Category: Vaccine

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CDC COVID vaccine recommendations: Seniors should get another shot, experts say - WLS-TV

Mr Gates said he would like to see an increase in the duration of protection afforded by vaccines.

As one of the world's richest men who has worked at the intersection of technology and philanthropy, Bill Gates possesses a unique worldview that he brings to bear on trying to solve some of the world's most pressing problems.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV on Thursday, the founder of Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spoke on a wide range of issues, from India's leadership in digital infrastructure and the country's "brilliant work" in the field of vaccines to artificial intelligence and the cup of tea he had in Hyderabad, which was prepared by social media sensation Dolly Chaiwala.

On India's digital economy and its contribution to the country's growth story, Mr Gates said transferring government payments directly to bank accounts is a big step as beneficiaries get money directly, without intermediaries taking any of it away. It has also brought significant savings for the government, which can be used in other areas.

"For example, I saw in Odisha where they (the government) had registered the farmers and they understood their land and their crops. So they are sending them a regular bulletin and they are communicating about what (farmers) need to do. So this is a case where India has been out in the lead, you know, India did this thing at scale. They made it work," the Microsoft founder said.

"So, right now, there are 15 other countries at various stages of adoption. A lot of that was kicked off by the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi made that a centrepiece of the G20 meeting," he added.

Increasing Vaccine Duration

Emphasising that the Gates Foundation is the "biggest supporter" of the Indian vaccine industry, Mr Gates said the country's companies played a key role in developing vaccines during the pandemic.

"All of them put their brilliant work into trying to help out with Covid and the majority of vaccines got made here in India. We have a lot of new things we want in vaccines, we want (vaccines for) tuberculosis, HIV. We are working with these companies to help them adopt mRNA, which is a technology that we think will be very useful. And so the fact that they are very high quality (and) when they get volume, they are very low cost, they are a treasure to the world," the technologist said.

Mr Gates said he would like to see the duration of protection afforded by vaccines, including the one for Covid, to increase so that the same features can be used for other diseases.

"We also need those same features, particularly duration, to use it for measles, tuberculosis and HIV. And a lot of this mRNA work is going for cancer vaccines... so the technology has a lot of promise. If we ever have a future pandemic, the ability to adapt is much more rapid," he asserted.

Job Loss Fears?

To a question on fears of job loss because of the quantum leap in artificial intelligence, the Microsoft founder said the world is not going to see an excess of labour anytime soon and increasing productivity could lead to a broader group being able to access things like their children getting individual tutoring, which is only affordable to a select few now.

"The world has more jobs today than it had 100 years ago, when you had to toil in a backbreaking way just to barely get enough to eat. 80% of people were farmers... So the advances have made our lives a lot richer. We have reduced the work week, but that hasn't been the primary thing. Primarily, the food we are offered, the entertainment... you know, it is just way richer than what our previous generations could even dream up," he said.

On sentience and whether the world is getting to a stage when AI systems are essentially acting as human beings, Mr Gates said significant strides have been made in the sector, especially in the past two years, but machines have a different approach from humans.

"Computers have always been superhuman at things like calculations, and we have reached milestones like when a computer was the best at chess, or when the computer was the best at Go (a board game). Now, if you had a contest to write poems or composes songs, the computer would be (at), you know, 99% of humans. And so that threshold of where it adds value and what it can do keeps going up," he said.

"And that can be a good thing. It is clearly different than we are, it makes different mistakes than we tend to make," he pointed out.

Anaemia Breakthrough

On India's disease burden, the philanthropist said anaemia and malnutrition are two of the Gates Foundation's top priorities for the world and the country is also facing a challenge in that area. He added, however, that India is also prioritising these issues and there have been some breakthroughs.

"For anaemia, we have always known that a woman would come in a lot of times during pregnancy and get an infusion. We could help get rid of that anaemia, but it is too expensive and too complex. The recent breakthrough is that there's a formulation that a woman could come in only one time, and then we are using AI to help place the needle," he said.

