Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #108

[ilovewings]

Intranasal COVID-19 vaccines: From bench to bed

Currently licensed COVID-19 vaccines are all designed for intramuscular (IM) immunization. However, vaccination today failed to prevent the virus infection through the upper respiratory tract, which is partially due to the absence of mucosal immunity activation. Despite the emerging severe acute...

www.thelancet.com

A really comprehensive article about Intranasal vaccines. I can see why there are concerns. When I think of an intranasal vaccine, I think, oh that sounds great- and it does, but there are lots of potential issues involving safety concerns, that I would not expect this type of vaccine to roll out any time soon.

 

[ilovepierre]

I haven’t had time to read all the links/articles, but would the nasal vaccine for COVID be different than the nasal vaccines already out there for the flu?

 

[sds71]

Pennsylvania AG, governor candidate Josh Shapiro tests positive for COVID-19

Shapiro was to join State Rep. Austin Davis in Pittsburgh Tuesday night for a primary night watch party.

www.wpxi.com

 

[sds71]

FDA clears COVID booster shot for healthy kids ages 5 to 11

The Food and Drug Administration’s authorization now opens a third shot to elementary-age kids, too — at least five months after their last dose.

www.14news.com

 

[ilovewings]

How big is the latest U.S. coronavirus wave? No one really knows.

Eileen Wassermann struggles to calculate her daily risks at this stage of the coronavirus pandemic - with infections drastically undercounted and mask mandates gone. The immunocompromised 69-year-old ensconces herself in her SUV for the half-hour ferry ride across the Puget Sound from her home...

www.yahoo.com

This is a very depressing article because it points out that we really don't know how many cases of the virus there really are-

 

[anneg]

How big is the latest U.S. coronavirus wave? No one really knows.

Eileen Wassermann struggles to calculate her daily risks at this stage of the coronavirus pandemic - with infections drastically undercounted and mask mandates gone. The immunocompromised 69-year-old ensconces herself in her SUV for the half-hour ferry ride across the Puget Sound from her home...

www.yahoo.com

This is a very depressing article because it points out that we really don't know how many cases of the virus there really are-

I just read that article before seeing your post. It's true we don't know how many cases there really are, but it's safe to assume that there are FAR MORE cases than are being reported. From the link:

Experts say Americans can assume infections in their communities are five to ten times higher than official counts.

"Any sort of look at the metrics on either a local, state or national level is a severe undercount," said Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist at the Pandemic Prevention Institute housed at The Rockefeller Foundation. "Everyone knows someone getting covid now."

Hospitalizations nationally have increased 50% since bottoming out six weeks ago. But the roughly 23,000 patients with covid in hospitals over the last week still represent near the lowest hospitalization levels of the entire pandemic. The recent increase is driven by the Northeast, where hospitalization rates are almost twice as high as any other region.

 

[ilovewings]

I just read that article before seeing your post. It's true we don't know how many cases there really are, but it's safe to assume that there are FAR MORE cases than are being reported. From the link:

Experts say Americans can assume infections in their communities are five to ten times higher than official counts.

"Any sort of look at the metrics on either a local, state or national level is a severe undercount," said Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist at the Pandemic Prevention Institute housed at The Rockefeller Foundation. "Everyone knows someone getting covid now."

Hospitalizations nationally have increased 50% since bottoming out six weeks ago. But the roughly 23,000 patients with covid in hospitals over the last week still represent near the lowest hospitalization levels of the entire pandemic. The recent increase is driven by the Northeast, where hospitalization rates are almost twice as high as any other region.

Thanks for adding that information- I was kinda lazy when I posted it! LOL

 

[ilovewings]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Overview

COVID-19 is a new type of coronavirus that causes mild to severe cases. Here’s a quick guide on how to spot symptoms, risk factors, prevent spread of the disease, and find out what to do if you think you have it.

www.webmd.com

Very good article that goes through the different drugs that are available- The article also talks about the issue of drug interactions, which to my way of thinking has not been written about or discussed enough, especially as it applies to Paxlovid. I did not know that Remdesivir is now available as an outpatient.

 

[ilovepierre]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Overview

COVID-19 is a new type of coronavirus that causes mild to severe cases. Here’s a quick guide on how to spot symptoms, risk factors, prevent spread of the disease, and find out what to do if you think you have it.

www.webmd.com

Very good article that goes through the different drugs that are available- The article also talks about the issue of drug interactions, which to my way of thinking has not been written about or discussed enough, especially as it applies to Paxlovid. I did not know that Remdesivir is now available as an outpatient.

