Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

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COVID-19 vaccine stocks are having a terrible week, and developers whose vaccines have yet to gain approval in the all-important U.S. market are having an especially hard time.

For example, Inovio Pharmaceuticals ( INO -6.66% ) stock was down by 14% so far this week as of 2:03 p.m. ET Friday, while Novavax ( NVAX -0.92% ) and Dynavax Technologies ( DVAX -10.41% ) were each down by more than 20%, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. All three of these laggards in the coronavirus vaccine race are getting crushed because of concerns about the omicron variant.

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Specifically, Moderna CEO Stphane Bancel said earlier this week that vaccines designed for the original iteration of COVID-19 may not provide adequate immune protection against the omicron variant. While that hypothesis has yet to be fully vetted in clinical studies, it would spell disaster for second-tier vaccine companies like Inovio, Dynavax, and Novavax.

After all, Inovio's COVID-19 vaccine candidate, INO-4800, was only recently cleared for a phase 3 trial in the United States. As a result, it probably won't be market-ready until the second half of 2022. By that time, the omicron variant -- or perhaps another variant yet to evolve -- may have rendered first-generation COVID-19 vaccines obsolete. That being said, Inovio did recently announce that it is evaluating INO-4800 against omicron, which may turn out to be a big positive for the DNA-based vaccine-maker, once everything is said and done.

Dynavax has licensed out its Cpg 1018 adjuvant -- a component that boosts the immune response generated by vaccines -- to several vaccine developers. But those Dynavax-associated first-generation vaccines, too, might not adequately protect against the highly mutated omicron variant. Only time will tell.

Novavax recently updated investors about this potential risk, and said that it is hard at work developing an omicron-specific version of its recombinant nanoparticle protein-based vaccine. This effort, however, is expected to take several months to complete, which might be too slow to effectively stem the spread of this particular variant.

Are Inovio, Dynavax, and/or Novavax worth buying on this sharp pullback? Of the three, Dynavax and Novavax come across as the most compelling buys. Both are set to generate significant revenue streams from their coronavirus vaccine products over the next 12 months, despite the emergence of the omicron variant. Moreover, we still don't know how well or poorly first-generation COVID-19 vaccines will fare against this variant. As such, bargain hunters who are comfortable with risk might want to consider buying shares of these two beaten-down biotech stocks soon.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis even one of our own helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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Here's Why These 3 COVID-19 Vaccine Stocks Got Crushed This Week - Motley Fool

With the confirmation of the brand new Omicron COVID-19 variant in the United States and with new cases of the disease projected to spread over the December holiday season Americans are queueing up for additional doses of their vaccines.

Officials at the World Health Organization classified Omicron, the latest variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that leads to a COVID-19 diagnosis, as a "variant of concern" just a few days after it was first reported by scientists; the announcement coincides with expanded eligibility for third dose and booster shots for all Americans who have received their first initial vaccines at least two months (for Johnson & Johnson recipients) or six months (Pfizer, Moderna) prior.

Because COVID-19 vaccines were just developed this year, messaging earlier in the pandemic was unclear on how long the immunity earned from a vaccine would last. Leading health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have since clarified that booster vaccines (or additional doses for immunocompromised individuals) are necessary to replenish your body's protection against COVID-19 infection as immunity wanes over time; and since we're still in the thick of the global pandemic, expanding eligibility to all Americans for a booster dose ensures most will keep an optimal amount of antibodies during the winter season into the new year.

How long exactly does it take for a booster dose to impact our immune system? If you've already been vaccinated, especially with a two-dose mRNA vaccine series made in part by teams at Pfizer or Moderna, you may recall hearing that you weren't "fully" vaccinated until two weeks out from your last shot.

The logic and subsequent timeline may not be exactly the same for those who are receiving additional doses this month, which is good news for those who are seeking protection against viral variants, including Omicron.

Data suggests that the immune response to an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose is different than when your body is first introduced to the vaccine and experts are breaking down what that means for you below.

Put simply: It all depends on whether this is your initial COVID-19 vaccine, or if you've already received a full vaccination series prior (or at least one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). During your first vaccine, your body's immune system becomes active and builds antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 within two weeks of your first shot. Federal guidance indicates that people are "fully" vaccinated with mRNA immunity about 2 weeks after your second dose and two weeks after the single Johnson & Johnson shot.

