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COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: New Options on the Horizon and Ongoing Challenges

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States is slowly moving forward with its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with two new vaccine candidates poised to enter the spotlight. Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine is expected to receive FDA approval as early as tomorrow, while Novavax's candidate is aiming to apply for emergency use authorization in the second quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, the Ad Council has launched a new ad campaign to encourage vaccinations, highlighting the importance of personal choice and addressing hesitancy among skeptical Americans.

Key Takeaways:

  • Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine has been found to be 85% effective in preventing severe illness, including in regions dominated by concerning variants, but only 66% protective overall when moderate cases were included.
  • The company has fallen behind schedule, with only 12 million doses promised by the end of February, but it offers logistical advantages, such as storage in a refrigerator and no need for a follow-up visit for a booster shot.
  • Novavax aims to apply for emergency use authorization in the second quarter of 2021, with a potential timeline around April or early May, referencing trial findings in the UK and South Africa to support its application.
  • The Ad Council's new ad campaign, backed by $50 million in donations, aims to win over skeptical Americans by recognizing and responding to hesitancy about vaccines, emphasizing the importance of personal choice.
  • Medicare Advantage, a private version of Medicare, is extremely popular among seniors, but Health Secretary nominee Xavier Becerra expressed concerns about its generosity, suggesting a need for a level playing field between traditional Medicare and private plans.
  • The CDC has traced dozens of coronavirus infections to a gym in Chicago, highlighting the importance of enforcing mask use and improving ventilation in public health settings.
  • States are passing their own coronavirus relief packages, with governors and local leaders arguing that federal aid is still needed to help sheltered businesses and families.

Statistics:

  • 85% efficacy in preventing severe illness for Johnson & Johnson's vaccine in regions dominated by concerning variants
  • 66% overall efficacy for Johnson & Johnson's vaccine when moderate cases were included
  • $50 million in donations for the Ad Council's new ad campaign
  • 12 million doses promised by Johnson & Johnson by the end of February
  • 55 coronavirus cases identified by the CDC among 81 people who attended high-intensity indoor exercise classes in a Chicago gym
  • 21 coronavirus infections linked to a fitness instructor in Honolulu who taught classes without mask-wearing participants

Sources:

  • The Washington Post - "Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine: what you need to know"
  • The New York Times - "Coronavirus cases tied to gym in Chicago, CDC finds"
  • The Associated Press - "States pass own coronavirus relief packages as they wait on federal help"
  • The Washington Post - "Ad Council launches new ad campaign to encourage coronavirus vaccinations"
  • The Washington Post - "Biden's health secretary nominee expresses concerns about Medicare Advantage"
  • The Washington Post - "CDC traces dozens of coronavirus infections to a gym in Chicago"

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