Politico was the first to report that some pharmacists discovered that they could get six or even seven doses of vaccine from vials designed for five doses of vaccine per vial. An FDA spokeswoman told CNN that the agency is aware of the problem and is working with Pfizer to find the best approach.
Currently, due to public health crises, the FDA recommends using every full received dose (a sixth or perhaps even a seventh) of each vial until the problem is resolved, the spokeswoman said. However, since the vials do not contain any preservatives, it is important to note that any residual product that does not represent a full dose should not be combined from several vials into one.
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More than 2.9 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine have been allocated to states for initial doses, according to a list released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 2.9 million more people will be available for a second dose in about 21 days.
The first transplants and the possible green light from the moderators are good news. But the pandemic in the United States is far from over – and more violent than ever.
Wednesday was marked by gloomy figures worldwide: the highest infection and mortality rate for Covid-19 in one day, and the highest rate of hospitalizations for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic in this country.
More than 247,000 new cases have been reported. More than 113,000 Americans have been hospitalized with the virus, according to COVID’s follow-up project. And more than 3,600 people have already died.
Still in the dangerous and critical part of the pandemic
Despite some progress in slowing the spread of the virus in the northern and central United States, cases continue to increase in the most densely populated states, according to the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
The stabilisation in the northern plains, the Upper Midwest and some states of Rocky Mountain and Central is offset by a significant deterioration in the more populated states (82% of the population), according to a report sent to the states by the Task Force and obtained by CNN.
And now the Americans have an important decision to make: The coming holidays could lead to a further increase in illness, hospitalisation and, inevitably, death if people decide to travel and pack up again. Despite a CDC warning for Thanksgiving not to travel, more than four million people spent their holidays away from home.
In California, where Los Angeles County health authorities continue to report a growing number of cases, the Department of Health director, Dr. Christina Gali, attributes the increase to residents who have gathered for Thanksgiving holidays despite repeated calls to stay at home.
And the worst is yet to come, added Gali, and says we have at least some very difficult weeks ahead of us, probably even until the end of January.
This week the governors of the Northeast and Midwest issued a video message inviting residents to double security measures and reconsider their holiday plans.
If you’re planning to take a trip during the holidays or meet other households – we invite you to think about it, according to the governors. A single infection can cause an epidemic in your community, flooding our hospitals and putting you and your loved ones at risk.
In an attempt to limit the spread of the holiday season, Judge Ricardo Samaniego of El Paso County imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m. December and from 30 to 4 January apply.
People need to know that we are still in a dangerous and critical phase of this pandemic and that tens of thousands of American lives are at stake, Admiral Lt. Dr Brett Girouard, Assistant Secretary of Health at the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.
If you can avoid travelling, that’s a good measure, he added.
More Covid-19 allowed in home trials
Meanwhile, the FDA also granted emergency approval Wednesday for another Covid 19 home test, this time for the home test of Abbott Covid 19’s card, agent BinaxNOW.
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The test is approved for use at home on prescription with nasal swab samples taken from themselves in people 15 years of age or older suspected by a health care provider within the first seven days after the onset of Covid-19 symptoms, the agency said in a statement. Adults can take samples from young children.
Mr. Abbott said the new test will cost $25.
The FDA continues to approve Covid-19 tests, which give more Americans access to greater flexibility and new testing capabilities, said FDA Commissioner Steven Hahn.
This comes the day after the FDA also gave emergency approval for a $30 over-the-counter test made by Ellume that people can take home and give to themselves.
Girouard said Wednesday that the FDA is likely to announce more good news soon about other gay tests that are not exactly over-the-counter, but are of the same level.
You’ll see that more and more tests are being approved and then piling up very soon at the beginning of the year, he added.
Maggie Fox, Jacqueline Howard, Raya Razek and Andrea Diaz of CNN contributed to this report.
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