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Weekly Health Quiz: Covid-19 Boosters, Teens and Love Languages
Medical AI startup Aesop Technology secures $3M to further expand in the US
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Taiwanese medical AI startup Aesop Technology has raised $2.9 million in a fundraising round led by Taiwania Capital ahead of its Series A funding event. The round also drew the participation of Colopl Next, 500 Startups, and BE Capital.
A spin-off from Taipei Medical University, the company was established in the US in 2020 and is now currently headquartered in San Francisco. It offers two AI-powered solutions: RxPrime, a medication decision support tool, and a clinical documentation improvement tool for spotting incorrect diagnoses called DxPrime, which was launched in June this year.
WHAT IT’S FOR
Aesop says it will use its fresh funds to strengthen its technology team and further expand its presence in the US market.
THE LARGER TREND
The fundraiser comes after it launched both of its solutions on apps marketplaces Epic App Orchard and Olive Library over the past few months.
Last year, it published a paper with Harvard University which demonstrated the international transferability of its AI model for detecting medication errors in EHR systems in the US.
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Did Lockdowns Cause Increased Mortality Rates?
Why You Should Upgrade to Nordic Walking
Three Supplements That Can Lower Your Risk for CVD
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In recent years, research has suggested trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) might be a therapeutic target for insulin resistance and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. As noted in one 2017 scientific review:1
“Through the digestion of animal protein and other constituents of animal products, the commensal bacteria in the gut (the gut microbiota) forms metabolites that can contribute to the development of both insulin resistance and cancer.
Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is such a molecule and has recently drawn a lot of attention as it may be a risk factor for — and a link between — the gut microbiota and cardiovascular and renal disease.
Further, TMAO is anticipated to have significance as a biomarker of — or even an independent risk factor for — other undesirable conditions, including insulin resistance … TMAO originates from a precursor, trimethylamine (TMA) that is a metabolite of various precursors; mainly choline and carnitine from ingested foods.”
In a paper2 led by James DiNicolantonio, Pharm.D., who is also the coauthor of my book, “Superfuel: Ketogenic Keys to Unlock the Secrets of Good Fats, Bad Fats, and Great Health,” we show how the likely true cause of elevated TMAO levels — which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) — is hepatic insulin resistance.
Moreover, the paper shows that krill oil, astaxanthin, fish oil and berberine may be among some of the best supplemental strategies for those with high TMAO levels after diet optimization, as it is simply a reflection of insulin resistance in the liver.
DiNicolantonio has a book called “The Longevity Solution,” with Dr. Jason Fung, which takes a deep dive into the benefits of omega-3s, including fish and krill oil.
What Causes Elevated TMAO Levels?
As noted earlier, TMAO is created when gastrointestinal bacteria metabolize dietary choline and carnitine found in eggs, liver, meat and fish, just to name a few. The bacteria turn choline and carnitine into trimethylamine, which is subsequently absorbed and oxidized to TMAO with the aid of flavin monooxygenases in your liver, primarily FMO3.
Flavin monooxygenases are a family of enzymes that oxidize xenosubstrates, thereby allowing the compounds to be excreted. Because choline and carnitine raises TMAO, which is thought to be a risk factor for CVD and Type 2 diabetes, some recommend limiting dietary and supplementary intake of these nutrients. However, DiNicolantonio and his coauthors point out there’s a significant flaw in this theory, stating:3
“[N]utritional epidemiology fails to incriminate dietary choline as a CV risk factor; supplemental carnitine is known to be highly protective in patients with vascular disease; and fish, the richest dietary source of preformed TMAO, is also protective.
Hence, TMAO, at least in the moderate concentrations seen in those without severe renal dysfunction, is not a mediating risk factor for vascular disease, but rather serves as a marker for factors that promote vascular disease and diabetes.
Impaired renal function is one of these factors, but not the sole one. The possibility that certain GI bacteria that are adept at generating trimethylamine are also harmful to vascular and metabolic health, remains undocumented. Factors that increase hepatic FMO3 therefore fall under suspicion.
Indeed, subnormal hepatic insulin activity associated with hepatic insulin resistance boosts hepatic FMO3 expression. Hepatic insulin resistance can result from metabolic syndrome and visceral obesity, and may reflect suboptimal activity of adiponectin or glucagon-like peptide-1 — all of which can play mediating roles in CV disease and diabetes.
