Category: Vaccine

Bill Gates on Tuesday laughed off a conspiracy theory that suggests the Microsoft co-founder hatched an "evil plot" with Dr. Anthony Fauci to produce faulty vaccines and track Americans.

During an appearance on Trevor Noahs podcast "What Now?" Gates suggested that the "wild" combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and social media had created "insane" and "stunning" discourse, some of which alleged the tech billionaire was engaged in a global scheme to harm the human population.

Noah asked Gates whether these negative opinions had changed his "appetite" or ability to engage in philanthropic efforts successfully.

Gates responded by telling a story about a woman who came up to him on the streets of Seattle and began accusing him of implanting a tracker inside her body.

BILL GATES SAYS AI IS 'PRETTY DUMB' NOW, BUT PREDICTS EVERYONE WILL HAVE ROBOT 'AGENTS' WITHIN 5 YEARS

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. (Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

"I looked at her, and I said, gosh, I really dont need to track you; Im sorry. Let me take the chip out of you," Gates said as he and Noah erupted in laughter.

He then addressed conspiracy theories that Gates worked with Fauci on vaccines to depopulate the earth, keep tabs on citizens and alter their DNA. He also appeared to reference "The Real Anthony Fauci" by presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"The fact that a book that talks about Fauci and I having an evil plot, killing millions of children with vaccinesthe fact that could sell so well, you know, was just another surprise to me about human nature and how having an oversimplistic explanation about what was going on or the motivations, that was kind of shocking," Gates said.

He added that while he was not necessarily concerned about the attitude towards him personally, the attitude towards vaccines has been "damning."

BILL GATES, MARK ZUCKERBERG, OTHERS ARE BANKROLLING THE WOKE EDUCATION AGENDA, SAYS PARENTS GROUP

Former NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

"Getting kids to take things like the measles vaccine is super important in many countries. You know, thats the difference between life and death. So, the skepticism about vaccines or medicine is very high and thats making our health work a lot harder," Gates said.

Last May, Gates made similar comments in an interview with the BBC.

"You almost have to laugh because its so crazy," Gates said of conspiracies levied against him.

Gates has repeatedly denied conspiracies related to vaccination in media interviews, but a May 2020 YouGov/Yahoo poll found that almost one in three U.S. adults believe the microchipping theory.

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A year later, another YouGov poll found that one in five Americans believed the U.S. government was pushing COVID-19 vaccines to microchip people.

"I mean, do I really want to track people?" Gates said in the BBC interview. "I spend billions on vaccines; I dont make money on vaccines. Vaccines save lives, they dont cause death, so you have to say its a bit of a strange world where channels for that [theory] gain a lot of interest."

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Bill Gates laughs off idea of evil plot with Dr. Fauci to track Americas, create faulty vaccines - Fox News

MEXICO CITY (AP) Four out of five people in Mexico who got influenza shots so far this year turned down the governments recommendation that they get Russian or Cuban COVID-19 boosters at the same time, officials said Tuesday.

Assistant Health Secretary Ruy Lpez Ridaura attributed the high refusal rate to people being reluctant to get two vaccines at the same time.

People have a certain reluctance to get simultaneous vaccinations, Lpez Ridaura said.

But the population eligible for flu and COVID-19 shots people over 60 and people with underlying health problems are considered high-risk, and Mexicans in those groups had extremely high take-up rates for Covid vaccines in 2021 and 2022, according to the Health Department.

Some people appear to simply distrust the Russian Sputnik and Cuban Abdala vaccines, both designed in 2020 for variants prevalent at the time.

It is an old antigen, its as if they were going to give me an influenza vaccine from 2020, said Andreu Comas, a professor of medicine at the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi. There are no studies regarding the effectiveness of both of these vaccines against the (current) variants.

Mexico has bought millions of doses of the Russian and Cuban vaccines. The original plan was to administer around 20 million shots, but only about 1.9 million people, or 9.5% of those eligible, have agreed to take them since the vaccination campaign started in mid-October.

In contrast, 10 million people got the influenza shot in the same period.

President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador has been a big supporter of Cuba, hiring Cuban doctors, buying vaccines and construction materials from Cuba and supplying oil to the island.

