3% of Michiganders have gotten the omicron booster shot โ see uptake by county
The newest medical innovation to fight COVID-19 is here, but people are hardly racing to get it this time around. The Pfizer and Moderna bivalent booster shots have been available in Michigan since early September. The vaccine includes mRNA components of the original COVID-19 strain (like the initial vaccines) plus components of the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants to help fight the latest strains of the virus.
mlive.comModerna claims Pfizer copied its mRNA tech for COVID-19 vaccine
Moderna has announced plans to file a lawsuit against rival vaccine developer Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, claiming patent infringement related to the companyโs mRNA COVID vaccine. Moderna said it pioneered and patented its mRNA technology for therapeutics and vaccines between 2010 and 2016, and that Pfizer copied the technology without permission to make its COVID vaccine. The U.S. has administered more than 360 million doses of Pfizerโs COVID vaccine as of late August. Thatโs compared to more than 229 million doses of Modernaโs shot, and almost 18.9 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to CDC data. In Michigan, more than 6.9 million doses of Pfizerโs vaccine have been administered in Michigan, compared to more than 4.3 million doses of Modernaโs shot.
mlive.comPfizer seeks approval of omicron-targeted COVID vaccine booster
Americans are one step closer to securing a COVID-19 vaccine booster that better targets newer variants. Pfizer and partner BioNTech have requested emergency use authorization for their omicron-specific bivalent vaccine, which contains mRNA coding for both the original SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the BA.4/BA.5 omicron subvariant. More than 6.3 million Michigan residents have gotten at least one dose of COVID vaccine since late 2020, or about 63.2% of the population. Much like the primary shots, older populations have been more likely to get a booster than younger generations. Almost 7 million doses of Pfizerโs vaccines have gone into arms in Michigan to date, compared to about 4.3 million doses of Modernaโs vaccine, 395,812 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and 130 doses of the Novavax vaccine.
mlive.comNovovax COVID-19 vaccine, more traditional type, now available in Michigan
The Novavax vaccine, a more traditional type that does not use mRNA technology to fight COVID-19, is now available in Michigan. Some pharmacies and federally qualified health centers had the vaccine earlier because they received the vaccine through federal channels, Wuth reported. As of last week, when the stateโs vaccine dashboard was last updated, about 80 people had received a dose of the Novavax vaccine in Michigan. Pfizerโs vaccine, first approved in late 2020, is the most administered vaccine in Michigan, where about 58% of residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Most commonly reported side effects of the Novavax vaccine were fatigue, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, nausea and fever.
mlive.comWhat we know about the Novavax vaccine: Yahoo News Explains
U.S. regulators have granted emergency use authorization for a new COVID-19 vaccine developed by Novavax. Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist and a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, explains what sets this new vaccine apart from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots and how it could combat future variants.
news.yahoo.comChina's bet on homegrown mRNA vaccines holds back nation
China is trying to navigate its biggest coronavirus outbreak without a tool it could have adopted many months ago, the kind of vaccines that have proven to offer the best protection against the worst outcomes from COVID-19. As early as the spring of 2020 a Chinese pharmaceutical company, Fosun Pharma, reached an agreement to distribute โ and eventually manufacture โ the mRNA vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech. It still has not been cleared in mainland China, despite being authorized for use by separate authorities in Hong Kong and Macao.
news.yahoo.comAfter COVID-19, mRNA vaccines could treat flu, HIV and even cancer
Unlike previously used viral vector vaccines, mRNA vaccines donโt introduce live or dead virus into the body as a means of triggering antibody production. โmRNA vaccine technology for treating diseases isnโt going anywhere. โItโs a totally different ball game.โResearch into mRNA technology for vaccines goes back decades, though the efforts improved within the last 10 years. โEvery pharma company now is investing billions of dollars into developing these mRNA vaccines into the anti-cancer medicine,โ Walter said. While no mRNA vaccine for cancer has gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, thereโs hope that the success of COVID-19 vaccines will help accelerate clinical research.
mlive.comEU praises vaccine cooperation with Africa at summit
European Union leaders have lauded the blocโs cooperation with Africa on vaccines in the fight against the coronavirus, but there is no sign they will move toward the temporary lifting of intellectual property rights protection for COVID-19 shots
washingtonpost.comNew CDC studies emphasize need for COVID booster shots with omicronโs dominance
Added benefits of booster doses were especially prominent among people 50 to 64 and those 65 and older, a second study looking at data from April to late December found. This is consistent with recent information from some Michigan health systems, reporting 85 to 95% of patients with COVID-19 have not had booster shots. About 95% of vaccinated patients with COVID-19 admitted to Southfield-based Beaumont Healthโs eight hospitals have not received booster shots, Dr. Matthew Sims, director of infectious disease research, said Friday. In Michigan, about 47% of people who are fully vaccinated have gotten booster shots. Before omicron, only those at greater risk of severe outcomes were told they should receive booster shots.
