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Federal health officials have told lawmakers it is too early to say whether vaccinated Americans will need a COVID-19 booster.
The delta variant, which is now considered the dominant strain of the virus in the United States, is tearing up unvaccinated communities in the United States, sending numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths after a relatively low-key spring. Last week, the United States averaged about 26,000 cases per day, a 70% increase from the seven-day moving average of about 15,000 new cases the week before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The more infectious variant is probably the cause of rare breakthrough infections among vaccinees, which is another reason why there are growing questions about whether immunity may wane in some people. people vaccinated and whether boosters are needed to combat the decline in protection.
The recall debate was also fueled by preliminary data from Israel which indicates that BioNTech SE BNTX,
and PFE from Pfizer Inc.,
shot is 64% effective against delta – a significant drop from the 95% effectiveness rate reported in clinical trials.
“We have the same data as Israel,” Senator Richard Burr, a Republican from North Carolina, said at Tuesday’s Senate HELP committee hearing. “Why don’t we make the same decisions? “
Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden, then responded by saying, “Right now we are doing studies to determine whether or not we will need boosters, to increase the durability of the protection. We don’t want people to think that when you talk about booster shots that means the vaccines aren’t working. They are very effective. We are talking about sustainability.
It is not yet clear how long immunity to SARS-CoV-2 lasts, whether it is a previous infection or a vaccination. Pfizer recently said it believes the immunity of its vaccine begins to wane between six and 12 months after vaccination. Some countries, including Israel, Canada and the United Kingdom, are providing or considering booster injections for certain groups of high-risk patients.
Fauci said the CDC is currently tracking 20 groups of people who have been vaccinated to better understand if there is or will be a need for boosters. This includes thousands of healthcare workers and people from long-term care facilities and nursing homes.
“We expect it to decrease and not fall,” CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said at the hearing. “As we see this decline, this will be our time to act.”
See: “If anyone is lying here, senator, it is you”: Anthony Fauci castigates Rand Paul for allegation of “taking over”
Much of the talk about boosters during the hearing pitted lawmakers in favor of additional shots at regulators and scientists, who urged them to be patient while the United States awaits clinical data. .
“We cannot just stimulate [Americans] all the time, ”testified Dr. Janet Woodcock, Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. “We need to strengthen them where appropriate. “
MRNA from Pfizer and Moderna Inc.,
both are testing booster shots in clinical trials; Pfizer said this month that it plans to share the data from that study in August, with the intention of filing an updated emergency use authorization at some point thereafter. The National Institutes of Health is also conducting a Phase 1/2 clinical trial testing Moderna’s vaccine as a booster.
“I don’t like the delay, frankly, given that it’s being done elsewhere,” said Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah.
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