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The Imminent Boosters

All of this tells us the value of the XBB.1.5 booster as a wave gets going, and that it offers a solid humoral immune response. At the least, it should provide enhanced protection abasing sever[e] Covid, albeit it will not provide any last (more than 1-2 months) of added protection vs infection. The FDA is likely to approve the booster today or early next week. The CDC advisory meeting is set for September 12th and there have been plans for rapid distribution to at least some places in the US soon to follow (perhaps by Friday, September 15th or sometime soon thereafter).

Please don’t forget about Long Covid. Reinfections do carry an increased risk for subsequently manifesting this chronic condition. Vaccines and boosters have consistently provided some level of protection (ranging from 15-40% reduction) vs Long Covid. There has been over-emphasis on the protection against severe acute Covid (hospitalizations and deaths), not enough on the chronic form, so consider the added protection of a booster to this purpose.

The unsubstantiated rumor is that only Pfizer and Moderna shots will go out at first, and that Novavax is being held up for further regulatory review. This is disappointing to me, as I had fully intended to get the Novavax shot as soon as available, having only had mRNA shots until now, and wanting to get the advantage of heterologous (mix and match) added kick in immune response (as compared to homologous/same vaccine dosing). I may still wait for the Novavax, but not if the delay is more than a couple of weeks.

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kathan
5 hrs ago
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edited 5 hrs ago
I'd love to read more data and speculation re: the pros and cons of Novavax vs. the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines, as well as the current thinking about vaccination intervals. Are we any closer to understanding the seasonal pattern and OAS? (Also, Eric, I am truly grateful for your work, your vision, and persistence.)

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Eric Topol
3 hrs ago
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I don't buy the seasonal pattern at all. We have had waves of similar magnitude in both hemispheres simultaneously. I don't know of any material difference between these 3 vaccines and the new boosters, but all the data I've reviewed highlights the benefit of incremental immune repose with mixing (heterologous) dosing.

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A new coronavirus booster designed specifically to protect against XBB subvariants, like Eris, is being developed by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. The new vaccines are expected to become available in October, and Swartzberg said they "should be very effective."