September 17, 2021

The California Biotechnology Foundation is committed to keeping you up to date about COVID-19 testing, treatment and prevention advancements. The following resources track what progress has been made as of September 17, 2021. Notable advancements include:

• A third dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can dramatically reduce rates of COVID-19 related illness in people 60 and older, according to data from a short-term study found in the New England Journal of Medicine.
• A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the three COVID-19 vaccines currently in use in the U.S. are highly effective in preventing hospitalizations and emergency room (E.R.) visits.
• California no longer has “high” community levels of COVID-19 transmission, according to data published by the S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an achievement a top state health official credited to broad vaccination uptake and public compliance with restrictions such as mask-wearing.

​Recent News

• Pfizer vaccine booster shots tested
  Bloomberg – September 16, 2021
  A third dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can dramatically reduce rates of COVID-19 related illness in people 60 and older, according to data from a short-term study in Israel. Starting 12 days after the extra dose, confirmed infection rates were 11 times lower in the booster group compared with a group that got the standard two doses, the analysis released by the New England Journal of Medicine found. Rates of severe illness were almost 20 times lower in the booster group.
• COVID-19 vaccines: Effective in preventing hospitalization and E.R. visits
  Medical News Today – September 16, 2021
  Vaccines against COVID-19 were available to the public about 1 year after the pandemic began. Three vaccines are currently in use in the United States: the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. A new study shows that these vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospitalizations and emergency room (E.R.) visits.
• A. County plans to require proof of vaccination at indoor bars, nightclubs, breweries, wineries
  Los Angeles Times – September 15, 2021
  Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required at indoor bars, wineries, breweries, nightclubs and lounges in Los Angeles County under a forthcoming health order aimed at further armoring the region against the pandemic. The mandate, which will be issued by Friday, will require patrons and employees to have at least one vaccine dose by Oct. 7 and be fully vaccinated by Nov. 4, according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
• California now the only state that’s advanced out of CDC’s ‘high’ COVID-19 transmission category
  San Francisco Chronicle – September 14, 2021
  California no longer has “high” community levels of COVID-19 transmission, according to data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an achievement a top state health official credited to broad vaccination uptake and public compliance with restrictions such as mask-wearing. The state is now the only one in the country to reach the “substantial” tier of the agency’s risk chart, for the first time since the rapid spread of the delta coronavirus variant brought the summer COVID-19 surge, state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said.
• Yes, you can get a COVID-19 booster and a flu shot together. Here’s what you need to know.
  The Washington Post – September 13, 2021
  With flu season swiftly approaching in a country already battling a resurgence of COVID-19, experts are urging Americans to avail themselves of any and all vaccines they are eligible for — whether it’s their first COVID-19 vaccination, a booster vaccine dose to combat waning immunity or a flu shot. “It’s terribly important” to get both the flu and coronavirus vaccines, said William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
• Pfizer CEO says COVID-19 vaccine data for kids under age 5 may come in late October
  CNBC – September 14, 2021
  Pfizer expects to release clinical trial data on how well its COVID-19 vaccine works in 6-month to 5-year old children as early as the end of October, CEO Albert Bourla said. COVID-19 vaccine data for kids between ages 5 to 11 will come much sooner, he said, potentially ready to be submitted to the FDA by the end of this month.
• Moderna working to develop a combined flu shot, COVID-19 booster
  New York Daily News – September 14, 2021
  With flu season just around the corner and the delta variant fueling spikes in COVID-19 cases nationwide, Moderna has revealed it is working to create a single shot to help address both concerns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone be vaccinated against the flu by the end of October, a time frame that is set to overlap with the period most Americans could become eligible for the booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
• AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Potential Among HIV Patients
  The Clare People – September 14, 2021
  A new study, published in The Lancet, demonstrates that the vaccine against COVID-19 from Oxford/AstraZeneca has good chances of working even among patients with HIV. The conclusion is still preliminary as the clinical trial is phase 1/2, which allows to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine, that is, its ability to induce the production of antibodies and other types of responses in the organism.

Rely on California Biotechnology Foundation to monitor breaking news and provide updates on the latest advancements in COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines and treatments.

Stay informed on the latest news and trends on the economic and health benefits of this industry by visiting the new CABiotech.org

If you have any questions about informational briefings contact California Biotechnology Foundation Executive Director Patty Cooper at (916)764-2434 or [email protected].