Vaccination rate increases in the US 1:05
(CNN) -
With the latest wave of covid-19 disrupting Americans' lives again, the official rollout of booster doses could begin in a few weeks while awaiting clearance from the FDA.
And three doses of the vaccine are likely needed for full protection, Dr. Anthony Fauci said.
He cited two studies conducted in Israel that showed a decrease in infections among people who received a third dose or a booster dose.
There is good reason to believe that a third dose "will really last, and if it is long-lasting, then a three-dose regimen is most likely the routine regimen," said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in an informational meeting this Thursday.
Ultimately, it is up to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to decide whether Americans should receive three doses of the covid-19 vaccine, Fauci said.
The agency will look into the issue later this month after Moderna and Pfizer asked the FDA to authorize a third dose within six to eight months of receiving the second.
Moderna vaccine will reach children from 5 years 0:47
The recommendation for booster doses will likely lead to availability to a large portion of the population, and doses could begin to roll out as early as the week of September 20, said Dr. Vivek Murthy, Chief Health Officer, Thursday. from the United States.
advertising
"At some point, we will be able to find out who needs an additional vaccine and who does not," Murthy said in a call organized by the Covid-19 Community Corps of the US Health and Human Services.
Johnson's covid-19 booster vaccine & # 038;
Johnson Generates Greatly Increased Immune Response, Company Says
"Right now, we don't have that indicator, so we're recommending that not only people get vaccinated in general - regardless of whether they've been infected in the past or not - but also when it comes to getting these extra doses to maintain and expand their protection, that we do it widely, "he said.
Queries grow
The FDA this month authorized the use of additional doses for immunosuppressed people.
Although the doses are not yet available to the public, local health departments across the country have seen a recent increase in calls from people wanting to make appointments, according to the National Association of County and City Health Departments.
However, the emphasis continues to be on increasing vaccination rates among the American population to help overcome the pandemic.
Being fully vaccinated cuts your chances of long-term covid-19 symptoms in half, according to a UK study
Approximately 52.7% of the total US population is fully vaccinated.
But of the 10 states with the worst COVID-19 case rates over the past week, seven of them were also in the top 10 vaccination rates, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC).
Schools and universities adopt security measures due to covid-19
The risk of spreading COVID-19 in schools and campuses remains critical, and recent research shows how unmasked behavior among the unvaccinated can lead to outbreaks.
A study published Thursday describes a Covid-19 outbreak among more than 150 students at a Chicago university after many unvaccinated students traveled during spring break, despite university policies advising against it.
Scientists are concerned about variant c.1.2 2:00
To avoid similar outbreaks, some universities have made it mandatory to attend classes in person.
Virginia Tech dropped 134 students for failing to meet the university's requirement that students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and they "did not present vaccination documentation or receive a medical or religious exemption," according to a statement. of Monday.
The University of Virginia has also dropped more than 200 students for failing to meet their vaccination mandate, according to a statement last month.
Vaccines and masks, key to curbing the pandemic
Not only can vaccination of adolescents and adults prevent infections in schools, but it can also protect children under 12 years of age who do not qualify for the vaccine.
"Communities with high vaccination coverage are seeing fewer pediatric cases and hospitalizations," said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC.
Along with vaccines, wearing face masks is also beneficial in slowing the spread of Covid-19, according to tests.
CDC warns of travel on Labor Day 0:35
New York State will require weekly covid-19 testing of teachers and other school employees, with an opt-out option for those who are vaccinated, and will continue its mask mandate for all who are in a school building, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday.
In Florida, districts will be able to institute mask-wearing mandates after a judge signed a written order Thursday that ruled against Gov. Ron DeSantis's ban on such mandates in schools.
DeSantis said he will appeal.
The new mu variant is under observation
A new variant of the coronavirus designated as mu by the World Health Organization is being viewed as a "variant of interest."
But federal health authorities say they don't consider it immediately dangerous.
On Tuesday, the WHO designated variant B.1.621 as a "variant of interest" because it carries mutations that could help it partially evade vaccines and treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies.
The WHO named it mu by virtue of its system for designating important variants using the Greek alphabet.
"This variant has a constellation of mutations that suggests it could evade certain antibodies," Fauci said Thursday of mu.
"Not only monoclonal antibodies, but antibodies induced by vaccines and convalescent serum. But there are not many clinical data to suggest it, they are mainly laboratory data, in vitro," he added.
Top FDA Executives Resign 1:04
"This is not to downplay it: we take it very seriously. But you have to remember that even when there are variants that decrease the efficacy of vaccines a little, they are still quite effective against variants of that type. we pay attention. We take all of that very seriously. But right now we don't see it as an immediate threat, "Fauci said.
The delta variant still accounts for more than 99% of diagnosed and sequenced COVID-19 cases in the US, Walensky said Thursday, while mu is rare.
"We are watching it carefully," he said.
CNN's Maggie Fox, Lauren Mascarenhas, Jacqueline Howard, Deidre McPhillips, Naomi Thomas, Elizabeth Stuart, Rob Frehse, Hannah Sarisohn, Sara Weisfeldt, and Leyla Santiago contributed to this report.
Covid-19 United States Vaccine against covid-19
