Important new study on immunity (anti-spike Ab) waning and breakthrough infections after AZ & Pfizer vaccines in >5500 people 1. AZ far more pronounced and earlier waning than Pfizer & more breakthroughs
2.Anti-S correlated w/ risk of breakthroughs medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
"Our data demonstrate the importance of booster doses to maintain protection in the elderly and clinically vulnerable and suggest that these should be prioritized to those who received ChAdOx1 [AZ vaccine] as their primary course."
About timing:
"Our results show waning to levels associated with breakthrough infections before this 6 month period for those vaccinated with ChAdOx1 but not for BNT162b2."
The rapid and marked decline of anti-Spike antibodies seen with the AZ vaccine is very similar to what has been reported for the J&J (both adenovector-based) cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…@CDCMMWR
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
My summary table comparing the new and highly effective anti-Covid pills, a vital step forward for prevailing over the pandemic
No head-to-head trial to know about true comparative efficacy, but key differences in mechanism and other features
The next chapter of anti-Covid is about to start with pills that inactivate the virus, irrespective of variants. First will be Molnupiravir in a matter of weeks, then this one.
Helping to get us onto an exit ramp. science.org/doi/10.1126/sc… @ScienceMagazine
These will add an important new layer of defense early after symptom onset w/ test positive confirmation and also, as clinical trials get completed, for known exposure
Success of the Covid pill era depends on rapid tests that are widely available, free or very inexpensive, and accurate. While the pills are coming soon, the US is still woefully unprepared for their roll out.
A new, rigorous and important study of Covid transmission—with or without prior vaccination—in 621 people with mild infections
Just published @TheLancetInfDis thelancet.com/lancet/article…
Vaccination reduced spread, but it still occurred in household contacts (unvaxx 38%, vaxx 25%)
Viral load was assessed from 8145 respiratory tract samples for up to 20 days, irrespective of symptoms
The peak load (Delta variant) was similar for unvaccinated vs vaccinated cases, but faster clearance in the latter
All breakthrough cases were mild
From the accompanying editorial thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lanc…
“This study unfortunately also highlights that the vaccine effect on reducing transmission is minimal in the context of Delta variant circulation”
This is what a real breakthrough infection report should look like. Thanks Oregon oregon.gov/oha/covid19/Do…
People < age 60 are not "immune" from hospitalizations and deaths
J&J>Pfizer>Moderna
Currently ~1/4 of cases
We still do not have this for the US, let alone most states
In contrast, the US has only posted such data once, now 2 months outdated, and represent only ~30% of the country covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra…@CDCgov
If the US ever produced and published an up-to-date, informative report, it would be a real breakthrough
Hello @HHSgov@WHCOVIDResponse@CDCgov
2 new @NatureMedicine papers
First from half of US public school data
"Schools can open for in-person learning during the pandemic with minimal contribution to sustained community incidence of infections, provided other public safety measures are adopted." nature.com/articles/s4159…
2nd from Japan
"We do not find any evidence that school closures in Japan reduced the spread of COVID-19." nature.com/articles/s4159…