Booster Bandits Are Walking a Fine Line – The Atlantic

Americans have been getting booster shots for months now. By the end of April, when less than one-third of the country was fully vaccinated

Romanian hospitals fill up with COVID patients amid widespread vaccine refusal – Reuters

After living through three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic without getting sick, 55-year-old Roxana Pascu thought that she was healthy enough to withstand the virus and decided to turn down the vaccine.

‘Post-Vax COVID’ Is a New Disease – The Atlantic

Eventually we might all have to deal with COVID-19—but a shorter, gentler version, thanks to vaccines.

Florida’s new surgeon general opposes mandates, calls COVID-19 vaccines “nothing special” – CBS News

On Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Dr. Joseph Ladapo will be the state’s new surgeon general and secretary of the state’s health department.

Study estimates Israeli COVID vaccination averted thousands of deaths – CIDRAP

Writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases yesterday, Israeli scientists estimate that, without the national vaccination campaign, Israel would have had triple the number of hospitalizations and deaths compared with what actually occurred during its latest and largest wave of COVID-19, which could have overwhelmed its healthcare system.

Hospitals in Alaska struggle to handle a worsening outbreak – NYT

Alaska, once a leader in vaccinating its citizens, is now in the throes of its worst coronavirus surge of the pandemic, as the Delta variant rips through the state, swamping hospitals with patients.

South Korea hits a record number of infections after a long holiday

South Korea reported its highest number of new coronavirus infections for a single day on Friday, soon after a long holiday weekend.

Vaccine Headlines

You Might Want to Wait to Get a Booster Shot – The Atlantic

There are no simple rules for timing on a third jab—but maybe don’t rush it. If you’re already eligible for a third shot because you’re immunocompromised, get it on the sooner side. The CDC recommends at least a 28-day wait after your second mRNA dose, while two experts told me that the best window is four to five months after.

I Got Moderna. Can I Boost With Pfizer? – MedPageToday

With FDA authorizing boosters for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) for certain groups, recipients of the Moderna vaccine are wondering if they can crossover to Pfizer for a third dose. Experts are quick to point out that there are no data to guide that decision — and that no federal health agency explicitly recommends doing so.

NIH Director Collins calls Israeli Covid vaccine booster data ‘impressive,’ says it shows tenfold reduction in infection – NBC News

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins said the data from the Israeli study shows a tenfold reduction in infection within 12 days after a person receives Pfizer’s Covid booster.

CDC director overrules advisors, expands booster recommendation – NBC News Video

CDC director overruling advisers to expand Covid vaccine booster recommendation.

Pockets of low vaccine uptake remain in Europe. Here’s how 4 countries are dealing with them – CNN

Most European countries have Covid-19 vaccination rates that would be the envy of much of the world. But even here, hesitancy in certain areas is causing governments to take action — or risk stalling their efforts to control the spread of the virus.

Clinical Considerations

Vaccinated Pregnant Women Pass Protection to Babies in Study – Bloomberg

Pregnant women who get mRNA vaccines pass high levels of antibodies to their babies, according to a study published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology – Maternal Fetal Medicine on Wednesday.

Official Reporting for September 24, 2021