The 5-year-old looked nervously at her older brothers, scanning their faces for any sign of distress as needles were swiftly stuck into their upper arms, the syringe plungers pushed in and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine administered. Whether it was for her benefit or not, they barely flinched.
Then it was her turn. The girl, Oma Nnagbo, looked wide-eyed at the cheerful nurse, who a moment later declared, All done, very brave!
Michael Nnagbo, 40, had brought his three children to this pop-up vaccine clinic in Wolverhampton in Englands West Midlands after receiving a notice from their school about a measles outbreak in the nearby Birmingham area.
Its what we have to do, and its important to do, Mr. Nnagbo said. I just want them to be safe. And it was easy, you could just walk in.
Cases of measles, a highly contagious but easily preventable disease, have begun to crop up in clusters as the number of children getting the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has declined globally. The trend worsened after the coronavirus pandemic because of a lack of access and hesitancy among some groups. The measles virus can cause serious illness and, in the most extreme cases, death.
Across Europe, measles cases rose more than 40-fold in 2023 compared with a year earlier to more than 40,000 from less than 1,000 according to the World Health Organization. And while much of that increase was concentrated in lower-income nations like Kazakhstan, more prosperous nations, where higher vaccination rates had long made cases of measles rare, are also experiencing worrying outbreaks.
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Vaccines don't save lives. Vaccinations save lives.
A vaccine in an arm, on the other hand, can save the world. Childhood vaccination prevents about 4 million deaths each year, and the World Health Organization estimates that the measles vaccination saved 56 million lives between 2000 and 2021.
Yet far too many measles vaccines still remain in their vials, with global immunization coverage at only 74 per cent in 2021, far from the 95 per cent required to prevent outbreaks.
As a result, measles cases worldwide increased by 79 per cent in 2023, with the WHO European Region of particular concern: Last year, 41 of its 53 member states tallied 58,000 cases, a dramatic rise from just 941 cases in 2022.
Canada has so far been spared that catastrophic increase, but were seeing worrying signs this year. Seventeen cases were confirmed as of Monday, with infections in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.
Quebec public health director Luc Boileau reported 10 cases in that province alone, including seven in Montreal. And while some infections were likely acquired through international travel, community spread now seems evident.
That spread could continue since only 78.5 per cent of Montreal elementary school children are vaccinated. And according to Mylene Drouin, the citys public health director, vaccination rates have fallen below 50 per cent in some areas.
Montreal is therefore at significant risk of a major outbreak, but its not alone. According to the 2021 National Immunization Coverage Survey, just 79.2 per cent of seven-year-old children across the country are fully vaccinated, meaning theyve received two doses of the vaccine.
Even worse, the percentage of fully vaccinated seven-year-olds has been dropping steadily, from 87 per cent in 2017, and 83.3 per cent in 2019. Vaccination rates among two-year-olds -- who receive only one dose -- are substantially higher, but the decline in the percentage of fully immunized elementary school age children remains troubling.
The rise of anti-vaccination sentiments during the COVID-19 pandemic might be playing a role in this decline, though according to the immunization survey, only 2.5 per cent of parents said the pandemic made them less inclined to vaccinate their kids.
That said, the survey did find that nearly half of parents fear vaccine side effects, and an increasing percentage believe that alternative medicine and healthy lifestyles can replace the need for vaccination.
A February Angus Reid poll echoed those findings, with one in three respondents saying theres a real risk of serious side effects from vaccines, and 22 per cent insisting that the human body doesnt need vaccines to build immunity.
These beliefs, along with related ones such as a general lack of trust in vaccines, led one in six Angus Reid respondents to say that they were really against vaccinating their kids -- a fourfold increase since 2019.
Reversing this trend is imperative if were to avoid major outbreaks in the future, and fortunately, most Canadians are open to receiving new information and changing their minds.