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But as we know, high immunity can't last forever, and scientists have spent the bulk of this year determining how effective COVID-19 vaccines are in real-time. "Detectable antibodies peak around two to three months after full immunization, and then begin to wane thereafter," explains Shruti Gohil, M.D., University of California Irvine Health's associate director of epidemiology and infection prevention as well a professor at the UCI School of Medicine

Dr. Gohil cites current research that suggests the majority of people experience waning levels of COVID-19 antibodies around 6 months after vaccination. It's not that one won't have any protection against COVID-19 at this point, she stresses, but "having fewer circulating antibodies means there will be a delay in your immune response to COVID infection compared to when antibodies are circulating in greater numbers."

Additional doses of the vaccine, then, will "revive your circulating antibody population sufficient to reduce your risk of infection," Dr. Gohil adds.

There isn't as much established research or federal health guidance in understanding when immunity has reached its peak after a booster COVID-19 vaccine, but experts are aware that the process likely occurs faster for most based on their knowledge of how vaccines work in the first place. After all, your immune system has been previously introduced to the vaccine by the time you receive a booster shot.

A pre-print study of research conducted in Israel, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, indicated that immunity may be heightened within just one week of a booster shot. And the effectiveness of the booster is likely doubled in the second week. "We found that seven to 13 days after the booster shot, there is a 4868% reduction in the odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection," the Maccabi Healthcare Services researchers shared.

Dr. Gohil indicates that most healthcare providers in the U.S. have been sharing similar figures with their patients.

"Boosting should result in antibody production within days of the booster vaccine, but peak levels still occur around the two-week mark, similar to initial vaccines," she tells Good Housekeeping. "Why? The speed of the antibody production is determined by the same mechanisms the cells are using the same 'machinery' with the same turnaround time as they did the first time around."

Ultimately, you should rest easy knowing that your body's immune response kicks in almost immediately after a booster dose. But expect to enjoy a higher level of protection around two weeks after your latest dose.

Anyone over the age of 18 is now eligible for a booster COVID-19 vaccine, as long as it's been two months for Johnson & Johnson recipients or six months for those who signed up for any two-dose mRNA vaccine. So far, according to official CDC data, around 15% of those who are now eligible for this vaccine have received a booster.

Federal health officials have also approved mixing and matching of various manufactured COVID-19 vaccines. Most healthcare professionals recommend sticking with the same type of shot you received on your first vaccination, unless you received a Johnson & Johnson single-dose shot. You should consult your primary healthcare provider if you have questions about which vaccine you should receive as a booster, as some research has indicated that Moderna boosters may provide some form of enhanced protection, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

But if you only have access to one kind of shot Pfizer or Moderna alone you shouldn't delay a booster altogether, as they're necessary to keep safe during the coming weeks and months, when transmission risk is expected to skyrocket.

When it comes to earlier strains of COVID-19, including Beta, Lambda, even Delta, federal health officials say a booster vaccine can help keep you as protected as possible from becoming sick this winter. It's especially crucial as flu season is also predicted to impact many Americans, and immune systems can easily be overwhelmed with two infections at once.

As far as Omicron goes, researchers still have a lot to learn about this version of the virus. Dr. Gohil adds that it's too early to say whether current vaccines can provide perfect protection against this variant, but that everyone in the scientific medical community believes that additional antibodies always equate to better protection overall.

"Although Omicron is very different from the original variant to which the vaccines were made, and we expect efficacy to be lower for this variant, we would still expect some amount of cross-reactive antibodies that could potentially afford protection," she explains.

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COVID-19 Booster Vaccine: A Timeline for Third Dose Effectiveness and Immunity - GoodHousekeeping.com

In Galiwin'ku, a remote Aboriginal community in north-east Arnhem Land, for most of the pandemic COVID-19 has been very far away.

There havebeen no recorded community COVID-19 cases in the whole of East Arnhem land in the Northern Territory.

Like many COVID-free pockets of Australia, the vaccine rollout there was initially slow, hampered by misinformation and hesitancy.

But a dedicated team of local Aboriginal health workers worked hard to fix it and did.

Only accessible by air or boat, the island community of Galiwin'ku is 520 kilometres away from Darwin and home to about 2,000 people.

"The wrong stories people had about the vaccine were making them scared," Miwatj Health worker Brando Yambalpalsaid.

In recent weeks and months, vaccination rates have turned aroundin Galiwin'kuand the overall Miwatj health region.

