AstraZeneca’s 1 dose protects, study shows
A COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the BritishSwedish firm AstraZeneca appears to provide strong protection three months after just one dose while also curbing spread of infections, researchers said Wednesday.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the study supports a strategy of delaying the second shot so more first doses can be delivered to more people. Researchers also found a 67% reduction in positive “swabs” among those vaccinated – crucial news because if no virus is present, the virus can’t spread.
AstraZeneca has not yet applied for emergency use authorization for its vaccine in the U.S. Just two vaccines, by Pfizer-BioNTech and by Moderna, have been authorized in the U.S., and both require a second dose.
Dr. Anthony Fauci lauded the British researchers for responding to their data but said the U.S. will continue to recommend that Pfizer booster shots be given about 21 days after the initial shot, and Moderna boosters about 28 days after.
Nearly 56 million vaccine doses have been distributed in the U.S., and about 34 million have been administered, according to the CDC.
Cases, hospitalizations in consistent downward trajectory
New infections and hospital admissions continue to decrease, and the U.S. now appears to be in a consistent downward trajectory “for both to these important outcomes,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday. But she warned that the proliferation of variants could reverse those trends. Walensky also acknowledged that daily deaths continue to edge higher.
“While deaths have continued to increase, the pace appears to be slowing,” she said. “The recent decline in hospitalizations gives us hope that the number of deaths should start to decrease in coming weeks.”
For the first time since Nov. 13, the United States has reported fewer than 1 million new cases over a seven-day period. The weekly total peaked at more than 1.7 million a few weeks ago. Johns Hopkins University data shows 989,974 new cases in the sevenday period ending Tuesday. Still, at that pace 98 Americans were reported positive every minute. Overall, the U.S. has had 26.4 million confirmed cases and more than 448,000 deaths.
Other top headlines
h Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning America to “just lay low” rather than gathering for Super Bowl parties on Sunday. President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser said during TV interviews that now isn’t the time to host watch parties because of the possibility that guests could be infected with the coronavirus and could sicken others.
h Pope Francis received his second vaccine dose Wednesday. The pope, 84, had the first jab on Jan. 13.
h Law enforcement in Los Angeles promised “immediate and swift” arrests if protesters try to disrupt drive-in vaccinations at Dodger Stadium, as they did last week. One of the largest vaccination sites in the country was temporarily shut down Saturday because dozen of people blocked the entrance. No vaccination appointments were canceled.
h Dr. David Chokshi, New York City’s health commissioner, said he has tested positive and is experiencing mild, “manageable” symptoms. “This is a reminder – if we ever needed one – that COVID is still with us and we all must continue to wear masks, wash our hands, socially distance and stay home if feeling ill.”
h The National Park Service will now require all visitors and employees to wear masks inside buildings and facilities and on lands “when physical distancing cannot be maintained.” That includes busy and narrow trails.