Corona vaccine

2022 - 6 - 22

vaccine vaccine

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COVID vaccines are finally here for young kids. But the logistics aren ... (NPR)

NPR talks to Claire Hannan, who has helped navigate vaccine rollouts in all 50 states, about some of the challenges involved in quickly getting shots out to ...

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Vaccinations for Children Under 5 Are Expected to Begin in N.Y.C. (The New York Times)

In a city that was once the epicenter of the pandemic, many parents have been eager to vaccinate the last age group still awaiting shots.

“We’ve been waiting for this for as long as the pandemic has started,” she said. Cara was 5 months old when the pandemic began, and Mr. Bookman said she had never been in a grocery store. “Adult vaccines is one thing,” he said. On Tuesday, New York City moved from the high risk level for Covid-19 t o medium as virus cases and hospitalization rates continue to fall. It’s a great day for our country.” It’s a great day for our city.

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California kids under 5 begin getting COVID vaccines (Los Angeles Times)

Following the decision by federal health officials to authorize children as young as 6 months to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, Californians are able to ...

“Studies have shown that getting our children vaccinated is the safest way to protect them from the worst outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization, long COVID, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and death,” the statement said. “It’s true that children don’t get as sick as adults, but for children under 5, COVID is still the fifth leading cause of death,” Pannaraj said. According to the report, “lack of available information may be a factor in parents’ reluctance to get their youngest children vaccinated right away. The vaccination campaign for another cohort of children — those ages 5 to 11 — is lagging behind other groups. And for some, it may still be a serious disease,” said UCLA epidemiologist Dr. Robert Kim-Farley. “I think we’ll feel very comfortable doing indoor activities now,” Acain said. [It] means that our young people can thrive in the activities we know make a difference in their lives.” Each shot is a quarter the amount of the typical adult dose. “This means that the whole family, essentially, can be vaccinated,” he said in a video statement. The move marks the last major expansion of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which sputtered to life in highly limited form in December 2020. I’m more than willing to show others that I would recommend this for everyone.” This “little booboo,” as the 2-year-old put it, was a long time coming.

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COVID-19 vaccine scheme for world's poorest pushes for delivery ... (Reuters)

Leaders of the global scheme aiming to get COVID-19 vaccines to the world's poorest are pushing manufacturers including Pfizer and Moderna to cut or slow ...

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com COVAX follows in the steps of other vaccine buyers in trying to cut deliveries agreed at the height of the pandemic, including European Union governments. Pfizer and Moderna have agreed to delay some shipments. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

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What to know about getting COVID vaccine for VT kids four and under (BurlingtonFreePress.com)

What you should know about getting your child four years old or younger vaccinated for COVID. The rollout is different than other age groups.

Pediatricians are trusted sources to have conversations about the vaccine, the Health Department says, and appreciates everyone's patience working with their own provider to get vaccinated. Providers and pharmacies may bill insurance companies, but that cost and any co-pays or administration fees would not be applied to the patient. Children will be given two doses that are three weeks apart and a third dose about two months later. The COVID-19 vaccine will be available at pediatrician offices across Vermont. Providers will begin receiving doses the week of June 20. “Vaccines are the safer way to build protection against the virus and help prevent serious outcomes.” There are about 26,000 children in this age group in the state.

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Local doctor discusses COVID-19 vaccine for kids (WCAX)

Eligibility for kids under 5 has sparked more concern about the coronavirus vaccines and their safety. Doctor Becca Bell with UVM Children's Hospital ...

“I work in the pediatric intensive care unit at UVM Children’s Hospital, and I’ve taken care of children who need it to be admitted to the intensive care unit because of COVID-19... So certainly serious disease happens. She says vaccine side effects typically happen immediately or up to two months later. First, she addressed the potential negative effects of the vaccine.

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COVID vaccine for kids at Hayat Pharmacy's Vaccine Clinic (FOX 6 Milwaukee)

COVID-19 vaccinations for young children are now happening in Milwaukee.

