A user’s guide: How to talk to those hesitant about the Covid-19 vaccine

Apr 02 2021

As the Covid vaccine supply increases throughout the U.S., the next hurdle to reaching herd immunity will be convincing those who are hesitant about vaccines to receive their shots. Surveys show Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to be “waiting to see” before they get a vaccine (but are also less likely to say they definitely won’t take one than white adults). Experts say the best way to tackle vaccine hesitancy is for people to have conversations with those they trust, whether a doctor, pastor, family member, or friend. So STAT spoke with a number of experts on the frontlines — global vaccine scholars, physicians tackling low vaccination rates in Black communities, and multilingual doctors who are taking matters in their own hands to get out the word — to create this guide on how best to handle these sometimes difficult conversations. Their suggestions may surprise you.

Source: STAT News

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: What We Know So Far About Side Effects, Deaths and Blood Clots

Apr 02 2021

The United States is four months into the effort to vaccinate people against COVID-19. Here’s what we know so far about side effects, anaphylaxis and deaths after COVID vaccinations, as well as the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccines being paused in some countries. No Deaths Have Been Causally Linked to the Vaccine Public health officials take vaccine safety very seriously, which is why every single report of death following a COVID-19 vaccination is investigated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 2,216 reports of death following a COVID vaccination from December 14, 2020, through March 22, 2021 — but investigations into the reports, including reviewing “death certificates, autopsy, and medical records revealed no evidence that vaccination contributed to patient deaths.”

Source: Shot of Prevention

Now We Know: Covid-19 Vaccines Prevent Asymptomatic Infection, Too

Apr 02 2021

The CDC has now confirmed what we have hoped for: the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna are highly effective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in real world conditions. It was known previously from clinical trials that these vaccines were effective at preventing symptomatic disease. What was not known was whether they prevented asymptomatic infection. Here is how the CDC reached this conclusion. Beginning in mid-December 2020, 3,950 people employed in frontline health care professions (e.g. physicians, nurses, and first responders) in eight US locations were tested each week for 13 weeks to

Source: NBC

Race to Produce COVID Vaccine May Cause Measles Jabs Shortage

Apr 02 2021

GENEVA - World Health Organization experts fear the race to produce large quantities of COVID-19 vaccine could cut into the supply of global measles vaccines. Critical topics relating to immunization globally were discussed during a regular meeting last week by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, known as SAGE. Recommendations were made regarding the status of Ebola vaccines, as well as an oral polio vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccines undergoing evaluation.

Source: VOA News

The U.S. is in a delicate position as Covid cases increase alongside vaccinations, experts warn

Apr 02 2021

With the possibility of summer barbeques just a few months away, along with the promise of widespread Covid-19 vaccine supply in the U.S. by the end of May, many Americans may be feeling as though the nation has finally turned the corner on the pandemic. But to leading infectious disease experts, the country isn’t there yet. “When I’m often asked, ‘Are we turning the corner?’ My response is really more like, ‘We’re at the corner,’” White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

Source: CNBC

How long will the coronavirus vaccines protect you? Experts weigh in.

Apr 02 2021

You may be among the more than 95 million people in the United States who have taken at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Or you may still be awaiting your turn. Regardless, there’s a crucial question on most of our minds: How long will the vaccine really protect us? As with most aspects of the virus, the answer is not completely clear. Why? Because although we have been battling the pandemic for more than a year, the vaccines were granted emergency use authorization relatively recently. So experts have not had time to observe their long-term effectiveness.

Source: WP

The Viral TikTok That Explains Vaccine Science — And Makes You Laugh

Apr 02 2021

I've spent 30 years trying to make complicated science understandable. Explaining how vaccines work can be especially tricky. Explaining the new technology used in COVID-19 vaccines can be trickier still. So my heart filled with joy and delight when I saw Vick Krishna's TikTok explaining how the vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna work. So simple. So straightforward. So well done.

Source: NPR

Colorado's underserved communities playing 'catch up' in vaccine distribution

Apr 02 2021

COLORADO, USA — Colorado state officials are working with local organizations to ensure vaccine equitability. In the last months, several churches served as clinics to bring vaccines to underserved communities. In an emailed statement, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) stated they've completed more than 379 vaccine equity clinics so far. During his press conference Monday, Gov. Jared Polis said 75 more equity clinics were scheduled up to April 6 that will administer more than 30,000 doses.

Source: 9 News

Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is delayed by a U.S. factory mixup.

Apr 02 2021

Workers at a plant in Baltimore manufacturing two coronavirus vaccines accidentally conflated the ingredients several weeks ago, contaminating up to 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine and forcing regulators to delay authorization of the plant’s production lines. The plant is run by Emergent BioSolutions, a manufacturing partner to both Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish company whose vaccine has yet to be authorized for use in the United States. Federal officials attributed the mistake to human error.

Source: NYT

State taskforce ensures underserved communities get equal access to COVID-19 vaccine

Apr 02 2021

The Colorado Vaccine Equity Task Force said state health data shows 13% of people of color received a vaccine; 72% of the state's vaccinations went to white people.

Source: 9 News