mlive.comHospitals report 85 to 95% of patients with COVID-19 have not had booster shots
Hospitals are now tracking the percentage of their COVID-19 patients who have received booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the rates are low, about 5 to 15% at some reporting health systems. Of those 33, five had received booster shots, Dr. Christine Nefcy, chief medical officer, said during a Tuesday COVID update. Of them, 51 were vaccinated and 17, about 14%, had received their primary doses and a booster. โThe numbers strongly, strongly support this.โPeople with booster shots see decreased illness, decreased hospitalizations and, certainly, decreased deaths, he said. In Michigan, about 47% of people who are fully vaccinated have gotten booster shots.
mlive.comHow Delta Is Bolstering the Case for Covid Boosters
Covid-19 booster shots are being rolled out in the U.S. and other countries in response to waning antibody levels in already vaccinated individuals, and the increased threat posed by the hyper-infectious delta variant of the coronavirus that causes the disease. Giving a third shot to healthy people is a contentious strategy, since many low- and middle-income countries have yet to immunize even a 10th of their population. From a scientific standpoint, though, thereโs mounting evidence that it cou
washingtonpost.com84 million workers now have until January 4 to get a Covid vaccine โ but these 6 myths are holding many back
The Biden administration's new vaccine mandate for businesses with at least 100 employees will kick in on January 4, but these six myths are still holding people back from getting vaccinated.
cnbc.comCOVID-19 booster doses of Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines available in Kalamazoo County
KALAMAZOO, MI โ The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is now offering booster doses from Moderna and Jonson & Johnson, the department announced on Monday, Oct. 25. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be widely available from local providers and pharmacies. The health department recommends people use www.vaccines.gov to find a vaccination location. Those eligible for a booster may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. For questions about which booster to receive, the health department recommends speaking with your own health care provider for advice.
mlive.comHow Delta Is Bolstering the Case for Covid Boosters: QuickTake
Covid-19 booster shots are being rolled out in the U.S. and other countries in response to waning antibody levels in already vaccinated individuals, and the increased threat posed by the hyper-infectious delta variant of the coronavirus that causes the disease. Giving a third shot to healthy people is a contentious strategy, since many low- and middle-income countries have yet to immunize even a 10th of their population. From a scientific standpoint, though, thereโs mounting evidence that it cou
washingtonpost.comModerna begins testing COVID-19 vaccine in younger children
(AP Photo/Michael Sohn, FILE)Moderna Inc. announced Tuesday it has started testing its mRNA-1273 vaccine candidate against COVID-19 in children ages 6 months to less than 12 years old. This is part of Modernaโs Phase 2/3 vaccine study called โKidCOVEโ in which is intends to enroll about 6,750 pediatric participants in theU.S. Such trials in children already were underway in children aged 12 to 15. Both Pfizer and Moderna have started these trials and expect to have results from their trials in older children this summer. A vaccine for younger children has not been expected ready until early next year (2022).
FDA advisory panel votes to recommend Johnson & Johnson vaccine Emergency Use Authorization
The Food and Drug Administration advisory panel unanimously voted Friday afternoon to recommend the Johnson & Johnsonโs COVID-19 vaccine for an emergency use authorization. For eight hours, the group of independent experts had reviewed the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. READ: FDA finds Johnson & Johnson vaccine effectively prevents COVIDWhile the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is less effective than Pfizer and Modernaโs vaccines, the experts noted that no one who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was hospitalized or died from coronavirus. READ: Hereโs what makes J&J vaccine different than the othersAdStudies in children are planned with the older group of children expected to begin receiving the vaccine as soon as early March. There are also additional studies planned in immunocompromised people.
