Early this week, the FDA revised authorizations for the monoclonal antibody treatments bamlanivimab/etesevimab and REGEN-COV due to their ineffectiveness against the Omicron variant. With Omicron making up 99% of U.S. cases, these treatments are not authorized to be used at this time. Read more in IDPH's COVID-19 Therapeutics Brief. 

On Tuesday, OSHA announced its withdrawal of the vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) issued on November 5 for large employers. The withdrawal went into effect Wednesday. The agency notes it is not withdrawing the proposed rule; it is prioritizing its resources to finalize a permanent COVID-19 Healthcare Standard. 

First recommended in October, the CDC has reinforced its message that immunocompromised individuals are eligible for a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In other vaccine news, Moderna has started its first clinical trial for a modified vaccine specifically targeting the Omicron variant. 

CDC data shows booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 90% effective at preventing hospitalization from Omicron. A recent study from Pfizer and the University of Texas found high levels of antibodies up to four months after a booster dose.