CDC Notifies States, Large Cities To Prepare For Vaccine Distribution As Soon As Late October

[Mango7100]

Update from the Novavax trial...I went in for my second injection yesterday. The trial is closed now, and my trial coordinator said Novavax is looking applying for authorization in April. They are doing a rolling review with the FDA now. I fell completely normal today so maybe it was placebo for me...

 

[Joe in VA]

More good news from Pfizer; they are applying for FDA permission for storage of their vax at normal refrigeration temps. Could be a game changer for distribution.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/19/cov...ove-storing-doses-at-higher-temperatures.html

 

[DLgal]

More good news from Pfizer; they are applying for FDA permission for storage of their vax at normal refrigeration temps. Could be a game changer for distribution.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/19/cov...ove-storing-doses-at-higher-temperatures.html

Wait? What? How? This seems odd. Are they saying their scientists were wrong when they said it needed those ultra cold storage temps for stability?

 

[Katiebird]

Wait? What? How? This seems odd. Are they saying their scientists were wrong when they said it needed those ultra cold storage temps for stability?

No, they’ve gone back and done more testing (or rather they’ve continued to do) and determined that the vaccine is stable at higher temperatures for up to two weeks. As they get more data they can update procedures. It may be stable for even longer at the higher temps, so as there is more data they could update again.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Wait? What? How? This seems odd. Are they saying their scientists were wrong when they said it needed those ultra cold storage temps for stability?

According to the article: "“We have been continuously performing stability studies to support the production of the vaccine at commercial scale, with the goal of making the vaccine as accessible as possible for healthcare providers and people across the U.S. and around the world. Pfizer said it submitted new data to the U.S. agency that shows the vaccine is stable between minus 13 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit."

I don't think they are saying they were wrong. What I *think*, and this is just my personal thoughts, is that they needed to get the vaccine out as quick as possible and didn't have as much time to play around with variables out there regarding temperature.

What the article doesn't address though is if they will still ship the vaccines in ultra-low storage temps. Stability of storage once it's reached its destination isn't necessarily the same as shipping directly from the manufacturer.

 

[DLgal]

What the article doesn't address though is if they will still ship the vaccines in ultra-low storage temps. Stability of storage once it's reached its destination isn't necessarily the same as shipping directly from the manufacturer.

Right. And storage hasn't really been an issue for the most part. There have been a couple freezer malfunctions, but overall, it seems states are getting doses and using them up within the 2 week time that they can be stored at higher temps anyway. No one is sitting on doses in ultra cold storage for lengthy periods of time. So, not sure how this will affect anything.

 

[Pyotr]

This article made me feel really good today. I look forward to doing all the things I took for granted. Traveling, restaurants, being able to see my children smile at Disney.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/02/summer-2021-pandemic/618088/

 

[dvcgirl67]

I'm seeing mostly positive articles now. I read the WSJ one and The Atlantic article as well. Then I listened to Dr. Osterholm's podcast. And he's still using the Hurricane warning and really thinks that in 8-14 weeks we are going to see a monster surge. I know he's thinking that the variant is going to take hold and cause a surge in cases. And he did say today that if that doesn't happen he will admit it and apologize.

I'm not sure how that's going to happen at this point, with vaccinations ramping up and estimates that 30-40% have had the virus and have some level of immunity. And it's not just here that cases are plummeting. It's happening in many places around the world making me wonder if many populations haven't hit some level of herd immunity.

 

[amylevan]

I'm seeing mostly positive articles now. I read the WSJ one and The Atlantic article as well. Then I listened to Dr. Osterholm's podcast. And he's still using the Hurricane warning and really thinks that in 8-14 weeks we are going to see a monster surge. I know he's thinking that the variant is going to take hold and cause a surge in cases. And he did say today that if that doesn't happen he will admit it and apologize.

I'm not sure how that's going to happen at this point, with vaccinations ramping up and estimates that 30-40% have had the virus and have some level of immunity. And it's not just here that cases are plummeting. It's happening in many places around the world making me wonder if many populations haven't hit some level of herd immunity.

But he’s been saying this for a few weeks now. We’re dropping and he’s still holding that 8-14 week timeframe. It’s been at least 2-3 weeks he’s been saying that, so shouldn’t his timeline now be like 6-12 weeks. (Now even less likely with the steep drop?)

 

[dvcgirl67]

But he’s been saying this for a few weeks now. We’re dropping and he’s still holding that 8-14 week timeframe. It’s been at least 2-3 weeks he’s been saying that, so shouldn’t his timeline now be like 6-12 weeks. (Now even less likely with the steep drop?)