An appointment is needed for patient whose age is between 6 months to up to 2 years and 364 days old (as of the vaccination day). To schedule a vaccine appointment for children ages 6 months to 2 years old, please go here: https://hayatcovidvaccine.as.me/6moto2yr MILWAUKEE - COVID-19 vaccinations for young children are now happening in Milwaukee. Hayat Pharmacy’s Vaccine Clinic is currently offering COVID-19 vaccines (currently Moderna only) for children 6 months and older

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Why parents should get kids under 5 vaccinated against COVID-19 (American Medical Association)

With Pfizer and Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccines OK'd for kids 6 months and up, doctors should review these three reasons to vaccinate with parents.

Authorization of Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for younger children also offers some freedom to families who have practiced a higher degree of physical distancing until their youngest members could be vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accepted the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to recommend the use of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for nearly 20 million children who are younger than 5. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine primary series for children 6 months to 4 years old is administered in three 3-microgram doses. The AMA has also developed frequently-asked-questions documents on COVID-19 vaccination covering safety, allocation and distribution, administration and more. But babies younger than 6 months will not be expected to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Moderna vaccine primary series for children 6 months through 5 years old is administered in two 25-microgram doses given four to eight weeks apart. This comes after the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee unanimously voted to recommend emergency use authorization (EUA) of the vaccines for children on June 15, based on the determination that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines outweighed the risks in this population. Young children have been the only major group of Americans left unprotected against COVID-19 with no authorized vaccines available for them. Having two vaccines for this pediatric population provides a choice for parents who are eager to get their children vaccinated. Last week, administration officials started accepting state and local orders for COVID-19 vaccines. “It is imperative that all parents in all jurisdictions have access to the vaccine for infants and children and we are hopeful that millions more children will receive the vaccine in the coming weeks and months—reducing their risk of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death,” he said. Millions more were set to be available soon thereafter.

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Wisconsin begins ramping up COVID-19 vaccines for the youngest ... (Wisconsin Examiner)

With children ages 6 months to 5 years old now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, health providers are hopeful that vaccination rates will increase in ...

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Vaccine clinics open for pre-schoolers as COVID hospitalizations ... (pressherald.com)

Two vaccination clinics have opened in southern Maine for preschool-aged children who became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines over the weekend. The York County ...

The clinic is staffed by clinicians, first responders, and staff from municipalities across York County, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Moderna’s vaccine, a quarter the strength of its adult version, requires two shots about four weeks apart. While some pediatricians have already begun giving the shots, more physicians are expected to begin providing vaccinations next week. Since the pandemic began, Maine has recorded 267,956 cases and 2,409 deaths, according to the most recent state data. Pfizer’s vaccine is one-tenth of the adult dose and requires three shots, the first two administered three weeks apart and the last at least three months later. The initial doses of vaccines for preschoolers are being distributed to pediatricians’ offices and to pharmacies, according to the CDC.

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Can Kids Under 5 Get the COVID Vaccine at Walgreens? Here's ... (NBC Chicago)

Here's where your child can get the COVID vaccine — based on their age — and a break down of how the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are different.

CPS’ regional vaccination clinics and mobile vaccination events will resume in early July when CPS schools open for summer programming and will offer the vaccine for children under 5-years-old. "Sign up to receive the latest updates at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov." The clinics will offer COVID vaccines to children as young as 6 months old. CDPH will also host family vaccination clinics at City Colleges of Chicago. These events will offer Pfizer and Moderna for children 6 months through 4 years old. Lurie Children's Hospital has already received its supply of vaccine and will be administering them beginning June 21, officials said. By Thursday, they can schedule at aah.org/vaccine or through our LiveWell mobile app. Pfizer and Moderna will be offered, and reservations are recommended but walk-ins are also accepted. Make an at-home appointment at Chicago.gov/AtHome or by calling 312-746-4835. The hospital will offer doses to inpatients or to children at the hospital Tuesday for "well" visits. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. At some places, there's an age restriction. Where to Get COVID Vaccines for Kids Under The Age of 3

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COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5 are rolling out in Alaska (KTOO)

Kelsey Pistotnik took her 3-year-old daughter Vivienne to get the Moderna vaccine at the Fairweather clinic in Tikahtnu Commons late afternoon on Monday. The ...

