Thread by @VincentRK

It is finally happening. After the expected lag of 3-4 weeks, deaths from COVID in the US are finally coming down. This is fantastic, and I am confident that with ongoing vaccination the drop will be sustained. @ASlavitt #VaccinesWork

The most reliable and meaningful metrics to follow to assess the efficacy of COVID vaccination from this point forward are deaths, hospitalizations, and ICU bed occupancy. Not the number of cases.

With variants emerging, a certain proportion of mild reinfections occurring, and the ease of testing increasing, the number of cases is not a meaningful metric to use for public policy, unless accompanied by rise in severe cases.

This is important.

The risk of asymptomatic or mild corona viral infections in fully vaccinated people is best solved by assessing actual risk of severe infections in these people in clinical studies, and developing and administering boosters as needed.

I had said earlier that UK had a head start on vaccinations. And that what happens there will likely occur in the US 2-3 weeks later. Well, this is where UK is and where I'm hopeful we will be in 2-3 weeks.

Let's try and get to a good April.