Cat Sense On Novavax

The other day I saw a brief discussion regarding Novavax, and was left asking: Why? H/T to commenter Jim Blacic, who drew my attention to a new post by el gato malo, who basically asks the same question. Well, actually he goes beyond the question and offers some pointed reasons why NOT. When I saw the link title that Jim sent my first reactions was, Oh, no, why is he even going there. However, as usual, it’s worthwhile.

For those not convinced, follow the link. Otherwise, I offer his “Cliff’s notes” version with a brief extra quote. Do please note what he’s saying here about the flu vaccines, as well:

will the novavax vaccine be a good booster option?

perhaps a better questions: "are any boosters a good option?" and "should we rein in this runaway train of speculative inoculation campaigns that lack sound validation?"

cliff notes:

• booster campaigns have been undertaken widely in response to failing covid vaccines.

• they were not supported by clinical outcomes data.

• the results have been poor and seem to fail on a risk reward basis

• post omicron, they make even less sense

• this is the result of undue haste and insufficient testing.

• therefore the idea of “faster response with novel vaccines next time” idea is one we should abandon, not embrace.

…

the[] past attempts in RSV and combo RSV flu have not panned out. this is, just like mRNA, a repurposed pathway with a string of past failures and no pre-covid successes.

ideas that it will be a “good booster option” especially in the age of omicron look entirely speculative and the track record of “boosters” so far looks to be significantly exaggerated by the bayesian tampering of failing to count the outcomes in the vaccinated until 14 days after the final dose. on society scale, they seem ineffective and in the UK are associated with higher, not lower rates of covid contraction.

BTW, the point about higher rates of covid contraction in the Era of Ominous Omicron is a point that Dr. Byram Bridle makes in a recent lengthy interview with Steve Kirsch.