Brief Messages or Announcements – Page 39

New Hawkeye Wave Anthem Strong Contender

I formally nominated “I Lived” by OneRepublic to be the new Hawkeye Wave Anthem. On the other hand, I just noticed there is a strong contender for the new Hawkeye Wave song. Dalles Jacobus is a former Hawkeye football player who recently submitted his song, “We Wave.”

He has a lot going for him. He’s a former Iowa football player, He recently graduated from the University of Iowa. He wrote his own song, “We Wave.” He taught himself how to play the guitar by watching YouTube. And there is growing support for the song.

He’s Iowa grown and that’s a real plus for this song. The melody itself feels like a wave. And what Dalles himself says about the song puts the emphasis right where it needs to be, “But, you know, at the end of the day it’s not about the song that’s playing, it’s about the act and the actual wave.”

Featured image picture credit: Pixydotorg.

Reminder: FDA Advisory Committee Meeting Today on Covid-19 Vaccine Boosters

Just a reminder; today the FDA Advisory Committee will meet from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, ET today to discuss Covid-19 vaccine boosters. I’ll be unable to post a “play by play” as I have in the past because I have something else on my schedule.

Especially noteworthy is the Briefing Document in the meeting materials, entitled:

“Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses and Process for COVID-19 Vaccine Strain Selection to Address Current and Emerging Variants.”

Section 7 starts on page 17, “Topics for VRBPAC Discussion.” The important issue is determining strain composition of Covid-19 vaccines and what goes into consideration for the optimal use of additional booster doses.

April 6, 2022 Update:

“Topics for VRBPAC Discussion

Following the scheduled presentations and open public hearing, the VRBPAC will be asked to discuss and provide input on the following topics (no voting questions):

• What considerations should inform strain composition decisions to ensure that available COVID-19 vaccines continue to meet public health needs, e.g.:
-Role of VRBPAC and FDA in coordinating strain composition decisions
-Timelines needed to implement strain composition updates
-Harmonization of strain composition across available vaccines

• How often should the adequacy of strain composition for available vaccines be assessed?

• What conditions would indicate a need for updated COVID-19 vaccine strain composition, and what data would be needed to support a decision on a strain composition update?

• What considerations should guide the timing and populations for use of additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses?”

Quick Announcement on Covid-19 2nd Vaccine Booster

According to a University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics announcement on The Loop, 2nd booster doses were available to employees, volunteers, and patients starting April 4, 2022.

AMA Update on Covid-19 2nd Vaccine Booster

The AMA published an update on the Covid-19 Vaccine 2nd booster and the YouTube presentation is only a couple of days old and pretty thorough. While the CDC indeed gave a permissive recommendation, it sounds like another jab would be recommended in the fall anyway, likely targeting variants. The FDA Advisory Committee still has a meeting scheduled for April 6, 2022. It sounds like Medicare and private insurance will cover the cost. The Federal funding outlook doesn’t sound as positive for the uninsured.

FDA and CDC Endorse 2nd Vaccine Booster for Covid-19

On March 29, 2022, both the FDA and the CDC endorsed a 2nd Covid-19 booster vaccine dose. The FDA Advisory Committee on vaccines still has a meeting scheduled about vaccine boosters on April 6, 2022. Neither of the booster doses will be variant specific.

FDA Advisory Committee Meeting on Covid Vaccine Boosters Scheduled for April 6, 2022

The FDA Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Related Biological Products has scheduled a meeting on April 6, 2022 “to discuss considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and the process for COVID-19 vaccine strain selection to address current and emerging variants.” The meeting will run from 8:30 AM-5:00 PM ET.