“Some fatigue and headache were the most common in 2- to 5-year-olds. “Most of those kids get pretty ill and end up in the ICU.” There have been two deaths in Alaska in children under 10 years old from COVID-19. Nationally, children ages 0 to 4 account for around 3.3% of total cases and .1% of total deaths. Kids as young as 6 months old were able to get a COVID-19 vaccine from at least one vaccine clinic in Alaska on Monday, just two days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the vaccine. Children under 10 years old account for 2% of the total hospitalizations from COVID-19 among Alaska residents. “We’re very encouraged that the vaccines are safe and effective,” she said.

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Pfizer or Moderna: Which COVID Vaccine Is the Best Bet for Your ... (MedPage Today)

Jeremy Faust, MD, shares pros and cons of both, and urges all parents 'to choose vaccination'

The last thing I'll say is that I think the way to get out of this period where we are so afraid of this virus is to maximize vaccination over time. And yet, it's so common a disease that we need to prevent it from happening as much as we can and prevent bad outcomes. The bottom line is, I think that there are good reasons to give either one of them, and what's nice is we finally have options, whereas before we didn't. So that's the next move. What I think we need to do to move forward is just to speak the truth. I'd like my kid to have the maximum protection possible.' So for that reason, Pfizer is better because actually it starts working later, just in time for that surge. We think that'll be the same for 6 months up to 5 years, or in the case of Moderna, up to 6 years. That is, it's really hard to get infected with COVID in the first 5, 6, 7, 8 weeks after that vaccine because of the circulating antibodies. The first is that Pfizer's 80% number wasn't really a prespecified interim analysis. The next question that I'm getting a lot, especially as a parent, is: Between Pfizer's three-dose series and Moderna's two-dose series, which is better for kids under 5 years old'; for the littlest kids, the ones we're talking about. So number one, Pfizer and Moderna both are effective in preventing COVID-19. We see that symptomatic disease is prevented by both of them. And we're reassured by the lower dose; we think that the lower dose for the toddlers and, quite frankly, the lower dose for the kids ages 5 to 11, has meant that the myocarditis rates have been lower in the 5-to-11 group where we already have a rollout. Both Pfizer and Moderna are getting the go ahead to move on to the CDC for final approval.

CDC Approves COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 months through 4 ... (denvergov.org)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in ...

Each dose of Moderna’s vaccine for children aged 6 months through 5 years is one-fourth of the dosage of the Moderna vaccine for people aged 18 years and older. Additionally, I’d like to thank the thousands of families who volunteered to take part in the many stages of clinical trials to ensure the COVID-19 vaccines for these young children are safe and work.” Each dose of Pfizer’s vaccine for children aged 6 months through 4 years is one-tenth of the dosage of the Pfizer vaccine for people aged 12 years and older.

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Michigan babies, preschoolers getting first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (Detroit Free Press)

Parents, guardians of children ages 6 months to 5 years taking kids to health departments, doctor's offices, more to get COVID-19 vaccines.

Pfizer's vaccine is for children ages 6 months to 4 years old and is a three-dose regimen. Phelps, her husband and 5-year-old son Luca all were vaccinated and boosted previously with Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine that was authorized for their age groups. More than 500,000 Michigan kids now are eligible for the vaccine, said Chelsea Wuth, a spokesperson with the state health department.

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Publix won't give COVID vaccine to children under 5 (Tampa Bay Times)

Since COVID-19 vaccines first became available, Publix has played a major role in tackling the public health emergency in Florida by offering vaccines to ...

The governor tapped Publix to become a key part of Florida’s vaccine rollout in early 2021. Florida was the only state in the nation not to preorder doses of the under 5 vaccine, which the White House said could delay delivery to medical providers in the state. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription. We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. By that April, the grocery chain was the single largest vaccine supplier in Florida and was getting nearly a quarter of the state’s doses. Parents of children under 18 months must rely on pediatricians, medical clinics and children’s hospitals to get their kids vaccinated.

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COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children under five ... (phila.gov)

COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children under five.

The Pfizer vaccine is a much lower dose, and children have reported fewer side effects. It takes a special set of skills to be able to administer vaccine to very young children. If you want it sooner, get the Moderna vaccine. It’s possible that children who get the Pfizer vaccine will need a booster dose in the future. The Pfizer vaccine is a three-dose series, meaning your child will need to get three shots to be considered up-to-date. Everyone 6 months and older is now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. All Philadelphians should get their COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses -they protect against severe COVID-19 and save lives.

