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June 16, 2021

New COVID-19 vaccine progresses; hospitalizations continue to drop

PHOTO | File image Yale New Haven Hospital.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

A Maryland-based company announced positive results in a Phase 3 trial of its COVID-19 vaccine this week, while COVID-related hospitalizations in Connecticut continue to fall. 

Novavax Inc. indicated that its nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated 100% protection against moderate and severe disease, and 90.4% efficacy overall. The results were from a study involving nearly 30,000 participants.

The company intends to file for regulatory approvals in the third quarter. If successful, it anticipates being able to manufacture up to 100 million monthly doses by the end of September.

Stanley C. Erck, president and CEO, said in an announcement, "Novavax continues to work with a sense of urgency to complete our regulatory submissions and deliver this vaccine, built on a well understood and proven platform, to a world that is still in great need of vaccines."

In a Yale New Haven Health system press conference Tuesday, Dr. Thomas Balcezak, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, said the health system is waiting to see if this vaccine gets the necessary approvals.

“The exciting thing here is, when you are in a battle with a virus, it is good to have a number of ways to attack it,” Balcezak said. 

According to Balcezak, while the U.S. currently has adequate vaccine supply, many other countries haven’t been so lucky, so any new vaccine will be helpful.

Declining hospitalizations

Yale New Haven Health CEO Marna P. Borgstrom said Tuesday the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 throughout the system has dropped to 16.

This included nine at Yale New Haven Hospital, six at Bridgeport Hospital, and one at Lawrence+Memorial Hospital in New London. Of those 16, two were in intensive care.

In contrast, in April 2020, there were more than 800 in-patients with COVID-19 across the health system.

“We have come a long way because we have vaccines now, and they have truly made a difference in the rate of virus we are seeing,” Borgstrom said.

According to Balcezak, the system has seen about 26  “breakthrough” cases - in which vaccinated individuals required hospitalization - since January. Of that group, three died, though he noted these three patients were elderly and had additional health issues.

Gov. Ned Lamont’s office reported Tuesday there were 50 patients hospitalized statewide due to COVID-19, with the state death toll at 8,263.

Mandatory vaccinations for system staff?

When asked if Yale New Haven Health will make vaccinations mandatory for all staff members, Borgstrom said it is currently being evaluated, but no final decision has been made.

System leaders have been monitoring litigation which has arisen over mandatory COVID-19 vaccines. 

In Texas, for example, a federal judge recently tossed a lawsuit in which employees at the Houston Methodist Hospital challenged a policy requiring vaccinations.

“Our responsibility is to provide safe care for people who come to us,” Borgstrom said. “We do mandate flu vaccines each year.”

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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