Meanwhile, Mexico has held up approval for Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 boosters, both of which were designed to work against the COVID variants currently circulating. While those shots have been approved for use in the United States since September, they may not be available for Mexicans until 2024.

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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4 out of 5 Mexicans who got a flu shot this year turned down Cuban and Russian COVID-19 vaccines - The Associated Press

A first shipment of 331,200 doses of RTS,S vaccine landed in Cameroon Tuesday (Nov. 21).

The World Health Organization, the UN children's agency UNICEF and the Gavi vaccine alliance said in a joint statement Wednesday (Nov.22) that the delivery "[signaled] that scale-up of vaccination against malaria across the highest-risk areas on the African continent [would] begin shortly".

RTS,S is the first malaria vaccine recommended by the WHO.

The jab acts against plasmodium falciparumthe deadliest malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa.

It is administered in a four-dose schedule which begins at around the age of five months old.

Several African countries are finalizing preparations for malaria vaccine introduction into routine immunization programs, with the first doses set to be administered in January-March 2024.

A further 1.7 million doses are set for delivery to Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone in the coming weeks.

The shipments signal that malaria vaccination is moving out of its pilot phase Since 2019, more than two million children have been jabbed in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi in a pilot phase, resulting in substantial reductions in severe malaria illness and hospitalizations. Africa accounted for approximately 95 percent of global malaria cases and 96 percent of related deaths from the mosquito-borne disease in 2021.

Global malaria deaths dipped slightly to 619,000 in 2021of which 77 percent were children aged under five. Meanwhile, global malaria cases rose slightly to 247 million.

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Malaria: Shipments to African countries herald final steps toward broader vaccination - WHO - Africanews English

Fears over Covid super spreader events have led to renewed pleas for Aussies to get the latest vaccine booster as a new wave sweeps the country.

As teens travel far and wide for end-of-year festivities like Schoolies, it could lead to thousands being infected with a dreaded bout of the virus just as the Christmas holidays near. So what can we do to prevent it and should we be worried?

Experts are warning that Covid continues to pose a threat to Australians and that precautions should be taken to avoid infection.

A new vaccine will be available in Australia from December 11, with everyone being urged to get it. It will protect against the new EG.5 (Eris) and BA 2.86 (Pirola) variants.

Conversations about mask mandates have been reignited following WAs decision to make masks compulsory in high-risk settings such as hospitals.

Should I be worried?

Virologists were adamant that Covid would evolve into "nothing more than the common cold" but today that is simply not the case and continues to carry a threat, experts warn.

Professor Catherine Bennett, an epidemiologist at Deakin University told Yahoo that while our population-level immunity is helping us get through this wave in a safer way than we have [before]," we still have to remember that "people can become very unwell and we're still losing lives".

Dr Raina MacIntyre echoed this, saying there's an "enormous" amount of evidence around chronic long-term conditions caused by the virus.

"This is not just a virus that causes respiratory illness, it does that, but it also affects blood vessels, the heart, lungs and brain and a range of other organ systems," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"There are also good studies that show if you are reinfected, your risk of long Covid increases. And we know long Covid is already impacting workforces in the US and the UK," she added.

Read more: Is Covid still a thing?

One of the most controversial issues at the height of the pandemic was mask-wearing. So will there be renewed efforts to encourage people to wear masks on the cusp of another outbreak this holiday season? WA has already brought back mandates for face masks in hospitals.

Story continues

However, it's unlikely to affect the masses. Monash epidemiologist James Trauer said, "I don't think we need a mask mandate across the whole of society". Lockdowns are also unlikely Dr Paul Griffin, the director of infectious diseases at Mater Health in Brisbane, said. "But people should still remain careful," adds Trauer.

The advice is particularly true for those attending high-risk social events including Schoolies, or Leavers, with new fears such occasions may become superspreader events. While taking precautions is necessary, Trauer says, "I don't think we should have any restrictions that are applied across the whole of society" such as banning these events. "And I don't think there's any need to limit gathering numbers" he added.

"But we do need to take precautions when visiting friends and relatives who are vulnerable. Dont put them at risk," he added. This includes the elderly or people with other medical conditions.

