A Washington Post article earlier today was a little confusing, in that it seemed to suggest the CDC also had to sign off on this. Is this correct? Or is the FDA authorization enough in itself, regardless of the CDC recommendation? Probably a moot point, since the CDC seems about to act in agreement with the FDA. I'll be interested to see when I can actually get the second booster here in western Mass.
Thank you for asking Dr. Jha during your interview with him about long COVID. I realize he was speaking about national public health so his answer was not particularly specific to middle-aged people who might not qualify for Paxlovid. But I do appreciate that you considered the concerns of your readers and asked him specific questions on our behalf. Thank you for that. Your earlier essay about the WHO indicates that while our vaccines wane after a few months we middle-aged adults may not get another one. And this article about the fda does not mention the fall boosters for all I was hoping to hear about. I do not know why there is no further information for the entire adult population about the plan going forward. And for middle-aged women who like to plan a pregnancy soon but already feel that our vaccine efficacy is waning when might the fda be expected to move on this? And then there is the ongoing need for boosters for all to protect against long COVID. Peter Hotez has indicated more than once that he believes we should vaccinate against long COVID. He is a respected vaccine scientist and a Jonas Salk of our time. The world owes him and Dr. Bottazzi a tremendous debt so if he sees value in vaccinating against long COVID, it’s likely that there is value in it. It makes sense. Decreasing the frequency and viral load of infections should protect against long COVID. He and other vaccine scientists and immunologists including Marc Veldhoen are not concerned with “imprinting”. It has not proven true and was a highly theoretical concern. Your colleague Dr. Katelyn Jetelina recently wrote, quoting ONS statistics, that the risk of long COVID falls from 4% after a first infection to 2.4% after a reinfection and stated that a person should not consider themselves “in the clear” after a first infection. She also included a link to an incredibly distressing video about Dianna Cowern, MIT graduate and physics science communicator, whose health and vitality at 33 years old has been destroyed by the ME/CFS-like worst form of long COVID. These experts are telling us to worry about long COVID and that decreasing the frequency and viral loads of infections will help. Shouldn’t we all get a yearly shot?
THANK YOU FOR THIS NEWS AND YOUR PERSISTENCE WITH THE RIGHT SOURCES! But my pragmatic self, the optimistic realist, says okay now for the application. The healthcare industry is a massive bureaucracy as you well know. I see NYT has broken the news publicly now. So next step, I called my pharmacy who of course knew nothing about it and said they have to wait till their biz administrators give the word. NYT says typically FDA approval is followed by CDC approval as well.
People like myself have been postponing our disease modifying drugs for the illnesses that contribute to our being immune compromised (as well as being very sick) playing a game of Russian Roulette while we wait. I must wait 2-4 weeks after a COVID vax/booster before I can get my DMD (Ocrevus) otherwise I have to wait 3 months for the booster. I am almost 8 months since my last booster. Waiting 10-11 months would not be smart.
We would like to have a life again like everyone else, and we have responsibilities, jobs, and participate in our communities’ needs. I have already postponed my Ocrevus infusion once waiting and now will have to again, but will there be a third time? My sister has terminal Inflammatory Breast Cancer and is undergoing chemo to give her a little more time in a state that has removed their masking mandates even in hospitals. Weeks matter. You are not personally responsible for this mess and while you are a bright man, you are not psychic, I know, but wondering if we must play this poker game with our lives, what would be a reasonable bet on actual availability? Thank you, again! First hope we’ve had in some time.
Dr. Faust, just saw you on PBS News Hour with the wonderful news! WHOO-hoo! Thank you. Wish I had your e-mail so I could send you a more glowing personal note of thanks for your advocacy. Busy enough as an ER doc in a busy Boston hospital. If any practicing area of medicine is impacted by our for profit overworked chaotic healthcare, it is yours, and for sometime. The best compliment I can give you is that you are also every bit of an activist as am I. And when I get boosted up and can finally get my DMD infusion, I will be in a lot better shape to continue on my city Commission on Disability, testify in front of MA state legislature to get Medicare to pay for seat risers in wheelchairs, and sit on panel discussions for an engineering firm that supports Universal Design so people like me can enter buildings and keep working, contributing to our communities, and share in events with our families.
Glad to see that they are also closely scrutinizing this issue for pregnant women as well as this must be nail-biting for them as they try to plan their lives with pregnancy, let alone those with fertility obstacles.
From STAT news: "The ACIP, which advises the CDC on vaccination policy, meets Wednesday to discuss the changes the FDA has announced. But the meeting’s agenda shows that no votes will be taken, indicating that while the agency wants to hear the committee’s views, the decision will be Walensky’s alone." https://www.statnews.com/2023/04/18/fda-says-older-adults-and-the-immunocompromised-may-get-a-spring-booster-dose-of-covid-vaccine/ Walensky has not exactly shown great sensitivity to chronically ill, disabled, and immune compromised people with her comments when she first started this position. Let's hope she has increased her knowledge and sensitivity and will not leave us hanging another week.
