Category: Vaccine

Over the last few years, the general assumption has been that a Covid infection or vaccination is likely to buy you a few months of protection. But any time we get a new variant that is especially adept at evading the immune system, like JN.1, that assumption gets thrown into question.

JN.1 currently accounts for about 93 percent of cases nationwide, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its unusual for a single variant to make up almost all cases, but JN.1s dominance gives us a unique window into the risk of reinfection for many people.

If you had Covid when cases rose over the summer, or if you received the updated vaccine in the fall, heres what to know.

You may be vulnerable to reinfection if you were infected over the summer, when earlier variants drove an uptick in cases.

That doesnt mean youll definitely get sick. You should have some protection, for sure, said Aubree Gordon, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Michigan. Immunity is an individual cocktail that stems from how many times youve been previously infected, your vaccination history, underlying medical conditions and more. People who are 65 and older, immunocompromised or who have underlying medical conditions are generally at greater risk of reinfection, said Fikadu Tafesse, a virologist at Oregon Health & Science University.

If a person is exposed to the same variant or a very similar one in the months that follow a bout of Covid, their body is often equipped to recognize and combat it before it can cause an infection. Scientists disagree on exactly how long that protection lasts, but estimates range from around two to six months.

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Covid Variant JN.1: What to Know About Reinfection and Vaccines - The New York Times

Russian scientists are close to creating vaccines for cancer which can soon be available to patients, said President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

Putin stated during a televised address that we are on the verge of developing what are commonly referred to as cancer vaccines and next-generation immunomodulatory drugs.

Putin added that he hopes these methods will soon be effectively utilized as individual therapy options, speaking at a Moscow forum on future technologies.

Putin refrained from specifying the types of cancer that the proposed vaccines would target, as well as their mechanisms of action.

Multiple countries and corporations are actively engaged in the development of cancer vaccines. In the previous year, the UK government forged an agreement with Germany-based BioNTech to initiate clinical trials for delivering personalized cancer treatments, intending to reach 10,000 patients by 2030.

Moderna and Merck & Co, pharmaceutical giants, are in the process of developing an experimental cancer vaccine. A mid-stage study has revealed promising results, indicating that the vaccine reduced the likelihood of recurrence or mortality from melanomathe deadliest form of skin cancerby fifty percent after three years of treatment.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, the World Health Organization reports that there are presently six licensed vaccines targeting human papillomaviruses (HPV), which are responsible for numerous cancers such as cervical cancer. Additionally, vaccines against hepatitis B (HBV), a virus linked to liver cancer, are available.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russia introduced its own COVID-19 vaccine called Sputnik V, which was exported to several countries. However, within Russia, there was notable public hesitancy towards vaccination.

To instill confidence in the vaccines effectiveness and safety, Putin himself disclosed that he had received the Sputnik V vaccine.

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Could cancer vaccines soon become a reality? Russian scientists on the verge of a breakthrough, claims President Putin - The Financial Express

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The coronavirus pandemic has caused many Americans to worry about side effects from vaccines. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) says shes heard horror stories.

All kinds of injuries, miscarriages, heart attacks, myocarditis, permanent disabilities, neurological problems, Greene said.

Talk like that makes Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) angry.

Its shameful that members of Congress continue to put down vaccinations as an opportunity to get our communities healthier, Garcia said.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup insists, the vaccines were effective and safe, and the real problem is communication.

Public perception becomes reality. And because of that, words matter, Wenstrup said. So, now we have a society that thinks that the polio vaccine and the other vaccines arent necessarily safe and effective.

Experts with the FDA agree it is necessary to reassure the public of the safety of vaccines and ensure their effectiveness.

If we want to maintain confidence in the vaccines and the other medical products that we authorize or approve, we must have very robust safety surveillance systems in place, Peter Marks, FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) says the CDC and FDA need to avoid mistakes and shut down misinformation to save more lives.

Public health response of the federal government makes a huge difference in terms of health outcomes for the American people, Raskin said.

Read this article:

Members of Congress spar over vaccine safety in hearing - WOODTV.com

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russian scientists were close to creating vaccines for cancer that could soon be available to patients.

Mr. Putin said in televised comments that "we have come very close to the creation of so-called cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation".

"I hope that soon they will be effectively used as methods of individual therapy," he added, speaking at a Moscow forum on future technologies.

Mr. Putin did not specify which types of cancer the proposed vaccines would target, nor how.

A number of countries and companies are working on cancer vaccines. Last year the U.K. government signed an agreement with Germany-based BioNTech to launch clinical trials providing "personalised cancer treatments", aiming to reach 10,000 patients by 2030.

Pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck & Co are developing an experimental cancer vaccine that a mid-stage study showed cut the chance of recurrence or death from melanoma - the most deadly skin cancer - by half after three years of treatment.

There are currently six licensed vaccines against human papillomaviruses (HPV) that cause many cancers, including cervical cancer, according to the World Health Organization, as well as vaccines against hepatitis B (HBV), which can lead to liver cancer.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Russia developed its own Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 and sold it to a number of countries, although domestically it ran up against widespread public reluctance to get vaccinated.

Putin himself said he had taken Sputnik, in a bid to assure people of its efficacy and safety.

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Putin says Russia is close to creating cancer vaccines - The Hindu

In a surprise announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed a promising breakthrough in cancer research during a technology forum in Moscow.

Putin said that Russian scientists are on the verge of creating vaccines for cancer. He emphasized that these breakthrough vaccines would soon be accessible to patients, marking a potential turning point in the fight against cancer.

The Russian President's announcement, reported by Reuters, sheds light on the development of what he referred to as "cancer vaccines" and "immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation."

Despite the progress in cancer vaccine development worldwide, challenges persist in the realm of vaccine safety and efficacy.

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Putin announces Russia is close to creating a cancer vaccine - Interesting Engineering

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering whether to recommend yet another Covid booster shot this spring, especially for people most at risk for severe complications of the illness.

A spring booster would be the same vaccine that was approved last fall, which was formulated to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant. The vaccine is also very effective against the JN.1 subvariant, which is causing almost all Covid infections in the U.S. right now.

While it's unlikely that the majority of Americans would opt for another dose just 21.9% of adults received the latest version of the vaccine experts say that it's critical to make it available sooner rather than later.

"Waiting till the fall, I think, is a mistake," said Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. "We have clear evidence that either vaccine or previous infection probably gives four to six months of relative protection against serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths, but wanes substantially after that."

Earlier this week, the CDC said it had no immediate plans to pull back on isolation guidelines for people who test positive for Covid.

Advisers to the CDC are expected to vote on whether to recommend a spring Covid booster during a meeting scheduled for Feb. 28, according to a source close to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It's expected that the panel will focus its discussion on those most vulnerable to Covid, including people age 65 and older and anyone with a weakened immune system, such as organ transplant recipients.

"The discussion will be aimed at the people who are most accepting of public health recommendations," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. "The committee, in its rigorous fashion since the question has come up, will be considering a second dose for people at high risk or for people who wish to get it."

But even some vulnerable groups who usually adhere closely to their doctors' advice to get vaccinations are experiencing vaccine fatigue, said Dr. William Werbel, associate director of epidemiology and quantitative sciences with the Johns Hopkins Transplant Research Center in Baltimore.

"Some people have had seven, eight vaccines," Werbel said. "Transplant recipients would be more receptive and much more likely to follow recommendations, particularly if recommended by the transplant center, but the ceiling is kind of lowered because of this societal fatigue and societal disenchantment with Covid."

He added that he would recommend a spring booster to his patients if the CDC signs off on one.

Experts generally recommend waiting at least two months after a Covid vaccine or Covid infection before getting another shot, even for high-risk patients.

Vaccination rates are higher for people age 65 and older, at 42%, according to the CDC. Research shows that people who got the latest booster shot were 54% less likely to be infected with Covid this winter. That level of protection held against the strain found in nearly all circulation of Covid right now: JN.1.

The CDC is not required tofollow the advice of its advisory panels, but it usually does.

As of this month, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths from Covid are down, according tothe latest CDC data.

"We're lucky that the vaccines are safe," Werbel said, "certainly much safer than getting Covid."

Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and "TODAY."

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CDC may recommend some people get a new Covid booster this spring - NBC News

Feb 15, 2024 12:31 pm EST

HOBOKEN, NJ The city of Hoboken is offering a host of health screenings, tests, and events in the next few weeks. Some are for seniors and some are for everyone.

The Hoboken Health Division and Hudson Regional Health Commission (HRHC) are hosting a COVID-19 and flu vaccine pop-up clinic on Feb. 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Multi-Service Center, 124 Grand St. Appointments can be made at: https://www.hudsoncovidvax.org.

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In partnership with Save Latin America, $25 gift cards to Walmart or ShopRite will be given to vaccine recipients, while supplies last.

For eligibility and other information call (201) 420-2375.

