Coronavirus shots may become an annual affair

Hello,

Today in healthcare news: Coronavirus-fighting booster shots are expected in the UK by the fall, an analysis around why delaying second doses might be worthwhile, and the US paid $44 million to Deloitte for a glitchy vaccine appointment system. 

Booster shots are likely in the UK this fall to combat coronavirus variants – a sign vaccines may become an annual affair

• Existing coronavirus vaccines may be less effective against the variant first found in South Africa.
• Vaccine developers are working on updated shots to combat such variants.
• The UK will probably distribute booster shots in the fall, then roll out new COVID-19 vaccines annually.

Read the full story from Aylin Woodward here>> 

Scientists, including Fauci, are facing off over whether to delay 2nd vaccine doses. Here’s why the risk of more mutations from delaying shots may ultimately be worth it.

• Experts are split on whether to delay the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines to get more people immunized.
• Prioritizing first doses means that more vulnerable people get some protection against coronavirus, which could save lives.
• The risk of more coronavirus mutations could be the price we have to pay.

Read the full analysis from Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce here>>

The US paid Deloitte $44 million for a vaccine appointment system laden with glitches. Some states are scrambling for an alternative.

• The CDC gave Deloitte $44 million as a federal contractor to build a website for vaccine appointments.
• Most states chose not to use the tool due to concerns about its performance, but nine states opted in.
• Several health officials from those states say they’re experiencing technical glitches, including site crashes and canceled appointments.

Read the full story from Aria Bendix here>>

More stories we're reading: 

• Be mindful of the information you're sharing when you take your vaccine-card selfie (The New York Times) 
• Biden said Trump's handling of COVID-19 was 'even more dire than we thought' after finding insufficient vaccine supplies (Insider)
• Experts think vaccine supply could exceed demand starting in April (The Wall Street Journal)
• HAPPENING TOMORROW: Hear from healthcare's biggest VCs on the future of digital health, biotech, and startups (Insider)

- Lydia