I Call the Shots

10/10/2024

Check out my latest article on Flu Shot Misinformation: Debunked!

Unsure about whether or not to get your flu shot? Get your answers about common flu shot myths here.

11/22/2023

According to the CDC, fewer Americans have been vaccinated against influenza ahead of the upcoming season compared with last year which warns of a potential spike in infections as people gather to celebrate the holidays.

Cases are starting to increase at a faster rate. CDC data indicates 4% of people tested for influenza during the week ended November 11 were positive for the virus, up from about 2.6% a week earlier.

"Really what we're seeing is a more sharp increase in activity, week over week," Alicia Budd, the agency's team lead for domestic influenza surveillance, confirms, "and we know from experience when that happens often times we are entering into that period of even more increased activity."

As the threat climbs, CDC also notes that only about 35% of U.S. adults and about 32.6% of minors have been vaccinated, with both numbers down from this point in 2022.

09/11/2023

F.D.A. Approves New Covid Booster Vaccine

A nationwide rollout of the vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna should begin later this week, after the CDC considers guidelines to prepare Americans for this season when infections usually tick upward.

06/30/2023

The CDC endorsed the use of new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines from GSK and Pfizer for people ages 60 years and older, using shared clinical decision-making. This means these individuals may receive a single dose of the vaccine based on discussions with their healthcare provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them.

Adults at the highest risk for severe RSV illness include older adults, adults with chronic heart or lung disease, adults with weakened immune systems, and adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

The CDC estimates that every year, RSV causes approximately 60,000–160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000–10,000 deaths among older adults.

These new vaccines – which are the first ones licensed in the U.S. to protect against RSV – are expected to be available this fall.

*summarized from the CDC.gov website

02/13/2023

TLDR; It's not too late to get your kid a flu shot

The CDC's most recent flu report shows that the number of pediatric flu deaths during the current season has exceeded 100, more than twice the number of such deaths officially reported last season.

For the week that ended onFebruary 10, the CDC reported 9vpediatric influenza deaths, bringing the total for the season to 106 deaths. CDC noted the figure is the highest pediatric death rate for influenza since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the children, 103 were eligible for vaccination, and 40 had preexisting medical conditions. There was only one pediatric influenza death in the 2020-21 influenza season, and 45 in the following season largely because of COVID-19 prevention efforts such as masking and quarantining.

CDC reported 199 pediatric influenza deaths in the 2019-20 influenza season, before the start of the pandemic. In the current season, the onset of cases was earlier. The CDC's report indicates that seasonal influenza activity is currently low nationwide, with only New Mexico and New York City considered as having "high" activity levels.

Source: CDC and TheHill.com

12/21/2022

TLDR; Adults over 65+ need to get the latest booster to avoid mortality

CDC reports that the bivalent COVID-19 boosters (designed to better protect against Omicron) has been low among older adults.

While most Americans aged 65 years and up completed primary vaccination against COVID-19, just 36% are covered with the updated booster.

Why?

Many older adults say they did not know about the new doses, which have been available since September, or have been unable to find them. Observers say the absence of clear and strong messaging is also being felt as older adults who have survived a COVID infection become complacent about getting another dose of vaccine.

"The evidence is clear: Even if you got the shot 2 years ago, your immunity has waned. But the people who most need to hear that have not," said Michael Wasserman, MD, "When you combine pandemic fatigue with no real plan from the government together, what we have is a perfect storm."

Indeed, the once highly protected older population is quickly becoming the most vulnerable, with 90% of recent COVID deaths affecting people older than age 65 years.

*Summarized from the nytimes.com

11/15/2022

TLDR; GET YOUR FLU SHOT

The CDC has determined that 7 southern states are the worst for flu activity. Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia have all been categorized as having "very high" influenza activity.

This year's influenza season started early and is hitting hard, with high rates of hospitalization and an estimated 1,300 deaths, including at least three children.

The increase in flu cases comes as children's hospitals around the country have been hit by a wave of young patients with RSV.

However, there is somewhat good news; COVID-19 cases have been trending downward and leveled off in recent weeks.

*summarized from CDC map found on cdc.gov and APhA e-mail blast

CDC works 24/7 saving lives and protecting people.

11/04/2022

FYI: There are still ~2,600 Americans dying each week from COVID-19. The vast majority are older and vaccinated (but not up to date). That's your grandpa. That's sweet Aunt Petunia.

What can YOU do?

-Get vaccinated AND boosted; especially if they aren't able to or willing.

The fall booster rate is currently 7.3% (20% for those aged 65+). That is UNACCEPTABLE.

