Today, the FDA approved and authorized the updated mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, specifically for the monovalent XBB.1.5 variant.
See the announcement on the FDA website for full details. The CDC ACIP will meet to discuss clinically-based recommendations for the use of these vaccines tomorrow.
The 22nd Anniversary Commemoration of the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center will be observed today.
I remember where I was on September 9, 2001. I was climbing the stairs at the hospital on my way back to my office. I was on duty on the psychiatry consultation service. I happened to glance at the television in the lobby from the landing. A news story was showing one of the Twin Towers on fire.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. The rest of the day there was talk of the attack on America.
We visited New York City in 2017 and viewed the Memorial & Museum Plaza. We saw the Survivor Tree, the Callery Pear.
It seems like there is almost nothing else to remember about the date except the disaster and the tragedy.
But one of the local fire stations not far from our house has a Flag of Honor on the wall. It honors those killed in the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
Even if we can’t go to the Memorial in New York City, we can remember it and honor the brave.
New update on the Covid-19 variant BA.2.86 as of Sept. 8, 2023. Highlights:
Today’s update by the CDC on the Covid-19 variant BA.2.86 is at this link.
Highlights:
“CDC’s current assessment is that the updated COVID-19 vaccine, which will be available in mid-September, will likely be effective at reducing severe disease and hospitalization. Immune responses generated from prior infection also help protect against severe outcomes of COVID-19. There is currently no evidence that this variant is causing more severe illness. That assessment may change as additional scientific data are developed. CDC remains committed to releasing updates on trends and observations of this variant.”
“Immune Impacts: Approximately 97% of the U.S. population has antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 from vaccination, previous infection, or both (hybrid immunity). Immune responses to vaccines and infections are complex and involve both humoral (antibodies) and cellular immunity. It is likely that the humoral and cellular immune responses will continue to provide protection against severe disease from this variant. Laboratories are currently working on measuring antibody neutralization of BA.2.86 as well as other immune responses. This is an area of ongoing scientific investigation.
Therapeutics: The assessment as to the impact of BA.2.86 on currently approved or authorized therapeutics is unchanged. Examination of the mutation profile of BA.2.86 suggests that currently available treatments like nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid), remdesivir (Veklury), and molnupiravir (Lagevrio) will be effective against this variant. This assessment is from the SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG), which comprises experts from multiple United States government agencies. Monitoring is ongoing, and CDC will update this document as additional data on the impact of this variant on therapeutics become available.”
The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has a scheduled meeting on September 12, 2023 to discuss Covid-19 vaccines. The information about it is a bit difficult to find. It’s announced as a notice on the Federal Register. On the agenda:
Matters To Be Considered: The agenda will include discussion of COVID–19 vaccines. Recommendation votes for COVID–19 vaccines are scheduled. Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate. For more information on the meeting agenda, visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/index.html.
Clicking the link as of August 28, 2023 did not reveal a meeting agenda, but I expect this to be updated in the near future.
There is an easy to read guide about the seasonal influenza shot for 2023-24 at this link.
Well, Sena’s returning the new Mecity coffee maker today. Go figure, we just got it. There’s really nothing wrong with how it works. It’s a little tough to remove the pod after the brewing is done. It would be nice to have a machine able to make a full mug of coffee, which would mean a capacity exceeding the 10 oz limit.
I don’t know. It might have something to do with the extraterrestrial swimming in her cup.
I’ve been looking for official CDC news about the new Covid-19 variant, BA.2.86 and it looks like it was just posted on their website yesterday.
Highlights:
“Last week, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 called BA.2.86 was detected in samples from people in Denmark and Israel. At least two cases have been identified in the United States. This variant is notable because it has multiple genetic differences from previous versions of SARS-CoV-2.”
“Based on what CDC knows now, existing tests used to detect and medications used to treat COVID-19 appear to be effective with this variant. BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines. Scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of the forthcoming, updated COVID-19 vaccine. CDC’s current assessment is that this updated vaccine will be effective at reducing severe disease and hospitalization. At this point, there is no evidence that this variant is causing more severe illness. That assessment may change as additional scientific data are developed. CDC will share more as we know more.”
The Excessive Heat Warning is still on, so you’re going to need another heat joke:
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Kenya.
Kenya who?
Kenya open the door so I can fix your air conditioner?
I’m hoping for your sake this will be the last heat joke alert.
The heat wave continues and the heat joke today is:
Q: What do we say about politicians during a heat wave?
A: It’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity.
The Heat Index could go as high as 114 degrees. The end might be in sight on Friday. Hang in there and stay cool.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 