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COVID-19 Federal Responses: Monday, May 23, 2022

COVID-19 Federal Responses: Monday, May 23, 2022
  • The CDC now recommends that children between the ages of 5 and 11 receive a COVID-19 booster shot. This recommendation comes after the FDA authorized a booster dose for this age group.
  • Studies suggest that you can be infected with COVID-19 ‘at least’ a few times a year.
  • There is growing evidence that flu shots may help reduce the risk of being infected with COVID-19. A preprint study published in medRxiv found that a flu shot decreased the risk of COVID-19 infection by 30% in the first two weeks and reduced the risk of severe or fatal COVID-19 by 90%.
  • Studies show that mRNA vaccines initiate a stronger immune response to the variants of concern, and the original virus, compared to the viral vector vaccines such as the vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson.
  • The CDC says that COVID-related myocarditis is more prominent in adolescent boys and young men compared to children between the ages of 5 and 11.
  • The CDC updated its website and guidelines including COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People.

White House and Federal Agencies

  • HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra is expected to extend the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) past mid-July, keeping in place pandemic-era policies until mid-October. HHS said it would give the public 60 days advance notice before allowing the PHE to expire. Sixty days was last week, and HHS did not provide any notice about ending the PHE, thus implying it will be extended once again.
  • Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, said that “time is running out” for the Administration to buy COVID-19 therapeutics ahead of a possible fall surge of the virus. Congress is mulling over a $22.5 billion proposal from the Administration that would enable them to purchase “next-generation vaccines and therapeutics.”

Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment

  • All U.S. households are eligible to order a third round of at-home COVID-19 tests via the U.S. Postal Service website. Each household can request 8 at-home antigen rapid tests.
  • The CDC now recommends that children between the ages of 5 and 11 receive a COVID-19 booster shot. This recommendation comes after the FDA authorized a booster dose for this age group.
  • Pfizer is seeking an EUA for their COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years old. According to Pfizer, a third dose of the vaccine made it more than 80% effective in children younger than 5 years old.
  • According to CDC guidelines, one-third of the U.S. should consider wearing a mask indoors based on levels of COVID-19 community spread.
  • Studies show that immunity from Omicron infection is stronger against variants than a booster.
  • The FDA authorized its first non-prescriptive test for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV.
  • Studies suggest that you can be infected with COVID-19 ‘at least’ a few times a year.
  • There is growing evidence that flu shots may help reduce the risk of being infected with COVID-19. A preprint study published in medRxiv found that a flu shot decreased the risk of COVID-19 infection by 30% in the first two weeks and reduced the risk of severe or fatal COVID-19 by 90%.
  • Studies show that mRNA vaccines initiate a stronger immune response to the variants of concern, and the original virus, compared to the viral vector vaccines such as the one produced by Johnson & Johnson.
  • The CDC says that COVID-related myocarditis is more prominent in adolescent boys and young men compared to children between the ages of 5 and 11.

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates

The CDC published the following reports and website updates:

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