Top in ID: Fourth wave warning, vaccine efficacy at 6 months

During a White House briefing, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, reported an increase in COVID-19 cases and expressed concern over the potential risk for a fourth wave.

A recap of her presentation was the top story in infectious disease last week.

Another top story was about new data on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which the companies said was still effective months after administration of the second dose. Pfizer and BioNTech also said the vaccine was protective against variants.

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:

CDC director warns of fourth wave: ‘Right now, I’m scared’

As COVID-19 cases begin to rise again, Walensky pleaded with Americans to “just please hold on a little while longer” and “get vaccinated when you can.” Read more.

Pfizer and BioNTech say vaccine is 91% effective at 6 months, protects against variants

Pfizer and BioNTech said their COVID-19 vaccine remains 91.3% effective up to 6 months after administration of the second dose, according to an updated analysis of a phase 3 study. Read more.

Messenger RNA vaccines lower risk for asymptomatic infection, study finds

Participants who received two doses of a messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine were 80% less likely to test positive for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2, according to real-world study results published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Read more.

Real-world data show mRNA vaccines reduce infection risk by 90%

Real-world data reported Monday in MMWR showed that the two COVID-19 messenger RNA vaccines authorized for use in the United States reduce the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection by 90% 2 or more weeks after administration of the second dose. Read more.

Johnson & Johnson discards batch of COVID-19 vaccine that failed quality check

Johnson & Johnson confirmed that it discarded a batch of COVID-19 vaccine following a mishap at a manufacturing site. Read more.