In fact, a by the Canadian Vaccination Evidence Resource and Exchange Centre (CANVax) found that parents wanted more information than they were getting (mainly balanced information about benefits and harms), presented clearly and simply, and provided in good time.
Health care providers are, of course, key to disseminating such info. But beyond that, the CANVax and other reviews found positive effects from both mass vaccination campaigns and smaller efforts aimed at addressing the concerns -- such as side effects -- of specific communities and individuals.
Local campaigns can also benefit from the support of community, faith and industry leaders, who often enjoy significant trust in their communities. And novel approaches to conveying information, including the use of narratives instead of merely presenting statistics, can bolster efforts to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
To reverse declining vaccination rates, then, we need to engage in a thorough, multi-faceted effort, and to act like vaccinations can save our lives. Because they can.
NEW YORK Health officials are investigating whether there's a link between two new RSV vaccines and cases of a rare nervous system disorder in older U.S. adults.
The inquiry is based on fewer than two dozen cases seen among more than 9.5 million vaccine recipients, health officials said Thursday. And the available information is too limited to establish whether the shots caused the illnesses, they added.
But the numbers are higher than expected and officials are gathering more information to determine if the vaccines are causing the problem. The data was presented at a meeting of an expert panel that provides vaccine policy advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials said they were investigating more than 20 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare illness in which a persons immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and paralysis. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop GBS in the U.S. each year, and it's more commonly seen in older people, according to the CDC.
Most people fully recover from the syndrome, but some have permanent nerve damage. Guillain-Barre can occur in people after they are infected with a virus, but in some instances cases have been linked to vaccinations.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of cold-like symptoms but it can be dangerous for infants and the elderly.
Last year, the CDC signed off on a recommendation made by the advisory panel, aimed at Americans age 60 and older. It was for a single dose of RSV vaccine. There were two options, one made by Pfizer and the other by GSK.
The CDC said that patients should talk to their doctors about the vaccines and then decide whether to get it.
Officials were aware that instances of Guillain-Barre had been identified in clinical trials done before the shots were approved for sale, and that different systems were watching for signs of problems.
At a meeting of the expert panel on Thursday, CDC officials presented an analysis of the reports taken in by those systems.
About two-thirds of the cases occurred in people who got a version of the vaccine made by Pfizer, called Abrysvo. But officials are also doing follow-up tracking in people who got Arexvy, made by GSK.
About two cases of Guillain-Barre might be seen in every 1 million people who receive a vaccine, health officials estimate. A CDC analysis found the the GSK rate was lower than that, but 4.6 cases per million were reported in recipients of the Pfizer shot.
Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also showed an above-expected number of Guillain-Barre cases being reported in RSV vaccine recipients, with more among Pfizer shot recipients.
Taken together, these data suggest a potential increased risk in RSV vaccine recipients 60 and older that must be explored, said Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a CDC vaccine safety monitoring official.
Officials from GSK and Pfizer made brief statements during the meeting, noting that sorting out a safety signal is complicated.
Pfizer is committed to the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the safety of Abrysvo and is conducting four safety studies to look into the possibility of vaccine-related GBS, said Reema Mehta, a Pfizer vice president.
CDC officials also presented estimates that the vaccines have prevented thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths from RSV, and that current data indicates the benefits of vaccination outweigh the possible risks.
Those who had COVID-19 and received the latest vaccine can have a reduced risk of severe outcomes, according to recent research from the Cleveland Clinic, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases.
In addition, the study found the updated Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines, when combined with antiviral treatments like nirmatrelvir and molnupiravir, can significantly decrease the chances of hospitalization and death from current COVID-19 variants.
The FDA approved Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines around fall of 2023 with the XBB.1.5 variant for enhanced protection against severe outcomes, without specific clinical evidence.
As for ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir over molnupiravir, the National Institutes of Health Guidelines suggest this method for high-risk outpatient COVID-19 treatment.