Striking an optimistic note, Mr Gates said, "We are working with Indian partners to get the price of that one infusion down below $10 (approximately 800 rupees). And it appears the benefit to the mother... her mental state is dramatically better. And the brain development of the baby is also quite a bit better. Anaemia has to be reduced dramatically and this has great promise."

Climate Crisis

Mr Gates said he is involved in both mitigation of the climate crisis as well as helping countries adapt, the latter of which is done by the Gates Foundation. Mitigation, he said, is done through things like coming up with new crops that can withstand higher temperatures and droughts.

Pointing to the outsized role of developed countries in climate change, he said, "India is a very climate-affected country. It is kind of funny, in a way... the temperate zone countries that are the most responsible for the problem are not the most affected, because the absolute temperatures are not so high. And, you know, we have air conditioners, in our cars and in our homes, so we are somewhat already adapted."

He pointed out that good practices are being adopted in other countries, including India, that are showing that preparedness can make regions resilient to the effects of climate change.

'Fantastic Chai'

On a lighter note, Mr Gates was also asked about the tea he had, made by Dolly Chaiwala, and how it tasted.

"Well, I don't consider myself the best judge of it, but it was fantastic. It was a beautiful view of Hyderabad in the morning and they told me they had brought a great teawallah guy in, and he was very photogenic, so that was fun," the billionaire said.

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"World Won't See Excess Of Labour Anytime Soon": Bill Gates On Job Loss Due To AI - NDTV

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CDC COVID vaccine recommendations: Seniors should add spring booster - Oklahoman.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio Americans age 65 and older are recommended to get an additional dose of the current one-shot COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention said this week in updating its vaccine guidelines for the first time since the fall.

Older adults are at increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19, with more than half of COVID-19 hospitalizations from October to December 2023 occurring in adults 65 and older, the CDC said in making the announcement late Wednesday.

The one-shot COVID-19 vaccine became available last fall, and was recommended for everyone age 5 and up to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.

There was no change in the recommendations this week for those under the age of 65, who are still considered up to date if they have received the latest vaccine.

The recommendation, made by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization and endorsed by CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, is in part in response to trying to restore protection that may have waned among the most vulnerable.

Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older, Cohen said in a statement. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk.

This recommendation is in line with prior recommendations, which allow people who are immunocompromised to receive an additional booster dose of this seasons vaccine, Dr. Kenneth Koncilja, a geriatric specialist with the Cleveland Clinics Center for Geriatric Medicine, said Thursday.

Older adults are still the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations and deaths in Northeast Ohio from COVID-19, Koncilja said.

Older adults and immunocompromised persons typically have less of a response to vaccinations in general, and their immune system is not as resilient as that of healthier or younger people, Koncilja said.

People over 65 remain at risk of infection, severe infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, said Dr. Amy Ray, vice president of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at MetroHealth System.

Even mild COVID-19 infection can exacerbate chronic underlying health conditions and result in hospitalization in this population, Ray said. The additional dose is an important part of health maintenance for the older population.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us, and vaccination is still important, health experts say.

COVID-19 is actively circulating at a higher rate than influenza or respiratory syncytial virus, Koncilja said. By vaccinating everyone, we reduce spread, severity, and duration of COVID-19, he said.

The additional dose should be given at least four months after a previous dose for healthy older adults, or at least three months after a coronavirus infection, according to the Washington Posts reporting of the discussion. Its unclear whether those getting a second shot now will also need another shot for the 2024-25 fall and winter season.

A CDC recommendation means that health insurance will cover the cost of the second shot for those eligible, the newspaper reported. There may be a new vaccine approved for the 2024-25 winter season, the Washington Post noted. In that case, it would not be optimal for people to get a second dose of a current vaccine later than June.

The CDC continues to recommend that everyone stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, especially people with weakened immune systems.

Most adults under 65 who received the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in the fall are not recommended for a second dose, the Clinics Koncilja said. They have residual immunity from either prior infection or prior vaccination, he said.