The Aboriginal-controlled health service delivers healthcare and vaccines to more than 6,000 people across East Arnhem land through its seven remote clinics in communities including Milingimbi, Galiwin'ku and Yirrkala.

The rates are now encouragingly high the overall Miwatj region has now hit 81 per cent first dose, outpacing the Indigenous vaccination rate nationally,which is at 74 per cent first dose for those over 16.

Across Australia, COVID outbreaks have triggered localised spikes in vaccination rates.

More recently in the Northern Territory, Binjari and neighbouring Rockhole, which initially had very low vaccine coverage, reached 100 per cent first dose rate during the most recent COVID cluster.

A serious scare and extensive surge resources were needed to achieve that but as the East Arnhem communities show, it is possible to achieve very good results without COVID circulating in the community.

For Mr Yambalpal, the key to getting people to get the jab is information in language.

"Yolngu people understand their language," he said.

Yolngu Matha is the language spoken on Galiwin'ku and by thousands of people in Arnhem Land.

Mr Yambalpalsaid it still takes time for people to make their decision but speaking to local residents in Yolngu Matha has been the crucial way to help them understand.

Galiwin'ku has now hit 70 per cent first dose, with more than 1,000 doses delivered in the last five weeks.

In Yirrkala, about 140 kilometres south-east of Elcho Island on the mainland, Miwatj Strong Women Worker Sally Maymuru also found that speaking to people in language was a big help.

"I just talk straight to their face and tell them, 'Look, you have to get this vaccine, for your health and to protect community and family here'," she said.

"I just told them straight in my language, you know."

In Galiwin'ku, the Miwatj vaccine teams have been spending a lot of their time driving between housesin a four-wheel drive that's been called the Vaxy Taxi tospeak with families who are hesitant or still deciding about the vaccine.

In Yirrkala, Ms Maymuru said visiting people at home on different occasions worked well.

"I'm really proud because I came up to like 20 people in a house, and they don't even want it," she said.

She said she went back to the same house a few days later, at around the same time that there were new COVID cases found in Katherine, which is about 570 kilometres south-west of Yirrkala.

"And now, all of these people have been coming in and ringing up."

Yirrkala has a first dose rate of 93 per cent while 81 per cent of the community is fully vaccinated.

Data from Miwatj Health shows more vaccine doses were actually delivered in Yirrkala before the onset of the recent Katherine-Robinson River cluster, but clinic manager Linda Harrison said outbreaks elsewhere in the NT often had an impact on those more hesitant.

"Each time there's been a bit of a lockdown, there's been a bit of a surge in people coming and asking for the vaccines definitely," Ms Harrison said.

Other strategies that helped in Galiwin'ku included partnering with community programs like at the local school andfooty trainings and running community meetings with doctors.

In Yirrkala, local organisations like the Art Centre and the local council also donated money for store vouchers for people who had their vaccine, which Yirrkala clinic manager Linda Harrison said was a help.

Extra government support in Galiwin'ku, like additional vaccinators from the Royal Flying Doctors Service, helped immunisations continue alongside normal primary health care.

But at the same time, Ms Harrison said having staff known to the community is a big plus.

"The community have had people going out that they know and trust, you know, telling them about COVID, telling them about the importance of getting the vaccines," Ms Harrison said.

"I think that's one of the big things."

The Northern Territory's worst COVID-19 outbreak to date has led to a surge in vaccinations, but authorities say the uptake in Katherine remains stubbornly slow.

Galiwin'ku Aboriginal Health Practitioner Wanamula Gondarra said the turnaround in attitudes towards the vaccine, driven by the promotion work of her and her colleagues, has been a total relief.

"It's amazing what's been happening."

"Our people are really wanting to get the vaccine now, and it's what we've been waiting for, working for months," she said.

But she said there is still more work to be done, to make sure everyone comes back for their second doseand to convince those people who still haven't decided.

"They don't have to accept us, but the work and education is still going forward to them," Wanamula Gondarra said.

"We don't give up."

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COVID-19 vaccination rates were low in these NT communities but now they've outpaced the Indigenous rate in the rest of the country - ABC News

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The county is averaging more than 300 new cases of COVID-19 during the last seven days and public health officials are adding pop-up clinics next week to provide additional opportunities to vaccinate.

