COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to decline in the U.S., however several areas are still in the high-community transmission zone. Vaccination remains to be the best protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant. The FDA recently expanded, and the CDC endorsed, the use of the COVID-19 vaccines for a single booster dose in a subset of fully vaccinated individuals. We are approaching the holiday season and winter months that take us indoors, and it is crucial that every eligible person is fully vaccinated and given a boost where recommended.
It remains Ventegra’s deep commitment to our clients to provide the most updated and relevant one-stop-shop resource on COVID-19.
Key highlights for this update:
- The more transmissible Delta variant continues to account more than 99% of the sequenced COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
- COVID-19 vaccination rates, cases, and deaths by vaccination status.
- Terminology 101 for COVID-19 vaccine dosing.
- Vaccine booster update, including heterologous or (“mix and match) for booster dose.
- CDC Information on preventing, reporting, and managing COVID-19 vaccine administration errors.
- FDA authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 through 11
- CDC holiday guidance for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Variants
The CDC genomic surveillance program continues to identify new and emerging SARS CoV2 variants and provides an estimated bi-weekly proportion of the most common variants circulating in the U.S. Currently, the more transmissible Delta (B.1.617.2) variant accounts for over 99% of the sequenced COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
Vaccination rates, COVID-19 Cases, and Deaths
COVID-19 Vaccine Dosing Terminology
Primary series: 2-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or a single dose of Johnson and Johnson.
Additional dose after any primary series: a subsequent dose of vaccine administered to people who likely did not mount a protective immune response after primary vaccination to optimize vaccine-induced protection.
Booster dose: a subsequent dose of vaccine administered to people whom protection from primary vaccination is likely to have waned over time.
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Homologous booster dose: a subsequent dose of vaccine that is the same product as the primary series.
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Heterologous booster dose (mix-and-match): a subsequent dose of vaccine that is a different product than the primary series.
Vaccine booster update, including heterologous or “mix and matching” for a booster dose
With recent FDA EUA amendments and CDC endorsement, any of the three COVID-19 vaccines are now authorized and may be used for a single booster vaccination dose, regardless of the vaccine used for primary vaccination. When a heterologous or 'mix and match' booster is administered, the eligible population and dosing intervals are those of the vaccine used for primary vaccination.
Please check the Ventegra COVID-19 Vaccine Grid for recent revisions regarding COVID-19 boosters, including eligible population and dosing. This quick-reference resource is updated regularly as additional information becomes available.
Preventing, reporting, and managing COVID-19 administration errors
FDA authorizes Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 through 11 years of age
FDA authorization was based on a thorough and transparent evaluation of the data, including input from advisory committee experts who overwhelmingly voted in favor of making this vaccine available for this age group. The vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 with no serious side effects being detected in the on-going trial within this age group. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets November 2, 2021 to discuss further clinical recommendations.
BREAKING NEWS: ACIP voted unanimously this afternoon to approve Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years old -- Walensky expected to issue final decision soon.
COVID-19 Holiday Guidance
As winter settles in and the holidays approach, the CDC holiday guidance is provided to maximize protection from the Delta variant and minimize the transmission to others. The guidance includes getting fully vaccinated as soon as possible and wearing masks indoors in public if you are in areas of substantial or high transmission.