Unvaccinated people age 6 months and older may still receive the COVID-19 2023-24 dose, MetroHealths Ray said.

Allowing a second dose may decrease public confidence in the benefits of a single dose of an updated vaccine, the Washington Post reported. It could also increase vaccine fatigue and reduce uptake of the vaccine in the fall.

Despite the introduction of the updated vaccine in the fall, use has been low. About 1.3 million Ohioans have received the updated one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, representing 11.1% of the states population.

In Ohio, residents ages 70-74 have the highest percentage of any age group when it comes to getting the current COVID-19 vaccine, according to state data. About 36.3% of Ohioans ages 70-74 have the vaccine, while 28.0% of those 65-69 and 40.8% of those 75-79 have received the shot.

In the United States, 23% of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and up have the current one-shot vaccine, according to the CDC.

Separately, the CDCs instructions to people with COVID-19 also are expected to change soon. New guidance is likely coming that will drop the five-day COVID-19 isolation guidelines, according to previous reports in February.

Under the new guidance, people with mild COVID-19 could stop isolating if they havent had a fever for at least 24 hours without medication, and their symptoms are improving.

It would be the first loosening of the isolation recommendations since 2021. The new guidance would align with how people are told to avoid transmitting flu and other respiratory viruses.

The move is under consideration because most Americans have some immunity to the virus because of prior infection or vaccination. The CDC is shifting to a more practical approach, experts and health officials say.

Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.

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People 65 and up should now get another COVID-19 vaccine, CDC recommends - cleveland.com

Older adults should get the COVID-19 vaccine more frequently than previously recommended, according to new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health officials are urging people ages 65 and older to receive another vaccine dose in the spring, or at least four months after their most recent dose.

CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen announced the decision after a CDC advisory committee, which is made up of independent vaccine and infectious disease experts, voted 11-1 to make the change. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk, she said in a statement.

The decision is based on data presented by CDC scientists that showed current hospitalization rates for COVID-19 are highest among seniors, with the biggest spikes occurring among those 75 years and older. People 65 and older account for 67% of hospitalizations due to COVID-19. (The CDC previously recommended that most people get a COVID-19 vaccine once a year. )

The committee reviewed new data showing that the current COVID-19 shot is effective against currently circulating variants including JN.1 , even though it targets XBB. People who were vaccinated with the latest shot made fewer trips to urgent care and emergency rooms for COVID-19-related symptoms, and were less likely to be hospitalized than those who did not receive the shot. But vaccine protection wanes over time, so getting another dose will help prevent serious outcomes in the most vulnerable.

Read More: Why It's So Hard to Get Kids Vaccinated Against COVID-19

I was convinced by the data that there is significant protection with an additional dose at this time, says Dr. Wilbur Chen, professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a member of the committee. This recommendation isnt for the entire population, but for high-risk segments of the population. We are trying to improve their protection as much as possible and wanted to afford those over 65 years the opportunity to get a second dose.

One challenge to achieving that, however, is that uptake of the newest COVID-19 vaccine has been low. Though about 40% of seniors have gotten it so farthe highest rate out of any age groupit still means more than half of a very vulnerable group are not up to date. The low demand is fueling decreased access, says Chen, since more doctors offices are deciding not to provide the shot because their patients arent asking for it. Now that the government is no longer providing the vaccines for free, many people who are under- or uninsured are not getting immunized.

Chen says the committee members hope that older adults and health care providers alike receive the strong message behind the recommendation and take it seriously. As we enter the warmer months, while we usually see flu and RSV disappear, in previous summers we still saw 500 deaths a month, he says. Thats a lot of deaths, and we need to act on that.

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Why Older Adults Need Another COVID-19 Shot - TIME

A new interim estimate of vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the monovalent (single-strain) XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine shows the shot was 51% effective in preventing emergency department and urgent care visits among adults without compromised immune systems.

