Welcome back to cheddar news wrap everyone. The FDA
says it is time to update the coronavirus vaccines.
Following a vote from an expert panel earlier this week
. The move is to better match the variants currently
circulating in our country. While current Covid 19 vaccines
offer strong protection against hospitalization and death, their ability
to block infections dropped when the super contagious a microns
of variants emerged. Joining me now is friend of
the show. Dr William Schaffner, professor of infectious
diseases at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Dr Schaffner, welcome
back. We always love having you on the show
. The CDC says the omicron sub variants B A
four and be a five now account for over half
of all cases in our country. Covid cases.
Do you agree with the FDA that is that an
update is necessary? Well, Hannah, I think
this decision was long anticipated by myself and many others
. You know, think about an analogous virus,
the influenza virus. It changes also as does covid
and we update that influenza vaccine each and every year
and so something similar is starting to happen here with
covid vaccine. We anticipate by this fall we'll have
Covid vaccine two point oh, we will update it
and it will be what we call a bi valent
vaccine. Some of the original vaccine and some new
vaccine against the omicron strains and the anticipation is that
we that that vaccine will work even better against these
variants than the current vaccine does. So, can
we talk about that? How is the updated booster
different than the other ones from Moderna and Fizer and
possibly even Novavax. Novavax. Well, both of
the major manufacturers. Moderna and Pfizer's are working on
these updated vaccines. And the current vaccine is a
single vaccine. It's anticipated that this new vaccine will
be a by violent. We'll have 22 vaccines in
it. One the original one and number 21 that's
tailored more to these omicron variants In recent weeks.
As you well know doctor, more than 100,000 new
coronavirus cases have been reported in this country. It
could be even more because as you well know a
lot of cases go unreported. What is the state
of the pandemic currently in the United States? Well
, Hannah, I think we've moved from pandemic where
the health care system was really flooded with covid patients
to what we call endemic. That means the virus
is out there smoldering but we have to keep containing
it. We have to develop a truce with this
virus and the way to do that is to keep
vaccinating Because previous infection or previous vaccination although it provides
good protection against hospitalization that does begin to wane after
nine months, 10 months a year or thereabouts.
And so the notion is that periodically we'll have to
remind our immune system to get busy again and make
more protection. That's what we do with flu vaccine
. We get a flu shot each and every year
or that's what's recommended and it may it may well
be that that's what we'll have to do with Covid
also. And we hope that Covid vaccine 2.0 is
already available this fall. So we know summer is
upon us and I hate to mention this but fall
is right around the corner where all the research and
data be completed by the fall. Dr Schaffner,
You see, my fingers are crossed, there are
high hopes that yes, both manufacturers will have a
new vaccine available sometime this fall and you may hear
the annual influenza vaccination campaign now augmented. Roll up
one sleeve for your flu shot and the other sleeve
for your updated Covid vaccine. Dr Schaffner as you
well know the FDA authorized Covid 19 vaccines for Children
under the age of five. I have a lot
of parent friends who are a little reluctant to get
their kids vaccinated. I'm sure you hear that from
your patients. What would you say to these parents
who may be a little reluctant reluctance is natural questions
are normal. Ask them of your pediatrician and family
doctor. Those are the people who are there for
you and your Children day in and day out.
You have confidence in them. You trust them take
a little time and ask them always. Great advice
. Dr Schaffner. We love having you on Dr
William Schaffner, Professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Medical
Center. Thank you so much