A "significant change in the virus" is what's caused the current wave. "Each time the virus changes, the protection that we have from past infection and vaccination declines and that allows the virus to transmit more readily," Griffin told Yahoo.

Bennett agreed and said a new wave was "expected". Mostly because protection from immunity or vaccination "wanes over time". As for vaccinations, only a "very small percentage" of the population is up to date and most people haven't had a shot in the past six months, according to Professor Adrian Esterman, an expert in epidemiology at the University of South Australia.

That's a question a lot of people are asking at the moment, and in short, if people are eligible for a vaccine, I would just encourage them to go and get vaccinated," Trauer said.

The new vaccine, which will be available in Australia from December 11, differs from the ones weve had previously. Its monovalent and designed specifically to target the current EG.5 (Eris) and BA 2.86 (Pirola) variants. The most recent boosters were bivalent and tailored to protect against both the original strain of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.

Those who had their 2023 vaccinations do not need to get jabbed again, but for people who are particularly vulnerable, if they haven't had their booster, "now is the time to think about it because it will give you your best protection through this second wave for the year," Bennett said.

"Vaccination remains our most important defence against Covid," Trauer added.

Other precautions that Esterman says are effective and encouraged include:

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson on Schoolies or Leavers, "We know large events are higher risk when it comes to contracting and spreading the virus. Anyone returning from Leavers who feels unwell should please stay away from their grandparents and other vulnerable people in our community until their symptoms resolve".

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) said in a recent statement, "Available data suggests monovalent XBB vaccines provide modestly enhanced protection from severe disease compared to older vaccines".

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Fears over Covid super-spreader events as new vaccine approved: What you need to know - Yahoo News Australia

Data collection, study population, variables, and outcomes

We used the TriNetX platform to access aggregated, de-identified electronic health records (EHR) of over 90 million patients from 56 HCOs across all 50 American states, covering diverse geographic, age, race, and ethnic groups (United States Collaborative Network)5. The MetroHealth System, Cleveland Ohio, Institutional Review Board (IRB) has determined that research using the de-identified and aggregated data from TriNetX as described in this study is not Human Subject Research and therefore IRB review was not required. We have previously used the TriNetX platform to study risk factors and outcomes of COVID-19 infection and vaccination14,15,16.

TriNetX data are collected from participating HCOs, primarily from EHR systems comprised of structured demographics, diagnoses, procedures, and medications but also from facts extracted from clinical documents using natural language processing17. TriNetX completes intensive data preprocessing to minimize missing values. The platform also maps data to a clinical model with consistent semantic meanings so that the data can be queried consistently regardless of the underlying data source. All covariates are either binary, categorical, or continuous. Missing sex values are represented as Unknown Sex, while missing data for race and ethnicity are represented as Unknown Race and Unknown Ethnicity, respectively. The data available in TriNetX go back decades, depending on the HCO, and are frequently updated (80% of data providers update their data in 1, 2, or 4-week intervals)18. For this study, the EHR data were queried and analyzed on October 8, 2023.

The primary analysis compared the hazard of IS in patients aged 65 years and over after Pfizer bivalent booster versus monovalent booster; the secondary analysis compared the hazard of IS in patients aged 65 years and over after Pfizer bivalent booster versus Moderna bivalent booster (Fig. 2). The exposure of interest was vaccination by either the Pfizer bivalent booster (Pfizer bivalent cohort), Moderna bivalent booster (Moderna bivalent cohort), or Pfizer/Moderna monovalent booster (monovalent cohort) prior to August 27, 2023, to ensure sufficient time for follow-up at 21 and 42 days (Fig. 2). Patients in the monovalent cohort were included beginning in August 2021, while those in the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent cohorts were included beginning in September 2022, as these time periods represent when the cohorts began receiving booster vaccines in TriNetX. Cohorts were matched by demographics (age, sex, race, ethnicity), COVID-19 infection, medical conditions that are risk factors for both IS and severe COVID-19 infection19,20, and adverse socioeconomic determinants of health (Table 1). Self-reported race and ethnicity data in TriNetX come from the clinical EHR systems of the contributing HCOs. TriNetX maps race and ethnicity data from its contributing HCOs to the following categories: (1) Race: Asian, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other, White, Unknown Race; and (2) Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino, Not Hispanic or Latino, Unknown Ethnicity. The outcome of interest was an encounter diagnosis for IS in TriNetX at either 121 days or 2242 days after booster administration (Fig. 2). Details of clinical codes for covariates, exposures, and outcomes are described in Supplementary Table 2.