I think Remdesivir has just just recently been made available for outpatient use. At least here anyways. Good to know, though!

 

[ilovewings]

Went to my dermatologist's office today- in a pretty upscale area of Metro Detroit and guess what, masks are optional there- I was shocked. The doctor wore a mask but the ladies (receptionists, assistants, did not)-- This is the first medical office I have visited in two years that did not require masks and this is in Oakland County, where cases are up and the CDC recommends masks. I am glad
I wore my mask.

 

[ilovepierre]

Went to my dermatologist's office today- in a pretty upscale area of Metro Detroit and guess what, masks are optional there- I was shocked. The doctor wore a mask but the ladies (receptionists, assistants, did not)-- This is the first medical office I have visited in two years that did not require masks and this is in Oakland County, where cases are up and the CDC recommends masks. I am glad
I wore my mask.

Same here.
Masks are optional for patients at my doctor’s office too. The receptionists and my doctor are still wearing masks.
I wore mine when I went to my appointment.

 

[anneg]

I was looking at Dr. Eric Ding's Twitter feed, thread about monkeypox spreading:

This is no monkey business. #monkeypox surge in the past week alone has been astronomical for a traditionally very rare disease. For example, UK cases have doubled overnight form 9 to 20. The @WHO needs to declare a PHEIC asap.

Portugal 34
Spain 32
Canada 2
United Kingdom 20
Italy 3
Belgium 3
United States 2
Australia 2
Sweden 1
Germany 1
France 1

Data: UK Data | by @antonio_caramia on Twitter (tab "MonkeyPox") by @Antonio_Caramia




https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/15276368341546024

ETA: there is an existing thread about monkeypox in Wales from June 2021:

UK- Two cases of monkeypox virus found in Wales, June 2021

Two cases of monkeypox virus found in Wales 11 June 2021 Wales Image: Monkeypox is mostly found in central and western Africa. Pic: World Health Organisation ''Two cases of monkeypox have been reported in north Wales, health officials have said. Public Health Wales (PHW) said the people...

www.websleuths.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Went to my dermatologist's office today- in a pretty upscale area of Metro Detroit and guess what, masks are optional there- I was shocked. The doctor wore a mask but the ladies (receptionists, assistants, did not)-- This is the first medical office I have visited in two years that did not require masks and this is in Oakland County, where cases are up and the CDC recommends masks. I am glad
I wore my mask.

I can top that I was in the ER at Troy Beaumont two weeks ago today. Medical personnel with whom I came in contact all wore masks, but orderlies and some other staff had their masks around their necks when they were distanced from patients on gurneys in the hallway. There were also a number of patients on gurneys whose masks did not cover their faces. I considered that they might have had respiratory issues and removed their masks or that the masks came off as they dozed while awaiting tests. I'm fine, by the way

 

[anneg]

The CDC is urging a Pfizer booster for children ages 5 to 11

Kids ages 5 to 11 should get a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, advisers to the U.S. government said Thursday.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention quickly adopted the panel's recommendation, opening a third COVID-19 shot to healthy elementary-age kids — just like what is already recommended for everybody 12 and older....

...Thursday's decision also means that 5- to 11-year-olds with severely weakened immune systems, who are supposed to get three initial shots, would be eligible for a fourth dose....

...Some especially high-risk people, including those 50 and older, have been offered the choice of a second booster, or fourth shot — and the CDC on Thursday strengthened that recommendation, too, urging anyone who's eligible to go ahead and get the extra dose.

 

[ilovewings]

I can top that I was in the ER at Troy Beaumont two weeks ago today. Medical personnel with whom I came in contact all wore masks, but orderlies and some other staff had their masks around their necks when they were distanced from patients on gurneys in the hallway. There were also a number of patients on gurneys whose masks did not cover their faces. I considered that they might have had respiratory issues and removed their masks or that the masks came off as they dozed while awaiting tests. I'm fine, by the way

Unfortunately, it seems that even medical facilities (at least some employees) are pretty casual now about this on-going pandemic--- Many people seem to be in denial that we are still in the midst of a pandemic, and this is while cases are going up here in Michigan-- I don't get it! Glad you are okay- it is up to us to do the safe thing and mask up.

 

[ilovewings]

Same here.
Masks are optional for patients at my doctor’s office too. The receptionists and my doctor are still wearing masks.
I wore mine when I went to my appointment.

