Category: Covid-19

  • New Dominant Covid-19 Variant EG.5

    New Dominant Covid-19 Variant EG.5

    There is a new dominant Covid-19 variant called EG.5. It’s also called Eris. It’s descended from the XBB strains. It’s in the Omicron family and there is no indication it causes more severe disease and would be susceptible to current vaccines.

  • FDA Rumor Control Website

    FDA Rumor Control Website

    I just found the FDA Rumor Control website. It contains a lot of helpful information about the misinformation we often find about health care products and diseases like Covid-19, vaccines and more. It’s an eye-opener.

  • What’s Up with Seasonal Vaccines This Fall?

    What’s Up with Seasonal Vaccines This Fall?

    I just read an interesting article in JAMA on this fall’s Covid-19 vaccine. Most of it is from the FDA meeting in June (Rubin R. This Fall’s COVID-19 Vaccines Will Target Omicron XBB Subvariants, but Who Needs Them Remains to Be Seen. JAMA. Published online July 05, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.10053). One expert was quoted, indicating that there will…

  • Selected Highlights of CDC ACIP Meeting on Covid-19 Vaccines

    Selected Highlights of CDC ACIP Meeting on Covid-19 Vaccines

    Today I’m highlighting a few items of interest to older adults from the summary slide set on Covid-19 vaccines presented on June 23, 2023 at the CDC ACIP meeting last week. Information for other age groups are included in the slide set. Covid-19 continues to be a major health threat for the population, especially older…

  • Covid-19 Variants in the News

    Covid-19 Variants in the News

    Sena alerted me to a CBS news item with the headline “CDC tracking new Covid variant EU.1.1.” The story seemed a bit misleading because the FDA just announced approval of vaccines for XBB.1.5. beginning in the fall. I checked the CDC Data Tracker for variants and noticed XBB.1.5 is still the most common Covid-19 subvariant…

  • CDC ACIP Meeting Today on Vaccines

    CDC ACIP Meeting Today on Vaccines

    The ACIP meeting on several vaccines begins today and runs through Friday, 8:00 a.m-5:30 p.m. on the 21st-22nd and 8:00 a.m.-12:40 p.m. on the 23rd, ET. The committee will discuss vaccines for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in adults, Polio, and Influenza vaccines on the 21st. There will be a vote for each. They will discuss vaccines…

  • Four Seasonal Vaccines for Older Adults?

    Four Seasonal Vaccines for Older Adults?

    There are a number of seasonal vaccines recommended for older adults in the U.S. They include vaccines for influenza, pneumonia, and the newest one is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). I noticed that during the recent FDA meeting to decide on approval of another vaccine for the XBB variant of Covid-19, many experts objected to the…

  • CDC ACIP Meeting June 21-23 to Discuss Covid-19 & RSV Vaccines

    CDC ACIP Meeting June 21-23 to Discuss Covid-19 & RSV Vaccines

    On June 21-23, the CDC ACIP will meet to discuss the new Covid-19 and RSV vaccines (and others).

  • FDA Meeting Today on Strain Selection for Periodic Covid-19 Vaccine

    FDA Meeting Today on Strain Selection for Periodic Covid-19 Vaccine

    The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet today from 8:30 am-5:00 pm ET to discuss and make recommendations on strain selection for the periodic updated Covid-19 vaccines for the 2023-2024 vaccine campaign. The discussion topic will be: “Based on the evidence and other considerations presented, pleasediscuss selection of a specific XBB…

  • CDC Updated Recommendations for Covid-19 Vaccine Use

    CDC Updated Recommendations for Covid-19 Vaccine Use

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) held a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) meeting to discuss updated recommendations for Covid-19 vaccine use on May 11, 2023. You can view the YouTube recording of the meeting and view presentation slides at this link. The meeting was designed for clinicians.