<div>Paul Offit is a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases and an expert in virology and vaccine development. He currently serves on the FDA committee overseeing and evaluating COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Paul discusses the strategies and major companies pursuing a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. He gets into the nuances of the vaccine approval process and its implications for COVID-19 vaccine outlook. Paul also explains potential risks, reveals his own confidence level in safety, and gives insight into protection against reinfection with vaccination. Please note that this episode was recorded 11/05/2020, prior to the 11/09/2020 news release of the Pfizer vaccine update.</div> <div> </div> <div>We discuss:</div> <div> <div> <ul> <li>How Paul's experience as a child in a chronic care hospital as child informed his path in pediatrics and vaccine development (3:30);</li> <li>Addressing the anti-vaccination sentiment and explaining the fraudulent origins of the anti-vaccination movement (8:00);</li> <li>Lessons and insights from 26 years studying rotavirus and creating a successful rotavirus vaccine (17:00);</li> <li>Developing a new vaccine: the different phases of clinical trials, overall timeline, and financial costs (27:15);</li> <li>Operation Warp Speed: the expedited process of creating a coronavirus vaccine (32:30);</li> <li>Various vaccine strategies—RNA, DNA, virus vector—and the challenges associated (35:00);</li> <li>The Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines: strategy, timeline, and Emergency Use Authorization (41:15);</li> <li>Paul's confidence level in the safety of the first coronavirus vaccines (48:30);</li> <li>The risks associated with different types of vaccines, and updates on the Johnson & Johnson and Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccines (52:15);</li> <li>What we know about the coronavirus vaccines approved in Russia and China (55:45);</li> <li>The latest on the Merck coronavirus vaccine (57:15);</li> <li>The recombinant/purified protein vaccine approach for coronavirus—big players, risks, and the best vaccine for the elderly (57:45);</li> <li>Attenuated and inactivated vaccine strategies for coronavirus (1:02:00);</li> <li>The genetic drift of SARS-CoV-2: Impacts for protection and vaccine development (1:02:30);</li> <li>Paul's take on the hypothesis that a previous coronavirus infection offers protection against the novel COVID-19 (1:06:45);</li> <li>Addressing the concern that antibodies fade over time (1:09:15);</li> <li>Blood type and protective against coronavirus (1:13:00);</li> <li>Distribution: the challenge of prioritizing the limited doses of vaccines after approval (1:13:15);</li> <li>Paul's perspective on COVID-19 vaccine safety (1:16:15);</li> <li>Considerations regarding vaccinating children for coronavirus and the role of a fever immune response (1:21:45);</li> <li>Why vaccine development can be challenging and risks of current COVID-19 strategies (1:29:45); and</li> <li>More.</li> </ul> </div> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/">https://peterattiamd.com/</a><br /> <br /> Show notes page for this episode: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/pauloffit">https://peterattiamd.com/pauloffit</a> <br /> <br /> Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/">https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</a><br /> <br /> Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/">https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/</a><br /> <br /> Connect with Peter on <a href="http://Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Faceboo</u></a><u>k</u> | <a href="http://Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Twitter</u></a> | <a href="http://Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Instagram</u></a>.</p> </div>
Actionable Insights
1. Avoid Routinely Treating Fever
Do not routinely treat physiological fevers with anti-fever medicines like Tylenol or ibuprofen, as your immune system functions more effectively at higher temperatures, and treating fever can potentially prolong illness or reduce immune response to vaccines. Only treat fever if underlying chronic conditions (lung, heart, metabolic disease) make you unable to handle the increased metabolic strain.
For novel vaccines, wait to review comprehensive safety and efficacy data from phase three trials before personal use, especially if not in a high-priority group, to ensure confidence in the vaccine’s profile.
3. Implement Multi-Layered COVID Protection
Combine vaccination (once deemed safe and effective), consistent mask-wearing, and social distancing to significantly reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its potential long-term, multi-system effects, which should be taken seriously.
4. Vaccinate Children for Protection
Ensure children receive recommended vaccines to shield them from preventable diseases, as foregoing vaccination can lead to needless suffering and severe health outcomes.
5. Cultivate a Flexible Scientific Mindset
Adopt the practice of a good scientist by being willing to modify or reject a hypothesis when presented with contradictory data, rather than rigidly adhering to initial beliefs.
6. Recognize Memory’s Imperfections
Be aware that human memory, especially concerning painful events, can be fallible, leading individuals to seek and sometimes misremember reasons for occurrences, which can influence beliefs and actions.
7. Understand True Viral Immunity
When evaluating immunity to a virus, focus on the presence and levels of neutralizing antibodies rather than general IgG and IgM serology, as neutralizing antibodies are the critical component for preventing viral attachment and infection.
8. Expect Logistical Vaccine Challenges
Anticipate that the mass distribution of new vaccines will face significant logistical hurdles, particularly for multi-dose regimens and those requiring ultra-cold storage, leading to an analog (slow and partitioned) rollout.
9. Approach Novel Interventions with Humility
Exercise humility when developing and deploying novel medical interventions, understanding that even after extensive study, rare and unexpected side effects can emerge, underscoring the need for robust post-market surveillance.
10. Understand Emergency Use Authorization
Be aware that Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) permits the use of medical products based on shorter study periods than full licensure, which may lead to public concern and highlights the ongoing need for data collection post-authorization.
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13. Prioritize Professional Medical Advice
Remember that this podcast offers general information, not medical advice; always consult qualified healthcare professionals for personal medical conditions, diagnoses, or treatment.