Key Points:

• In today’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss the resumption of the J&J vaccine and why vaccinations don’t eliminate the need for COVID protections. Read more below.  
• The FDA and CDC have lifted their recommended pause for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine. Ultimately, the two agencies have confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine with the benefits far outweighing the potential risks. Current data shows the chance/risk of blood clots as being low and something they will continue to track. Read the News Release here.
• The European Union bloc is anticipating that fully vaccinated tourists may begin visiting Europe in the summer.
• In India, COVID-19 cases and deaths are rising as hospitals run out of oxygen and cremation sites are inundated. India has asked for global help, and countries throughout the world are stepping in with support (including sending oxygen). Day after day, India reports higher and higher daily case rates.
• The NYT reports that almost 8% of those who have received a first-dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines do not get a second dose. This is due to people choosing to not get their second shots due to symptoms experienced from the first shot, as well as vaccine providers canceling second-dose appointments due to not having the vaccine in stock or having the wrong type of vaccine.
• A recent study published in PNAS is “A guideline to limit indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19.” Its “theoretical model quantifies the extent to which transmission risk is reduced in large rooms with high air exchange rates, increased for more vigorous respiratory activities, and dramatically reduced by the use of face masks.” We discuss this article in today’s Recommendations for Industry and you can find the research article here.

J&J Resumption Increases Vaccine Availability, But COVID Protections Still Needed

The FDA and CDC have recommended that use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine be resumed in the US, stating that their safety review has provided “confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 with available data showing that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks in those 18 and older. With all who want to be vaccinated now eligible, the resumption of J&J vaccinations should make it easier to source a provider. 

However, even increased vaccinations does not mean that we are out of the woods in COVID transmission. Not only are we still below the optimal percent of vaccinated people for population/ “herd” immunity, but the vaccines do not completely prevent the potential of mild or asymptomatic infection. It is for this reason that TAG recommends that testing be continued and that businesses continue to consider indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19 as they begin to work through return-to-work practices.

As discussed in a study published in PNAS (and summarized in the keypoint above), the number of people and length of time in a confined space (such as an office area or conference room) has more impact on potential transmission that simply sitting six feet apart. No matter how far apart people may be in the area, the air will mix and droplets spread over time – which reenforces the importance of looking at one’s air handling system and the amount of fresh or filtered air that is circulated in an area. But, in addition to the ventilation rate of a room or area, you also need to consider number of people, volume of the space, the activities that take place, whether masks are worn, and various other factors based on the specifics of the area.

It can be quite complex, but TAG has been assisting business with such determinations throughout the pandemic. Give us a call if you need assistance with this – or other aspects to be considered in returning your people to work.

• In Friday’s Recommendations for Industry, we provide a “Friday wrap” on the COVID situation – on the US and global fronts.
• The S. State Department has issued over 115 “Do Not Travel” advisories due to the increasing rise of COVID-19 throughout the world (again).
• While we discuss global vaccine equity (and the need for it), more affluent nations (including U.S., E.U. block, U.K. Switzerland, Japan, Norway, Canada, Australia, and Brazil) are still “refusing to wave the rights on COVID vaccines” despite the increasing need for it throughout the world.
• Vaccinations have dropped for the first time since February from an average of 3.5M shots/day last week to 3M shots/day this week.
• ABC News breaks down a quick-and-easy way for you to prepare for your long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine appointment that starts with (a) dressing for success with comfortable clothes; (b) eating a good breakfast; and (c) remaining hydrated!
• Today, ACIP will review the J&J COVID-19 vaccine cause to determine if it will continue the pause or unpause the last 10-day hold for J&J vaccines.
• The original messaging for double-masking being more protective is one that is oversimplistic and not encompassing of a wider range of other issues, thereby sending “the wrong [misleading] message”. For further explanation, CIDRAP breaks this down.
• In Wednesday’s Recommendations for Industry, we discussed the current status of COVID-19 and our weekly Risk Matrix findings. Read More Here.
• New York Times has an interactive breakdown about the safety of flying. One big takeaway: “How air flows in planes is not the only part of the safety equation […] The potential for exposure may be just as high, if not higher, when people are in the terminal, sitting in airport restaurants and bars or going through the security line. Going to in-terminal restaurants, for example, can be risky because masks are routinely removed and kept off to eat.”
• The WHO warns that COVID-19 deaths are accelerating (the fifth straight week in a row); we are hitting world records on cases with 5.2M recorded just last week. We’ve now seen cases rise for eight consecutive weeks.
• Due to the rise in cases, globally, the U.S. State department will begin to issue travel warnings for other countries; up to 80% of countries (reported by BBC).
• Despite the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s strong protection against COVID-19, Nature has released a press release about what scientists do and don’t know about the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• Science News discusses what we know about the B117 COVID-19 variant that is currently dominant in the U.S. The big takeaway, B117 is likely 40 to 70% more transmissible than the other variants.
• In Monday’s Recommendations for Industry, we discuss a few of the most common, recent questions – with answers. Read more here.
• As of Monday, in the U.S. anyone age 16 and older is eligible for vaccination! More than half of all U.S. adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is positive news; however, the difficult part comes now as vaccination resistance can pose larger issues that will prevent us from reaching herd immunity. A focus group conducted with American Republicans finds that vaccine-resistance and vaccine skepticism is worsening in those within the GOP. As we look at vaccine hesitancy Experts are thinking, more and more, that herd immunity to COVID-19 will not be possible and we need to begin to plan around that possibility.
• A recent Science article details the genomics and epidemiology of the P.1 variant first identified in Brazil. It finds that the P.1 variant first emerged mid-November 2020 and that it is 1.7 – 2.4-fold more transmissible than the original COVID-19 strain.
• The White House discusses its upcoming $2B plan to enhance the tracking of COVID-19 variants. $1B will go to the CDC to monitor variant spread and conduct genomic sequencing to characterize the variants out there.
• Due to India’s fast-rising cases, Delhi has announced new lockdown measures.
• Australia and New Zealand have opened borders to one another and it is creating massive amounts of happiness!