WLWT: Doctor: Better to 'stick to the plan,' continue full COVID-19 vaccine doses, not half
UC expert says distributing half doses of the Moderna vaccine is not the way to go
Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the UC College of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases was the expert source for a story on WLWT-TV about the FDA considering distributing half doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people between the ages of 18-55. The head of Operation Warp Speed said data shows the half doses of the Moderna vaccine can be just as effective in the 18 to 55-year-olds, but Fichtenbaum said a half-dose plan needs more research.
Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, in a lab at the UC College of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases. Photo/Joe Fuqua II/UC Creative + Brand
"I think there's a big difference between knowing and hoping and testing and proving something works," Fichtenbaum said.
He is concerned about the prospect of cutting to half-doses for people 18 years old to 55 years old to stretch the Moderna stock.
"I think it would be irresponsible of us to take a dose that has not been proven to work in randomized trials," he said.
Fichtenbaum said studies showed promising antibody response in lower dose groups but it wasn't tested in a large-scale manner.
He told WLWT-TV the focus should be on collaboration with manufacturers for added production and state and local health departments to gather information, data and totals on businesses, essential workers and those who will need to be vaccinated, so Operation Warp Speed knows how many full doses are needed.
"We have a lot of vaccine available. It's getting people vaccinated. That's really what we should focus our efforts on," he said
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