A coronavirus-focused linkfest is a weekly feature here at Abnormal Returns. Please stay safe and find a vaccination site near you. You can read last week’s edition here.
Quote of the Day
“Vaccinated people do transmit the virus in some cases, but the data are super crystal-clear that the risk of transmission for a vaccinated individual is much, much lower than for an unvaccinated individual.”
(Christopher Byron Brooke)
Chart of the Day
In a typical state, the number of people ages 45 through 64 who died in September 2021 was 42% higher than in September 2019.
Boosters
- The FDA has issued a EUA for Moderna ($MRNA) and JNJ ($JNJ) boosters. (biopharmadive.com)
- In a trial the Pfizer ($PFE)-BioNTech ($BTNX) booster was highly effective at preventing infection. (biopharmadive.com)
- The CDC has approved booster shots for people who received the Moderna ($MRNA) and JNJ ($NJ) vaccines. (statnews.com)
- Why the FDA has overstepped its bounds by limiting those who can receive a booster. (statnews.com)
- The case for mix-and-matching if you initially got a J&J ($JNJ) shot. (washingtonpost.com)
- Should you mix-and-match your booster? (theatlantic.com)
- The booster debate is over. (theatlantic.com)
Vaccine business
- Pfizer ($PFE) and Moderna ($MRNA) are set to dominate vaccine sales into 2022. (ft.com)
- JNJ ($JNJ) is planning to shift to for-profit vaccine sales. (biopharmadive.com)
- Novavax ($NVAX) is struggling with quality control problems. (politico.com)
Vaccines
- In a trial, the Pfizer ($PFE)-BioNTech ($BTNX) vacchine was highly effective at preventing symptomatic infection in children 5-11. (nytimes.com)
- The Pfizer ($PFE)-BioNTech ($BTNX) vaccine is highly effective at keeping teenagers out of the hospital. (cnbc.com)
- A Phase 3 trial for the Valvena vaccine showed a strong immune response. (ft.com)
- Boosters and doses for children are going to complicate the vaccination chain. (statnews.com)
- Why aren't more pregnant women getting vaccinated? (theatlantic.com)
- Waning immunity might be better described as shifting immunity. (theatlantic.com)
- Why mRNA vaccines were so adept at thwarting SARS-CoV2. (theatlantic.com)
Vaccine mandates
- Vaccines work best when everyone chooses to get them. (washingtonpost.com)
- Some workers want to have their prior infections count against mandates. (wsj.com)
- Mandates are only as good as company enforcement. (bloomberg.com)
- New York City is going to require all public employees to be vaccinated. (wsj.com)
- Mandates have been more effective at incentives in moving the needle. (washingtonpost.com)
- Vaccine lotteries turned out to be a disappointment. (cbsnews.com)
Mutations
- The SARS-CoV2 is going to keep mutating, like it or not. (washingtonpost.com)
- The new AY.4.2 variant seems to be even more infectious. (ft.com)
Antivirals
- The Atea/Roche antiviral failed to clear virus in its Phase 2 trial. (statnews.com)
- The Gates Foundation is committing funds to help generic production of Merck's ($MRK) antiviral. (statnews.com)
Long Covid
- Long Covid has had an effect on professional soccer players. (marginalrevolution.com)
- Severity of illness does not seem to be associated with long Covid. (statnews.com)
Global
- Despite higher case counts, the UK shows little interest in reimposing restrictions. (wsj.com)
- Despite high prior infection rates, Iran is still struggling with the Delta variant. (newscientist.com)
- A Brazilian congressional panel has recommended that Pres. Bolsonaro be charged with “crimes against humanity” over his alleged bungling of the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (theconversation.com)
- Russia is going back into lockdown. (theguardian.com)
Data
- Men are 1.6x more likely to die from Covid than women. (marginalrevolution.com)
- At least 170,000 children in the U.S. have lost one more parents to Covid. (theatlantic.com)
- Another indication that gender plays a role in antibody production. (statnews.com)
Misinformation
- Five tactics used to spread vaccine misinformation including 'Encouraging skepticism of institutions.' (washingtonpost.com)
- Per Chinese propaganda, apparently Covid came from Maine lobsters. (nbcnews.com)
Earlier on Abnormal Returns
- Coronavirus links: no inoculum for uncertainty. (abnormalreturns.com)
- There's only one way through the pandemic tunnel. (abnormalreturns.com)
- Why we are eventually going to need digital health passes, i.e. vaccine passports. (abnormalreturns.com)
- The 'Swiss cheese model' and the importance of avoiding single points of failure in pandemic and life. (abnormalreturns.com)
- On the challenge of holding two competing thoughts on the pandemic in your head a the same time. (abnormalreturns.com)