Diets, nutraceuticals and medications which combat hepatic insulin resistance may therefore be useful for alleviating the health risks associated with elevated TMAO.”
Elevated TMAO — A Risk Factor for CVD and Metabolic Disease?
As noted in the featured paper, the evidence linking elevated TMAO with CVD risk is mixed. Several studies4,5,6,7 have concluded that elevated blood levels of TMAO is predictive of major adverse cardiovascular events in people preexisting heart disease, while others have failed to find support for this connection.8,9
Still, a meta-analysis10 of 11 studies published in 2018 found higher TMAO levels were associated with a 23% increased risk for cardiovascular events and a 55% increase in all-cause mortality. Animal studies cited in DiNicolantonio’s paper also suggest that very high oral doses of TMAO or its precursors, phosphatidylcholine and carnitine, can have a pro-atherogenic effect.
Case-controlled epidemiological studies have also linked high TMAO to a significantly increased risk for Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. “Indeed, the correlations between TMAO and diabetes risk appear to be stronger than those for cardiovascular risk,” DiNicolantonio writes.
That said, there’s little evidence to suggest that dietary intake of TMAO or its precursors actually promotes CVD, provided your renal function is normal. On the contrary, choline is crucial not only for your brain, nervous system and cardiovascular function but also for healthy liver function and detoxification.
In fact, it appears to be essential for the prevention of fatty liver disease and is found in high amounts in foods such as fish, which are known for their beneficial influence on CVD — in part due to the benefits of long-chain omega-3 fats. DiNicolantonio writes:11
“With respect to carnitine and CV risk, a meta-analysis12 of prospective clinical trials in patients who had recently experienced a myocardial infarction concluded that carnitine supplementation is markedly protective with respect to total mortality, ventricular arrhythmias and new-onset angina …
Clinical trials13,14 have also reported favorable effects of supplemental carnitine or carnitine esters on angina, intermittent claudication and heart failure.
Moreover, rodent atherogenesis studies, in which carnitine has been administered in doses reasonably proportional to the supplementation doses used clinically, have found that carnitine is anti-atherogenic, despite its propensity to raise TMAO …
It is therefore reasonable to suspect that moderately elevated TMAO, rather than being a mediator of the associated CV risk, is a marker for factors which both promote CV events and increase plasma TMAO.”
Poor Liver Function Significantly Raises TMAO
According to DiNicolantonio, a key factor appears to be insulin resistance in the liver, which has been shown to significantly elevate TMAO. He writes:15
“TMAO arises when dietary choline and carnitine is metabolized by gastrointestinal bacteria to yield trimethylamine, which is then absorbed and oxidized to TMAO by hepatic flavin monooxygenases (FMO), primarily FMO3 … subnormal hepatic insulin activity, as found in those with hepatic [liver] insulin resistance, boosts hepatic FMO3 expression and hence TMAO levels.”
DiNicolantonio goes on to propose that elevated FMO3 activity in the liver can be a reflection of insulin resistance in the organ, which in turn influences cardiovascular health risk. This, he believes, “can rationalize the epidemiology of TMAO.” He explains:16
“Hepatic insulin resistance, and its common concomitant hepatic steatosis, are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, as well as elevated risk for Type 2 diabetes — risks likewise associated with elevated TMAO.
It is therefore straightforward to postulate that TMAO can serve as a marker for hepatic insulin resistance, and that this explains at least a portion of the risk for cardiovascular events and diabetes linked to TMAO.”
How to Reverse Insulin Resistance in Your Liver
If elevated TMAO is indeed a reflection of hepatic insulin resistance that raises your CVD risk, what can you do to correct it and lower your risk? For starters, you’d want to normalize your weight.
Two strategies that are most helpful in this regard are a cyclical ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting. For best results, they should be done together. You can learn more about these strategies in the hyperlinked articles provided. Certain supplements can also be very beneficial in the treatment of hepatic insulin resistance, including:17
• Berberine, which functions much like metformin, a commonly used medication for the treatment of diabetes. Both work, at least in part, by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Known as the “metabolic master switch,” AMPK is an enzyme that controls how energy is produced in your body and how it’s used by the cells.