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Publix not offering COVID vaccines to children under 5 (FOX 13 Tampa Bay)

Publix says its pharmacies will not administer vaccines to children under the age of 5 at this time.

In that time, Walgreens has extensive experience administering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations and is the largest pediatric vaccine provider among retail pharmacies. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) expanded the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act authorizing licensed pharmacists to administer recommended vaccinations to children ages 3 and older. But there are other places, like federally qualified health centers, private health care providers and other pharmacies that parents can go to for their children.

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Publix not offering COVID-19 vaccine to children under 5 (WFLA)

Publix Super Markets will not be offering COVID-19 vaccines to children under 5 years old, they told 8 on Your Side.

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Local appointments for COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 hard ... (WJXT News4JAX)

News4JAX reached to out to multiple local pharmacies and hospitals, and most places didn't carry the vaccine for young children.

We went to its website and searched for a clinic in our area. We will provide updates on local vaccine availability at wolfsonchildrens.com/covid19.” Walgreens offers vaccines for children 3 and older. We encourage parents to check with their local pharmacy. News4JAX called a dozen local pharmacies in the area, and none of them offered the vaccine for children under 5. Wright took her son there.

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Houston begins COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 ... (Houston Public Media)

The doses have been tailored for young children, at one-quarter of the adult dose for Moderna and one-tenth the adult dose for Pfizer.

There are approximately 20 million U.S. children who are now eligible for the first time to get the vaccine, according to the CDC. Doctors have seen mixed responses to getting kids ages 5-11 vaccinated. The doses have been tailored to young children at one-quarter of the adult dose for Moderna and one-tenth the adult dose for Pfizer, according to Texas Children's Hospital Pathologist-in-Chief Dr. Jim Versalovic.

LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts Offering ... (Virginia Department of Health)

Because the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and your local health department have been planning for the expansion of vaccine eligibility and availability, ...

- Scott County Health Department – 276-386-1312 Those wishing to get their children vaccinated at their local health department within the LENOWISCO or Cumberland Plateau Health Districts, may call to make appointments. - Lee County Health Department – 276-346-2011

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Moderna calls for approval of two-strain Covid vaccine booster (Financial Times)

US biotech group says shot targeting both first strain and Omicron could help avert 'large rise' in cases.

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Publix not giving COVID-19 vaccine to children younger than 5 (Fox Business)

Publix will not be offering COVID-19 vaccines to children younger than 5, a spokesperson for the supermarket chain told Fox 13 Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

Health officials approved COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months last week, but Florida-based Publix will not be offering the Moderna and Pfizer shots to children younger than 5. About two-thirds of Publix stores are in Florida, which was the only state not to preorder vaccines from the federal government in anticipation of them being approved for toddlers. Health officials approved COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months last week, but Florida-based Publix will not be offering the Moderna and Pfizer shots to children younger than 5.

Moderna Says COVID Booster 'Potent' vs Newer Omicron Variants (WebMD)

The vaccine maker released data on its combination vaccine in development designed to protect against Omicron coronavirus strains.

BA.4 and BA.5 "represent an emergent threat to global public health," Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, stated in a news release. The company said shipments of this vaccine could begin as early as this summer. These two strains now account for about 35% of those circulating in the U.S., according to CDC data.

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Publix won't offer COVID-19 vaccine to children under 5 (Washington Times)

A major grocery chain that was among the leaders in the early distribution of COVID-19 vaccines will now refuse to provide the jab to pre-school-age ...

Citing that and other reasons, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo recommended against giving vaccines to healthy children. Publix got its vaccination doses directly from a federal government program, so the state dispute doesn’t affect its theoretical ability to procure them for children under 5. A dispute has brewed between federal and state officials over giving the COVID vaccinations to children under 5.

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Covid vaccines for young kids expected this week; where to get ... (syracuse.com)

Local doctors recommend that parents get their young children vaccinated but concede that many parents will hold off for now. Dr. Robert Dracker, a pediatrician ...

“A vaccination is the single most effective, safest way to get those kids protected.” CVS will not be giving the shots in Central New York, a company representative said. Walgreens Pharmacy will be giving the vaccine, but only to children 3 years and up. But said his practice, in Liverpool, hasn’t ordered any yet, pending the results of a survey he sent this week to patients. Dracker said he hasn’t yet received any information from the state Department of Health on how to order the vaccines. “I think parents are dealing with the quandary of, ‘Is it really necessary to get the vaccine?’”

