Seven days in medicine: 8-14 June 2022
BMJ 2022; 377 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1448 (Published 16 June 2022) Cite this as: BMJ 2022;377:o1448
Covid-19
Vaccine targeting omicron shows promise
A bivalent covid booster vaccine designed to protect against the omicron variant produced a greater antibody response against omicron than boosting with the ancestral strain vaccine alone, preliminary data from Moderna showed. Antibodies were sustained at higher levels and covered more strains for at least six months, suggesting that boosting with a bivalent vaccine may protect against breakthrough infection caused by multiple strains. However, the trial had only 437 participants, and the findings have not yet been published in a scientific paper.1
EMA adopts first critical medicines list
The European Medicines Agency’s steering group on medicine shortages published a list of all approved vaccines and therapeutics to prevent or treat covid-19. The list of critical medicines will be closely monitored to identify and manage potential or actual shortages. Manufacturers of medicines on the list are required to provide regular updates on available stocks and forecasts of supply and demand. EU member states must also provide regular reports on estimated demand for critical medicines at a national level.
Tobacco
Legal smoking age “should rise every year”
England should increase the minimum age for buying tobacco products, currently age 18, by one year annually to slowly phase out smoking, said a government commissioned review. The Making Smoking Obsolete review also called for the government to urgently invest £125m (€144m; $151m) a year in a comprehensive programme to fund easily …
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