Cohort selection and design.

To compare the hazard of IS between the Pfizer bivalent and monovalent cohorts, as well as the Pfizer bivalent and Moderna bivalent cohorts, the cohorts were propensity-score matched (1:1 matching by nearest neighbor greedy matching algorithm with a caliper of 0.25 standard deviations) for the variables enumerated above. KaplanMeier survival analysis was used to estimate the probability of IS at 121 days or 2242 days after booster administration. The KaplanMeier analysis estimates the probability of an outcome at a respective time interval (daily time interval in this analysis). To account for the patients who exited the cohort during the analysis period, and therefore should not be included in the analysis, censoring was applied. Patients are censored when the last data point in the patients record is within the time interval of interest, or if the outcome of interest occurs after the index event but before the start of the time window21. The Cox proportional hazard assumption was tested using Schoenfeld residuals22. The TriNetX platform calculates HR and associated 95% CI using the R survival package v3.2-3. For generating HR, TriNetX sets robust=FALSE using the R survival package, which is a limitation of the TriNetX platform since it does not consider potential clustering of patients within HCOs or specific geolocations. All statistical tests were conducted in October 2023 within the TriNetX Analytics platform with significance set at p-value<0.05 (two-sided). A sub-analysis was conducted to compare the hazard of first-time IS between the Pfizer bivalent cohort and monovalent cohort, but not between the Pfizer bivalent cohort and Moderna bivalent cohort due to limited sample size.

Originally posted here:

Ischemic stroke after COVID-19 bivalent vaccine administration in patients aged 65 years and older in the United States ... - Nature.com

Recent advancements in Alzheimer's disease treatments targeting the removal of toxic proteins (white matter) from the brain have sparked a renewed interest in developing vaccines to combat thismemory-robbing disease.

Clinical trials for at least seven Alzheimer's disease vaccines, aiming to leverage the immune system to eliminate disease-related proteins such asbeta-amyloid or tau, are underway or completed.

This resurgence in vaccine development followeda setback over two decades ago when an initial vaccine attempt was abandoned due to 6% of volunteers developing life-threatening brain inflammation known as meningoencephalitis.

Researchers subsequently shifted focus towards a safer approach, utilizing precisely targeted manufactured antibodies that bypass the body's immune system.

Recent successes such asEisai Co LtdESAIY andBiogen Inc.'sBIIBLeqembiandEli Lilly And Co.'sLLYdonanemabhave reinforced the idea that removing amyloid is crucial for combating early-stage Alzheimer's, marking a turning point after years of failed attempts that cast doubt on the amyloid theory.

The current wave of Alzheimer's disease vaccine development involves efforts by companies such asVaxxinity IncVAXX,AC Immune SAACIU, andProthena Corporation PlcPRTA, aiming to rectify past vaccine failures by designing shots that stimulate an immune response without triggering excessive inflammation.

Citing Dr. Reisa Sperling from Mass General Brigham in Boston, Reuters noted the potential of vaccines in Alzheimer's disease prevention, leading trials targeting individuals with Alzheimer's disease proteins in their brain and considering expanding studies to asymptomatic individuals with these proteins in their blood.

While these vaccines are still in the early stages, their potential as a more accessible alternative to existing treatments like Leqembi, which require frequent infusions, offers hope for the global Alzheimer's disease population, estimated at 39 million.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Alzheimer's Disease Vaccines: Promising Developments, Renewed Enthusiasm From Biogen, Eli Lilly And Other - Benzinga

image:

Work in Tartu University`s virology lab. Author Kaspar Koolmeister

Credit: Photographer Kaspar Koolmeister

The chikungunya virus is widespread in tropical regions, where it is spread to humans by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. Chikungunya is characterised by high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, rash and sometimes diarrhoea. This viral disease has become a global health threat. At least five million cases of chikungunya virus infection have been reported in the last 15 years. The highest risk of infection is in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of the Americas where mosquitoes carrying the virus are endemic. However, chikungunya virus has also spread to new geographical areas, causing a rise in global prevalence of the disease. So far, there is no specific medicine for the disease.