By activating this enzyme, berberine and metformin helps regulate the biological activities that normalize lipid, glucose and energy imbalances. Berberine, used in Chinese medicine to treat diabetes, has also been shown to counteract hepatic insulin resistance in diabetic rodents.18,19
• Astaxanthin, a powerful carotenoid antioxidant, is a PPARalpha agonist with activity similar to that of the cholesterol-lowering drug fenofibrate. PPARalpha agonists indirectly stimulate AMPK in your liver and have been shown to alleviate hepatic insulin resistance in animals fed diets high in fat or fructose, and lower the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with metabolic syndrome.
• Krill oil is another alternative, as it contains the esterified form of astaxanthin, which increases its bioavailability, along with long-chain omega-3 fats essential for good health, including heart health. As noted in DiNicolantonio’s paper:
“Krill oil, even when compared to fish oil, suppresses hepatic steatosis in rodents. This may be due to its astaxanthin content, which is not found in fish oil.
Moreover, krill oil, but not fish oil, reduces diacylglycerol and ceramide content in the liver. The phospholipid fraction of krill oil has also been noted to reduce hepatic glucose production, unlike fish oil.
Thus, krill oil, being a source of highly bioavailable form of astaxanthin, appears to have additional advantages for reducing hepatic steatosis and hepatic insulin resistance compared to fish oil.”
Summary Overview of Findings
In summary, while there’s some evidence to suggest elevated TMAO levels may be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and an increased risk for cardiovascular events, nutritional epidemiology studies have not been able to demonstrate a detrimental impact of dietary choline and carnitine, from which TMAO is synthesized.
Nor do studies support the notion that dietary sources of TMAO, such as fish, have a detrimental impact on cardiovascular health. Quite the contrary. DiNicolantonio’s paper proposes that the only time elevated TMAO may in fact be a risk factor for CVD is when it’s accompanied by poor liver function, and elevated TMAO may itself be a sign of poor liver function.
The good news is you can improve liver function and lower your TMAO level with the help of nutritional supplements; berberine, astaxanthin and krill oil being three of the primary ones. DiNicolantonio writes:
“In conclusion, there is reason to suspect that the elevated risk for vascular events and Type 2 diabetes associated with elevated TMAO, after correction for recognized risk factors, is mediated largely by hepatic insulin resistance and the metabolic factors which induce it …
[I]f this analysis is accurate, various measures which alleviate hepatic insulin resistance — correction of visceral obesity, activation of AMPK with metformin or berberine, activation of PPARalpha with fenofibrate or astaxanthin, amplification of adiponectin production with pioglitazone or plant-based diets, and clinical strategies which boost the production or bioactivity of GLP-1 — could be expected to decrease elevated TMAO while also decreasing the risk for vascular events and diabetes associated with this risk factor. Figure 1 summarizes these relationships …
Importantly, this analysis does not exclude the possibility that TMAO might be directly pathogenic at the very elevated levels typically seen in severe kidney dysfunction. Indeed, cell culture studies suggest that TMAO can be pro-inflammatory in the plasma concentrations achieved during kidney failure. It generally is wise to minimize the consumption of nitrogenous compounds in this context.”
Figure 1: Measures that increase adiponectin and GLP-1 activity, control metabolic syndrome, and activate hepatic AMPK or PPARalpha, may decrease elevated TMAO and associated vascular/metabolic risk.
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Singaporean startup FathomX scores almost $2M to hasten breast cancer AI development
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AI startup FathomX from Singapore has raised SG$2.24 million ($1.6 million) from an undisclosed investor in the lead-up to its Series A funding round.
This follows its seed funding round in April last year where it raised SG$500,000 (over $350,000).
WHAT IT DOES
A spin-off from the National University of Singapore and the National University Health System, FathomX offers an AI-powered mammography support tool called FxMammo.
The screening solution has been found to be highly accurate in detecting cancer in dense breasts among Asian women. It is also able to reduce false positives for interval cancers, or cancers that are diagnosed in between routine screening episodes. Additionally, it enhances clinical workflow by reducing screening time and workforce.
The startup is closely working with the Diagnostics Development Hub of Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to develop FxMammo into software as a medical device.
