What Happened, What You Missed: December 6-10
Pfizer Says Three Vaccine Doses Are Effective Against Omicron Pfizer announced on Wednesday that three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine – two initial doses plus a booster dose – neutralized the Omicron variant at levels comparable to what two doses against earlier variants like Alpha and Delta. While the preliminary data cited by Pfizer says two doses […]
What Happened, What You Missed: August 9-13
FDA Authorizes Third Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised Patients On August 12, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow immunocompromised people to get a third dose. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) subsequently announced that Medicare beneficiaries would be able to receive the additional […]
What Happened, What You Missed: August 2-6
Moderna Becomes Second Vaccine Maker to Recommend Third Dose On August 5, Moderna said a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine will likely be necessary as a “booster shot” this winter as immunity gradually declines. The company is currently testing three candidates that could be used as a third dose to boost immunity against rising COVID-19 variants […]
What Happened, What You Missed: July 19-23
CDC Panel Recommends Continued Use of J&J Vaccine, Despite Risks On July 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) agreed the federal government should continue to recommend Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine amid concerns of side effects. According to the panel, the benefits of the single-dose vaccine […]
Who Will Be the Next Drug Czar?
“We need a drug czar, Mr. President,” a young Senator repeatedly uttered in the early 1980s as illicit drug use surged in the nation’s cities. There were several agencies fighting the war on drugs, and the Senator thought it would be best to have one person coordinating the federal response. Then, in November 1988, President Ronald Reagan […]
The Week in Review: June 7-11
Administration to Donate Half a Billion Pfizer Vaccine Doses On June 9, President Joe Biden announced the purchase of 500 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to contribute to the global vaccination effort. The first 200 million doses will be distributed this year, and the subsequent 300 million doses will be sent out in the first half […]
The Promise of Non-Profit Drug Companies
With trust in pharmaceutical companies waning and drug prices climbing, it’s clear providers and patients are frustrated with drug manufacturers. Out of this frustration, providers and philanthropists have banded together to form non-profit drug companies, which aim to deliver low-cost generics by eschewing the profit-driven focus of other drug makers and embracing a mission to make drugs […]
The Week in Review: May 17-21
Pfizer, Moderna CEOs Say Booster COVID-19 Shots May Be Needed During a May 19 virtual event hosted by Axios, the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna said some Americans may need a COVID-19 booster shot within 8-12 months from the original vaccination. While it is unknown how long protection from COVID-19 vaccines lasts, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci commented during […]
The Week in Review: May 3-7
Biden Announces Goal to Partially Vaccinate 70% by July 4 On May 4, President Biden announced a new goal to have 70% or more Americans with at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and 160 million Americans fully vaccinated by July 4. The President also announced a new vaccination strategy that will try to reallocate vaccine […]
The Week in Review: April 19-23
Biden Celebrates 200 Million Vaccinations On April 21, President Biden announced that the US had administered 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, meeting his Administration’s goal of putting 200 million shots into American arms within 100 days. The President also urged unvaccinated Americans to fulfill their “patriot duty” and get their shots. To encourage more Americans to get […]