Avian Flu Diary: CDC Approves ACIP Recommendations On Fall COVID Vaccines

#17,671

Yesterday, following Monday's FDA Authorization for both the updated Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID shots, the CDC's vaccine advisory group (ACIP) held a day-long meeting where they reviewed the available data (see list below), and voted on their recommendations for who should receive the fall COVID shot.

Introduction [9 pages] Dr. M Daley
Current landscape of SARS-CoV-2 lineages [12 pages] Dr. N Thornburg
COVID-19 epidemiology [20 pages] Dr. F Havers
Post-COVID conditions [16 pages] Dr. S Saydah
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness update [33 pages] Dr. R Link-Gelles
Economic analysis of COVID-19 vaccination [45 pages] Dr. L Prosser
COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance [66 pages] Dr. N Klein
Moderna 2023 – 2024 COVID-19 vaccine [16 pages] Dr. F Priddy
Novavax 2023 – 2024 COVID-19 vaccine [10 pages] Dr. F Dubovsky
Pfizer-BioNTech 2023 – 2024 COVID-19 vaccine [14 pages] Dr. K Modjarrad
Evidence to Recommendations [150 pages] Dr. M Wallace
Overview of COVID-19 vaccine implementation [18 pages] Dr. G Peacock
Bridge Access Program [14 pages] Dr. E Twentyman

With more than 350 slides/pages, there is a lot of data here to review. Of particular interest is the report on Post-COVID Conditions (aka `Long COVID'), which does appear to be reduced by vaccination.

While many European countries, and the UK, have recommended targeted COVID vaccinations this fall - primarily for those over 65, HCWs, residents of care homes, or those with weakened immune systems - after reviewing the data on Long COVID, and infection impacts on children and adolescents, ACIP voted 13-1 to recommend the shot to everyone over the age of 6 months.

Late yesterday, the CDC posted the following statement.

CDC Recommends Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Fall/Winter Virus Season

Press Release

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will be available later this week.

Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Vaccination also reduces your chance of suffering the effects of Long COVID, which can develop during or following acute infection and last for an extended duration.  If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself this fall and winter.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing, and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.  Last season, those who received a 2022-2023 COVID-19 vaccine saw greater protection against illness and hospitalization than those who did not receive a 2022-2023 vaccine.  To date, hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Most Americans can still get a COVID-19 vaccine for free. For people with health insurance, most plans will cover COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you. People who don’t have health insurance or with health plans that do not cover the cost can get a free vaccine from their local health centers; state, local, tribal, or territorial health department; and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program also may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.

“We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” said Director Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H. “CDC is now recommending updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months and older to better protect you and your loved ones.”

This is the first fall and winter virus season where vaccines are available for the three viruses responsible for most hospitalizations – COVID-19, RSV, and flu. In addition to safe, updated COVID-19 vaccines, at-home tests for the virus can identify infection so you can protect your family, coworkers, and the general public. If you do get sick, talk to your doctor about proven, effective treatments that can reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

For more information on updated COVID-19 vaccines visit:   Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC

This statement, understandably, accentuates the positive; the fact that `Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death'. Based on that, and the fact that I've not been reinfected since receipt of my first COVID vaccine in March of 2021, I'll be rolling up my sleeve again (for the 6th? time in 30 months) to get the fall jab.

But I do so with limited expectations.

Although the vaccines appear to do a good job in reducing hospitalizations and deaths, they are far less effective at preventing breakthrough infection, and their effectiveness begins to wane after a few months.

Which is why I'll continue to wear a face mask in public, and avoid crowds when I can.

I know that's not what most people want to hear. They expect a vaccine to protect them so they can go on with life, but with dozens of COVID variants in circulation - and new ones emerging practically every week - we are lucky the vaccine is as effective as it is.