|
Researchers are quickly gathering data to assess three things about the Omicron variant: (1) transmissibility; (2) severity; and (3) impact on existing vaccines and therapeutics.
What’s new: On Wednesday, Pfizer released new data revealing that a booster dose of their mRNA vaccine neutralized the Omicron variant and increased antibodies 25-fold, compared to the two dose regiment.
-
However, Pfizer believes two doses of the vaccine can still effectively prevent severe disease.
What’s next: Pfizer is developing an Omicron-specific vaccine which can be ready within 100 days and projects it could be available by March 2022.
Bottom line: In the coming weeks, there will be a flurry of data released on Omicron, and many headlines may seem daunting.
- But we must trust in the fact that the science will continue to lead us where we need to go.
--Kelly Anderson, Senior Director, Health and Drug Policy, Global Innovation Policy Center
INFLATION CONCERN
The US Chamber urges Congress to reconsider current talks on the reconciliation bill that could only " add more fuel to the inflationary fire." They further report that economists expect the federal government to report continued high inflation.
| 