From January to October, unvaccinated state residents accounted for 93.1 percent of coronavirus cases, 90.7 percent of hospitalizations, and 90.5 percent of deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

From Nov. 27 until Friday, Dec. 3, the county reported more than 2,100 new COVID cases, including 507 on Dec. 2, the second-highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to the countys COVID dashboard.

Kayleigh Blaney, deputy health officer for the county, said Friday that cases in children are accounting for 25 to 32 percent of total infections daily.

Anyone 5 years or older is eligible for vaccination from the Health Department at its clinics, for which no appointment is needed.

Booster shots are available for those 18 and older who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago. Individuals 18 or older who received the Janssen vaccine are eligible for a booster dose at least two months after receiving their primary dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending a booster shot for those individuals 18 and older who were previously vaccinated.

In addition to three standing clinics, pop-up vaccination clinics are planned for next week.

Turnout has varied from clinic to clinic, Blaney said in a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal Friday.

Nearly 500 individuals -- about one-half of whom were children, were vaccinated at each of two clinics held in Grand Blanc, she said, while turnout was less than 100 at other pop-up locations.

Here are the Health Department clinics planned for next week:

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Where to get no-appointment COVID-19 vaccinations from Genesee County clinics next week - mlive.com

Cameron Sheppard, 13, left, sits with his brother, Benjamin Square, 8, for moral support after Square received his first dose of the BioNTech, Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the Stay Well Baton Rouge Community Health Fair Saturday morning, December 4, 2021, at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La.

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Photos: Covid-19 Vaccines, face painting and free haircuts greet attendees at Health Fair Saturday - The Advocate

A free Pfizer Vaccine Clinic for kids age 5-11 is happening this Saturday, December 4, at Riverbend Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is safe and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Register your child at juneau.org/vaccine, call 907-586-6000, or simply walk in. This is the City and Borough of Juneaus last pediatric vaccine clinic of the year.

The Riverbend clinic will offer first and second doses. If your kid needs a first dose, register atjuneau.org/vaccineor 907-586-6000. If youve already registered your child for their second dose, theres no need to register again. If you havent though, do make an appointment atjuneau.org/vaccineor 907-586-6000. The Riverbend clinic will also accommodate walk-ins.

If your child is getting their second dose, dont forget to bring their vaccine card.

Please note the following:

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children from thisCDC webpageor thisAlaska Health and Social Services information sheet.

Again, here are the details:

WHAT: Vaccine clinic for all Juneau kids age 5-11WHEN: Saturday, December 4, 10 a.m. 1 p.m.WHERE: Riverbend Elementary School, 2901 Riverside DriveHOW: Register your child at juneau.org/vaccine, call 907-586-6000, or simply walk in

The clinic is organized by CBJ in partnership with Juneau Public Health Center, Bartlett Regional Hospital, Juneau School District, local pediatricians, and other community organizations.

For more information, call 586-6000 or emailCOVIDquestions@juneau.org.

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COVID-19 vaccine clinic for kids age 5-11 this Saturday at Riverbend City and Borough of Juneau - City and Borough of Juneau

AdventHealth recently announced an update to its COVID-19 vaccinationrequirements for employees.

The healthcare organization announced on Thursday, Dec. 2, itplans to suspendthe COVID-19 vaccine mandate that was previously in place for employees.

AdventHealth hadpreviously sent a letter to employeessaying they had until Monday, Dec. 6, to get their first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or a single shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and until Jan. 4 to receive the second dose of the two-shot vaccines.

The suspension of the employee vaccine requirements comes shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantissigned a bill to prevent private employers from enforcing vaccine mandates, among other legislation.

Although recent court decisions resulted in the healthcare organization'sreconsideration of a vaccine mandate, AdventHealth saidit still strongly encourages team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Based on scientific evidence and what we see in our hospitals every day, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at reducing both the risk of becoming infected and the level of harm in the case of a breakthrough infection, AdventHealth said in astatement. As part of our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of our team members, patients and communities, we strongly encourage all of our team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

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AdventHealth suspends COVID-19 vaccine requirements for employees - West Orange Times & Windermere Observer

Get vaccinated before the holidays at Oshkosh's popup COVID-19 vaccine clinic  Fox11online.com

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Get vaccinated before the holidays at Oshkosh's popup COVID-19 vaccine clinic - Fox11online.com

One company which is specifically focusing on getting Covid-19 vaccines to low-income nations is Lund-based biotech Ziccum which has developed a technology to air-dry existing vaccines and convert them into powder forms which do not need to be stored or transported at cold temperatures. Ziccum are currently collaborating with Janssen whose first generation Covid-19 vaccine was approved in February 2021 to study whether it will be possible to create dry powder forms of one of Janssen's vaccine platforms. In the near future, this may be utilised to try and improve the vaccine situation across the African continent. Ziccum's CEO Gran Conradson told the BBC that talks are underway about using their technology in Rwanda, where less than 20% of the population are fully vaccinated.

