The Road goes ever on and on ... Day 208 (708)

The FDA is reviewing data concerned with authorization of a second covid booster in the fall. It is not clear if there is an intended target population such as all adults or certain age ranges. It is also not clear if the dose should target Omicron or be general as the other doses have been.

While the FDA looks into a second booster, news has come out that the CDC has collected and withheld data that might have been helpful to state and local health authorities. One example would be the effectiveness of boosters in 18 to 49 year-olds. Experts looking into this have had to use Israeli data in the absence of any from the US.

Covid has served as a "giant catalyst" in terms of different technologies, data, and research. In the words of a virologist, "Covid has stimulated the rapid translation of previous knowledge into practice. Developing science takes many years and needs an opportunity to be implemented. Covid has provided an easier regulatory environment, with fast-tracked trials, so vaccine developments, for example, have been really quick." The mRNA technology underlying the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is being studied for vaccines against plague, dengue, Zika, and Ebola. Sarah Gilbert, architect of the Oxford vaccine, explains, "We've got the cake and we can put a cherry on top, or we can put some pistachios on top if we want a different vaccine, we just add the last bit and then we're ready to go."

It is unclear why 10 to 30 percent of people infected with covid develop long covid,but four factors appear to increase the risk. The first is high levels of viral RNA early in the infection, which sounds to me as if people who get sicker faster might be more at risk. The presence of certain antibodies also raises the risk. It may be that these antibodies don't fight as hard against covid, or perhaps they get in the way of the antibodies being produced to fight the covid. Third is a reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus. which among other things causes mononucleosis. Finally, there is Type 2 diabetes something we've all likely heard of. 

Around the world, New Zealand will lift vaccine mandates and social distancing measures after the Omicron peak passes. Next door, Australia has reopened its border for fully vaccinated travelers. The first to arrive in Sydney were greeted with plush koalas and kangaroos, jars of Vegemite, and welcome serenades by a quartet of drag queens. South Africa is changing vaccine rules to try to increase uptake. The interval between the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine is being cut in half, 21 days rather then the 42 it has been. The time between a second dose and booster is also being halved, from six months down to three. As of March 1, all travelers, even unvaccinated ones, may enter Israel. They must pass two PCR tests, one before departure and one after arrival. Finally, Queen Elizabeth is alive and possibly kicking, and Russia has not yet (but probably will soon) invaded Ukraine.