The study was published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Compared to adults who did not receive the monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine, recipients were most protected in the first 7 to 59 days after vaccination, with VE dropping slightly 60 to 119 days after an updated dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the updated 2023-24 XBB.1.5 vaccination for all people ages 6 months and older to prevent COVID-19.

"Although 1 updated vaccine dose is recommended for most persons aged 5 years, vaccination coverage with updated vaccines has remained low," the authors explained. "Thousands of persons in the United States continue to be hospitalized with COVID-19 each week."

Thousands of persons in the United States continue to be hospitalized with COVID-19 each week.

To estimate VE, the authors used outcomes seen in two electronic health networks that cover multiple states. In the first network, the VISIONS network, 395 (9%) case-patients and 4,199 (13%) control patients had received an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose.

In both networks combined, VE against COVID-19associated emergency department or urgent care visits among all adults was 51% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47% to 54%) during the first 7 to 59 days after an updated dose and 39% (95% CI, 33% to 45%) 60 to 119 days after vaccination. VE against COVID-19associated hospitalization was 52% (95% CI, 47% to 57%) and 43% (95% CI, 27% to 56%), respectively.

For all adults in the VISION network, VE against COVID-19associated hospitalization was 53% (95% CI, 46% to 59%) in the first 7 to 59 days and 50% (95% CI, 40% to 59%) 60 to 119 days after an updated dose. Among adults 65 years and older, VE was 54% in the first 7 to 59 days, and 50% in days 60 to 119.

In the second network, IVY, VE of an updated dose against COVID-19associated hospitalization was 43% (95% CI, 27% to 56%) among adults aged 18 years and older and 48% (95% CI, 31% to 61%) among adults age 65 years and older.

"Despite different populations, methods, and outcomes, estimates of the effectiveness of updated COVID-19 vaccines were aligned across the VISION and IVY analyses," the authors wrote. "Continued monitoring of the effectiveness of updated COVID-19 vaccines for expected waning against hospitalization and to determine the durability of VE against critical illness is needed."

In related news, in a research letter published in JAMA earlier this week, a nationwide cohort study of more than 1 million Danish adults aged 65 years and older showed no increased risk of 28 adverse events following vaccination with the monovalent XBB.1.5-containing COVID vaccine.

In Denmark, the XBB.1.5-containing vaccines were recommended as a fifth COVID-19 vaccine dose to people aged 65 years and older, with vaccination beginning October 1, 2023.

Using a nationwide database of 1,076,531 people (mean age, 74.7 years; 53.8% female), of whom 902,803 received an XBB.1.5 vaccine as a fifth dose, the authors found no significant association between the vaccine and adverse events.

The incidence ratio was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.87 to 1.07)) for an ischemic cardiac event, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.96) for a cerebral infarction, and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.14 to 2.66) for myocarditis.

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Monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine shows 51% protection against COVID hospitalization - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Gritstone Bio is laying off 40% of employees after delaying the start of a phase 2 trial testing its COVID-19 vaccine, which in turn pushed back the receipt of federal funds.

The layoffs announced after-market on Thursday are the latest consequence of a manufacturing delay that was revealedearlier in February. The phase 2b CORAL trial, originally slated to launch in the first quarter, was pushed to the fall to allow use of fully GMP-grade raw materials. But Gritstone now says that delaying the trial resulted in some external funding falling through.

The lack of near-term funding necessitated this difficult step to fortify our balance sheet and cash position, which unfortunately means an impact to our workforce, CEO Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D., said in a release. The funding referenced is the first tranche of funds from the federal government announced late last year.

The company did not say how much was expected in this first tranche of payments from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. But the contract is worth up to $433 million through Project NextGen, which is funding a number of companies efforts to create new strategies to fight COVID-19. Gritstone is conducting a 10,000-person U.S.-based phase 2 study for its self-amplifying mRNA (samRNA) vaccine candidate. The study was expected to get off the ground in the first quarter.