COVID And Vaccine Stats, And Effects

Health officials recommend talking to your physician to decide whether the vaccine is right for you. You can see the current federal COVID vaccine recommendations, risks, and side effect reports here.

In New Jersey, 584 people are currently hospitalized with COVID, 34 of those on ventilators to help them breathe.

In April of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, approximately 6,000 people were hospitalized who were positive for COVID, with 1,277 on ventilators.

Free Covid Test Kits Available

Residents can pick up free COVID-19 testing kits, while supplies last, on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through the end of this month at the Multi-Service Center, 124 Grand St. For more Information call (201) 420-2375.

Watch Patch for other upcoming free health events.

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Get A COVID Vaccine And Get A Gift Card In Hoboken, Offered Thursday - Patch

Women who are vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy provide their infants with protection against the coronavirus for at least six months after birth the point when babies are eligible to get vaccinated themselves, new research shows.

No COVID-19 vaccine for infants under 6 months currently exists, making that population particularly vulnerable.But researchers have found that women who received mRNA-based COVID vaccinations or boosters during pregnancy provide enough protection to bridge that gap.

During an earlier leg of the study by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, pregnant volunteers were vaccinated against COVID. Antibodies induced by the vaccine could be found in their infants' cord blood, suggesting that they had some protection against the virus but researchers did not know how much or for how long.

The new results, published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics,reinforce the importance of getting vaccinated during pregnancy andmay be comforting to families who employ outside caregivers or use daycare for their newborns and young infants.

Researchers analyzed data from 475 infants born while their pregnant mothers were enrolled in a COVID-19 vaccine study. The babies were evaluated at least once during their first six months of life, and parents reported whether their infants became infected with COVID-19 or developed symptoms.

The infants of mothers who received two COVID vaccine doses had a "robust antibody response at birth," while those born to mothers who had received an additional booster dose during pregnancy had higher levels of antibodies at birth and even more protection from COVID at follow-up visits. None of the infants involved in the study were hospitalized for COVID.

Researchers will continue to evaluate data from this study to glean further insights into COVID in infants.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines in 2022 to recommend that children 6 months to 5 years old should receive COVID vaccines, but that still excluded newborns and young infants.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is part of the National Institutes of Health.

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Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 during pregnancy gives infants 6 months of protection, study shows - PhillyVoice.com

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The coronavirus pandemic has caused many Americans to worry about side effects from vaccines. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) says shes heard horror stories.

All kinds of injuries, miscarriages, heart attacks, myocarditis, permanent disabilities, neurological problems, Greene said.

Talk like that makes Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) angry.

Its shameful that members of Congress continue to put down vaccinations as an opportunity to get our communities healthier, Garcia said.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup insists, the vaccines were effective and safe, and the real problem is communication.

Public perception becomes reality. And because of that, words matter, Wenstrup said. So, now we have a society that thinks that the polio vaccine and the other vaccines arent necessarily safe and effective.

Experts with the FDA agree it is necessary to reassure the public of the safety of vaccines and ensure their effectiveness.

If we want to maintain confidence in the vaccines and the other medical products that we authorize or approve, we must have very robust safety surveillance systems in place, Peter Marks, FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) says the CDC and FDA need to avoid mistakes and shut down misinformation to save more lives.

Public health response of the federal government makes a huge difference in terms of health outcomes for the American people, Raskin said.

See the article here:

Members of Congress spar over vaccine safety in hearing - ABC4.com

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The coronavirus pandemic has caused many Americans to worry about side effects from vaccines. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) says shes heard horror stories.

All kinds of injuries, miscarriages, heart attacks, myocarditis, permanent disabilities, neurological problems, Greene said.

Talk like that makes Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) angry.

Its shameful that members of Congress continue to put down vaccinations as an opportunity to get our communities healthier, Garcia said.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup insists, the vaccines were effective and safe, and the real problem is communication.

Public perception becomes reality. And because of that, words matter, Wenstrup said. So, now we have a society that thinks that the polio vaccine and the other vaccines arent necessarily safe and effective.

Experts with the FDA agree it is necessary to reassure the public of the safety of vaccines and ensure their effectiveness.

If we want to maintain confidence in the vaccines and the other medical products that we authorize or approve, we must have very robust safety surveillance systems in place, Peter Marks, FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) says the CDC and FDA need to avoid mistakes and shut down misinformation to save more lives.

Public health response of the federal government makes a huge difference in terms of health outcomes for the American people, Raskin said.

See original here:

Members of Congress spar over vaccine safety in hearing - KFOR Oklahoma City