Pfizer "is less effective" vs U.S. health authorities "effect is good"...

weird public conflict

The public clash between Pfizer and US health authorities (FDA, CDC, NIH, HHS allied forces) on the 8th of US time was so strange.

When it comes to vaccine efficacy, Pfizer argued that "it will lose effectiveness over time," while regulators insisted that "it works well for now."

To put it very simply, the person selling the product says it is not effective, but the person who gave the permit says it is effective.

In addition, three hours after Pfizer issued a press release, an unprecedented event occurred in which the Allied Forces, which encompassed US health institutions, issued a rebuttal.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grabbed a pen and wrote a rebuttal, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) borrowed the name and posted it on the HHS (Ministry of Health and Welfare) website.

I have no memory of seeing such a nimble, pan-government response.



The data released by Pfizer is said to be the announcement of a booster vaccination plan that takes into account the delta mutation (Pfizer and BioNTech Provide Update on Booster Program in Light of the Delta-Variant). Citing the results of a survey of people who were actually vaccinated in Israel, he noted that "after 6 months, symptoms and the effectiveness of preventing infection decrease." The Israeli government has announced that the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against the delta mutation is reduced to 64% (of course, the probability of preventing severe cases is estimated to be very good, over 90%). Israel is a country where delta mutations are the dominant species. So, he mentioned that he would submit related data to regulatory agencies and publish it as a thesis, saying that the antibody can be raised up to 10 times if the second dose is given 6 months after the completion of the 2 doses of the inoculation. He explained that these booster doses would best respond to mutations, including delta mutations.



The rebuttal by the US Health Authorities Coalition consists of only two paragraphs.

But strangely, he does not directly mention 'Pfizer', the object of the objection.

The title simply says: Joint CDC and FDA Statement on Vaccine Boosters.

The first paragraph explains that the vaccines currently available are so effective that they can respond well to mutated viruses, including delta mutations, when completed.

So, he emphasized the need to get vaccinated.

In the second paragraph, those who have been vaccinated like this have stated that boosters are not needed at this time.

He said health authorities are rigorously reviewing whether booster vaccinations are necessary, and that such a decision is not based solely on pharmaceutical company data.

The health authorities mentioned that they are ready to decide whether and when to give booster vaccinations when scientific research results are accumulated.



No matter how hard we try, the United States does not increase vaccinations...

Why did the health authorities respond urgently?

The most important reason for this urgent response by health authorities seems to be to prevent skepticism about the efficacy of the vaccine in advance. Vaccination in the United States is seldom increased, no matter how much the US government tries. Adults who were hit at least once on July 4 should have reached 70% earlier, but after about a week, it is still only at the level of 67.4%. Now, we have reached the limit where even raising a number to one decimal place is expensive and time-consuming. Respected figures in the community (pastors, doctors, teachers) go from door to door to persuade them face-to-face to get the vaccine. Still, it is not easy to change the minds of those who do not agree. These anti-vaccine proponents have no choice but to change their minds when they have an excuse to avoid vaccination. If you manage to persuade one or two more people to get vaccinated, but suddenly a message 'You need to get a 3rd dose' comes up, and you are very likely to lie down and say, 'That's not right'.



The US government has been emphasizing the efficacy of mRNA vaccines until now, and it is impossible to admit that suddenly, the vaccine you received now loses efficacy after 6 months.

Even if that happens, the majority of Americans have not yet been vaccinated for less than six months, so it seems it's not too late to talk about it later.

For now, the most important task is to persuade as many people as possible who are close to anti-vaccine to walk their sleeves.

This quick response shows just how much the US health authorities care about managing messages to drive vaccination.

Nearly 100% of hospital admissions in the United States now are unvaccinated.

It is a more unfortunate situation because it is something that can be avoided if only getting a vaccine.

These days, if you make a vaccination reservation, you can automatically make an Uber reservation, give a cash card, and even win the lottery, but those who don't get it are holding on.



Like an iPhone that needs to be upgraded when the time comes...

What are the pharmacists doing?

It cannot be seen that the pharmaceutical companies that created vaccines are focused only on making money or that they are trying to inoculate unnecessary vaccines. It cannot be denied that they are overcoming the corona pandemic because of their active response. The coronavirus, which rapidly mutates, is a top priority if it can be managed to avoid infection as much as possible through a customized response. However, Korea is also saving money, but the imbalance in the supply of vaccines is a serious problem. If booster shots, which are not needed immediately, become a top priority, we cannot rule out the possibility that developed countries will absorb more vaccines, which are still lacking. The UK, which started vaccination fairly quickly, has announced a booster shot vaccination plan for people over 70 and medical staff from September. The moment the US, which is much larger than the UK, officially announces that it will be given a booster vaccine, it is highly likely that the global vaccine supply schedule will not work out for a while.



Some wonder if pharmaceutical companies are trying to make a coronavirus vaccine like the iPhone.

Continuing to inoculate the vaccine with the upgraded version, like a cell phone that needs to be upgraded and purchased when the time comes, is a way to maximize profits for pharmaceutical companies.

In particular, mRNA vaccines can be easily redesigned, allowing for customized responses to mutated viruses.

Moderna CEO Stephen Bansel, whom I interviewed during the Korea-US summit, said directly that Moderna 2.0 is being developed to respond to mutations.

Considering that Pfizer also announced a booster shot plan after announcing that it was not effective in Israel, it seems difficult to completely deny that it considers this as a business opportunity.

Contrary to the Israeli results, some other studies show that Pfizer's delta mutations are far more protective and last for several years.



Up to 42.5 trillion won market…

The 'war of money' behind booster inoculation

The Washington Post, citing a Bloomberg analysis report, reported that the booster vaccination market will reach $11 billion to $37 billion worldwide annually. Converted to Korean money, this means that a new market worth up to 42.5 trillion won will be opened. What Pfizer is talking about now means the third dose of the existing vaccine, but if a mutation that bypasses the vaccine now emerges and a new vaccine needs to be designed, the market size is expected to grow. Pfizer has announced that it will generate $26 billion in revenue in 2021. The Washington Post reported that the US charged $19.5 for a single dose, which is temporary and in fact, between $150 and $175 is a reasonable price. It is said that it is normal to raise the price 8 to 9 times from the current price.



It is also unfortunate that the competitive landscape of various corona vaccines is gradually collapsing. Vaccines with similar efficacy must compete fiercely to increase consumer benefits, but it is true that Pfizer is fearfully rising to the top. It was reported that Pfizer CEO Bulla Suga did not meet with the minister when Suga came to Washington, so he had no choice but to meet in person. As CEO Bulla was invited to attend the G7 summit, you can realize how powerful the influence of the coronavirus vaccine pharmaceutical company has become. With the Biden government's diplomatic initiative dreaming of reorganizing the post-coronavirus world order with vaccines, the reality is that the uncertainty about vaccines is greater than ever.