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Biden administration releases new PSAs to encourage Covid-19 ... (CNN)

Just days after the United States rolled out child-sized doses of Covid-19 vaccine for children younger than 5, the Biden administration has launched a new ...

"And so we have a big public health education campaign ahead of us." Some of the polls and surveys that have gone out to the public have indicated an ongoing lessening of parents considering giving their children these vaccines over time," said Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. And that's probably the best way to move forward." "We know that some number of kids do end up getting sick from Covid, unfortunately. "Getting our youngest kids vaccinated requires building confidence with parents by lifting up the voices of people they trust -- especially pediatricians and other parents," said Sarah Lovenheim, HHS assistant secretary for public affairs. The ads will be distributed to English and Spanish media outlets throughout the country as a public service announcement, according to HHS.

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Most pharmacies in the US can't give your infant or toddler a COVID ... (USA TODAY)

The PREP Act allows pharmacists to give shots to kids 3 and over, but that means many babies won't be able to get vaccinated at their local pharmacy.

"We have to think about having clinics that are at locations that are easily accessible." But parents seeking to vaccinate their toddlers and babies following last week’s authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 may be in for a surprise. "Medical personnel who regularly care for patients in this age group are aware of these issues." The overall target is smaller, he said, which means medical professionals need to use a shorter needle. “It’s been a process for the past 30 years to get pharmacists immunization administration authority,” said Allie Jo Shipman, director of state policy at the pharmacy association. The company did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

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Publix won't offer coronavirus vaccines to children under 5 'at this time' (The Washington Post)

The news comes as pediatricians are administering the nation's first coronavirus vaccines for children in that age group after the CDC approved giving the shots ...

Publix has also sought to dismiss a wrongful-death lawsuit accusing the company of being responsible for the death of a former deli worker who died of coronavirus. As the single largest vaccine supplier in Florida, Publix became a key part of DeSantis’s vaccine rollout last year. Since parents of children under 18 months old must get their kids vaccinated at pediatric clinics, children’s hospitals or medical clinics, Publix is not required to do the same. Publix has donated to both Democrats and Republicans, but the company notably gave $100,000 to DeSantis’s political committee last year, campaign finance records show. In March, Ladapo went against CDC guidelines when he recommended against giving the coronavirus vaccine to healthy children because, he argued, they are at lower risk of severe illness from covid-19. It does not acknowledge the CDC’s recent decision on children younger than 5 now being able to be vaccinated.

Piedmont Health District Offers COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages ... (Virginia Department of Health)

Because the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and your local health department have been planning for the expansion of vaccine eligibility and availability, ...

- Buckingham – Thursdays – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – 434-969-4244 - Cumberland – Thursdays – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – 804-492-4661 - Lunenburg – Tuesdays – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – 434-696-2346 - Nottoway – Mondays – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – 434-645-7595 - Charlotte – Mondays – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – 434-542-5251 All local health departments within the Piedmont Health District are offering free COVID-19 vaccination for anyone 6 months and older during their regular immunization clinics.

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Where's the next generation of COVID-19 shots? (The Verge)

The original COVID-19 vaccines targeted a version of the coronavirus that doesn't exist anymore. Vaccine companies and regulators are working on ways to ...

There are still a lot of challenges ahead before the next set of COVID-19 vaccines are available to the public. The FDA meeting next week to discuss vaccinating against COVID-19 variants could have a big impact on the direction that future vaccine development will take. “When you’re comparing one vaccine to another, there’s a lot of things that are different,” he said. Iwasaki and her colleagues are working on a strategy to get around that issue: using a nasal spray containing a version of the COVID-19 virus’ spike protein as a booster after an initial mRNA shot. Figuring out a way to continuously update the shots is one way to keep on top of it. Part of the problem is that the virus that the vaccines target — the first version of the coronavirus that started spreading in early 2020 — doesn’t exist anymore. A vaccine targeting a current or at least recent variant makes more sense than one targeting a much different virus — the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, which doesn’t exist anymore. “It can prevent the infection of these tissues altogether.” Without infection, people wouldn’t transmit the virus, and they’d be protected from long COVID. Their goal was to make a shot that could generate an immune response against current and future variants, as well as other coronaviruses that could cause another pandemic. But it’s still unclear if the omicron shots will work much better than the original vaccine against omicron and other variants. Several vaccine manufacturers have already started testing vaccines tailored to the omicron variant. The first step for the future of COVID-19 vaccines is to play catch-up with the recent past.

