or restrictions on smoking in public, adding that the requirement is fundamental to public health.

“In the 1800s, many public schools began to require vaccination of their students. During World War II, the US military demanded that its troops be vaccinated against a number of diseases, including typhoid, tetanus and yellow fever, ”Murthy said. “Vaccine requirements are part of our historic effort to protect the health of the public. “

Murthy’s comments came the same day the Los Angeles City Council voted to require patrons of indoor spaces such as restaurants, gyms and cinemas to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination from the 4th. November. The ordinance will also apply to personal care establishments such as spas and hair salons, as well as buildings in the city.

Although the measure does not take effect until next month, companies must post an advisory notice of the requirement by October 21. People with medical or religious exemptions must provide a form declaring it. People who do not meet these requirements may use a company’s outdoor spaces and will be allowed in covered spaces to use the washrooms or pick up take out orders.

On the business side, American Airlines requires its employees to be fully immunized by November 24 or lose their jobs.

“To be clear, if you don’t meet the requirement, the result will be termination of the company,” said an airline-wide update obtained by CNN.

Southwest Airlines said on Monday it would comply with the federal vaccine mandate, making Delta the last of the “big four” airlines not to implement a mandate.

United Airlines issued its own employee vaccination warrant, which went into effect last week.

Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine immunity wanes, studies show

The immune protection offered by two doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine wanes after about two months, although the protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death remains strong, according to two real-world studies published on Wednesday.

The studies – from Israel and Qatar and published in the New England Journal of Medicine – support arguments that even fully vaccinated people should maintain precautions against infection.

The study also indicated that the immunity of people who get vaccinated after a natural infection with Covid-19 lasts longer. This is especially strong for people who recovered from the infection and then got vaccinated, according to the study.

The study found that the protection induced by the Pfizer vaccine “builds up rapidly after the first dose, peaks in the first month after the second dose, and then gradually wanes over the following months,” the research team wrote. “The decline seems to accelerate after the fourth month, reaching a low level of around 20% in the following months,” they added.

Nonetheless, protection against hospitalization and death remained above 90%, according to the researchers.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, continued to tout the importance of vaccination on Wednesday, and warned those who hoped a promising but unapproved antiviral pill would eliminate the need. inoculation.

The drug, called Molnupiravir, was developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The companies said last week that the pill could potentially cut the risk of death from Covid-19 in half, but Fauci said it needed further consideration before it could be considered for clearance.

“It is very important that this now go through the usual process of scrutiny of data by the Food and Drug Administration both for efficacy, but also for safety, because every time you introduce a new compound, the safety is very important, ”Fauci said. noted.

He also noted that it is more important to prevent the disease than to treat it. “Vaccines – they remain our best tools against Covid-19, because it is much, much better to keep us from getting infected than to have to treat an infection. “