Thread by @ASlavitt

NEW: COVID vaccines will now be recommended annually, with the flu shot.

I spoke to the White House yesterday about the plan. 1/

Rather than an ad hoc schedule which confuses many as to when to get vaccinated, the thinking is that an annual shot will result in many more people getting vaccinated.

They point to 2/3 of adults who take the flu vaccine vs 1/3 of adults over 50 who have been taking COVID. 2/

We have infrastructure, outreach, and habits that can be capitalized to get people their flu and COVID vaccines together.

This is the prime benefit.

But of course it comes with some questions they are preparing to address. 3/

What if I’m immunocompromised?
What if there’s a bad new variant that requires an update?
What if I want a Spring booster so I don’t miss work or school?

For all of these reasons, they plan to make sure a booster is available for those who want them.
4/

The expectation will be that the vast majority of people won’t want a second vaccine— as the vast majority don’t even do annual now— and that more will take an annual along with flu with this change. 5/

There are some unknowns of course.

How effective will the bivalent be at preventing infection?
How long will it last?
Will a new immune evasive variant come along?

The Administration must remain nimble & agile. No one should look at adjustments as failures but as successes. 6/

And of course who will pay for it all now that Congress has decided not to?

Read more about that in my piece in @TheAtlantic. 7/

theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

In the end what we’re hoping for us more predictability.

Whether we have that or not is more up to COVID than it is the Administration. But orienting that way, communicating clearly to the public & being prepared for anything is the way to go. /end