Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

By Harlan Levy

Before I get to my topic of choice for this week I want to describe another very recent malevolent (in my opinion) Trump Administration move to claw back health care – apparently to please anti-vax supporters – involving the COVID-19 vaccine.

A few days ago the Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine official overruled expert agency reviewers on three decisions involving the vaccines, including his recent limitation of Moderna’s shot to only some young children.

Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency’s chief medical officer and head of its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a July 9 memorandum to the FDA’s website on July 11 that his analysis of Moderna’s Spikevax reached a different conclusion than that of agency reviewers.

“The review team has done a commendable job in summarizing and analyzing the submission to date,” Pravda wrote. “Nevertheless, I feel differently about certain aspects of their conclusions.”

He said there was sufficient evidence to approve Spikevax for children at least 6 months old who have one or more conditions that the government says put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, but not for all children as Moderna had sought.

There is not a “substantial certainty of a net clinical benefit (outweighing harms) to vaccinating healthy children,” Prasad wrote, but that certainty exists for children with risk factors.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA’s parent agency, previously emailed that “healthy children infected with COVID-19 have consistently shown strong resilience and face an extremely low risk of serious illness or harm,” and “for these children, the risks of the COVID-19 vaccine may outweigh the benefits.”

Risks

I contacted the FDA to find out exactly what and how great are the COVID-19 vaccine risks. The agency says the risks are development of myocarditis – heart inflammation hampering heart action – and pericarditis – inflammation or thickening of  the pericardium, the thin sac-like structure that surrounds the heart, interfering with heart function.

In fact, the incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis following Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is very low, estimated to be around 2 to 20 cases per 100,000 vaccinated individuals.

Does that justify Prasad’s action? Sounds dubious.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible individuals (ages 6 months and older) due to the greater risk of serious complications, including myocarditis and pericarditis, associated with COVID-19 infection itself.

Roofing  scams

Need a new roof? Monday’s intense storm may have caused roofing problems that need quick fixing.

Coincidentally, the state Department of Consumer Protection just issued an alert regarding scammers posing as unsolicited roofing companies, including 91 roofing-related complaints in the first half of this year involving unsolicited offers for roof inspections or repairs.

Roofing companies must be registered with DCP to perform work in Connecticut. In 2024, the agency received 285 roofing-related complaints, and 247 complaints in 2023. Complaints range from leaks due to improper solar panel installments, poor roof installations, hammer sounds during an inspection, and door-to-door solicitations following a storm, including “free” inspections.

“Summer is a common time for door-to-door sales, but homeowners should be aware of potential scams,” DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said. “Especially after a storm, these ‘roofing companies’ will visit neighborhoods and offer to inspect roofs for potential damage. Be cautious of unsolicited offers and instead take your time to research and hire a registered professional to inspect or repair your roof.”

Before hiring a roofing company DCP suggests:

• Do your research: Do not agree to a home improvement service without researching the company first. If a company approaches you, write down their information, and verify them later.
• Verify the credentials: All roofing companies must have an active “Home Improvement Contractor” registration with DCP. Credentials can be verified using eLicense and should match the contact information on their website. This should be the first step in the verification process. Consumers who hire registered contractors may be eligible for the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.
• Use your insurance company for inspections: If you are told there is damage to your roof, verify with your insurance company first. Filing a claim can affect future claims or continued coverage. Insurance companies can inspect your roof to verify if you need repair or replacement.
• Don’t be enticed to pad your deductible: Unscrupulous contractors will entice homeowners to inflate the contract total by adding in the deductible. Insurance companies are aware of this tactic and it may result in your insurance policy being canceled.
• Read through reviews: Check the company’s business rating on BBB.org. Read through reviews and/or complaints about the company.
• Know the difference between roof estimates vs. roof inspections: Roof estimates are often free and will provide a quoted cost to repair any damage. Roof inspections typically are not free and help identify unknown damage. The average cost of inspection ranges between $250 and $300.
• Don’t fall for high-pressure tactics: Bad actors will use high-pressure tactics to pressure homeowners into signing a contract or paying a large portion of the cost up front. Reputable businesses will allow homeowners to research on their own.
• Request roofing shingle warranty: Prior to the project’s start, ask the contractor for a copy of the shingle warranty. This is a guarantee from the roofing shingle’s manufacturer, providing coverage for replacing or repairing defective shingles within an established time frame.
• Have a written contract: All home improvement projects, including roofing repairs, must have a written and signed contract, before the work is performed. It must include: Roofing company’s registration number, a summary of the project, timeline, including the start and completion dates, total cost, and a breakdown or timeline of payment installments, a disclosure of the customer’s three day right to cancel the contract.

Under the Home Solicitation Sales Act, Connecticut homeowners have until midnight of the third business day, including Saturday, to cancel a home improvement contract..

Before work can start:

The contract must be agreed upon and signed before the project starts. Both parties must agree on who will obtain the building permit. If it is agreed that the contractor will pull the permit, homeowners should verify with their local building official that the appropriate permit has been obtained.

If a project with an actively registered contractor goes wrong, consumers may be eligible for reimbursement from the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund of up to $25,000 per contract.

To file a complaint regarding home improvement, consumers can email [email protected] or visit https://ct.gov/dcp/complaint.

Now you know.

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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