Confusion over COVID-19 Vaccine boosters as WHO endorses antibody treatment

*As the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel overruled FDA advisers on Coronavirus Vaccine booster shots, the World Health Organisation rather endorses Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody treatment

*Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, ‘thinks we’re in the late innings of the crisis’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

There appears some confusion as a panel of experts advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has overruled a similar group advising the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on COVID-19 booster shots.

It was, however, learnt that the regulatory FDA group’s view has prevailed in the ultimately, agency report said.

Hitherto, report had indicated the FDA panel recommended the booster for people 65 and older, people with underlying health conditions, and people in frontline occupations like health care and food distribution.

Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody treatment drug  Photo: Getty Images

The CDC panel recommendation also limited boosters to the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

But Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC, is reportedly siding with the FDA group.

The CDC Chief said that boosters should be offered to people of all ages who are engaged in high-risk occupations amid the pandemic.

Meanwhile, amid the confusing atmosphere, Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody treatment has received a vote of confidence from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

A panel of experts advising the agency has recommended that high-risk COVID-19 patients receive Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment.

ConsumerConnect gathered the treatment is made up of two synthetic antibodies called casirivimab and imdevimab.

They have been shown to boost a patients’ immune system, and the FDA approved the treatment for use in the US November 2020.

The global healthy regulatory body also noted there are two primary groups of patients who should receive the drug: people who do not have severe symptoms but are at high risk of hospitalisation and patients with severe symptoms.

Is COVID-19 ending soon? Moderna CEO answers

On the poser: How long will this pandemic go on? The pandemic was supposed to end with the rollout of virus vaccines, but then, the Delta variant of the disruptive pandemic came along across the world.

Now, Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Moderna, thinks we’re in the late innings of the crisis.

Moderna was quoted to have told a Swiss newspaper, that the pandemic could die out next year as more people around the world get vaccinated.

While predicting that future within the next 12 months, Moderna CEO stated: “We will end up in a situation similar to that of the flu.

“You can either get vaccinated and have a good winter. Or you don’t do it and risk getting sick and possibly even ending up in hospital.”

Kindly Share This Story