In the study, researchers examined the effectiveness of the three XBB.1.5 vaccines and the two oral antiviral drugs, as well as their combined impact, in preventing hospital admission and death from current COVID variants.
The study included more than 27,000 patients 12 years and older who tested positive for COVID-19 between September and December 2023.
Researchers found that the updated vaccines and antiviral drugs reduced the risk of severe COVID-19 by 31% and 42%, particularly in older individuals and those who are immunocompromised.
The study also observed consistent efficacy across various COVID subvariants.
Using a Cox proportional hazards model, the XBB.1.5 vaccination and antiviral treatment showed hazard ratios (HR) of 0.69 and 0.58. Nirmatrelvir and molnupiravir separately had HRs of 0.61 and 0.50.
XBB.1.5 vaccination had a decreased HR to 0.47 in those receiving treatment and 0.59 in untreated individuals.
For the endpoint of COVID infection to death, HRs were 0.59 for XBB.1.5 vaccination and 0.13 for antiviral treatment.
This study demonstrated that both XBB.1.5 vaccines and antiviral drugs reduced the risk of serious consequences of infection with COVID omicron subvariants.
Authors suggest XBB.1.5 vaccines should be considered by all, especially those who are 65 years or older or are immunocompromised.
Additionally, molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir can be prescribed to patients with COVID who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease, regardless of their XBB.1.5 vaccination status.
This study was limited by confounding bias, but researchers adjusted for important factors such as age and other health conditions.
While the study included many participants from different U.S. states, authors suggest to examine data from other health systems and countries, as well.
Friday, March 8, 2024
Promising initial research could lead to more effective seasonal flu shots and ward against future pandemics
Dry cough. Runny nose. Sore throat. Muscle aches. These symptoms are all familiar to anyone whos contracted the common flu, a respiratory illness that affects one billion people each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend most people receive yearly flu shots because the seasonal influenza virus mutates constantly, creating new strains that circulate from person-to-person leading to seasonal flu epidemics. These yearly vaccines are formulated to protect against the specific virus strains expected to spread and cause illness during that flu season, typically October through May.
A flu pandemic, such as the 1918 pandemic that infected around one-third of the worlds population and caused an estimated 50 million deaths, occurs when a global outbreak of a new strain of influenza A virus emerges that is radically different from the currently circulating strains. Because seasonal flu shots are specifically formatted to combat certain strains of influenza including the virus type that causes the flu in birds and some mammals, including humans current vaccine formulations offer no protection against a novel strain. At present, it takes about six months to formulate and produce large quantities of flu vaccine, during which time widespread infection can cause severe illness and even death.
Led by Dr. Suresh Mittal, Distinguished Professor of Virology in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, researchers are working on the development of a universal vaccine, one that would offer protection against all forms of influenza A that infect humans, regardless of the strain. Such a vaccine could eliminate the need to reformulate seasonal flu vaccines and provide the health care system with a jumpstart in combatting the next flu pandemic.
Every year, the flu vaccine gets updated because its components are strain specific, Dr. Mittal said. A universal vaccine would strengthen the efficacy of seasonal flu vaccines. In the case of an influenza pandemic, the universal vaccine could be used to help control a global outbreak until a variant-specific vaccine is developed.
The current seasonal influenza vaccines predominately stimulate the production of influenza-specific antibodies, the proteins produced by an immune system to protect the body from infectious agents, such as viral infections. Antibodies attach to the outside of viruses, facilitating their neutralization and removing them from the body. The influenza viruss major surface protein, called hemagglutinin from the Greek word for blood and the Latin word for glue binds to the mucosal lining of the upper respiratory tract and initiates viral infection. Hemagglutinins also mutate frequently, creating new strains of influenza virus.