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U.S. CDC advisers back Moderna COVID vaccine for teens, older ... (Reuters)

Advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday unanimously voted to recommend use of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine for ...

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Publix supermarkets not offering COVID vaccine to young kids (ABC News)

The Publix supermarket chain isn't offering the COVID-19 vaccine to children younger than 5.

It remains to be seen what level of demand there will be in Florida for vaccinations for the under-5 age group. The company told the Tampa Bay Times that Publix stores won't offer the vaccine to young children “at this time." Parents in Florida must rely on pediatricians, medical clinics, children's hospitals and pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS and Walmart to get the vaccine. Its website indicates it is currently offering the vaccine to adults and children 5 and older. Florida considers children with underlying conditions that predispose them to severe cases of COVID-19 as candidates for the jabs. Though medical providers and pediatricians can order vaccines directly from the federal government via a state online portal, the White House has said Florida's failure to pre-order could delay delivery to medical providers in the state.

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CDC panel recommends Moderna two-dose Covid vaccine for kids ... (CNBC)

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is expected to sign off on the recommendation later Thursday,.

Myocarditis is slightly elevated among boys ages 5 to 11 after the second dose of Pfizer's vaccine, though it is much lower than adolescents. Dr. Sara Oliver, a CDC official, said the risk of myocarditis after Moderna vaccination in children and adolescents is unknown, though data from adults suggests the risk could be higher than Pfizer's shots. There were no confirmed cases of myocarditis during the trials. The committee endorsed Moderna's vaccine for kids ages 6 to 17 after examining its safety and effectiveness during a public meeting. Boys ages 5 to 11 reported 2.6 myocarditis cases per million second Pfizer doses administered. However, the Covid vaccines have trouble fighting the omicron variant, which is now dominant, because it has so many mutations. The clinical trials were conducted during periods when other Covid strains were dominant. The CDC has identified 635 cases of myocarditis among children ages 5 to 17 after vaccination out of 54 million Pfizer doses administered. There are no head-to-head comparisons in the U.S. of heart inflammation in kids who get Pfizer's or Moderna's shots because Moderna's vaccine was only authorized for adults until this month. People who have develop myocarditis after vaccination are generally hospitalized for a few days as a precaution before being sent home. Moderna's shots for older kids won't have an immediate impact on the U.S. vaccination campaign, other than providing parents with another option to choose from. Two-thirds of kids ages 5 to 11 and 30% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 haven't been vaccinated against Covid yet.

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Alaskans under age 5 can now get COVID vaccines - Alaska Public ... (Alaska Public Media News)

In Anchorage, pediatric vaccines are available at Fairweather's Tikahtnu Commons clinic and a pop-up clinic in Fairview every day for the rest of the month.

Vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11 first became available in November. By mid-February, 25% of Alaska kids in that age group had received at least one dose. Currently, 29% of kids ages 5 to 11 have received at least one dose. In Anchorage, pediatric vaccines are available at Fairweather’s Tikahtnu Commons clinic and a pop-up clinic in Fairview every day for the rest of the month. Alaskans outside of Anchorage can visit vaccines.gov to look for nearby providers with pediatric vaccines in stock. Moderna’s first two doses are given 21 days apart, and the second and third doses are given at least eight weeks apart. “And that’s been affecting the parents of those kids.

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CDC advisers vote to recommend Moderna's COVID vaccine for ... (CBS News)

Moderna's pediatric shots will join a vaccination effort that has slowed to a near-standstill in children 5 years and older. Sign up for National Breaking News ...

