- Two variants of Omicron’s BA.2 sub lineage—BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1—appear to spread about 25% faster than BA.2. The new variants are contagious enough that they are overtaking the BA.2 subvariant, with BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 causing a combined 30% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. last week.
- The CDC established a new center designed to predict and preempt the spread of COVID-19 and future pandemics, which the agency compared to the National Weather Service.
- Novavax is moving ahead with phase two trials after a vaccine targeting both COVID-19 and the flu triggered a comparable immune response to each of the company’s individual vaccines.
- HHS distributed $1.75 billion in new Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments. Around 3,600 providers will receive a distribution under this “fifth batch” of Phase 4 PRF funding.
- A study found that the effectiveness of the primary series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines is better when the two doses are spaced 7 weeks apart rather than 3 to 5 weeks.
White House and Federal Agencies
- The Department of Justice is appealing a Florida district court ruling striking down the federal government’s mask mandate for mass transportation.
- HHS distributed $1.75 billion in new Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments. Around 3,600 providers will receive a distribution under this “fifth batch” of Phase 4 PRF funding.
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- Two variants of Omicron’s BA.2 sub lineage—BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1—appear to spread about 25% faster than BA.2. The new variants are contagious enough that they are overtaking the BA.2 subvariant, with BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 causing a combined 30% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. last week.
- The CDC established a new center designed to predict and preempt the spread of COVID-19 and future pandemics, which the agency compared to the National Weather Service.
- The hospitalization rate for unvaccinated children aged 5 to 11 during the Omicron surge was 2.1 times higher than for vaccinated children. Of this total, 87% of children hospitalized during the Omicron surge were unvaccinated.
- The CDC says that wearing a mask in an indoor environment still offers protection to the wearer against the spread of COVID-19, even if few others are present. Better fitting masks and N95 and KN95 masks offer the greatest level.
- Novavax is moving ahead with phase two trials after a vaccine targeting both COVID-19 and the flu triggered a comparable immune response to each of the company’s individual vaccines.
- Moderna claimed that tests of a “bivalent” vaccine aimed at both the alpha and beta variants of SARS-CoV-2 provided stronger and longer-lasting protection than their original vaccine. The company expects another bivalent vaccine targeting the Alpha and Omicron variants to be available in the fall.
- A study found that the effectiveness of the primary series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines is better when the two doses are spaced 7 weeks apart rather than 3 to 5 weeks.
- A meta-analysis found that 49% of COVID-19 survivors reported long COVID—persistent symptoms—as much as four months after diagnosis.
- Moderna intends to request FDA authorization for its vaccine for children under six by the end of April. Authorization could be granted as early as mid-May but may take until June.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
The CDC published the following reports and website updates:
- Overall U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Wed, 20 Apr 2022 06:00:00 EST
- Cases in the U.S.
- Hospitalizations of Children Aged 5–11 Years with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, March 2020–February 2022
- COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Specific Groups of People
- Operation Expanded Testing
- v-safe COVID-19 Vaccine Pregnancy Registry
- COVID-19 Vaccines for People Vaccinated Outside the United States
