Booster inoculation in US - will Moderna start with a delay of 1 to 2 weeks? Director Fauci

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

米追加接種、モデルナ製は１～２週遅れで開始か　ファウチ所長

2021.09.06 Mon posted at 13:58 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） 米国立アレルギー感染症研究所のアンソニー・ファウチ所長は５日、新型コロナウイルスワクチンの国内での追加接種について、ファイザー製ワクチンは予定通り２０日の週から始まる一方、モデルナ製は少し遅れてスタートするとの見通しを示した。

ファウチ氏はＣＮＮとのインタビューで、ファイザーはすでに食品医薬品局（ＦＤＡ）へ必要なデータを提出し、接種開始の態勢が整っているようだが、モデルナは多少遅れている可能性があると指摘。そうであれば、両社のワクチンを同時に打ち始める予定を変更し、モデルナ製を１～２週間遅らせることになると述べた。

同氏は一方で、時期が多少ずれても大きな問題にはならないと語り、追加接種は最終的に計画通り実行されると強調した。

同氏によると、各社がＦＤＡにデータを提出して承認を得た後、疾病対策センター（ＣＤＣ）諮問委員会の勧告を受けて接種開始の運びとなる。

ファウチ氏はインタビューで、米国内外での特にデルタ変異株を取り巻く状況から、ワクチンの効果は時とともに低下する傾向がみられると指摘。中でも接種状況が米国より１カ月ほど進んでいるイスラエルのデータでは、感染を防ぐ効果は相当下がり、入院を防ぐ効果も間違いなく低下することが分かると述べた。

そのうえで、イスラエルでは追加接種により、感染と入院のいずれを防ぐ効果も回復し、それまでを上回るレベルにまで達することが示されていると強調した。

Translation

(CNN) Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said on the 5th that regarding the new coronavirus vaccine booster vaccination for the country, while the Pfizer vaccine would start on the 20th week as scheduled, the vaccination of Moderna could be slightly delayed.

In an interview with CNN, Fauci pointed out that Pfizer had already submitted the necessary data to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was ready to start vaccination, but Moderna may be a little late. If so, he said he would change the schedule to start vaccinations from both companies at the same time by delaying those made by Moderna by a week or two.

On the other hand, he said it wouldn't be a big problem if the timing was slightly off, and emphasized that the booster vaccination would eventually be carried out as planned.

He said that after individual company had submitted the data to the FDA and obtained approval, the vaccination would be started at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Board.

In an interview, Fauci pointed out that the effectiveness of the vaccine tended to decline over time, especially due to the situation related to delta mutants in the United States and abroad. Among them, Israeli data, which was about a month ahead of the United States, showed that the effect of preventing infection was considerably reduced, and the effect of preventing hospitalization was definitely reduced.

He stressed that booster vaccinations showed the ability to restore the effectiveness both in preventing infection and hospitalization in Israel, and to reach a higher level of effectiveness than before.

              So, it is pointed out that the effectiveness of the vaccine tends to decline over time, especially due to the circumstances surrounding Delta mutants in the United States and abroad. A booster could be a solution.