WHAT IT’S FOR
Its fresh funding will help accelerate the pace of its product development and its acquisition of regulatory approvals. Moreover, the funding will support its ongoing multi-site validation study for FxMammo across eight markets in Asia-Pacific, as well as facilitate more research and commercial collaborations.
MARKET SNAPSHOT
South Korean startup Lunit is currently leading the AI diagnostic space in APAC. It also offers an AI mammography support tool, Lunit INSIGHT MMG, which analyses mammograms with 96% accuracy. It recently unveiled a new digital breast tomosynthesis tool which accelerates the reading process by choosing a 3D slice image with suspicious lesions among multiple images.
Another startup, Whiterabbit, has also recently introduced its own AI breast cancer screening solution called WRDensity, which was given an FDA 510(k) clearance in 2020. It uses AI to deliver data on breast density, which is a risk factor for breast cancer. New Zealand-based Volpara Health is another company that has received the same US FDA approval for its breast cancer detecting platform, Volpara Imaging Software.
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Roundup: Korean researchers develop biosensors to track serotonin levels in real-time and more briefs
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Korean researchers develop biosensor to measure serotonin levels in real-time
A research team from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology has developed a biosensor that can track serotonin levels in real time for the diagnosis of depression.
Depression, which affects over a million South Koreans, is believed to be partly caused by imbalances in the level of neurotransmitters in the human body, such as serotonin, which helps stabilise mood. Commonly, serotonin levels are analysed through mass spectrometry of blood samples which can be time-consuming.
To expedite this process, the KRIBB researchers developed a bio-probe that reacts selectively to serotonin and a nano biosensor that can detect even trace amounts of serotonin by combining it with highly conductive nanofibers.
The sensor reacts with serotonin and generates an electrical signal that is used to measure the concentration of serotonin.
In an evaluation of its efficacy, the biosensor has shown a high level of reliability in detecting serotonin in artificial body fluids. Findings of the evaluation have been published in the journal Nano Convergence.
“Real-time monitoring of serotonin makes it possible for us to observe the effect of serotonin on the function of the body, as well as the change in secretion in response to harmful external stimuli,” said research lead Dr Oh-seok Kwon.
Lunit gets Taiwan’s nod for AI mammography solution
South Korean medical AI startup Lunit has received the approval of Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration for its AI mammography solution.
Its Lunit INSIGHT MMG has been cleared for commercial release in Taiwan as a class 2 medical device.
The solution uses AI to detect suspicious lesions in mammography images with 96% accuracy.
The company also receive similar regulatory approvals for INSIGHT MMG in the United States last year and in Canada in June this year.
Singapore’s National University Cancer Institute unveils cancer treatment cost calculator
The National University Cancer Institute in Singapore has teamed up with health technology startup Bot MD to create a chemotherapy and cancer treatment cost calculator.
The NCIS Chemotherapy Cost Calculator or ChemoCalc provides an instant estimate of a patient’s monthly out-of-pocket expenses based on their prescribed cancer treatment, residency status, means-testing tier and eligibility for various government subsidy schemes.
The launch of this app comes ahead of the upcoming changes to the MediShield Life reimbursement model, which will only cover a positive list of clinically proven and cost-effective cancer drug treatments.
“In light of the upcoming MOH policy changes, we wanted to create a simple and effective tool that would help our patients understand the cost of their treatment, so that they can be empowered to make decisions on their care, factor these costs into their budgets, and seek help early if costs are prohibitive for them,” explained Dr Jen Wei Ying, an associate consultant at the NCIS Department of Haematology-Oncology.
Chinese insurtech firm Waterdrop launches AI virtual assistant for insurance providers
Beijing-based insurance tech company Waterdrop has recently unveiled an AI-powered virtual assistant for insurance providers.
According to a press release, the Waterdrop Assistant is a human-like digital assistant that helps online insurance service teams with tasks, including data processing and analysis, online user management, and customer services.
It is able to conduct simple conversations with customers, and record and collate their protection needs and intention to purchase insurance. According to the company, the digital assistant is well-versed with over 100 insurance products on Waterdrop’s data library.
Since its launch, Waterdrop Assistant has processed 86% of user sessions with 97% accuracy for intention recognition, helping free up around 37% of customer service manpower and increase policy renewal rate.
