Some 18 months after adults became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, children between 6 months and 5 years old can now be vaccinated in the U.S. FDA authorized the shots for young children on June 17, while CDC did so a day later. “The United States is now the first country in the world to offer safe…
CDC’s ACIP deprioritizes Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 15 to 0 to prioritize the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines over Johnson & Johnson’s. One of the main reasons for the recommendation is a rare side effect associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that results in low blood clots and blood-platelet levels. CDC officials revealed…
CDC authorizes fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for some immunocompromised patients
As a growing number of Americans become eligible for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines, CDC continues to expand its booster guidelines. The agency has amended its criteria for moderately to severely immunocompromised people to allow a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine six months after receiving the third dose. The criteria pertain to immunocompromised individuals…
CDC director recommends boosters for more Americans
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky issued guidelines for COVID-19 boosters, clearing the way for tens of millions of U.S. citizens to obtain a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. While FDA and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reached broadly similar conclusions regarding booster doses for seniors and high-risk individuals, Walensky went…
President Biden announces COVID-19 vaccine mandates
In the early days of the administration, the White House stressed the importance of providing adequate infrastructure for mass vaccination. But now that vaccination rates have stalled, President Biden is advocating a more forceful approach. In an address yesterday, Biden advocated that the private sector enact vaccine mandates and urged healthcare workers to recommend shots…
U.S. could announce COVID-19 vaccine booster plan in early September
In response to the largest coronavirus spike in infections in months, the FDA is prepping a plan for COVID-19 vaccine boosters. The plan will likely follow other guidelines by prioritizing boosters for immunocompromised and elderly individuals, according to a report from WSJ. The U.K., Germany and Israel have recommended providing boosters to high-risk populations. The growing support of…
Biden offers $100 incentives to spur COVID-19 vaccination
With COVID-19 transmission continuing to accelerate, President Biden called for state and local governments to offer financial incentives for vaccination. Speaking at a White House briefing dedicated to the novel coronavirus, Biden offered to draw such funding from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. “People are dying and will die who don’t have to die,”…
More than 5 million skipped getting second COVID-19 vaccine dose
The percentage of people who failed to get the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines is growing, according to recent CDC data. Some five million people, or almost 8% of people who got the first vaccine dose, missed getting the second. In mid-March, 3% of people were overdue for their second dose. People…
FDA, CDC lift pause on J&J COVID-19 vaccine
The FDA and CDC have lifted the pause placed on the Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) COVID-19 vaccine after reports of blood clots caused concern. On April 13, the FDA and CDC issued a joint statement recommending the pause in the administration of the J&J (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine after, among 6.8 million doses delivered in the…
U.S. government stockpile of COVID-19 vaccines already drained
Last week, President-elect Joe Biden vowed to release COVID-19 vaccine doses from a government stockpile. On Jan. 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) echoed that sentiment, stating it would “no longer stockpile millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses held to ensure Americans receive their second shot,” according to a brief notice. But federal…