Federal health officials had said they were concerned Moderna's 100 microgram dose might pose a higher risk than from Pfizer's vaccine of rare heart inflammation side effects, known as myocarditis and pericarditis. On the other hand, adding the new vaccine could also raise the risk of errors for busy doctors, officials acknowledged to the committee. "I think a lot of providers are probably going to carry one vaccine or the other, and not both. Doctors already offering Moderna's vaccine for young children and adults may also prefer to stick to one brand for all age groups. More than two-thirds of children ages 5 to 11 are unvaccinated. Clearing the Moderna shots for older kids could ease some logistical challenges for vaccinators.

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CDC vaccine advisers unanimously vote to recommend Moderna ... (CNN)

Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Thursday to support recommending the two-dose Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for ...

They also expressed concern that vaccine administrators who are color blind will not be able to distinguish between the vials. For children ages 6 through 11, who will get a bigger dosage size at 50 micrograms, the vial has a dark blue cap as well, but the border is purple. We know that the benefits outweigh the risks for mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in all ages," Oliver said. Among adolescents ages 12 to 17, the cumulative rates of Covid-19 hospitalizations are "considerably higher" than for flu during all prior flu seasons, Oliver, a member of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service told the committee. For the six months through 5 years age group that gets a smaller 25 microgram dose, for example, the cap is dark blue and the border is magenta. Additionally, new pediatric providers may be unfamiliar with Covid-19 vaccines and there are some stark differences between routine vaccines," Hall said. "Receipt of this primary series continues to be the safest way to prevent serious Covid-19." The CDC hopes more parents will protect their children with a vaccination. Shots can be administered after the CDC adopts the recommendation. "There is a risk of myocarditis/pericarditis after both messenger RNA Covid-19 vaccines, most cases have prompt improvement in symptoms. "A two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (100mcg) is recommended for adolescents ages 12 -- 17 years, under the EUA issued by the FDA." "A two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (50mcg) is recommended for children ages 6 -- 11 years, under the EUA issued by the FDA."

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Image courtesy of "Politico"

Florida's Publix opts against Covid-19 vaccine for young kids (Politico)

The grocery chain's move comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis and the White House have fought over accessing vaccinations for kids under 5 in the state.

The grocery chain’s move comes as DeSantis and the White House have fought over accessing vaccinations for kids under 5 in the state. DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joe Ladapo are adamantly opposed to giving the vaccine to young children. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and ... (The White House)

Via Teleconference 2:40 P.M. EDTDR. JHA: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Ashish Jha, and I am the COVID-19 Response Coordinator for the.

And if we waited much longer, we would not be able to get these vaccines — certainly for our high-risk individuals — in time to protect them. At the end of the day — and I’ve said this before — we try not to be in the prediction business and we try to be in the planning business. I remain convinced that Congress is not going to walk away at this point in the pandemic, when we have made so much progress and as we are looking into a fall and winter, with a new generation of vaccines. Just to follow up on the last question: Is there a — has any country cut in front of the U.S. on the contracting front? There isn’t — there is not a commercialization plan that somehow would be — would be ready in time for this fall and winter. What will be — what will be the effect on parents and families? I think it is a combination of really vigorous scientific work that’s been done by the companies in close partnership with FDA, who has been very transparent and open about the standards required to get these authorizations. And can you talk about how or why the U.S. became the first country in the world to offer these vaccines to zero to four years old? I noticed on the Vaccines.gov that a lot of these pharmacies say they’ll vaccinate ages three and up, and I wondered why that is and if there’s a problem with getting vaccines to the youngest children. Given that that was based on preliminary and early data from modelers and experts, I’m just wondering whether now, more than a month later, you have an update or a revision on the forecast for the fall and winter, or does the 100 million new infections still fall somewhere in the middle of the projections that you have been studying. And while we still have a lot of worth to — work to do, it is worth celebrating milestones. They’re far less likely to end up in the hospital, far less likely to end up in the ICU.

Contra Costa County Now Offering COVID Vaccines to Children ... (Contra Costa Health Services)

Previously, only children ages 5+ and adults were eligible to receive COVID vaccinations. The pediatric COVID vaccines come in smaller doses than the adult ...

