Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #globalvaxequity
Most recents (9)
In places of low vaxn (23% in S Africa), hospitalizations rise with increasing cases with new variant; does not mean it is more virulent; means it is a COVID variant. Now 8 cases at least in US but likely much more (5 in NY, verified community spread)
cnb.cx/3lpjnTE
cnb.cx/3lpjnTE
Yesterday, WHO & S. Africa reported 90% of those in hospital were unvaccinated (meaning vaccines work); there is nothing nothing more important than getting vaccines out to the world (S. Africa 23% vax'd; surrounding countries less)
Watch carefully- current disconnect in trends in S. Africa, comparing cases and deaths. We expect lag but the increasing cases with omicron not showing the same patterns as with delta so may be clue of lower virulence. More data needed
ourworldindata.org/explorers/coro…
ourworldindata.org/explorers/coro…
NU VARIANT (B.1.1.529) in South Africa & why unlikely to evade vaccine-induced immunity. So, what is this variant? Number 1, we don't know yet if it is more transmissible. Still being studied & described. 59 cases uploaded to database
thenationalnews.com/coronavirus/20…
thenationalnews.com/coronavirus/20…
Okay, so what is a "variant" mean for COVID? Means mutations in spike protein that attaches the virus to the host cell: mutations that differ from the "ancestral strain". This is the bit of the virus that tends to mutate most (like H and N surface proteins of influenza). Also, 
of the 8 vaccines approved by the WHO (Novavax will be added soon & will make the 9th), 6 of those 9 involve the spike protein in some way (either code for it with mRNA, DNA; Novavax is protein itself); 3 of the 9 are whole inactivated virions (Covaxin, Sinopharm, Sinovac)
Another paper showing the durability of memory B cell responses after vaccination despite waning of antibodies (latter natural part of immune system) and ability of those memory B cells & triggered antibodies to respond to variants. 342 samples collected
biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
from 61 participants who got Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Measured our 2nd favorite memory cell after T cells- memory B cells and found increasing enduring concentrations over the 6 months studied. Assessed places memory B cells bound to antigens (little pieces) on spike protein
to ensure they bind to places OTHER than the mutations present in variants. Memory B cells bind to conserved regions of the spike protein that are common to all variants- they will react to and produce antibodies to places on the spike protein that are the SAME across variants.
Not only am I not convinced we have the science yet to recommend booster shoots for everyone but I am very worried about #globalvaxequity and how the Biden Administration could donate some of our >>300 million doses to help vaccinate teh world salon.com/2021/08/17/bid…
Please take a look at how many surplus doses we have and what dire straits low-income countries are in to get their populations vaccinated. Getting the world vax'd would decrease worldwide transmission and the emergence of future variants
covidcollaborative.us/global-vaccine…
covidcollaborative.us/global-vaccine…
The T cells generated by the vaccines are holding up amazingly well, with 99% of the hospitalizations being among unvaccinated adults in the US. T cells protect us from severe disease which is summarized well in this article from UCSF @GladstoneInst
gladstone.org/news/chasing-c…
gladstone.org/news/chasing-c…
Interesting take by AztraZeneca vaccine lead scientist saying vax should prevent severe disease which does; delta made virus endemic because so transmissible sadly; so not encouraging boosters for immunocompetent in UK. This company pledged "not to profit"
smh.com.au/world/europe/a…
smh.com.au/world/europe/a…
Very different take than for-profit vax makers & for profit medical systems which are citing declining antibodies in immunocompetent as "waning immunity" without discussing cellular immunity & pushing boosters on non-immunocompromised
leaps.org/booster-shot/
leaps.org/booster-shot/
Scientists in the US & Israel should also talk to scientists in the UK when thinking about cellular immunity to make decisions
CELLULAR IMMUNITY and IMMUNE MEMORY: Would like to explain this bit more (simply I hope) with some key recent papers although there are so many. First of all, remember we have B cells & T cells to protect us. B cells produce antibodies & T cells attack specific parts of pathogen
Redundancy is key. Now we want B cells and T cells to differentiate into MEMORY B/T cells because those hang out a long time. Let's start with memory B cells and a simple explanation here. 2 ways to build memory B cells- see the infection or get vaccine
askabiologist.asu.edu/memory-b-cell
askabiologist.asu.edu/memory-b-cell
Here is what happens when you see the virus again. Seeing the virus the 1st time or getting a vaccine builds up antibodies and then they naturally decline (totally normal; not a glitch; we can't keep all those antibodies in our system- too much protein). If you see virus again
Breakthrough coronavirus cases are disappointing ― but most of them are also evidence that the shots are working. huffpost.com/entry/breakthr… via @HuffPostLife
Think this is responsible reporting by the @HuffPostLife about breakthrough infections with delta as the promise of these amazing vaccines was in the yellow column, in preventing severe disease & death, which is what the vaccines are doing. Never before in history have we swabbed
noses for asymptomatic infection; vaccine trials always designed on preventing disease. No vaccine for common cold because that is not the disease vaccines needed for - vaccines needed for severe disease, so designed that way. COVID vax in that way work stupendously well
Why is stressing vaccines work against delta so important? Because they do & because understandably saying they don't is making "anti-vaxxers" say don't take vaccine. I & Dr. Shafir & Dr. Hotez @PeterHotez interviewed for this piece
motherjones.com/politics/2021/…
motherjones.com/politics/2021/…
"While the Delta variant is worth taking seriously—it does spread more easily..there isn’t enough evidence that it is deadlier than other strains. Crucially, they emphasized that the vaccines are proving to be powerful tools against Delta and other variants of this virus."
So far, "data also indicates that breakthrough infections, when they happen, tend to be mild or asymptomatic. In a recent study published in the NEJM for instance, researchers followed nearly 4,000 frontline workers for four months beginning in late 2020"
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
These days in U.S., asked what end of epidemic would look like & I wanted to explain why COVID - once controlled- will be more like measles (where public doesn't think about every day) than influenza (where public does think about in winter). COVID has highly effective vaccine
like measles does - the effectiveness of the measles vaccine is high like the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine - one dose 93% effective and two doses 97% effective per original studies. We give measles vax
fda.gov/consumers/cons…).
fda.gov/consumers/cons…).
two doses in childhood & then high exposure populations like healthcare workers/international travelers often given booster - schedule is here. We have already discussed that T cells from measles vaccination last a long time -remember paper
cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/m….
cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/m….