A Washington Post article earlier today was a little confusing, in that it seemed to suggest the CDC also had to sign off on this. Is this correct? Or is the FDA authorization enough in itself, regardless of the CDC recommendation? Probably a moot point, since the CDC seems about to act in agreement with the FDA. I'll be interested to see when I can actually get the second booster here in western Mass.
Do you know the details of how they're defining "immunocompromised" this time around?
Dear Dr. Faust,
Thank you for asking Dr. Jha during your interview with him about long COVID. I realize he was speaking about national public health so his answer was not particularly specific to middle-aged people who might not qualify for Paxlovid. But I do appreciate that you considered the concerns of your readers and asked him specific questions on our behalf. Thank you for that. Your earlier essay about the WHO indicates that while our vaccines wane after a few months we middle-aged adults may not get another one. And this article about the fda does not mention the fall boosters for all I was hoping to hear about. I do not know why there is no further information for the entire adult population about the plan going forward. And for middle-aged women who like to plan a pregnancy soon but already feel that our vaccine efficacy is waning when might the fda be expected to move on this? And then there is the ongoing need for boosters for all to protect against long COVID. Peter Hotez has indicated more than once that he believes we should vaccinate against long COVID. He is a respected vaccine scientist and a Jonas Salk of our time. The world owes him and Dr. Bottazzi a tremendous debt so if he sees value in vaccinating against long COVID, it’s likely that there is value in it. It makes sense. Decreasing the frequency and viral load of infections should protect against long COVID. He and other vaccine scientists and immunologists including Marc Veldhoen are not concerned with “imprinting”. It has not proven true and was a highly theoretical concern. Your colleague Dr. Katelyn Jetelina recently wrote, quoting ONS statistics, that the risk of long COVID falls from 4% after a first infection to 2.4% after a reinfection and stated that a person should not consider themselves “in the clear” after a first infection. She also included a link to an incredibly distressing video about Dianna Cowern, MIT graduate and physics science communicator, whose health and vitality at 33 years old has been destroyed by the ME/CFS-like worst form of long COVID. These experts are telling us to worry about long COVID and that decreasing the frequency and viral loads of infections will help. Shouldn’t we all get a yearly shot?
THANK YOU FOR THIS NEWS AND YOUR PERSISTENCE WITH THE RIGHT SOURCES! But my pragmatic self, the optimistic realist, says okay now for the application. The healthcare industry is a massive bureaucracy as you well know. I see NYT has broken the news publicly now. So next step, I called my pharmacy who of course knew nothing about it and said they have to wait till their biz administrators give the word. NYT says typically FDA approval is followed by CDC approval as well.
People like myself have been postponing our disease modifying drugs for the illnesses that contribute to our being immune compromised (as well as being very sick) playing a game of Russian Roulette while we wait. I must wait 2-4 weeks after a COVID vax/booster before I can get my DMD (Ocrevus) otherwise I have to wait 3 months for the booster. I am almost 8 months since my last booster. Waiting 10-11 months would not be smart.
We would like to have a life again like everyone else, and we have responsibilities, jobs, and participate in our communities’ needs. I have already postponed my Ocrevus infusion once waiting and now will have to again, but will there be a third time? My sister has terminal Inflammatory Breast Cancer and is undergoing chemo to give her a little more time in a state that has removed their masking mandates even in hospitals. Weeks matter. You are not personally responsible for this mess and while you are a bright man, you are not psychic, I know, but wondering if we must play this poker game with our lives, what would be a reasonable bet on actual availability? Thank you, again! First hope we’ve had in some time.
Dr. Faust, just saw you on PBS News Hour with the wonderful news! WHOO-hoo! Thank you. Wish I had your e-mail so I could send you a more glowing personal note of thanks for your advocacy. Busy enough as an ER doc in a busy Boston hospital. If any practicing area of medicine is impacted by our for profit overworked chaotic healthcare, it is yours, and for sometime. The best compliment I can give you is that you are also every bit of an activist as am I. And when I get boosted up and can finally get my DMD infusion, I will be in a lot better shape to continue on my city Commission on Disability, testify in front of MA state legislature to get Medicare to pay for seat risers in wheelchairs, and sit on panel discussions for an engineering firm that supports Universal Design so people like me can enter buildings and keep working, contributing to our communities, and share in events with our families.
Glad to see that they are also closely scrutinizing this issue for pregnant women as well as this must be nail-biting for them as they try to plan their lives with pregnancy, let alone those with fertility obstacles.
From STAT news: "The ACIP, which advises the CDC on vaccination policy, meets Wednesday to discuss the changes the FDA has announced. But the meeting’s agenda shows that no votes will be taken, indicating that while the agency wants to hear the committee’s views, the decision will be Walensky’s alone." https://www.statnews.com/2023/04/18/fda-says-older-adults-and-the-immunocompromised-may-get-a-spring-booster-dose-of-covid-vaccine/ Walensky has not exactly shown great sensitivity to chronically ill, disabled, and immune compromised people with her comments when she first started this position. Let's hope she has increased her knowledge and sensitivity and will not leave us hanging another week.