"We have been invited to Rwanda to see what we can do," says Conradson. "There's been a lot of initiatives in Africa at the moment. We've had so many contacts from the African CDC, African Development Bank, the African vaccine manufacturers, there's a whole bunch of initiatives."

Even if some of the second generation vaccines never make it to market for Covid-19, the vast investments in research and accelerating manufacturing processes, may yet bring major health benefits in the realms of other diseases. Vaxart are also looking to create vaccine-based pills for flu and norovirus, while CureVac and GSK are aiming to produce a jab which vaccinates against coronaviruses and influenza at the same time.

California-based biotech Gritstone have recently launched a Phase I clinical trial in Manchester, using a method known as self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), a newer form of the mRNA technology. Initially designed for use against cancer, saRNA produces copies of itself once inside the body's cells, meaning that you can induce the same response as an mRNA vaccine, but with a dose that is 50 or 100 times smaller, making the vaccine cheaper and easier to make.

Andrew Allen, president, chief executive and co-founder of Gritstone, says that the vaccine's technology, which aims to stimulate more durable, long lasting T cell responses against areas of Covid-19 which are conserved between coronaviruses, and so found in all viruses in this family, could also be utilised to help develop universal vaccines against other viruses such as the flu. It could even help accelerate its existing work on cancer vaccines, which uses biopsies to try and predict different targets for the immune system to attack, as the tumour evolves.

But one of the biggest legacies of this new wealth of vaccine research could be in making the world far more prepared for future coronavirus outbreaks, something many scientists believe is inevitable based on trends over the past two decades.

"We've had three coronavirus outbreaks in the last 20 years," says Allen. "We had Sars in 2002 Mers in 2012, and then Covid-19. I think we can all agree that there will be another coronavirus outbreak, and we need to be ready for it. We need to be better prepared than we were last time."

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What will tomorrow's Covid-19 vaccines be like? - BBC News

These sweeties are getting their shots! Ciara, Chrissy Teigen and more celebrity parents have taken their kids to get their COVID-19 vaccines amid the pandemic.

The Grammy winner was at the White House promoting vaccinations for 5 to 11-year-olds in November 2021 when her son, Win, crashed the event. The little one crawled around the podium as she spoke. While the toddler has not received his dose due to his age and CDC recommendations, the 1, 2 Step singers other son, Future, has been vaccinated.

He walked in excited a little nervous, but he was excited because a lot of his classmates had already gotten vaccinated, so it was really cool to be on that journey with him, the songwriter said of the experience at the time. Being a mom and seeing it through his eyes was amazing as well. I think the ultimate goal is to end this thing and for us all to feel a bit more safe and have an added layer of protection.

The dancer shares her eldest son with her ex-fianc, Future. Ciara welcomed Win in July 2020 with her husband, Russell Wilson, following their daughter Siennas April 2017 birth.

The following month, Teigen shared sweet shots of her and John Legends daughter, Luna, after her own vaccine appointment.

Second shot queen, the Cravings author captioned the December 2021 social media upload of Luna grinning with an ice cream cone in one hand and a face mask in the other. Go big girl go big girl go.

Legend shared his own vaccine experience in April 2021, telling USA Today that the shot gave him a greater optimism and relief.

The EGOT winner went on to say, Im just excited that the vaccine has proven to be effective and to be safe, and that were on our way to opening back up more and more people get vaccinated. If youre getting vaccinated preventing yourself from getting the virus, preventing yourself from giving the virus to any of your relatives and loved ones, and getting the nation back closer to opening up slowly its a small price to pay.

He and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model are also the parents of son Miles, born in May 2018, who is currently too young to get the vaccine, per CDC guidelines.

Keep scrolling to see more celebrities whose kids have received the vaccine, from Matthew McConaughey to Jennifer Garner.

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Celebrity Kids Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine: Photos - Us Weekly