Dr. Mittals research team is investigating a novel approach to fight influenza. Rather than boosting the antibody specific to the virus surface proteins, the teams work targets an internal nucleoprotein that is conserved in multiple strains of influenza A viruses. Because the nucleoprotein doesnt mutate the way hemagglutinins do, attacking it stands a better chance of fighting off the flu, regardless of the strain. The method relies on generating a T cell response, rather than an antibody response.
Our cells go through a natural cellular recycling process called autophagy that removes unnecessary or dysfunctional components, Dr. Mittal said. By attaching an autophagy-inducing peptide to the nucleoprotein, it forces the antigen to go through autophagy. This triggered an enhanced T cell response which was shown to be effective in inducing protection against several influenza viruses having different hemagglutinin subtypes.
The study, published in the February 2024 journal Vaccines, tested the immunization response against the five subtypes of influenza A viruses known to cause human infections (H1, H3, H5, H7, and H9). In laboratory testing, nucleoprotein-targeted vaccines administered through the nose provided immunity against all five strains.
We were initially surprised by the results, Dr. Mittal said. To ensure we had not made any mistakes during immunization, we ran the experiment a second time. The results were the same. This study indicates that development of a universal influenza vaccine could be possible. It also suggests intranasal delivery of the vaccine, rather than intramuscular injections, may be a better method of administration for vaccines designed to protect against contagious respiratory illnesses.
Dr. Mittal served as principal investigator for the study. The co-author, Dr. Suryaprakash Sambhara, chief of immunology section, influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is also Dr. Mittals longtime research collaborator. Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, a research scientist on Dr. Mittals research team, led the laboratory testing. The research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within the National Institutes of Health.
In the next phase of testing, the researchers plan to conduct a durability study to determine the length of time immunization with the universal flu vaccine is effective. Current seasonal flu vaccines provide immunity for about six months. If that study proves successful, the hope is to move to human clinical trials.
As a veterinarian, I believe in the concept of one health, Dr. Mittal said. Human health is closely linked to the health of domestic and wild animals and the wider environment. Migratory birds are the main culprit for the spread of influenza viruses to humans, poultry, pigs and other animals. Everything is interdependent.
After more than two decades of research in the field of virology, Dr. Mittal remains optimistic that a universal flu vaccine will one day be available to the public. And the technology and methodology introduced through this groundbreaking study will have significant impact on the improvement of global health.
Our team has been working toward a universal influenza vaccine for 20 years, Dr. Mittal said. As scientists, we cant work for those breakthrough moments of discovery because they may not happen. When they do happen, its very satisfying to know we were heading in the right direction.
Writer(s): Kat Braz | pvmnews@purdue.edu
When the world needed a COVID vaccine, leading HIV investigators answered the call to intervene in the coronavirus pandemic. Now, efforts to discover the world's first HIV vaccine are revitalized.
"The body is capable of making antibodies to protect us from HIV," says Yunda Huang, PhD, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, who sat down with me before her talk today at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2024 Annual Meeting.
Huang spoke about the path forward for neutralizing antibody protection after the last attempt in a generation of HIV vaccine development ended in disappointment.
The past two decades marked the rise in HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies, with vaccine strategies to induce them. Promising advances include germline approaches, mRNA, and nanoparticle technologies.
The PrEP vaccine trial testing two experimental prevention regimens in Africa was stopped after investigators reported there is "little to no chance" the trial will show the vaccines are effective.
A Shape-Shifting Virus
HIV has been called the shape-shifting virus because it disguises itself so that even when people are able to make antibodies to it, the virus changes to escape.
But Huang and others are optimistic that an effective vaccine is still possible.
"We cannot and will not lose hope that the world will have an effective HIV vaccine that is accessible by all who need it, anywhere," International AIDS Society (IAS) Executive Director Birgit Poniatowski said in a statement in December, when the trial was stopped.
HIV is a still persistent problem in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reports it has affected an estimated 1.2 million people.
With new people infected every day around the globe, Dr Huang says she feels a sense of urgency to help. "I think about all the people around the globe and the large number of young girls being hurt and I know our big pool of talent can intervene to change what we see happening."
Huang says the clinical trial failures we've seen so far will help guide next steps in HIV research as much as successes typically do.
Advances in the Field
With significant advances in protein nanoparticle science, mRNA technology, adjuvant development, and B-cell and antibody analyses, a new wave of clinical trials are on the way.
And with so many new approaches in the works, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network is retooling how it operates to navigate a burgeoning field and identify the most promising regimens.
A new Discovery Medicine Program will help the network assess new vaccine candidates. It will also aim to rule out others earlier on.
For COVID-19 and the flu, multimeric nanoparticles are an important alternative under investigation that could also be adapted for HIV.
Huang says she is particularly excited to watch the progress in cocktails of combination monoclonals. "I've been working in this field for 20 years now and there is a misconception that with pre-exposure prophylaxis, our job is done, but HIV is so far from away from being solved."
But you just never know, Huang says. With new research, "we could bump on something at any point that changes everything."
Lauren Irwin and The Hill
2 days ago
(The Hill) A German man who intentionally received more than 200 COVID-19 vaccinations said he did it for private reasons, according to researchers.
The Lancet, a scientific journal, published a report earlier this week that looked into the 62-year-old man from Magdeburg a town roughly 2 hours from Berlin who deliberately received 217 of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine over a period of 29 months.
Researchers noted that he received the vaccines outside of a clinical study and against national vaccine recommendations.
They also concluded that although the mans hypervaccination did not result in any side effects, it also did not significantly improve his immune response.
A public prosecutor in Magdeburg opened an investigation into the case alleging fraud, but no criminal charges were filed. Researchers filed a request with the man, who was not named in the study, to analyze the immunological response to abnormal vaccine dosage.
He provided medical information and donated blood and saliva. The man did not report any vaccine-related side effects and has not tested positive for COVID since the experts began examining his case in May 2022.
Still, the researchers were unable to determine whether the initial recommended doses prevented him from testing positive, or if the additional vaccines were a direct cause.
The man reported receiving 217 shots between June 2021 and Nov. 2023. Of the reported vaccinations, 134 were confirmed by the prosecutor through vaccination center documentation and 83 were self-reported by the man.
The vaccines, according to the report, were a mixture of mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. He also received shots from Johnson & Johnson and self-reported a booster from Sanofi.
The researchers noted that while the man did not experience any vaccine-related side effects, they do not endorse hypervaccination as a strategy to enhance adaptive immunity.
According to CNN, the man was arrested by police in early March 2022 after authorities became suspicious that he was receiving vaccination cards and selling them to third parties.
His was arrested during a time when proof of vaccination was required to access public venues and travel throughout Europe, the outlet noted.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been pretty busy lately. In addition to easing its isolation guidance for people who test positive for covid, it also issued recommendations last week for people 65 and older to receive another coronavirus booster shot this spring.
Many readers reached out with questions about the booster recommendations, so I am dedicating this weeks newsletter to answering them.
Alan from New Jersey wrote that he and his wife are both 87. Their last coronavirus shot was the bivalent vaccine in April last year. Should we get a booster this spring? he asked.
Similarly, Andrew and his wife are American citizens who have retired to Ecuador. We received our first two covid vaccines (Pfizer) in the United States and the first two boosters (AstraZeneca) in Ecuador. We have not received any boosters in two years and neither of us have had covid. We will be returning for one month in May. Should we get the most recent booster?
The answer to both is yes. They have not received any dose of the monovalent vaccine that targets the XBB.1.5 subvariant. This was the vaccine that became available last fall. Alan, Andrew and their wives should get this shot as soon as they can.
The CDC published a compelling analysis that showed why. Vaccine effectiveness against covid-associated hospitalization was 52 percent during the first seven to 59 days after the monovalent shot. This decreased to 43 percent by two to four months following vaccination.
This means that people who get the monovalent vaccine can substantially lower their risk of hospitalization should they catch the virus. A healthy young person who has hybrid immunity from vaccination and prior infection already has a very low likelihood of severe illness. But older individuals and those with chronic medical conditions are still at risk, and if they have not yet received the monovalent vaccine, they should not hesitate to get it.
Just 42 percent of Americans 65 and older have gotten the first monovalent shot. Some in this group have eagerly awaited the CDCs decision and are ready to get their spring shot but with a caveat: They dont want it to jeopardize their ability to get future boosters.
My spouse and I, 76 and 69, have received every covid booster, the last one in September 2023, wrote Terri from Virginia. We will be traveling in Europe, on an airplane and cruise ship, in October, so I planned on a mid-September booster. If we get a booster now, will we risk not being able to get one in September?
Barbara from Rhode Island would also like to get a booster now but is worried it would make it difficult to get another one in the fall. What should I do? she asked.
Federal health officials are anticipating a new round of boosters in the fall. The vaccine composition will probably be reformulated so that it best targets variants likely to be in circulation next winter. Vulnerable people should not delay vaccines now; getting a spring shot will not interfere with their ability to get the new formulation in the fall.
In fact, holding off could pose a timing problem. The CDC is asking that people wait at least four months between shots, so people who want a booster in the fall should probably not wait until the summer to get another shot.
The one major reason to hold off is if someone just had covid. Bill from Ohio is 79 and counting and just recovered from covid. Gary from California is 78 and in a similar boat. Do they need the recommended booster now?
The CDC says people who recently had covid can wait at least three months to get their next coronavirus shot. I think they could probably wait longer, as there is strong immunity conferred from infection.
That means Gary and Bill can receive the spring booster in early June. They can do that and then get the newly formulated vaccine in October or November. They can probably also wait to get that vaccine in September and skip the spring booster, as essentially their recent infection was that boost.
Some readers wanted to know what to do if they are not yet 65. I have had two unrelated cancer diagnoses and treatments, wrote Marisol from Oregon. Now I am only being monitored in case of recurrence. Am I still considered at high risk for covid outcomes? Should I be seeking a spring vaccine even though I am still in my fifties?
What about those of us who are immunocompromised? asked Anne from Indiana. I have an autoimmune disease and am high-dose steroids. Why is it that a healthy 65-year-old can get the new booster but I cant?
Actually, Anne is eligible for the spring booster. The CDC is recommending the shot to everyone 65 and older but is allowing younger individuals to receive an additional dose, too. Anne should discuss the specifics of her medical condition with her physician, as should Marisol. If Marisol had cancer in the past and is no longer on treatments, she is probably not high-risk, but there might be other factors in her medical history that make her more vulnerable to covid.
And, of course, anyone considering getting the spring booster because they are concerned about severe illness should also ensure that they can easily access antiviral treatments in case they contract the virus.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that adults 65 years old and up receive an additional COVID-19 booster. This is the same booster that was rolled out in the fall of 2023, with the shot being a way to restore the protection that may have waned since people got the shot the previous year.
Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older, said CDC director Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk."
If youre planning on getting a new COVID booster shot this spring, heres everything to know, including what youll need to ease potential symptoms.
The latest booster shot is associated with similar short-term side effects as its predecessors:
If your side effects persist or become severe, contact your doctor immediately.
Experts state that getting a COVID-19 booster is based on several factors including:
Severity of infection: if you are at higher risk of severe infection, you should consider getting a booster shot. Those at increased risk of severe infection include individuals who are 65+ years old, immunocompromised people, pregnant individuals, and health-compromised individuals.
Timing: if you have a major life event you don't want to miss such as a wedding, consider getting a booster shot.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider to determine if you're unsure about getting another booster shot.
Icing the vaccination spot may provide immediate relief to any aches you're experiencing. This one from Amazon has over 35,000 rave reviews from people who like that the flexible design allows you to wrap and bend it to fit snugly against any body part (like your upper arm, in this case). They also say it stays ice cold for hours.
FlexiKold Gel Ice Pack
The durable nylon prevents leaking and is easy to wash.
If you notice any discomfort on your arm where you were vaccinated, the CDC recommends laying a clean, cool washcloth on the area. With several glowing reviews, these Amazon Basics washcloths are praised for being very soft and absorbent, and surprisingly high quality for the price. Placing a cool, damp washcloth on your forehead or the back of your neck can also relieve fever-like symptoms.
Amazon Basics Fast Drying Bath Towel
A washcloth can help ease irritation.
Epsom salt baths have long been a solution to muscle aches and soreness. So if you feel tender post-vaccine, you might benefit from a soak. These Epsom salts have over 45,000 five-star ratings on Amazon with people saying they provide quick and effective relief and are more affordable than other brands.
Amazon Basics Epsom Salt Soaking Aid
Pour this into your next bath to soothe your muscles.
One of the CDC's top tips for anyone getting vaccinated is to drink plenty of fluids. An easy way to make sure you're getting enough H2O? A reusable water bottle. Of all the ones we've tested at Reviewed, we found the Owala FreeSip to be the best. It keeps your water refreshingly cold for up to 24 hours and features a leak-proof lid.
Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Prioritizing hydration is easier with this Owala water bottle.
You can use this ice roller the same way you would an ice pack (i.e., over the sore spot on your arm or on your forehead if you feel a headache coming on). Thousands of reviewers love that it's easy to usesimply chill it and then rolland that it feels so soothing against your skin.
ESARORA Ice Roller
An ice roller feels soothing on your skin.
A gel eye mask like this one provides two things that are known to help with headaches: coolness and darkness. The gel can be iced down to mitigate pain or tension and the solid design will block out any irritating light. Reviewers like that it maintains its cold temperature well and that it fits comfortably and snugly over your eyes.
NEWGO Cooling Gel Eye Mask Reusable Cold Eye Mask
This gel mask will keep you cool.
If a gel eye mask isnt your thing, our favorite sleep mask, the Mzoo Sleep Mask, should do the trick for some restful shuteye while you sleep off lingering any discomfort.
MZOO Sleep Eye Mask
Our favorite sleep mask will help you get some shut-eye.
When your arm is sore, the last thing you may feel like doing is using it. But that's exactly what the CDC recommends, saying that exercising your arm and getting it moving can help relieve some of that pain. With these highly-rated resistance bandswhich have over 86,000 five-star ratingsyou can do some light stretching and mobility to prevent your arm from getting stiff.
Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
These bands come in varying degrees of resistance.
The CDC notes that running a slight fever after receiving the vaccine is totally normal (although if it persists for a few days, reach out to your healthcare provider). To monitor your temperature, use a digital thermometer like the one offered by Femometer. Its speedy, accurate, and the results are color-coded for convenience.
Forehead Thermometer
Find out if you're running a fever in seconds.
To prevent COVID-19 and other illnesses, you should make sure to always have a supply of hand sanitizer at the ready. Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol can help keep you and those around you safe by killing harmful germs. These travel-sized Purell are easy to toss in your bag or pocket on your way out the door.
Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel
Travel-sized hand sanitizer is a convenient way to keep germs at bay.
While mask mandates have ended, you may still want one if youre looking for peace of mind, particularly if youre in an area of high transmission or are at higher risk for health issues. An N95 or a KN95 mask is the gold standard when it comes to protection, filtering out much more particles than a cloth mask.
SupplyAID RRS-KN95-5PK KN95 Face Mask
Nothing beats an N95 and KN95 mask when it comes to protection.
The best way to combat any post-shot fatigue is to sleep it off. The key is to have sleep thats restful, meaning youll want to make sure your bedding is as comfortable as possible. While its a tall order to upgrade your bed on short notice, its much easier to upgrade your pillow which can still transform your sleep quality. We recommend the original Coop Home Goods pillow after testing several pillows. We love that its extremely comfortable and customizable.
Coop Home Goods Original Pillow
With this pillow, you'll be sleeping comfortably in no time.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
President Joe Biden's State of the Union Speech on Thursday attempted to set out achievements in office from the economy to foreign policy, amid booing echoes from Republican detractors, particlarly over immigration.
After Biden's speech, a CNN poll found that 62 percent of people who watched it said the policies proposed by the president would move the country in the right direction. The poll of 529 people was conducted by researchers SSRS.
Former President Donald Trump called the address "angry" and "polarizing" as the two men prepare for their likely matchup in November's presidential election.
One statement, however, that invited disbelief outside of Congress was one claim that vaccines used to treat COVID were now being used in the fight against cancer.
The Claim
During his State of The Union Address on March 7, 2024, President Joe Biden said: "The pandemic no longer controls our lives. The vaccines that saved us from COVID are now being used to help beat cancer, turning setback into comeback. That's what America does."
The Facts
The president's comments were met, by some, with incredulity.
Right-wing commentator @EndWokeness, posted on X, formerly Twitter, on March 7, 2024, viewed 1.5 million times, with an upload of the SOTU speech, writing "Biden announces that the COVID vaccine is being used to cure cancer."
Entrepreneur and conservative conspiracist Mario Nawfal also wrote, in a post viewed 162,000 times: "BIDEN: COVID VACCINES FIX CANCER."
Whether it was disbelief, or a very literal interpretation of Biden's comments, that the patented COVID vaccines were being used for other treatments, the remark picked up attention.
However, research since the pandemic has found that the technology used in the COVID vaccines may be useful in the treatment of other life-threatening illnesses and conditions.
In August 2023, Biden announced the launch of a new program to develop messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, the same technology used in COVID-19 vaccines, to train immune systems to "fight cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases more effectively."
The $24 million "Curing the Uncurable via RNA-Encoded Immunogene Tuning" or CUREIT will investigate how "mRNA and related technologies" can trigger immune responses, such as prompting immune cells to target and attack tumors.
Interest in mRNA research has exploded since the pandemic with global trials underway that will examine whether an mRNA treatment can be used to treat melanoma, lung cancer, and other cancers. mRNA is a molecule that essentially teaches human cells how to trigger an immune response to the disease.
In traditional vaccines, a piece of a virus, known as an "antigen," would be injected into the body to force the immune system to make antibodies to fight off future infection. But mRNA-based methods do not use a live virus.
In the case of COVID, mRNA vaccines give cells the instructions to make a "spike" protein also found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID. The body kickstarts its immune response by creating the antibodies needed to combat those specific virus proteins.
Once the spike protein is created, the cell breaks down the instructions provided by the mRNA molecule, leaving the human immune system prepared to combat infection. The mRNA vaccines are not a medicine, nor a cure, but a preventative measure.
Studies have already found that personalized mRNA vaccines may help trigger anti-tumor responses. A 2023 study funded by the National Institutes of Health found a strong anti-tumor immune response among half of a group of pancreatic cancer patients who were given an mRNA vaccine.
While some researchers have looked at tumor regressive responses to COVID-19 vaccines in animal or small-scale human observation, it seems that only a bad faith or narrow interpretation of Biden's comments could have driven the idea that he was literally referring to the treatments developed by Pfizer, Moderna and others, and not new technologies.
The Ruling
True.
mRNA technology used to develop the COVID vaccines is being used in new trials to treat a potentially wide range of cancers. The White House announced $24 million in funding last August which would, in part, explore the use of mRNA vaccination technology in the treatment of cancer.
The comments about Biden appear to be a literal interpretation of his words i.e. that the exact same vaccines used to treat COVID-19 will be used to treat cancer too.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
