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Immunocompromised Conditions Added by FDA and CDC to Receive Third Dose Booster Shots

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Some immunocompromising medical conditions were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 12th to receive third dose booster shots. This is an amendment to the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said, “Today’s action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19. As we’ve previously stated, other individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected and do not need an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine at this time.”

This action by the FDA starts the process for Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for a third shot. That came on August 13, 2021. “The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) signed the recommendation that endorsed the use of an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems after an initial two-dose vaccine series.”

Who would be approved for a booster shot?

Approximately 2.7 percent of American adults are immunocompromised in some way. These are people whose immune response lacks the strength to fight off most infections. A number of conditions can influence immunity, such as HIV, organ transplants, and some cancers. While two vaccine doses give some immunity, the antibodies don’t last as long as in healthy individuals with strong immune systems.

Israeli study of vaccines for cancer patients leads to third shots in Israel

A study in Israel’s Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva observed 87 percent of cancer patients still had high antibody levels after four months. But in healthy people, the antibodies remained at 100 percent. While a good response for the cancer patients, the observed drop in levels over time reveals compromised protection. It is thought booster shots will add immunity strength and also the length of time antibodies stay active in protecting the body.

There is also a benefit to the overall population as reducing infections in this compromised group should reduce the threat of additional variants. It is thought new variants likely begin in immunocompromised individuals.

Does the booster shot apply to you?

The CDC provides a list of qualified immunity challenges, however, the best answer is to discuss your situation with your medical provider.

“Quit Smoking!” New Push From Cancer Hospitals

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There’s a new push from cancer hospitals to help patients quit smoking. This is based on research evidence showing a gain of almost two additional years of life for those patients who stop smoking versus those who continue. In addition to an extended lifespan, those who stop have fewer side effects from their treatments, they heal more quickly, and their tumors have a lower chance of returning.

It is hard to quit smoking

Doctors, cancer centers and patients know it is hard to quit smoking. That is why new strategies are being developed to assist and encourage the change. Dr. Mahdi Sheikh led the study for the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency in Lyon, France said, “It is a huge effect.” Quitting smoking is “as necessary as the treatments” for lung cancer according to Dr. Sheikh.

An array of tools is available: certain medications, nicotine patches, and counseling by phone or in person. Instead of picking up a cigarette, cigar or pipe, alternative activities are suggested – a toothpick or mint in the mouth, a nutritious meal or snack instead of smoking. Since there are many hand movements associated with the act of smoking, perhaps a fidget gadget or hand lotion could distract from past habits. Move the cigarettes to a hard-to-reach place, gradually increasing the difficulty and keep fewer cigarettes available.

Many cancer centers offer these suggestions and more that help curb the urge to smoke. Additionally, patients are hearing directly from their cancer doctors the benefits of quitting at any stage of lung cancer. Find what tools work for you before a diagnosis shocks you into quitting.

Latest study

In this latest study reported in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, “researchers followed 517 Russian lung cancer patients who smoked, checking annually to see whether they’d quit. After five years, nearly 60% of those who quit smoking were alive, compared to about 47% of those who continued smoking. The effect held up regardless of tumor stage, how much the patient smoked, or how long after diagnosis they quit.”

Currently, 53 cancer centers incorporate treatment for tobacco use into their care due to a $27 million National Cancer Institute program. Since 2018, over 50,000 patients have benefited from this program.

Director of the program, Dr. Ned Sharpless stated, “We’ve already learned a tremendous amount from this. With relatively modest support – these are not huge, expensive programs – you can markedly increase the number of patients you reach.”

What is next to help patients quit smoking?

Now it’s important to spread the knowledge and tools to clinics that are smaller or away from cities. All smokers, whether already diagnosed with lung cancer or on that pathway, need the knowledge that quitting works! It is not just a phrase that is repeated, it is a proven fact. If smokers don’t believe this and/or have a desire to quit, no tool will help.

Additional good news comes from the Stanford Cancer Institute. They reach out to patients through phone calls offering specialists support and medication to stop smoking. Judith Prochaska, director of the Stanford program, found that almost 1 in 4 patients who agree to quit smoking treatments are still tobacco free after two years. This is remarkable.

Diane Beneventi, director of the tobacco treatment program at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said, ”I wish every person who has cancer who smokes knew they stand to gain a great deal if they quit. It’s more important now than it’s ever been in their life.”

Do you have any signs of lung cancer?

If you do, early testing can mean an early diagnosis and better overall outlook. Talk to your doctor. It is likely testing costs are covered by private insurers with no cost-sharing by the patient. Read here about qualifications for this program.

Over 100 Firefighters Possibly Exposed to Asbestos

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possible asbestos exposure

More than 100 firefighters and civilians were possibly exposed to asbestos in Austin, Texas. The potential exposure came while fighting a 3-alarm fire in a city-owned abandoned warehouse.  Through a survey contracted by the Building Services Department in 2013, asbestos was discovered in three buildings on the property. It was found in drywall, ceilings, flooring and floor adhesive in all three buildings, including the warehouse that burned. Preparation to demolish all these buildings was underway before the fire.

Firefighters were not aware they were possibly exposed to asbestos

Until the third alarm unit arrived on the scene, the firefighters and civilians were unaware of the possibility of asbestos. The incident report stated, “Although best precautions were taken to avoid exposure after notification, the fire was very significant and the smoke produced from the fire swirled throughout the fireground with multiple shifts in the wind while units were on scene. All firefighters and civilians on the fireground could have a possible exposure to asbestos.” 

Dangers of asbestos exposure

Asbestos is a highly carcinogenic mineral. Its microscopic fibers can embed in lungs when inhaled. This can lead to lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. All three diseases are harmful, but mesothelioma has no cure at this time and is fatal. It can take many decades after exposure before a victim is diagnosed.