You're right. He has been saying it for a few weeks. He is predicting that the variant can take hold and that states are opening now (which is true to a certain extent in many states), and that it's the worst time to be doing that.

I hope he's wrong. It seems like we're going to down and then bottom out at a new low level.

 

[Jonfw2]

Numbers plummet again this week in the US and worldwide. I could see them rising slightly or staying flat here next week due to last Monday being a holiday. But after next week, I’d predict the drop will continue.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The numbers look good, but much of the South has been stuck at home with difficult weather conditions this week.

There have been many areas with no testing and no vaccination sites open due to weather.

Now the weather should help reduce the transmission because people cant get out, but I question have cases really fallen that drastically this week?

This could also be mostly symptomatic cases. Not likely to get out and be tested unless absolutely necessary. Possibly the transmission rate is even lower than reflected in the current numbers.

Numbers plummet again this week in the US and worldwide. I could see them rising slightly or staying flat here next week due to last Monday being a holiday. But after next week, I’d predict the drop will continue.

Hopefully although I am a bit wary. I wonder why the numbers dropped dramatically. Is it because of the change in testing? Are we gaining some natural immunity? What other factors are involved? I don't know but all things need to be considered.

 

[Jonfw2]

This could also be mostly symptomatic cases. Not likely to get out and be tested unless absolutely necessary. Possibly the transmission rate is even lower than reflected in the current numbers.

Hopefully although I am a bit wary. I wonder why the numbers dropped dramatically. Is it because of the change in testing? Are we gaining some natural immunity? What other factors are involved? I don't know but all things need to be considered.

It can’t be changes in testing because hospitalizations are falling at a similar rate.

I’ll go with Johns Hopkins: it’s a combination of vaxxes and natural immunity from exposure.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Numbers plummet again this week in the US and worldwide. I could see them rising slightly or staying flat here next week due to last Monday being a holiday. But after next week, I’d predict the drop will continue.

Hopefully although I am a bit wary. I wonder why the numbers dropped dramatically. Is it because of the change in testing? Are we gaining some natural immunity? What other factors are involved? I don't know but all things need to be considered.

It can’t be changes in testing because hospitalizations are falling at a similar rate.

I’ll go with Johns Hopkins: it’s a combination of vaxxes and natural immunity from exposure.

I think it may be a bit of all three. We had potential super spreading events with the holidays and the Super Bowl. Many speculated the gatherings and loose to no masking would give us devastating numbers. It didn't happen.

 

[Jonfw2]

There are two studies now coming out of Israel that suggest the Pfizer vaccine has a powerful ability to reduce transmission. One study says 75% reduction, the other 89%.

 

[aggiedog]

The doctor referred to these as "antigen-specific T-cells".

Yes, but like I said, I'm not sure how you test for those so I don't know how you prove who has them, unlike our current testing capability for antibodies. I'm not arguing, or even saying it's not possible. Way back in the early days of the pandemic, there was talk of T-cell stimulating vaccines.

And the "infection" vs "Covid" discussion is circulating again. Having "Covid" implies symptoms. Having an "infection" means the virus is in your body - it doesn't automatically mean you have symptoms, but it does mean you may be capable of shedding live virus to infect someone else. The vaccines prevent most symptoms, i.e. Covid, because that's all the studies were designed to show. They are still studying if they also prevent infections as well. I seriously think it will bear out the vaccines do prevent infections and therefore transmission, once more time and good research has been done.

 

[Jonfw2]

Yes, but like I said, I'm not sure how you test for those so I don't know how you prove who has them, unlike our current testing capability for antibodies. I'm not arguing, or even saying it's not possible. Way back in the early days of the pandemic, there was talk of T-cell stimulating vaccines.

And the "infection" vs "Covid" discussion is circulating again. Having "Covid" implies symptoms. Having an "infection" means the virus is in your body - it doesn't automatically mean you have symptoms, but it does mean you may be capable of shedding live virus to infect someone else. The vaccines prevent most symptoms, i.e. Covid, because that's all the studies were designed to show. They are still studying if they also prevent infections as well. I seriously think it will bear out the vaccines do prevent infections and therefore transmission, once more time and good research has been done.

Early evidence suggests this will indeed be the case.

 

[Jonfw2]

And I realize how we define “infection” changes the outcomes here. But, indeed, in both the Pfizer and Moderna studies, there were less cases of asymptomatic Covid within the vaccine group than the placebo group.

 

[TLSnell1981]

But is it probable? Justt because one is infected they are able to spread? My understanding it is likely the viral load is so low they won't transmit the virus.

 

[Jonfw2]

But is it probable? Justt because one is infected they are able to spread? My understanding it is likely the viral load is so low they won't transmit the virus.

This is what the first studies coming in are absolutely saying.