It seems more physician offices may be acting in a more casual manner about this pandemic so we as patients need to do everything we can to remain safe - we must wear masks: it is disconcerting to think that a medical office or facility would not be taking precautions during this pandemic so as not to spread the virus.

 

[Warwick1991]

Here in Palm Beach County, Florida, I know that cases are rising fast again. My 92 year old mother needed emergency medical attention in a hospital one night last week, but they discharged her around midnight. The hospital wanted her to stay overnight for observation at first, but they said they had to send her home because they were overwhelmed with Covid patients and couldn't spare a bed. Statistics are no longer publicly reported here from what I can tell. The sources I've found that enable searching cases nationwide by state and county have shown "0" new cases here for a few weeks. It can't be so; saying there's no cases at all has to be a statistical problem stemming from no data.

 

[margarita25]

I was looking at Dr. Eric Ding's Twitter feed, thread about monkeypox spreading:

This is no monkey business. #monkeypox surge in the past week alone has been astronomical for a traditionally very rare disease. For example, UK cases have doubled overnight form 9 to 20. The @WHO needs to declare a PHEIC asap.

Portugal 34
Spain 32
Canada 2
United Kingdom 20
Italy 3
Belgium 3
United States 2
Australia 2
Sweden 1
Germany 1
France 1

Data: UK Data | by @antonio_caramia on Twitter (tab "MonkeyPox") by @Antonio_Caramia




https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/15276368341546024

ETA: there is an existing thread about monkeypox in Wales from June 2021:

UK- Two cases of monkeypox virus found in Wales, June 2021

Two cases of monkeypox virus found in Wales 11 June 2021 Wales Image: Monkeypox is mostly found in central and western Africa. Pic: World Health Organisation ''Two cases of monkeypox have been reported in north Wales, health officials have said. Public Health Wales (PHW) said the people...

www.websleuths.com

Stick a fork in me, I’m done.

—

Eta seriously this is the first I’m seeing this. And Dr. Ding, whose comments I’ve followed since his comments on the P1 variant, thinks a PHEIC should be called? That bad? Ouch. Going in, scared to look.

—

Eta2: @dotr posted this over in the UK thread; it looks like WHO has called an emergency meeting:

Monkeypox Outbreak In Europe And North America, WHO Calls Emergency Meet

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for an emergency meeting to discuss monkeypox, a virus that is rapidly spreading across Europe and North America.

www.ndtv.com

''New Delhi:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for an emergency meeting to discuss monkeypox, a virus that is rapidly spreading across Europe and North America. The health body is expected to focus on the transmission and vaccines of the virus, reported The Telegraph.

Monkeypox cases have been reported in several countries this month. The UK has confirmed 20 cases of the rare virus since May 6. France, Germany, and Belgium also reported their first case of monkeypox today.

Monkeypox is a virus transmitted to humans from animals, with symptoms very similar to smallpox but less severe clinically.

The rare disease, which is not usually fatal, often manifests itself through fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a chickenpox-like rash on the hands and face.''

''Monkeypox can be transmitted through contact with skin lesions and droplets of a contaminated person, as well as through shared items such as bedding and towels. The WHO has also said that some of the recent cases appeared to have been transmitted within the gay community.

There's currently no specific treatment for monkeypox. Patients will usually need to stay in a specialist hospital so the infection doesn't spread and general symptoms can be treated.''
rbbm.

 

[margarita25]

OMG, I just saw the picture of what an infection looks like at the above link. I am OUT of here, ain’t no lie, I want to know noooooothing about this monkey pox stuff.

Eta: Are you protected if you’ve had the small pox vaccine?

—-

WS thread:

UK- Two cases of monkeypox virus found in Wales, June 2021

Two cases of monkeypox virus found in Wales 11 June 2021 Wales Image: Monkeypox is mostly found in central and western Africa. Pic: World Health Organisation ''Two cases of monkeypox have been reported in north Wales, health officials have said. Public Health Wales (PHW) said the people...

www.websleuths.com

 

[margarita25]

Dr. O shared some excellent thoughts on Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Origin in Children. See post here for anyone who is interested, and see my BBM.

Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Origin Among Children - 21 April 2022

Multi-Country – Acute, severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children 23 April 2022 Outbreak overview As of 21 April 2022, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin have been reported from 11 countries in the WHO European Region and one country in the WHO Region of the Americas...

www.websleuths.com