Pfizer says its shot protection wanes after 6 months

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer, and today in healthcare news:

• Pfizer made the case for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots after saying protection starts to wane around six months;
• The CDC changed its COVID-19 testing guidance, saying even vaccinated people should get tested after exposure;
• Biotechs want to tap into the $115 billion synthetic-cannabis market.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at lramsey@insider.com or tweet @lydiaramsey125. Let's get to it...

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Justin Tallis - Pool / Getty Images

Pfizer doubles down on the case for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots

• Pfizer on Wednesday advocated for booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine.
• The pharma giant said protection against mild illness started to wane after about six months.
• The vaccine's protection against severe disease has held up, even against the Delta variant.

Read on>>

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A medical worker performs a PCR test for COVID-19 on August 31, 2020.

Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images

The CDC quietly changed its guidance to say even vaccinated people should get tested if they've been exposed to COVID-19

• Until Tuesday, the CDC maintained that fully vaccinated people did not need to get tested for COVID-19, unless they developed symptoms.
• But, new data shows vaccinated people may be able to transmit the Delta variant just as well as the unvaccinated.
• The CDC is now urging anyone who's been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 to get tested 3-5 days later, so they don't put others at risk.

Find out more>>

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An employee holds a test-tube as he works in the tissue culture laboratory of Pharmocann, an Israeli medical cannabis company in northern Israel January 24, 2019.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

Biotechs are betting millions on unlocking the $115 billion synthetic-cannabis market

• Biotechs are chasing the $115 billion market for synthetic cannabis compounds.
• These compounds range from the better-known THC and CBD to rare compounds such as CBG and CBN.
• Producing these compounds synthetically has some distinct advantages over traditional growing.

Get the full story>>

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More stories we're reading:

• Cuomo pushes private New York employers to bring workers back into the office by Labor Day even as he warns about the Delta variant (Insider)
• Humana in its second-quarter earnings call warned of "uncertainty" for the rest of the year as COVID-19 cases spike (Healthcare Dive)
• Department of Homeland Security will require all employees to wear masks and socially distance, even if they're vaccinated (Insider)
• Female surgeons are at greater risk for pregnancy loss (The New York Times)

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- Lydia

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