According to Professor Andres Merits, head of the working group that prepared the vaccine candidate at the University of Tartu, the vaccine was assembled on a desk in room 435 of the Institute of Technology. Merits made a synthetic copy of the chikungunya virus genome, which was attenuated by introducing mutations into it by then UT virologists Aleksei and Valeria Lulla. The virus was first made in January 2011, then it was analysed and subjected to pre-clinical trials in collaboration with researchers from Sweden, the UK, France and other countries. "This is a major achievement probably the first in Estonian research where a vaccine designed and made by us becomes available for human use," said Merits.

Obtaining FDA approval is the most important step in the drug development process, which opens up the possibility of using the vaccine in the US. In other regions, it will need to be approved by other regulatory authorities, such as the European Medicines Agency in Europe. Usually, the FDA is the first to give approval, with others following suit some time later.

The application to the FDA was submitted in February 2023, so the approval was issued quite quickly. The approval will be followed by a rigorous follow-up to further assess the effectiveness of the vaccine and the adverse effects of its use. According to Merits, the biggest market for the vaccine is likely to be Brazil and other South American countries, as well as Southeast Asia, where the virus is a major problem. In the US, the vaccine is primarily intended for people wishing to travel to high-risk areas.

Press contact: Margit Meiesaar Faculty of Science and Technology Institute of Technology Project Manager Nooruse 1-426C margit.meiesaar@ut.ee +372 737 4840

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Not applicable

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Vaccine created by University of Tartu researchers to prevent a dangerous tropical disease received approval - EurekAlert

Getting the COVID and flu vaccines simultaneously could be safe and even beneficial, according to study findings presented at the Vaccines Summit Boston this week.

In a study, researchers found that people who got both shots at the same time showed higher levels of antibodies against COVID than those who got the two vaccines on different occasions.

Among 42 health care workers in Massachusetts, 12 of them received a bivalent COVID booster and a seasonal influenza shot on the same day last fall.

COVID AND FLU VACCINE RATES ARE DECLINING FOR US HEALTH CARE WORKERS, CDC REPORTS: DISTURBING TREND

Another group of 30 got the two shots on two separate days within that same month.

Three to four weeks later, those who had gotten both vaccinations simultaneously were found to have higher levels of COVID-fighting antibodies than those who received the shots separately.

Researchers found that people who got both the COVID and flu shots at the same time showed higher levels of antibodies against COVID than those who got the two vaccines on different occasions. (iStock)

That higher level of protection was detected for as long as six months, the researchers found.

"We showed that the COVID antibody responses were higher and more durable if the COVID and flu vaccines were given on the same day," said Susanna Barouch, the studys lead author and an intern at the Ragon Institute's Systems Serology Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the conference.

COVID VACCINE POLL FINDS MORE THAN HALF OF ADULTS ARE LIKELY TO SAY 'NO THANKS' TO THE VAX

The study findings have been published to the preprint server BioRxiv, but they're currently in the peer review process and have not yet been published in a scientific journal.

The new study 'sfindings have been published to the preprint server BioRxiv, but they're currently in the peer review process and have not yet been published in a scientific journal. (iStock)

"We thought that these findings were very important for immediate public health decision-making," said Ryan McNamara, the lab's director and senior author on the study, in explaining the early release of the data.

"I would have to see more data before I would say that combining them is a better strategy."

As far as why the human body produces a higher immunity response after a double vaccination, McNamara hypothesized that the simultaneous doses could stimulate the immune system more than a single shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on its website that "getting a flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same visit is recommended if you are eligible and the timing for each vaccine is right."

A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC states on its website that "getting a flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same visit is recommended if you are eligible and the timing for each vaccine is right." (REUTERS/Tami Chappell/File Photo)

Some studies have shown, however, that getting both vaccines together could increase the intensity of side effects.

In a 2022 study published in JAMA Network Open, participants who got both shots at the same time experienced up to 11% more side effects, including headache, muscle pain and fatigue.

