CDC panel skeptical of fourth Covid shots for broader population, says U.S. needs clear vaccine strategy

Long, professor of paediatrics at Drexel University, said: “With vaccines currently available, we should not chase the hope that those vaccines can prevent infection, transmission and even even mild illness because we knew it was impossible.” of Medicine. “We just have to give up on that with these vaccines and focus on preventing severe illness and preventing death.”

Long criticized the CDC for giving up a fourth shot for older adults without consulting the committee, saying the decision created public confusion and could lead to additional fatigue. She said having a full public discussion within the committee about vaccine recommendations would help restore public trust.

Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines have proven highly effective in preventing Covid hospitalizations, but their ability to protect against infections and mild illness rapidly declines over time, a challenge exacerbated by rapid growth of the virus. Vaccine manufacturers have developed injections to target the mutant protein of the virus that emerged in Wuhan, China in 2019. The virus uses the virus to invade human cells. and since that protein has mutated in the last two years, it has become more difficult for vaccines to prevent infection.

Data presented by CDC officials Wednesday showed that three injections of Pfizer or Moderna were 79 percent effective in preventing hospitalization and 94 percent effective in preventing serious illness or death among adults. healthy immune system during the unprecedented winter omicron infection. Three doses are about 65% effective in preventing mild illness.

Dr. Beth Bell, Director of the National Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases of Animals, says asking people to get vaccinated every four to six months is not a sustainable public health strategy. Such an approach, she said, could undermine confidence in the vaccination campaign. Bell says a two-shot and one booster series of primary vaccines provide adequate protection now for people with healthy immune systems.

“I’m just very worried about us meeting and looking at additional doses to get smaller and smaller margins and create the impression that we I do not have an effective vaccination program. of Public Health.

Dr. David Kimberlin of the American Academy of Pediatrics said the CDC should adopt a more enduring immunization strategy now to avoid having to respond to the next crisis. The CDC should make it clear that most Americans will initially need three doses and will then need a booster shot once a year to maintain protection from serious illness, Kimberlin said.

However, committee chair Dr. Grace Lee said the United States needed to invest in developing vaccines that are effective at preventing infection, pointing out that even mild infections can cause serious illness. can lead to prolonged spasticity with potential health consequences.

“If we focus on hospitalizations and deaths in acute illness, you don’t think about the long-term consequences of Covid, and that can happen,” said Lee, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University. even in people with mild symptoms. Medicine. Lee said being out of school or missing school due to infection is a big challenge, especially for communities that don’t always have easy access to health care.

While three doses may be enough for healthy adults, people with compromised immune systems are still vulnerable to severe illness, according to Dr. Camille Kotton, an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital. They are at risk of infection even with adequate vaccination, booster treatment and monoclonal antibody prevention, Kotton said.

“In a sense, they are the ones who are being left out somewhat in the pandemic,” said Kotton. “I just ask that we maintain a substantial focus on immunocompromised patients,” she said.