TWiV 1220: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

May 24, 2025

Dr. Griffin tackles the evolving landscape of FDA vaccine approvals, particularly for COVID-19 and Novavax. The discussion highlights global outbreaks of measles and flu fatalities, emphasizing the need for equitable vaccine access. Insights into long COVID reveal potential cognitive impairments and treatment options, while the impact of prolonged steroid therapy on COVID patient outcomes is examined. The hosts also respond to listener feedback about vaccine language sensitivity, stressing the importance of clear and inclusive discussions.

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INSIGHT

FDA Restricts COVID Vaccine Access

FDA plans restrict COVID-19 vaccine licensing to older adults and those with risk factors.
This move limits vaccine access for many, despite available data on benefits.

INSIGHT

COVID's Impact on Children

Pediatric COVID deaths exceed 150 during Omicron, contradicting mild disease claims.
Vaccination prevents severe outcomes and reduces long COVID, evident in hospitalization data.

INSIGHT

Novavax License Limits Usage

Novavax vaccine licensed only for adults 65+ or high-risk 12-64 age group.
Access denied for younger, healthy individuals, ignoring long COVID risks in this group.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello debate the changes in FDA vaccine approval policy especially how it is applied to COVID-19 vaccines and restricts vaccine availability/usage and Novavax’s vaccine, mpox on surfaces and in the air, “bird flu”, the ongoing measles outbreak globally before Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on RSV, benefits of vaccination for infants, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, the high number of childhood deaths during this “flu” season, the May 22 VRBPAC COVID-19 vaccine meeting, where to find PEMGARDA, prolonged steroid and antibiotic therapies, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, cognitive impairment in long COVID and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Links for this episode

FDA to issue new vaccine approval guidance amid questions over coronavirus shots (Washington Post)
FDA vaccine committee meeting(Reuters)
Evidence-based approach to COVID-19 vaccination (NEJM)
FDA CBER townhall: new COVID019 vaccination approval mechanism (YouTube)
FDA poised to restrict access to COVID vaccines, our own Dr. Griffin is cited! (NY Times)
Novavax approval letter (FDA)
We giveth and taketh away: Novavax approved but restricted use (AP News)
FDA approves Novavax COVID vaccine with stricter new conditions (NY Times)
History behind public health falsehoods– vaccine and autism (NPR)
Making vaccines less accessible-RFK Jr making MAHA! (PBS News Hour)
Kenneday says DO NOT to take medical advice from him, the HHS secretary…hummmm (NY Times)
Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines (CDC: COVID-19)
How science lost America’s trust and surrendered health policy to skeptics (WSJ)
HHS stops recommendation of COVID-19 shots for children and pregnant women (Reuters)
No more routine COVID-19 vaccines for children and pregnant women (WSJ)
House to investigate Pfizer for allegedly delaying COVID-19 vaccines (Reuters)
Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines (WHO)
WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production (CIDRAP)
We can’t remain indifferent to suffering: Catholic Church now champions HPV vaccination (DailyNation)
Air and surface sampling for mpox in UK (Eurosurveillance)
Researchers report mpox DNA, live virus on surfaces and in air from patients’ rooms(CIDRAP)
USDA reported H5N1 bird flu detection in wild birds (CDC: Avian Influenza)
USDA reported H5N1 in poultry (CDC: Avian Influenza)
HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock(USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service)
H5 bird flu: current situation (CDC: Avian Influenza)
Bird flu (CDC: Avian Influenza)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)
Measles and rubella weekly monitoring report: (Government of Canada)
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States (CDC: COVID-19)
COVID-19 vaccine VRBPAC May 22 (FDA)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
When your healthcare provider is infected/exposed with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
The clinical impact of prolonged steroid therapy in severe COVID-19 patients (BMC Pulmonary Medicine)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Antibiotic Treatment in Patients Hospitalized for Nonsevere COVID-19 (JAMA Network Open)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Self-reported health, neuropsychological tests and biomarkers in fully recovered COVID-19 patients vs patients with post-COVID cognitivesymptoms (PLoS One)
Vortioxetine for Cognitive Impairment in Major Depressive Disorder During Post-COVID Syndrome (Journal of Clincial Psychiatrist) Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1220
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.