CNN reports that during a Feb. 19 White House press briefing, Fauci voiced his concern about using just one dose of the vaccine to protect yourself from COVID. He has been a consistent proponent of administering both doses of the vaccine at the correct intervals to achieve full immunity. Fauci proclaimed that we will continue to administer the vaccine in the same manner as it was done in the clinical trials. “We will stick with the scientifically documented efficacy and optimal response of a prime followed by a boost with the mRNA vaccines,” he said. “The reason is even though you can get a fair degree of, quote, protection after a single dose, it clearly is not durable.” And for more essential vaccine guidance, The CDC Says Don’t Do This Within 2 Weeks of Your COVID Vaccine. A preprint study published on Feb. 1 found that “the antibody response to the first vaccine dose in individuals with pre-existing immunity is comparable to or even exceeded the titers found in naïve individuals after the second dose.” In light of this discovery, the researchers proposed that changing the policy so these individuals only receive one shot wouldn’t have a negative impact and could “spare them from unnecessary pain and free up many urgently needed vaccine doses.” Another preprint study also released on Feb. 1 contained similar findings, which led to the same suggestion. The researchers advocated administering a single dose of vaccine to patients who had previously tested positive for COVID. Additionally, they suggested these people should also be placed lower on the vaccination priority list. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. The Wall Street Journal reported that a new peer-reviewed Israeli study found that one shot of the Pfizer vaccine is 85 percent effective in preventing symptomatic illness from COVID 15 to 28 days after being administered. This study supports some experts’ argument that focusing primarily on first doses would be wise. Michael Osterholm, PhD, a member of the White House’s COVID advisory board, has been advocating for this tactic to help prevent another surge by getting some portion of immunity into more people. And for more on life after the vaccine, Dr. Fauci Just Confirmed You Can Do This After Getting Vaccinated.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb During the Feb. 19 briefing, Fauci warned that “you might theoretically be inducing new variants” by putting off second doses or not seeking them at all. The infectious disease expert has expressed this concern before. During an earlier White House press briefing on Feb. 8, Fauci explained, “The other theoretical issue that could be problematic with regard to only a single dose, that if you get a sub-optimum response, the way viruses respond to pressure, you could actually be inadvertently selecting for more mutants.” And for vaccine side effects to prepare for, Dr. Fauci Said He Had Pain in These 2 Places After the COVID Vaccine.