Gritstones other priorities, including the phase 2 portion of a phase 2/3 study of a personalized cancer vaccine, remain unchanged, according to the release. Data are expected from that program later this quarter, Allen said.

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Gritstone lays off 40% of team after delayed launch of COVID vax trial - Fierce Biotech

If you're 65 or older, you may be eligible for another COVID-19 shot.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that people age 65 or older can get another dose of the current COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least four months since their last one.The CDC said the current vaccine was updated in the fall and is highly effective.Research shows that older adults are more vulnerable to severe symptoms of COVID-19.

If you're 65 or older, you may be eligible for another COVID-19 shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that people age 65 or older can get another dose of the current COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least four months since their last one.

The CDC said the current vaccine was updated in the fall and is highly effective.

Research shows that older adults are more vulnerable to severe symptoms of COVID-19.

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CDC recommends another COVID-19 vaccination for older adults - WMUR Manchester

Vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus may have caused a few cases of Guillain-Barr syndrome, a rare neurological condition, federal health officials said on Thursday.

The numbers were small, on the order of two cases per 100,000 vaccinated people or fewer, and much more data is needed to pin down the risk, the officials said. In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccines against R.S.V.: Abrysvo, by Pfizer, and Arexvy, by GSK.

In June, rather than recommend the shots to all older adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that adults aged 60 or older might opt to receive a single dose of an R.S.V. vaccine in consultation with their health care providers. Fewer than 10 million doses had been administered by Feb. 16.

The new safety data, disclosed at a meeting of scientific advisers to the agency, came from multiple databases maintained by federal health agencies. Still, because of the preliminary nature of the analysis, officials urged caution in interpreting the results.

At this point, due to the uncertainties and limitations, these early data cannot establish if there is an increased risk for G.B.S. after vaccination in this age group, Dr. Thomas Shimabukuro, director of the C.D.C.s Immunization Safety Office, said at a meeting on Thursday.

Ongoing surveillance will be better able to determine if an increased risk for G.B.S. after R.S.V. vaccination is present, and if so the magnitude of the risk, he said.

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R.S.V. Vaccines May Slightly Increase Risk of Rare Neurological Condition - The New York Times

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that Americans ages 65 and older get a second dose of this seasons COVID-19 vaccine. Under this new guidance, an additional dose of the vaccine can be given at least four months after the previous shot.

[Related: mRNA vaccine innovators win the Nobel Prize in medicine.]

Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk.

A CDC report published in February said that the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine is about 54 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, compared with those who had not received the latest vaccine. The CDC estimates that only 22 percent of adults in the US have gotten a COVID-19 booster this season. A little over 40 percent of Americans ages 65 and over have gotten the 2023-2024 shot.

The CDCs independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 11-1 with one abstention on the new recommendations. A subgroup of advisers suggested softer language in the recommendation that would have suggested that older adults may get a second dose of the vaccine instead of should. These committee members felt that this language shift would have given clinicians added flexibility and also takes growing vaccine hesitancy into account.

According to The Washington Post, Camille Kotton of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston pushed for stronger language so that the recommendations would be more clear to patients. Kotton said that using the word may is too soft, especially for the most vulnerable, and that many Americans remain unaware that they should be getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

CDC data shows that older adults have been the most vulnerable to COVID-19s most severe effects. Hospitalizations related to the virus have been consistently higher in this age group than others, with about two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations occurring in patients over 65. Senior citizens also make up the largest proportion of those who have died in the hospital from COVID-19 and have the highest numbers to fatalities after being discharged from the hospital.

[Related: How to check your measles vaccination status amid outbreak.]

COVID-19 remains a threat. The CDC reports that there were roughly 20,000 new hospital admissions and 2,000 COVID-19 deaths per week as of February 17. Even when reported cases were at their lowest in summer 2023, about 500 Americans were still losing their lives to COVID-19 every week.

Updates vaccines are available at most pharmacies and at doctors offices.

Originally posted here:

CDC recommends Americans 65 and over get additional COVID-19 vaccine - Popular Science