- The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Union’s drug regulator, recentlydiscovereda possible link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and rare blood clotting (venous thromboembolism). J&J willseekFDA authorization of their COVID-19 booster vaccine.
- An updated Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) pollshowsmore than a third of parents plan to vaccinate their children aged 5-11.
- A recent studyreinforcedthat unvaccinated individuals infected with COVID-19 are more likely to catch the virus again.
- Pharmaceutical company Merck & Coannouncedthey will seek FDA Emergency Use Authorization for their COVID-19 antiviral pill “as soon as possible.”
- BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahinstatedthat a new COVID-19 vaccine may be necessary mid-2022 as the virus will continue mutating to escape vaccines and immune systems.
White House and Federal Agencies
- The White House COVID-19 Response Teamhelda Press Briefing on Friday, Oct. 1. Information was presented regarding vaccination rates, booster shots, vaccines for children, and plans to increase vaccination rates among Americans.
- The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC)announcednew meetings in October to discuss booster vaccines, mix-and-match vaccines, and vaccines for children.
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- Johnson & Johnson willseekFDA authorization of their COVID-19 booster vaccine this week.
- The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) releasedguidancereminding the public that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy rule does not apply to disclosures and requests for information about whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Pharmaceutical company Merck & Coannouncedit will seek FDA Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID-19 antiviral pill “as soon as possible.”
- Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Dr. Anthony Faucistatedhis support for the drug.
- A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studyrevealedthat people with disabilities are less likely to be vaccinated.
- 美国疾病控制与预防中心的指导indicatedthat COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with other vaccines, including influenza vaccines.
- Dr. Fauciexpressedhis concern for individuals using religious exemptions to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine. He stated that “less than a handful” of religions actually oppose vaccinations.
- BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahinstatedthat a new COVID-19 vaccine may be necessary mid-2022 as the virus will continue mutating to circumvent vaccines and immune system defenses.
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Union’s drug regulator, recentlydiscovereda possible link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and rare blood clotting (venous thromboembolism).
- An updated Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) pollshowsmore than a third of parents plan to vaccinate their children aged 5-11.
- Dr. Faucireportedthat immigrants are not driving COVID-19 infection rates.
- A recent studyreinforcedthat unvaccinated individuals infected with COVID-19 are more likely to catch the virus again.
- Dr. Fauciannouncedit is too soon to determine the recommendations for family gatherings this holiday season.
