The hottest Vaccine Efficacy Substack posts right now

Pfizer had evidence early on that vaccine efficacy waned but delayed alerting the public
Regulators and Pfizer did not disclose data on waning immunity promptly
Public health experts emphasize the importance of transparency and honesty in reporting vaccine efficacy

A blood test for long COVID has been developed using unique biomarkers.
COVID hospitalizations and infections are declining in most US states, but some states are seeing increases.
CDC has a program to monitor new and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants at international arrivals terminals.

New evidence highlights concerns about COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and waning protection
Studies point to potential side effects and risks associated with COVID-19 vaccines
Debates surrounding COVID-19 vaccine mandates, policies, and administration continue

The new CDC guidance suggests that people aged 65+ and those who are immune-compromised may get a second booster shot, while healthy adults under 65 can wait until fall to decide.
For individuals over 65, it might be advisable to wait until fall for a booster unless certain conditions like time since the last dose or last COVID infection exceed specific durations.
People not in the recommended booster groups may not need a booster yet, especially if their risk for hospitalization is low, and the potential harms of the vaccine should be considered.

Test-negative case control studies are commonly used in vaccine efficacy calculations, where both cases and controls are enrolled based on the same clinical definition.
Despite being efficient and controlling for healthcare-seeking behavior, the public health messages derived from these studies can be misleading to the general public.
By focusing solely on lab results, test-negative case control studies highlight a significant aspect of modern medicine that prioritizes specific lab outcomes over overall health outcomes.

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Currently, there are low levels of Covid in hospitals and the community. The data suggest that the situation is better than many people think.
Some claims about high Covid cases and hospitalizations are misleading. It's important to examine the evidence and context behind those claims.
Overall, the chances of getting severely sick from Covid are much lower now than before, thanks largely to vaccinations and improved immunity.

The distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine involves complex challenges such as raw material shortages, unique supply chain links, and production innovation issues like mRNA vaccine technologies.
Governments will need to prioritize who receives the vaccine first due to limited initial supplies, potentially leading to lottery-based allocations and individualistic or regional distribution strategies.
Efficiently distributing vaccines to accelerate the end of the pandemic requires balancing targeted distribution to achieve herd immunity in specific areas versus more widespread distribution to lower the overall reproduction rate across the country.