Hours: Tue - Sat: 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. Schedule an Appointment Hours: Tue - Sat: 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. Schedule an Appointment We will provide more details about those mobile clinics at a later date. Wed – Sat: 8 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Schedule an Appointment An estimated 60,000 county residents are in the newly eligible age group. "COVID is now one of the leading causes of death among children in the United States," Dr. Tzvieli said. Parents and guardians can schedule vaccination appointments at county-run vaccination sites (see locations and hours below) or with their children's regular healthcare provider. Previously, only children ages 5+ and adults were eligible to receive COVID vaccinations. Moderna offers a two-dose series with each shot given one month apart. The pediatric COVID vaccines come in smaller doses than the adult vaccines. Tues: 12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

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Image courtesy of "New York Post"

US grocer Publix won't offer COVID vaccine for kids under 5: report (New York Post)

Supermarket giant Publix will not administer COVID-19 vaccinations for children under the age of five despite federal approval of the shots, ...

Florida was also the only US state not to pre-order COVID-19 vaccine doses for children under five. A Publix spokesperson said the company would not offer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged four and under “at this time,” the Tampa Bay Times reported. CDC officials said the shots provide younger children with better protection against hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.

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Image courtesy of "STAT"

Covid-19 vaccines prevented nearly 20 million deaths in a year ... (STAT)

Covid-19 vaccines cut the potential global death toll by more than half in the first year they were available, according to a new study.

The first is what would have happened if all the countries covered by the COVID-19 Vaccine Access initiative’s Advance Market Commitment — a plan incentivizing manufacturers to deliver donor-funded Covid vaccines to 92 low and middle income countries — were able to vaccinate at least 20% of their populations. Their work comes with limitations, including a lack of genetic sequencing data to confirm the frequency of circulating variants, uncertainty about vaccine efficacies, and an inability to account for how governments would likely change lockdown policies or travel restrictions. The actual number of deaths averted is “probably somewhere between the two, although it’s not necessarily just that simple,” according to Gregory Barnsley, a research assistant and co-first author on the study. That is, vaccines reduce transmission in a population, relieving some strain on hospital resources and potentially, making it easier to care for the sickest patients. Because many Covid deaths have not been registered or reported, particularly in low-income countries, the authors chose to look at a measure known as excess mortality, which calculates the difference between the observed and expected number of deaths in a country. While the pandemic has taken a devastating toll around the globe, with more than 3.5 million deaths since the first vaccine was administered in December 2020, the study estimated that vaccinations also prevented 19.8 million deaths.

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

COVID vaccines saved 20M lives in 1st year, scientists say (ABC News)

Scientists estimate that nearly 20 million lives were saved worldwide by COVID-19 vaccines during their first year.

The researchers did not include how the virus might have mutated differently in the absence of vaccines. The findings “quantify just how much worse the pandemic could have been if we did not have these vaccines." And they did not factor in how lockdowns or mask wearing might have changed if vaccines weren’t available. Using only reported COVID-19 deaths, the same model yielded 14.4 million deaths averted by vaccines. “Although we did pretty well this time — we saved millions and millions of lives — we could have done better and we should do better in the future," Finn said. On Dec. 8, 2020, a retired shop clerk in England received the first shot in what would become a global vaccination campaign.

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Image courtesy of "The Lancet"

Global impact of the first year of COVID-19 vaccination: a ... (The Lancet)

To ensure global vaccine equity, vaccine targets were set by the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility and WHO. However, due to vaccine shortfalls, ...

2 429 000 (2 266 000–2 617 000) 3 448 000 (3 347 000–3 568 000) 2 310 000 (2 248 000–2 376 000) 4 469 000 (4 233 000–4 728 000) 1 614 000 (1 580 000–1 652 000) 1 087 000 (1 068 000–1 106 000) 2 503 000 (2 412 000–2 609 000) 1 574 000 (1 267 000–1 839 000) 1 628 000 (1 589 000–1 673 000) 2 492 000 (2 418 000–2 576 000) 1 188 000 (1 099 000–1 302 000) 2 287 000 (2 220 000–2 355 000)

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Image courtesy of "New York Post"

20 million lives saved by COVID-19 vaccines in first year: report (New York Post)

The coronavirus pandemic could have been much worse without vaccines, according to a new study that claims the number of deaths recorded worldwide from the ...

The effect of mask wearing, lockdowns and possible COVID-19 mutations in the absence of the virus were also not considered in the study. The study did have some significant limitations. The coronavirus pandemic could have been much worse without vaccines, according to a new study that claims the number of deaths recorded worldwide from the coronavirus would be more than triple than it is today.

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