COLD, FLU, COVID-19 AND RSV: HOW TO IDENTIFY THE DIFFERING SYMPTOMS AND STAY SAFE

Other research has suggested that receiving dual shots could slightly increase the risk of stroke among the elderly.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, commented to Fox News Digital that the size of the study was very small, consisting of only 42 health workers.

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel said the new study's results do not warrant "changing clinical practice." (Fox News)

"I wouldn't change clinical practice as a result," said Siegel, who was not involved in the research.

"It makes some sense that priming the immune system with exposure to two antigens (flu and SARS COV-2) at the same time could cause a more robust overall immune response," the doctor went on.

"But the downside is that if you experience side effects, you won't know which vaccine caused them, since the most common side effects are somewhat similar such as muscle aches, headaches and sore arm."

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Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in Scottsdale, Arizona, was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings.

"These are interesting preliminary findings, but they need to be replicated in a larger, higher-quality study to see if the results hold true," she told Fox News Digital.

"For the elderly, I would be more hesitant to take the two vaccines together given the October 2023 report of a safety signal finding an elevated stroke risk in those 85 years and older," one doctor noted. (iStock)

"Also, we dont want to make health care recommendations based solely on lab data."

The downside of taking the two vaccines together, according to Johnson, is the increased risk of side effects.

"For the elderly, I would be more hesitant to take the two vaccines together given the October 2023 report of a safety signal finding an elevated stroke risk in those 85 years and older," she added.

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Siegel said that in his own practice, he tends to space out vaccinations unless the patient wants the shots to be given at the same time.

Added the doctor, "I would have to see more data before I would say that combining them is a better strategy."

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Should you get the COVID and flu vaccines at the same time? - Fox News

Wednesday November 22, 2023

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A new wave of COVID-19 cases is hitting the country, as experts warn people to remain vigilant and stay up to date with their vaccines as holidays approach.

Associate Professor James Trauer, head of the epidemiological modelling unit at Monash University, says there has been a surge of COVID-19 infections passing through the community.

Vaccination remains our most important defence against COVID, even though the virus shouldnt ruin Christmas this year, he said.

COVID-19 is now an endemic virus, which means it cannot be eliminated and is continuously transmitted.

Surges in coronavirus cases were generally caused by new variants, which meant it was more difficult than ever to predict when these waves would peak, Prof Trauer said.

Scientists view of community transmission is further muddied by a lack of data.

With a marked decline in testing, the daily number of cases does not paint a clear picture of the spread of the virus, though researchers can still use hospital admission numbers and wastewater surveillance to monitor COVID-19 waves.

The severity of coronavirus cases has decreased and fewer Australians are being admitted to the intensive care unit because of high levels of population immunity garnered through vaccinations and natural protection from past infections.

But Prof Trauer says Australians should still exercise caution by wearing a mask and testing before interacting with vulnerable populations, such as those older than 65 years and especially Australians more than 75.

They should also seek booster vaccines as they provide longer-term immunity than reinfection.

New COVID-19 vaccines, which target common variants of the virus, will be made available to the public from December.

Pfizers monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine will be available for use in eligible Australians five years and older, while the Moderna monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine can be used for those aged 12 and older.

Those who had their 2023 vaccinations do not need to get jabbed again, but authorities say only one quarter of vulnerable Australians have had their booster shots.

Our most important protection against the effects of COVID is immunity, which can be enhanced through vaccination, Prof Trauer said.

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Christmas Grinch: New strains of Covid on the loose as new vaccines rolled out - InQueensland

By Kelly Laco, Executive Editor Of Politics For Dailymail.Com 19:27 21 Nov 2023, updated 16:00 22 Nov 2023

The U.S. Army is catching heat for attempting to win back favor with soldiers fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine as the military struggles with severe recruitment challenges.

Last week, the Army sent out a mass letter to soldiers who were fired after decliningthe COVID-19 vaccine for religious or medical reasons, offering a 'correction of military records.'

'As a result of the rescission of all current COVID-19 vaccination requirements, former Soldiers who were involuntarily separated for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccination may request a correction of their military records from either or both the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) or the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR),' the letter reviewed by DailyMail.com states.

The letter sparked an outcry of fury at the Defense Department by lawmakers and current and former service members.

