- By mid-September, updated COVID-19 booster shots, targeting BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant, will be available for Americans over the age of 12.
- Novavax submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine. The company says the vaccine can be used as a booster, on top of its primary vaccine series or to mix and match with others.
- HHS will extend the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for another 90 days in mid-October.
- The CDC updates its website and guidelines including Safety Monitoring of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Among Children Aged 5–11 Years — United States, May 17–July 31, 2022.
White House and Federal Agencies
- HHS will extend the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for another 90 days in mid-October.
- The Biden Administration is planning on shifting from purchasing new vaccines, treatments and tests this fall, and expects these products will be mainly distributed through the private sector in 2023.
- After criticism of the agency’s COVID-19 response, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced inter-agency reforms to CDC staff to improve the agency’s ability to communicate about public health initiatives. The reforms include revamping the CDC’s communications office, and the CDC website to better communicate the agency’s guidance.
Economy, Vaccine, Testing, and Treatment
- Updated COVID-19 booster shots, targeting BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant, will be available for Americans over the age of 12 by mid-September.
- Novavax submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine. The company says the vaccine can be used as a booster, on top of its primary vaccine series or to mix and match with others.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance recommending that people taking at-home COVID-19 tests should take another test 48 hours after an initial negative to rule-out a false-negative test result.
- 61% of Americans who have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine plan on getting a booster shot in the fall, according to a University of Michigan poll.
- A study published in the Lancet Psychiatry found that those recovering from COVID-19 have a higher risk at developing conditions such as psychosis, dementia and “brain fog” compared to other respiratory infections.
- A study published in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal found that 4.5% of children infected with COVID-19 during the Delta and Omicron waves had symptoms for up to 12 weeks, while 3.3% had symptoms for longer than 12 weeks. 93% of those with long-COVID had reported mild to moderate symptoms when infected.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
The CDC published the following reports and website updates:
- Cases in the U.S.
- Safety Monitoring of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Among Children Aged 5–11 Years — United States, May 17–July 31, 2022
- COVID-19 Outbreaks and Mortality Among Public Transportation Workers — California, January 2020–May 2022
- Summary of Guidance for Minimizing the Impact of COVID-19 on Individual Persons, Communities, and Health Care Systems — United States, August 2022
- What to Expect at Your Appointment to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19
- Reporting COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States
- Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination
- Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
- Science Brief: Indicators for Monitoring COVID-19 Community Levels and Making Public Health Recommendations
- Estimated COVID-19 Burden
- COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review
