IMPORTANT
Finally we have an Omicron vaccine!
A vax that many unvaccinated ppl have been waiting for
But, there's a SERIOUS problem in US!
You canNOT get the life-saving Omicron vax if you didnt get the original vax!
This is unscientific policy
๐งต
1/
fda.gov
Finally we have an Omicron vaccine!
A vax that many unvaccinated ppl have been waiting for
But, there's a SERIOUS problem in US!
You canNOT get the life-saving Omicron vax if you didnt get the original vax!
This is unscientific policy
๐งต
1/
fda.gov
That's right
For ppl who have held out on getting vax'd until an updated vaccine arrived
They canNOT get vaccinated in US w the updated vaccine
In era of Omicron, the very ppl who may benefit most from an Omicron vax are prohibited from it!
There is no scientific basis
2/
For ppl who have held out on getting vax'd until an updated vaccine arrived
They canNOT get vaccinated in US w the updated vaccine
In era of Omicron, the very ppl who may benefit most from an Omicron vax are prohibited from it!
There is no scientific basis
2/
We know that an Omicron specific vaccine is MUCH better than getting no vaccine
AND
We KNOW an Omicron specific vaccine is very likely better than getting an original Wuhan Vaccine during an era of Omicron
*Especially for an unvaccinated person*
3/
AND
We KNOW an Omicron specific vaccine is very likely better than getting an original Wuhan Vaccine during an era of Omicron
*Especially for an unvaccinated person*
3/
The bivalent Omicron vax is being rolled out for a reason - because it matches circulating virus
Bc of the ability of Omicron to evade immunity from the original vaccine...
The Omicron vaccine is expected to IMPROVE protection over the original
nytimes.com
4/
Bc of the ability of Omicron to evade immunity from the original vaccine...
The Omicron vaccine is expected to IMPROVE protection over the original
nytimes.com
4/
From any reasonable scientific, medical or public health view
This policy of relegating unvaccinated ppl (the very ppl you MOST want to get a vax today) to an outdated vaccine...
Is simply unscientific, goes against any reasonable COVID response goals and is, frankly, cruel
5/
This policy of relegating unvaccinated ppl (the very ppl you MOST want to get a vax today) to an outdated vaccine...
Is simply unscientific, goes against any reasonable COVID response goals and is, frankly, cruel
5/
A primary objective of @POTUS @WHCOVIDResponse is to ensure as many Americans get vaccinated as possible
Development of Omicron vax is a great time to encourage unvax'd to get vax'd
This unscientific US policy harms the US Public Health Response to COVID
@AshishKJha46
6/
Development of Omicron vax is a great time to encourage unvax'd to get vax'd
This unscientific US policy harms the US Public Health Response to COVID
@AshishKJha46
6/
So.
What's going on with this?
When the compendium of human knowledge around vaccines & immunity suggests unvax'd should get the new vax
Why is there a @US_FDA regulation that is blocking the American's who may benefit most from the new Omicron vaccine from getting one?
7/
What's going on with this?
When the compendium of human knowledge around vaccines & immunity suggests unvax'd should get the new vax
Why is there a @US_FDA regulation that is blocking the American's who may benefit most from the new Omicron vaccine from getting one?
7/
There's no scientific reason
It's red tape
Put simply, it's bc Original Vax are now FDA approved
The Omicron Bivalent Vax is FDA Emergency Use (EUA)
So, it confuses policy/FDA to recommend EUA vax when fully approved vax is for the same indication - EVEN if inferior
8/
It's red tape
Put simply, it's bc Original Vax are now FDA approved
The Omicron Bivalent Vax is FDA Emergency Use (EUA)
So, it confuses policy/FDA to recommend EUA vax when fully approved vax is for the same indication - EVEN if inferior
8/
My recommendation
(And I believe the recommendation from essentially any vaccine immunologist with a modicum of scientific understanding)
Provide Omicron Bivalent vaccine as both a Primary series AND a booster series under Emergency Use Authorization
In fact...
9/
(And I believe the recommendation from essentially any vaccine immunologist with a modicum of scientific understanding)
Provide Omicron Bivalent vaccine as both a Primary series AND a booster series under Emergency Use Authorization
In fact...
9/
While Omicron (or off-shoots) are dominant
It may even be the most scientifically grounded to limit indications for FDA approved original Wuhan vaccine as a primary series
And recommend the bivalent as Primary AND Boost under EUA
This would fix the policy conflict too.
10/
It may even be the most scientifically grounded to limit indications for FDA approved original Wuhan vaccine as a primary series
And recommend the bivalent as Primary AND Boost under EUA
This would fix the policy conflict too.
10/
In a fast moving pandemic
We MUST be nimble
We mustn't allow unscientific policy to prevent keeping the most people healthy
Public health policy should be driven by science and drive regulation
Regulation should adjust to public health priorities
Not other way around
11/
We MUST be nimble
We mustn't allow unscientific policy to prevent keeping the most people healthy
Public health policy should be driven by science and drive regulation
Regulation should adjust to public health priorities
Not other way around
11/
In addition
It's very important to note that few ppl today are immunologically naive: MOST have been exposed
So the very notion of a "primary series" doesn't mean what it once did
At minimum, we should consider anyone with a Positive ANTIBODY test to be "Booster" eligible
12/
It's very important to note that few ppl today are immunologically naive: MOST have been exposed
So the very notion of a "primary series" doesn't mean what it once did
At minimum, we should consider anyone with a Positive ANTIBODY test to be "Booster" eligible
12/
I hope
@CDCDirector @CDCgov
@AshishKJha46 @WHCOVIDResponse
@US_FDA &
@POTUS
Can work to fix this unscientific public health blockade
It is unfortunately born from outdated policies & red-tape
And is exactly the type of thing a Public Health Emergency is meant to avoid
13/
@CDCDirector @CDCgov
@AshishKJha46 @WHCOVIDResponse
@US_FDA &
@POTUS
Can work to fix this unscientific public health blockade
It is unfortunately born from outdated policies & red-tape
And is exactly the type of thing a Public Health Emergency is meant to avoid
13/
@apoorva_nyc
@HelenBranswell
@zeynep
@EricTopol
@nytimes
@washingtonpost
@politico
Just tagging a few who may find this issue disturbing and serve to amplify it to help improve the US vaccine strategy.
I urge anyone to retweet the thread.
14/
@HelenBranswell
@zeynep
@EricTopol
@nytimes
@washingtonpost
@politico
Just tagging a few who may find this issue disturbing and serve to amplify it to help improve the US vaccine strategy.
I urge anyone to retweet the thread.
14/
Some folks may suggest it's bc there is a smaller amount of mRNA in the Omicron containing bivalent vaccine
Pfizer has same mcg/dose as original
Moderna has half as much as original... but original was >3x Pfizers... so at half, it's still more mRNA than Pfizers original
15/
Pfizer has same mcg/dose as original
Moderna has half as much as original... but original was >3x Pfizers... so at half, it's still more mRNA than Pfizers original
15/
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