John Frankman, a former U.S. Army Captain who voluntarily left the Army on July 1 due to negative career repercussions for refusing the vaccine, told DailyMail.com that the letter will 'not have any effect on bringing service members back' because it doesn't offer a policy change.

'There has always existed the ability to apply to upgrade ones discharge status and apply to return to the military,' he explained.

Frankman added that until there is accountability for the 'failed' vaccine policy and for other disasters such as the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, 'no one will trust the current leaders at the top.'

'[Secretary of Defense] Lloyd Austin needs to be fired, and service members need to automatically have their discharges upgraded, receive back pay, be given the ability to return if they choose, and there needs to be a very serious and thorough introspection on how such terrible policy decisions were ever able to occur,' he told DailyMail.com.

Frankman also said the 'crazy recruiting crisis' is crushing military readiness.

The Army faced a huge shortage of recruits in fiscal year 2022 at 55,000 - which was 10,000 short of its target for the year.

Secretary of the ArmyChristine Wormuth downplayed the shortage, saying the aim for 65,000 new recruits was a 'stretch goal.'

'The recruiting enterprise in the Army very much understands how important that role is they don't need us to signal to them to put the pedal to the metal,' she said at the Pentagon in October.

'We've got a lot of work to do to implement all of these changes, so I would imagine we'll settle on something lower than 65,000 for 2024.'

'Our dedicated troops should never have been discharged for putting their personal health and safety ahead of an experimental COVID shot,' Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., wrote on X in reaction.

'They should be unconditionally reinstated and restored with full pay and benefits,' he continued.

Former Army officer Brad Miller said the letter does not go far enough to remedy the harm he experienced.

'Why doesn't the Army ask me if I want my resignation converted into a retirement dated with the release date of this new policy, and along with it offer compensation for the command I was wrongly relieved of, compensation for the remainder of whatever my career might have been, and then offer me my adjusted pension from this month forward? Then offer the same to all others similarly wronged,' he stated.

He went on to say the Pentagon can't 'fix itself' and claimed Biden administration officials' loyalty is 'assuredly un-American.'

Retired Air Force veteran Patrick Fox said the Army has entered 'panic mode' by sending the letter.

'Given how politically radioactive this decision by the DoD was, how much resentment it generated internally, and how much bad press it generated when it as made - mollifying policy like this indicates Army leadership are feeling the pressure on recruitment numbers,' he wrote on X.

'To a degree they're willing to eat a little crow on this to alleviate it. If it gets bad enough, and senior leadership are backed into a corner, promises to restore rank & pay are not unthinkable in the future.'

A current Army officer told DailyMail.com that the Army has 'continued to miss the mark on taking care of its service members and veterans.'

'For the veterans separated due to the mandate, it seems unnecessary that they should need to submit for a Discharge Characterization Upgrade after being unlawfully discharged,' he continued.

'I believe the Army needs to make amends with the American People and take the first step in making things right for these former service members: the branch should automatically upgrade the discharge characterizations to Honorable as that was the true reflection of these individuals service to the Nation. This would also allow for veterans to make forward progression in the new chapter of their lives by being able to utilize their earned GI Bill,' the officer explained.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Army for a response.

Over 8,000 service members - many who sought religious exemptions - were fired for refusing to comply with the Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate enacted in August 2021.

Following outrage over the mandate, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in December 2022 terminated the mandate, but it did not reinstate service members who were fired for not receiving the shot nor provide any other compensation.

Amendments by Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., that passed out of the House Armed Services Committee over the summer were included to 'offer redress' to service members who were 'unjustly discharged' by requiring the Pentagon to set up a reinstatement process and ensuring no negative retaliation.

But some current and former troops are saying that the amendments that would go into the FY 2024 NDAA are not strong enough to undo the 'serious harassment' they endured over the last two years.

Frankman, who was in the Special Forces as part of the Green Berets, said that the 'missed career opportunities' he endured over the last two years could never be undone by any action of Congress.

An active-duty Army officer told DailyMail.com that the fired troops have had 'their lives turned upside down and were betrayed by those charged with protecting them.'

And a formal apology from their service branches would be key to be able to have trust restored, he added.

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Army slammed for desperate attempt to win back favor with soldiers fired for refusing the COVID vaccine as the - Daily Mail