Axios Vitals: Vaccines are still the endgame

Plus, a new poll on school mask mandates | Tuesday, September 07, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By PhRMA   Axios Vitals By Tina Reed ·Sep 07, 2021 Welcome back from the long weekend, Vitals readers. Now that we're on this side of Labor Day, it now feels appropriate to consume pumpkin spice-flavored everything — except for, maybe, this. Also, on Friday, we asked for your photos of the ways you found to relax over the weekend. See the winning shot at the bottom of today's newsletter. Today's newsletter is 865 words or a 3-minute read.     1 big thing: The vaccines are still the pandemic's endgame Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   The goal of the COVID-19 vaccines was always to reduce death and severe illness and — even with the Delta variant — the vaccines are still doing that. But that message is getting lost, infectious disease and vaccine experts tell Axios' Bob Herman. Flashback: After the first vaccines were authorized and put into arms earlier this year, many people expected their high effectiveness would squash the spread of the virus, especially among those who got the vaccine. The virus is still spreading, fueled by the rise of the Delta variant. But the original goal, even from vaccine makers like Moderna, was to "prevent severe disease, hospitalizations and death." "That's what the vaccines do. They're still doing it, even for people who received them in January," said Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease physician at the University of California San Francisco. Between the lines: Infections among the vaccinated have raised concerns, but the chances of a vaccinated person being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19 are exceptionally rare. It's the unvaccinated who continue to be most at risk. "People think the vaccine at some level is failing. We're doing fine," said Paul Offit, a physician and vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Zoom out: Getting more people vaccinated globally, however, means relying less on the Pfizer, Moderna and J&J shots, which are more complex to make and have not been shared equitably. "The tragedy is a science policy failure," said Peter Hotez, a vaccine researcher at the Baylor College of Medicine. "Everyone was so focused on innovation that nobody took a step back and said, 'Hey, wait a minute, shouldn't we also be making vaccines that we know we can scale now?'" What to watch: Hotez and colleagues at Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development have created a COVID-19 vaccine called Corbevax that uses traditional vaccine technology over the newer, more expensive technology. Go deeper: The U.S. needs a COVID goal     2. Biden's booster tension with Moderna Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   A disagreement between the Biden administration and Moderna over booster details may result in beginning boosters with only Pfizer recipients later this month, Axios' Caitlin Owens reported this weekend. State of play: Moderna completed its booster dose submission with the FDA last week. But the submission was for a 50-microgram dose, or half of the dose of the first two shots. The Biden administration wants data for boosting with 100 micrograms as well to evaluate what elicits a more durable immune response, a senior Biden administration official told Axios. Between the lines: If Moderna booster shots are a half-dose, that vastly expands the company's global supply overnight. That means more shots would be available around the world — and means Moderna could make a lot more money. "FDA has requested Moderna to submit both. Moderna's focused only on its 50. Yes, that increases supply, but it's also in its economic interests," the senior administration official said. Yes, but: "50 [micrograms] clearly works, and it also allows additional doses to be freed up and offered in other areas," said a source close to Moderna. What we're watching: If a third Pfizer shot is authorized before Moderna, that complicates the effort and could leave Moderna behind.     3. Tweet du jour: A "Mu" perspective Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios       A message from PhRMA Why Americans reject "so-called" Medicare negotiation     Proponents of government price setting often misrepresent voter opinion on support for allowing the government to negotiate drug prices. Independent polls have repeatedly shown once Americans understand what government negotiation is, and what the tradeoffs are, support evaporates.     4. Poll finds surprises on school mask mandates Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios   Most parents back mask mandates, but the states where GOP parents are most opposed aren't the ones we always hear about, according to a new Axios/Momentive poll. Why it matters: While plenty of attention has centered around debates around the public health measures in schools in states like Texas and Florida, the poll offers a glimpse at how much more widespread opposition is across the country. By the numbers: As expected, individuals' feelings on mask mandates fell along party lines, with 85% of Democrats, 66% of independents, and 32% of Republicans supporting mask mandates for all students and staff at their child's school. But rather than states where school mask mandates have been banned, including in Texas and Florida, opposition to school mask mandates is highest in Colorado (37%), Iowa (44%), Minnesota (38%), and Ohio (43%). Drilling down even deeper, fewer than half (46%) of Republicans in Texas —which has been especially hard hit by COVID in recent weeks — oppose all mask mandates. In comparison, 70% of Colorado Republicans oppose the mandates. The big picture: Nearly 60% of parents backed the broadest school mandates, nearly twice as many as the number who say they oppose all mask mandates. Share this story.     5. Quote of the day: Why nurses are leaving "Every shift is the worst shift I've ever worked. I cried the whole way home from work every day." — A nurse surveyed in a new qualitative analysis from travel nurse agency Aya Healthcare     6. Catch up quick Over 230 medical journals say climate crisis is the "greatest" health threat (Axios) Kentucky governor says state is in "dire" situation from the coronavirus surge (Axios) Hospitalizations for children sharply increase as Delta surges, CDC studies find (New York Times) Federal vaccination data show mixed record on equity (NBC News)     7. Reader photo: Taking a moment Photo: Paul Hughes-Cromwick   This photo was submitted over Labor Day weekend by reader Paul Hughes-Cromwick. This is "the sunset from our house in upstate New York that sits on a pond that opens up to Lake Ontario," he said. I hope you all had a chance to take just as relaxing a break from your labors over the weekend.     A message from PhRMA Myth vs. fact: Americans and Medicare negotiation     Key numbers: 65% of Americans (KFF) oppose negotiation if it leads to less research and development of new treatments or if it limits people's access to medicines once they come to market. 76% oppose H.R. 3-type "negotiation" if it causes delays in access to new medicines. Get the facts.   Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: