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Study: Previously Infected May Not Need COVID Vaccine

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  • In today’s Recommendations for industry, we discuss how previously infected individuals may not need the COVID vaccine. Read more below.
  • The AP News reports that, nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the US are among unvaccinated individuals while only 0.1% of COVID-19 infections are “breakthrough” cases. In fact, Dr. Rochelle Walensky (CDC director) commented at a White House briefing on Tuesday (reported by CNN) that “new COVID-19 death is now entirely preventable”. In fact, Healio reports that Dr. Fauci noted that 20% of new COVID-19 cases are reported to be from the Delta variant as cases have doubled in the last two weeks.
  • A CDC safety group says there is likely a link between a rare heart inflammation (myocarditis or pericarditis) in younger individuals (<30 years old) after their COVID-19 vaccination; with 12.6 heart inflammation cases per million doses.
  • The effects of the Delta Variant are being seen globally (as we’ve discussed). CIDRAP reports that, around the world, 12 countries in Africa are seeing a surge in cases, as well as in South America (Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina). Even countries that had COVID under control are seeing an uptick in cases including Israel, Portugal, Lisbon, and New South Wales. The BBC further reports that Europe is bracing for a surge in Delta variants, too.
  • As we had discussed in our Risk Matrix (and on Wednesday’s Recommendations for Industry), Missouri now leads the nation in new COVID-19 infections. Not only does it have the lowest vaccination rate in the country, Delta variant cases are rising there. Most infected who are being admitted to the hospital are younger unvaccinated individuals.
  • COVID-19 vaccinations are tied to 40 – 50 % reduced transmission within households (a new study in the NEJM indicates).

Public Health and Food Safety:

  • Food Safety News reports that the confirmed number of Salmonella infections from backyard chicken flocks now stands at 474 people; sickened individuals live in 46 states with 1/3 of patients younger than 5 years old.

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Recommendations for Industry

Study: Previously Infected May Not Need COVID Vaccine

A recently published, but not yet peer reviewed, study from the Cleveland Clinic raises some very important questions about vaccinating those that have already had a natural COVID-19 infection.  The study was undertaken over a five-month period and involved 52,238 employees. Each employee was tracked for COVID-19 symptoms, and if symptomatic they were tested, and their vaccine status noted.  Of the 2,154 SARS-CoV-2 infections during the study period, 2,139 (99.3%) occurred among those not previously infected who remained unvaccinated.  Not one of the 2,579 previously infected subjects had a SARS-CoV-2 infection, including 1,359 who remained unvaccinated throughout the duration of the study.

The authors concluded that individuals who have laboratory-confirmed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection are unlikely to benefit from COVID-19 vaccination. This conclusion is contrary to current CDC guidance and thus, if accurate, raises a number of important questions.

As CDC noted recently, they are investigating reports of myocarditis in association with the COVID-19 vaccines in younger individuals. Thus there is some concern about rare but potentially significant side effects in certain groups that are receiving vaccine mandates to attend college and other institutions, with no consideration given to current immune status to SARS-CoV-2 and the likelihood of a person getting COVID-19.

One important thing we have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic is that the science changes and we have to pivot and respond to new information. Thus, based on the recent study from Cleveland Clinic it is time to reconsider the current vaccine advice and mandates and perhaps rethink the risk-benefit balance and reserve the vaccines for those that really need it.

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