Top in ID: COVID-19 surge ‘inevitable,’ antiviral shows promise
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Former CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, said that a surge in COVID-19 cases is “inevitable” due to low vaccination rates in the United States.
Healio spoke with Frieden and other experts to learn more about the predicted trajectory of the pandemic. It was the top story in infectious disease last week.
Other top stories included data on Pfizer’s investigational oral antiviral Paxlovid, which reduced COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ unanimous vote in favor of universal hepatitis B vaccination for all adults aged 19 to 59 years.
Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:
New surges of COVID-19 ‘inevitable’ as millions remain unvaccinated
Last month, in an interview with MSNBC, Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, warned that the state of Texas could see a fifth wave of COVID-19 right in time for the holidays. Read more.
Pfizer says antiviral reduces risk for hospitalization, death from COVID-19 by 89%
Pfizer said Friday that its investigational oral antiviral Paxlovid reduced COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths by 89% in phase 2/3 study of nonhospitalized adults at high risk for severe disease. Read more.
ACIP recommends universal hepatitis B vaccination for adults aged 19 to 59 years
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously, 15-0, on Wednesday to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for all adults aged 19 to 59 years. Read more.
FDA delays decision on Moderna vaccine for adolescents over myocarditis risk
According to Moderna, the FDA said it will need more time to review the company’s request for an emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents to further review the risk for myocarditis in this population. Read more.
Study supports extra doses of COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised patients
COVID-19 vaccination is less effective in immunocompromised adults than it is in the general population, a large study found, supporting recent recommendations that they receive extra doses. Read more.