Medical imaging company United Imaging Healthcare debuts in Shanghai
Chinese medical imaging devices and equipment provider United Imaging Healthcare has gone public in China through a listing on the Science and Technology Innovation Board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Net proceeds from its $1.6 billion initial public offering will go to its research and development of next-generation products, industrialisation projects, and marketing service network projects.
United Imaging’s products have been adopted by medical and research institutions in more than 40 countries worldwide, including the United States, Japan, Italy, and New Zealand.
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Western Australia’s Disability Services launches online care resource for people with Down syndrome
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Western Australia’s Disability Services has gone live with a new website that offers information about the health considerations of people with Down syndrome.
The My Voice My Health website was designed by Down Syndrome Western Australia through the funding provided by the state’s Department of Communities.
The online resource hub has information on health topics relevant to people with DS; lists of public health providers, peak bodies and non-profit organisations across WA that provides support for health conditions affecting persons with DS; and resources for health professionals, including checklists and communication tips for working with people with DS and other developmental disabilities.
WHY IT MATTERS
It is estimated that about one in every 1,100 babies born in Australia will develop Down syndrome, which is one of the most common chromosome disorders in the world.
In a media release, Disability Services Minister Don Punch said the My Voice My Health website will empower families, carers and people living with DS with important information and be a “useful tool when visiting health professionals”.
“People with Down syndrome are living long and fulfilling lives, with plenty of opportunities to make their own choices and live independently. My Voice My Health is an excellent example of how we can use information technology to enable people with disability to live their best life,” he said.
MARKET SNAPSHOT
Other countries have also launched similar digital resources to support the well-being of people with DS. In the United Kingdom, the Down’s Syndrome Association has developed the Health Swap app to empower people with DS to make positive lifestyle choices while improving their digital skills.
In the United States, a platform called Down Syndrome Clinic to You provides up-to-date, personalised health and wellness information to persons with DS. It also assists caregivers and primary care providers in giving evidence-based care in the absence of a specialist. It was developed by research and clinical teams from the Down Syndrome Program and Lab of Computer Science at Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated academic hospital.
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Virtual care platform 98point6 raises $20M to support licensing vertical
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Text-based virtual care company 98point6 announced Thursday it had raised more than $20 million to scale its new licensing offering.
The company also announced a strategic partnership with Washington-based MultiCare Health System, which will be the first to license the virtual care technology for its hybrid urgent and primary care service dubbed Indigo Health.
Existing investors participating in the raise include the Growth Fund of L Catterton and Activant Capital.
WHAT IT DOES
98point6 uses a text-based interface to deliver on-demand virtual primary care services. Patients can input information about their symptoms and an automated assistant will match them to a physician who can use photo, audio and video capabilities if necessary. Users can also receive prescriptions and lab orders.
The company added behavioral healthcare support early last year, and recently expanded the program to adolescents.
“Healthcare is in a period of radical transformation – the previous growth and cost reduction strategies of healthcare organizations, particularly health systems, will no longer serve them,” Jay Burrell, president at 98point6, said in a statement.
“Our team has learned a tremendous amount in the past seven years as a standalone virtual clinic. I’m tremendously excited about this next stage of our business, as health systems leverage the 98point6 platform to deliver value to their patients and their organizations in new ways.”
MARKET SNAPSHOT
Founded in 2015, 98point6 most recently raised two rounds of funding in 2020. It announced a $118 million Series E round in October that year, as well as a $43 million Series D in April 2020.
Telehealth utilization expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the trend has moderated since the early days of COVID-19, FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker found telehealth made up 5.4% of all medical claim lines in May this year.
There are a number of established companies as well as startups offering virtual care services, including TytoCare, eVisit and Zoom.
Meanwhile, major player Teladoc Health posted nearly $10 billion in losses through the first half of the year. The virtual care giant has also been expanding its primary care program, Primary360, with same-day medication delivery and at-home lab collection.
Amazon, which has lately been making big news in health tech, last week announced it would shut down its Amazon Care telehealth program for employers at the end of the year. The news came on the heels of the company’s agreement to acquire hybrid primary care provider One Medical for approximately $3.9 billion.
