CDC - Fall/Winter Virus Media Briefing Friday, August 23, 2024 at 11am ET

[sharon sanders]

From:
"Media (CDC)" <sohco@CDC.GOV>
To: <MMWR-MEDIA@LISTSERV.CDC.GOV>
Subject: Media Advisory: Fall/Winter Virus Media Briefing
Date: Aug 22, 2024 1:18 PM​


Media Advisory

For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 22, 2024

Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286



Fall/Winter Virus Media Briefing





What

Fall/Winter Virus media briefing



Who

Presenters

• Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the CDC
• Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS
• Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA
• Jeff Nesbit, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Health and Human Services at HHS

Also available for questions

• Demetre Daskalakis, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC
• David Boucher, Ph.D., Director of Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at ASPR
• Hilary Marston, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer of the FDA
• Deena Disraelly, MS, PhD.,Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Director of the HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element in ASPR at HHS
• May Malik, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for Public Education at HHS
• Shawn Morris, Acting Director, Supply, Production, and Distribution H-CORE

When

Friday, August 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM ET



There is a zoom link for media only. I am posting this because it is not embargoed and the briefing is scheduled.

I will be attending.


​

 

[sharon sanders]

Joined meeting late due to technical issues


Notes -

CDC:

Pushing vaccines,
Stressing educational virus campaigns...webinars..etc...,
Mentioning site updates on flu, rsv, COVID, hospitalization data,
Prevention - get an updated flu vaccine for everyone age 6 mos. plus, rsv vaccines for certain ages,
- Stay home if sick
- 62 million dollars added for vaccines for uninsured and underinsured
- Projects respiratory ills this season to be same or slightly less than last year


ASPIR:

Free COVID test kits will be available again this season - 4 in each,
Patients assistance program..Paxlovid free for uninsured and medicare, medicaid in 2024, co-pay program exists for insured, 1 million doses in stockpile, Merck also has an anti-viral discount programs


FDA:

COVID monovalent approved yesterday for the fall,
Explaining doses and ages eligibility, timing, etc.,
Expected updated COVID vaccines will provide good coverage,
100s of millions of COVID vaccine doses have been given


HHS:

Last year 10% of population had flu, there were deaths from COVID - mostly in elderly, nursing home residents are vulnerable,
Pushing all vaccines, new national campaign, "risk less, do more" - targeting older ages and their caregivers,
Rural, black and latinos, pregnant women are also to be featured in promotion material


Question and answer period.....

(sorry for typos but I am doing this in real time.....)

 

[sharon sanders]

Didn't hear media name: Can get vaccines at same time? COVID severity?

ans. CDC - yes you can get COVID and flu vaccines at same time. Take best defense...get vaccines.

ans. CDC - COVID changes, COVID is a more dangerous virus than flu. Becoming more similar. technical issues....


Stat News - COVID virus still evolving...we treat vaccine production like flu, can producers make updated COVID more than once a year? Kids anti-viral?

ans. ASPIR - We keep track of COVID evolution. If vaccine protection no longer present would consider a change than multiple production. The point here is getting people to "get that shot in the arm" i.e. both COVID and flu at the same visit.

ans. CDC - We advise peeps to get boosters and talk to their doctor about it. On anti-virals and babies...working with manufacturer to get supply - technical issues....


CNN - Vaccines for low income people? How many COVID tests available?

ans. CDC - Original program expired. Have the 62 million allocated for these people and reach out to local and state public health departments.

ans. ASPIR - 75-100 million tests plus stockpile


Washington Post - What is risk if vaccines are not taken? Since COVID vax wanes at about 120 days, when get the vaccines?

ans. CDC - Past protection from previous booster wanes over time. technical issues....there is no group without risk. 80% of adults have underlying conditions. Under the age of 5 made most hospital COVID visits. People in their 30s and 40s can struggle with risk.

ans. FDA...Getting vaccine now will protect for several months...it is a personal choice.


CBS - Past peak in summer wave? Good variant selected for COVID vaccine?

ans. FDA - At this point getting a vaccine is the arm is the most important thing.

ans. CDC - not out of the woods yet, maybe seeing some plateauing of level of cases

ans. CDC - what went into forecast is historical vaccine uptake from last season


NBC - When is novavax getting approved?

ans FDA - Can't comment but take vaccine very seriously...contact manufacturer


New York Times - Is COVID endemic?

ans. CDC - Yes.


ABC news - Can CDC diferentiate between seasonal flu, swine, H5N1, and COVID?

ans. CDC - Yes.

ans. CDC - Have tested 41k through existing system, picked up 6 H5N1 cases in this manner.


Didn't hear media outlet - Cumulative COVID infections?

ans. Underlying antibodies and immunity wanes over time...want everyone to get booster to prevent risk of COVID and Long COVID


Reuters - Mpox question - Any respiratory spread and is US sending 50k vaccine doses to Africa?

ans. CDC - I and II look like contact is major transmission...not seeing transmission in markets etc. so looks like contact is transmission mode.

ans. FDA - Have offered 50k since a long time and are willing to assist also.


Barrons withdrew their request to ask question.


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Sometimes the audio fluctuated.

Please excuse my typos!

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