Three important updates.

The FDA rejects Pfizer’s application for vaccinating children under 5.

After an initial review, the FDA asked Pfizer to withdraw its application for approval to vaccinate children between the ages of six months and five years. Pfizer agreed with the request. The safety data was preliminary, and the lower vaccine dose used in the trial did not produce robust immunity.

This should reassure people that the agency is giving these applications serious review and not simply rubber-stamping these applications.

A large South African study shows that the BA.2 form of Omicron is no worse than original Omicron.

A very large study of 100,000 COVID-19 infections shows the BA.2 Omicron variant causes an illness similar in severity to Omicron. This is in contrast to the initial claims that it was potentially more serious and should therefore calm fears that it could cause another surge of illness.

Several studies indicate that COVID-19 vaccine- boosted individuals won’t need another shot for a long time.

As I suggested three weeks ago, the (third) booster shot of COVID-19 provides long lived and broad immunity that should defend against potential new variant viruses. Unless one is at higher risk due to health and immune problems or is well over 65, another shot of vaccine isn’t necessary in the near future. This mimics what was predicted in SARS which infected people 17 years ago. The CDC’s recent proclamation that the immunity wanes after four months is just not accurate in light of this data.