Hereโs what makes J&J vaccine different than the others
Hereโs what to know about the J&J vaccine:The J&J vaccine can be stored in a normal refrigerator unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines -- itโs not a mRNA vaccine. Testing, efficacyThe Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been tested on nearly 44,000 people in United States, Latin America and South Africa. Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit also was one of the clinical sites for the J&J vaccine, so many Metro Detroiters have already received the vaccine. Johnson & Johnson is running an additional trial to test effectiveness of a second dose of its vaccine. AdFeb. 24: FDA says J&J 1-dose shot prevents COVID; final decision soonFeb. 4: Johnson & Johnson asks US regulators to OK its one-shot COVID-19 vaccineMore: Local 4โฒs Dr. Frank McGeorge answers COVID vaccine questions
Local 4โฒs Dr. Frank McGeorge answers COVID vaccine questions
DETROIT โ Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Dr. Frank McGeorge has been keeping viewers up-to-date and informed on all fronts. You should get the vaccine as close to 21 days after for the Pfizer vaccine and 28 days for the Moderna. The recommendation is to wait at least 14 days between any other vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine. If you had significant side effects with the first dose youโll likely have a fever with the second dose. RELATED: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine dataQuestions about coronavirus?
Limitations in COVID vaccine production mean it could take years to vaccinate entire world
DETROIT โ Making enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for the entire world could take years due to manufacturing challenges. Theyโre incredibly small, and critical to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout -- and there arenโt nearly enough of them. Whenever we reach out to our companies to ask them whether they could support manufacturing of the lipid components. For example, as soon as they hear itโs to support a COVID-19 vaccine, you know, theyโre completely engaged.โAlliances are being forged in the private sector. Greenlight Biosciences, a biotech firm in Boston, has delayed the development of their mRNA vaccine candidate so they can tailor it to the newer variants of coronavirus.
Michigan officials: COVID vaccine to be distributed in 4 phases, prioritize frontline workers
Due to limited quantities of and high demand for a COVID-19 vaccine, states are planning to administer the vaccinations in multiple phases, prioritizing individuals who are at greater risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized widespread use of both Pfizerโs COVID vaccine and Modernaโs COVID vaccine. MDHHS officials say that it is estimated that COVID-19 vaccines will be available to everyone who is recommended to receive it by late spring of 2021. Michigan health officials are hoping to vaccinate 70 percent of residents over the age of 18 years by the end of 2021. Initially, five Michigan hospitals would be the first to get the vaccine, according to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Michigan health officials offer update on COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Michigan healths officials offered an update Friday afternoon about distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, priority groups for vaccination and efficacy and safety information currently available. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and Robert Swanson, MDHHS Division of Immunizations director, hosted Fridayโs event. On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vaccine advisory panel recommended the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine needs to be granted an emergency use authorization. Initially, five Michigan hospitals would be the first to get the vaccine, according to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association. itโs estimated that over a period of weeks the mRNA is naturally destroyed after it has been used to produce spike proteins.
Answering COVID questions: What is the science behind these vaccines?
Questions about the vaccine scienceMany people have questions about the two vaccines closest to approval. Will the benefit outweigh the risk in this case?โBoth the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines, meaning they are not live virus vaccines. itโs estimated that over a period of weeks the mRNA is naturally destroyed after it has been used to produce spike proteins. Should you get an antibody test to determine your ranking for the vaccine? Another related question is if you should get an antibody test to help determine your ranking for receiving the vaccine?
Years of research laid groundwork for speedy COVID-19 shots
How could scientists race out COVID-19 vaccines so fast without cutting corners? A head start helped -- over a decade of behind-the-scenes research that had new vaccine technology poised for a challenge just as the coronavirus erupted. Both shots -- one made by Pfizer and BioNTech, the other by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health -- are so-called messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines, a brand-new technology. U.S. regulators are set to decide this month whether to allow emergency use, paving the way for rationed shots that will start with health workers and nursing home residents. Traditionally, making vaccines required growing viruses or pieces of viruses โ often in giant vats of cells or, like most flu shots, in chicken eggs โ and then purifying them before next steps in brewing shots.
Michigan volunteers receive first shot in Moderna COVID-19 vaccine study
DETROIT The first group of volunteers in Michigan to participate in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine study received their first shots Wednesday, Henry Ford Health System announced. Henry Ford Health System is the only hospital in Michigan selected as a trial site for phase three of the Moderna mRNA-1273 Coronavirus Efficacy (COVE) vaccine study. This is a historic moment, said Dr. Marcus Zervos, division chief of Infectious Disease for Henry Ford Health System. I give them all the respect in the world.The first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine study in Michigan was administered Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. About 90 healthcare systems across the United States are working competitively to enroll a total of 30,000 volunteers to participate in the Moderna vaccine study.