Buildings, commercial and residential, often contained asbestos. It was a common building material until the early 1980s. It was in shingles, insulation, ceiling tiles, tile mastic and many other materials. If asbestos remains undisturbed, the fibers are not released. However, with remodeling or an accident, such as this fire, airborne fibers may lead to a possible exposure to asbestos. Removing asbestos requires abatement professionals. There is no safe level of exposure.

Firefighters deserve respect

Asbestos is not the only danger firefighters’ encounter. From falling structural pieces, to unknown chemicals or other hazardous materials stored inside, to environmental factors such as wind and storms, they remain focused. The president of the Firefighters Cancer Support Network, Bryan Frieders, said “firefighters are in danger and can be exposed to up to 200 cancer causing chemicals when they go into a burning building. Yet we still see firefighters on a daily basis going into these known-dangerous situations to try to save lives.”

Frieder said, “A lot of retirees two, three, four or five years after they retire are being diagnosed [or decades in the case of asbestos]. That’s a significant problem for us. They took an oath to serve the city they are serving. There is an expectation that the city they are serving is going to take care of them — and their families.”

The firefighters exposed in this fire were given chest X-rays as a baseline in case they develop lung problems in the future.

Cause unknown

A film crew had recently vacated the building. Employees of Building Services inspected the building three hours before the fire started. At the time of the fire, officials didn’t know exactly what, if anything, was stored in the building. Currently, the cause of the fire is unknown.

Earth Day 2021: Restore Our Earth

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Earth Day began on April 22nd, 1970 in the United States. Since then it has occurred annually for 50 years. It is now observed by a billion people in 192 countries. Each Earth Day adopts a theme; this year it is Restore Our Earth. But what do we do with that theme? Five pillars of action were pinpointed by earthday.org.

Five Pillars of Earth Day

• The Canopy Project – reforests places in urgent need of rehabilitation. This is often in communities at risk from climate change and dreadful environmental conditions.

• Foodprints for the Future – studies what impact growing, producing, transporting and storing food has on various factors: natural resources used, to resulting pollution, to the emissions of greenhouse gases.

• The Great Global Cleanup – inspires people to shrink and remove waste in their environment. Incredibly, “270,000 people die prematurely every year from uncontrolled burning of household waste, and two billion people live without any waste collection services.”

• The Climate and Environmental Literacy Initiative – complements civic education, works to create jobs, while building a green consumer market. It also assists the public in participating significantly with their governments about environmental issues.

• Global Earth Challenge – uses volunteers to aid in scientific research by monitoring threats to the environment and to human health within their communities. Through an open platform, researchers can access high-quality data for assessment of international policies, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Earth Day 2021 in the United States

President Joe Biden will host a global summit in observance of 2021’s Earth Day. Earthday.org will present a range of activities and events to spotlight “climate and environmental literacy, climate restoration technologies, reforestation efforts, regenerative agriculture, citizen science and clean ups taking place around the globe.”

What can you do?

Earthday.org invites everyone to participate in Earth Day 2021 in some way. “It is up to each and every one of us to Restore Our Earth – not just because we care about the natural world, but because we live on it. We all need a healthy Earth to support our jobs, livelihoods, health & survival, and happiness. A healthy planet is not an option – it is a necessity.”

For suggestions on how you can help, visit this earthday.org page for ideas. Though we focus on this particular “day”, participation in these activities can be any, or every, day of the year. Whether the size of your participation is small or large, you do make a difference.

New Turn for Asbestos Reporting Under TSCA

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asbestos photo

A court ruling in the final days of 2020 for asbestos reporting under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) may finally steer the EPA’s review of asbestos back in the right direction.

How the incoming Biden Administration responds to these developments will impact whether asbestos is finally labeled a toxin under TSCA and the extent of new asbestos reporting requirements for continued industry use of asbestos.

Background

A 2016 bipartisan amendment to TSCA created an agency review standard that seemed likely to result in asbestos finally being identified by the EPA as a toxin.  However, the EPA under the Trump Administration created a very narrow analysis based on too little information.  Legal challenges to that approach, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, slowed the final scope and status of the EPA’s asbestos risk analysis. Though the EPA released the first part of its risk evaluation on December 30, 2020, a federal district court decision handed down on December 22, 2020 could force the EPA to drastically change its assessment.    

Court ruling involving asbestos reporting

The federal district court ruling involved two cases – one brought by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and a second filed by several states attorney generals.  Judge Edward Chen, in his 36-page ruling, found that the asbestos-containing products identified by the agency during the rule making process “appear to be only the tip of the iceberg.” Chen also held that gaps in the agency’s information create risk evaluation models which don’t have the ability to “make accurate assessments that capture all ‘reasonably available’ data.”

The Court ordered the EPA to make significant changes to its TSCA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule to close several loopholes. These include considering more in-depth information about potential uses of asbestos for its risk evaluation.  Judge Chen’s order also addressed closing two additional loopholes:  ending the reporting exemption for products with “impurities” (like asbestos contaminated talc products) and requiring current processors of asbestos products to report those uses. 

What happens next?

Assuming the Biden Administration chooses not to appeal Judge Chen’s order,  the district court’s opinion will require EPA to amend its TSCA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule to require additional asbestos reporting from companies using asbestos and raw material that may be contaminated with asbestos – such as talc-based cosmetics. The data gathered through additional reporting may require the EPA to revise its conclusions or conduct yet another evaluation.  

This will impact not only the EPA’s Part 1 – risk evaluation of current asbestos uses, but Part 2 as well – risk evaluation for legacy uses of asbestos. Safer consumer products and cosmetics could also be the upshot of more stringent asbestos reporting requirements.