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CDC Votes to Allow Use of Omicron Vaccine Boosters
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Sept. 1, 2022 — A panel of advisors to the CDC today supported use of vaccines designed to target both Omicron and the older variants of the coronavirus, a step that may aid a goal of a widespread immunization campaign before winter arrives in the U.S.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 Thursday on two separate questions. One sought the panel’s backing for the use of a single dose of a new version of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for people age 12 and older. The second question dealt with a single dose of the reworked Moderna vaccine for people age 18 and older.
The federal government wants to speed use of revamped COVID-19 shots, which the FDA on Thursday cleared for use in the U.S..
Once CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, signs off on the panel’s recommendation – which come as soon as tonight – the new boosters will be available.
The FDA vote expands the emergency use authorization EUA for both Moderna and Pfizer’s original COVID-19 vaccines. The new products are also called “updated boosters.” Both contain two mRNA components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain and another that is found in the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the Omicron variant, the FDA said.
Basically, the FDA cleared the way for these new boosters after it relied heavily on results of certain blood tests that suggested an immune response boost from the new formulas, plus 18 months of mostly safe use of the original versions of the shots.
What neither the FDA nor the CDC has, however, is evidence from studies in humans on how well these new vaccines work or whether they are as safe as the originals. But the FDA did consider clinical evidence for the older shots and results from studies on the new boosters that were done in mice.
Committee member Pablo Sanchez, MD, of Ohio State University was the sole “no” vote on each question.
“It’s a new vaccine, it’s a new platform. There’s a lot of hesitancy already. We need the human data,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez did not doubt that the newer versions of the vaccine would prove safe.
“I personally am in the age group where I’m at high risk and I’m almost sure that I will receive it,” Sanchez said. “I just feel that this was a bit premature, and I wish that we had seen that data. Having said that, I am comfortable that the vaccine will likely be safe like the others.”
Sanchez was not alone in raising concerns about backing new COVID-19 shots for which there is not direct clinical evidence from human studies.
Committee member Sarah Long, MD, of Drexel University in Philadelphia, said during the discussion she would “reluctantly” vote in favor of the updated vaccines. She said she believes they will have the potential to reduce hospitalizations and even deaths, even with questions remaining about the data.
Long joined other committee members in pointing to the approach to updating flu vaccines as a model. In an attempt to keep ahead of influenza, companies seek to defeat new strains through tweaks to their FDA-approved vaccines. There is not much clinical information available about these revised products, Long said. She compared it to remodeling an existing home.
“It is the same scaffolding, part of the same roof, we’re just putting in some dormers and windows,” with the revisions to the flu vaccine, she said.
Earlier in the day, committee member Jamie Loehr, MD, of Cayuga Family Medicine in Ithaca, NY, also used changes to the annual flu shots as the model for advancing COVID-19 shots.
“So after thinking about it, I am comfortable even though we don’t have human data,” he said.
There were several questions during the meeting about why the FDA had not convened a meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (regarding these specific bivalent vaccines. Typically, the FDA committee of advisors considers new vaccines before the agency authorizes their use. In this case, however, the agency acted on its own.
FDA said the committee considered the new, bivalent COVID-19 boosters in earlier meetings and that was enough outside feedback.
But holding a meeting of advisors on these specific products could have helped build public confidence in these medicines, Dorit Reiss, PhD, of the University of California Hastings College of Law, said during the public comment session of the CDC advisors’ meeting.
“We could wish the vaccines were more effective against infection, but they’re safe and they prevent hospitalization and death,” she said.
ACIP support anticipated
The Department of Health and Human Services anticipated the backing of ACIP and expects Walensky’s endorsement will follow. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response on Wednesday began distributing “millions of doses of the updated booster to tens of thousands of sites nationwide,” wrote Jason Roos, PhD, chief operating officer for HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element, in a blog.
“Pending the CDC’s recommendation, people will soon be able to receive – at no charge – their updated COVID-19 booster shot containing an Omicron component,” Roos wrote. “These boosters will be available at tens of thousands of vaccination sites they’ve used previously, including local pharmacies, their physicians’ offices, and vaccine centers operated by state and local health officials.”
Sources:
Hearing, CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Sept. 1, 2022.
FDA: “FDA’s Critical Role in Ensuring Supply of Influenza Vaccine.”
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response: “ASPR Begins Distributing Updated COVID-19 Boosters.”
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