-Get your monthly FREE tests through insurance. Most plans still cover 8 tests/month.

-Educate yourself on what to do with a positive test result.
(If an older adult gets infected, make sure they know about Paxlovid and get it within 5 days of symptoms, even just the sniffles).

Unfortunately for the vulnerable person, like an older grandparent the pandemic is not over.

If I was you, I would consider wearing a mask throughout winter. This will help with COVID, the flu, and (we think) RSV. If everyone who attends Thanksgiving dinner embraces Goal #1 above, the risk to you is very low.

If you have a child under 6 months: The pandemic is not over for you either. And RSV and flu should be concerning, too. The biggest advice I have for you is not to let people kiss or hold your baby.

Information condensed from weekly YLE email, written by epidemiologist and expert Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH, PhD.

10/31/2022

So far, this flu season is more severe than it has been in 13 years.

New CDC data shows there have been more than 880,000 influenza infections so far this season, including 6,900 hospitalizations and 360 deaths, making for an unusually early and brutal cycle.

"Not only is flu early, it also looks very severe" remarks William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University. "The troubling trend is even more concerning, he adds, considering that [flu shots] are trailing where they usually are at this point.

According to CDC, an estimated 128 million doses have been given so far, off from 139 million a year earlier. "That makes me [extremely] worried," says Schaffner, who predicts this season could be the worst in 13 years. Also adding to the dire outlook is the list of other virus threats — including coronavirus, more resistant COVID-19 subvariants, and RSV — that are circulating along with influenza. Moreover, Americans have largely abandoned face coverings, social distancing, and other COVID prevention measures that likely contributed to low flu numbers over the past 2 years.

*Summarized from APhA update email.

10/26/2022

According to the Walgreens Flu index, overall influenza activity is more than 10 times HIGHER nationwide compared with the 2021-22 influenza season, and more than DOUBLED over the past 2 weeks.

So please get your flu shot!

09/20/2022

Can I get a booster yet?

Yes; if it's been more than 2 months since your last shot and you are 12 years or older.

The new Pfizer bivalent booster is for ages 12+ and the new Moderna bivalent booster is for ages 18+.

You can mix and match the boosters!

ex. Pfizer primary series (1&2),
Pfizer Booster,
Moderna Booster,
***Moderna or Pfizer bivalent vaccine.

At this time there are no other booster offered for ages 12+ other than the bivalent.

Ages 5-11 are able to receive a Pfizer or Moderna booster dose.

Ages 6months-4 years old are eligible for a primary series (Pfizer or Moderna).

08/31/2022

Today the FDA authorized the first redesign of covid vaccines since they were rolled out in late 2020. If all goes as expected, millions of Americans will be able to receive new booster doses as early as next week.

The agency cleared two options: one made by Pfizer for use in people as young as 12, and the other by Moderna, for those 18 and older.

The doses can be given to those who have completed their initial shots, whether or not they have also received boosters, as long as their last shot was at least two months ago.

The booster campaign comes as we head towards our third pandemic winter. Currently the US is averaging about 90,000 infections and 475 deaths daily.

How do the boosters work?

The new shots are bivalent. One half is the original shot and the other half is a reformulation designed specifically for BA.4 and BA.5, ( the subvariants of Omicron).

The hope is the combination will be more effective than the original formulation.

How well do they work?

Human trials are just getting going, but evidence from trials in mice indicates that this shot may be more protective against the Omicron subvariants than the original shot.

Why are we relying on trials in mice?

We’re in a time crunch. The virus is evolving too fast for scientists to do human trials because by the time they get results, we could have a new variant.

There will be some data from human trials later this year but the government wants to get going right now because most Americans have not had a Covid vaccine shot this year, and we know that the protection that the vaccines induce wanes over time.

The FDA’s commissioner said today that the proof will be in the pudding. In other words, they’ll have to carefully follow what happens.

Are the new shots safe?

There really isn’t any question that the shots are safe. They’ve been given to hundreds of millions of people. And according to federal officials, this kind of redesign is what we do for the flu vaccine every year.

When can I get a shot?

Today the FDA issued emergency use authorization for the new boosters. So now, the federal government can start shipping doses to the states.

The states can’t start administering them until the CDC signs off. The CDC is meeting tomorrow and Friday and will make recommendations. If the director signs off on Friday, then doses will be available, if not this weekend, then soon thereafter.

What does the future of the government’s response look like?

This is likely to be the last free vaccine shot that Americans get. Future shots will probably have to be covered by insurance plans.

*Information summarized from the NYT.