Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2626

Post by skatingfan »

ponchi101 wrote: Fri Feb 10, 2023 3:33 pm Especially, how does the "missing student" phenomenon relates to C19?
Tens of thousands of American children lost a primary, or secondary caregiver to COVID. I wonder how many young people have dropped out of school to start earning money for a family now missing an income earner.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Post by Owendonovan »

I have found my kindergartners, 1st and 2nd grade boys are very immature at this age compared to pre covid.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Post by Deuce »

After fighting for almost 2 months, I finally received my Moderna Bivalent BA.4/BA.5 booster yesterday.

About 10 days ago, I was able to contact one of the head doctors in the province, and we had a correspondence for a few days... As a result, she contacted the regional director of vaccines, who then asked for and received 'permission' from the provincial government health services to free up this vaccine to the population.
Prior to this, the region was insisting on using up all of the Moderna Bivalent BA.1 boosters before allowing access to the Moderna Bivalent BA.4/BA.5 boosters. This made no sense, as both vaccines were approved for use in Canada, and the BA.4/BA.5 boosters effectively rendered the BA.1 boosters more or less obsolete.
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Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2629

Post by MJ2004 »

My parents had the bivalent vaccine and both had COVID two months later- my mom ended up in the hospital for five days.

Given the constantly shifting variants and sub variants, I’m not convinced it makes much difference which vaccine is administered, which was likely the logic behind the decision to first use up the original supply.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2630

Post by ponchi101 »

I will assume that you parents came out of it and are doing well. Happy for you, and them (and hoping my assumption is correct).
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2631

Post by Deuce »

MJ2004 wrote: Sun Feb 12, 2023 3:51 pm My parents had the bivalent vaccine and both had COVID two months later- my mom ended up in the hospital for five days.

Given the constantly shifting variants and sub variants, I’m not convinced it makes much difference which vaccine is administered, which was likely the logic behind the decision to first use up the original supply.
Yes - there's no doubt that it's a moving target due to the evolving and different variants...
But I did some rather profound research, and concluded that this vaccine was the best currently approved booster.

That's unfortunate about your mom - and surprising, as we keep reading and hearing that the vaccines will help to lower - not eliminate - the chances of contracting COVID, and will go a long way toward greatly reducing the chances of severe symptoms of COVID. But nothing is 100%.
I hope your mom has recovered fully.
R.I.P. Amal...

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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Post by MJ2004 »

Yes, both are now recovered. In that sense, the vaccine did its job. Thank you!
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

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Post by dryrunguy »

Here's the latest Situation Report. Haven't read it yet.

::

US House committees begin investigations into SARS-CoV-2 origins, reviews of federal pandemic response; WHO pandemic origin inquiry to continue under SAGO panel

As the Biden administration prepares to wind down the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 on May 11—releasing a transition roadmap on February 9—the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives is ramping up its efforts to investigate the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and examine how the federal government responded to the pandemic. At least 2 House committees are investigating the pandemic’s origins, setting the stage for overlap and possible tension over priorities. The House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held hearings early this month delving into biological event origin investigations and the federal pandemic response. The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability recently received 900 pages of records from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) it requested to begin its review of similar topics. It remains unclear how the committees will differentiate their investigations. Some outside of government are calling for the establishment of a COVID commission to conduct a broad inquiry into the federal response.

Little is known of how SARS-CoV-2 originated—though most experts agree the pandemic began in China—and definitive answers about whether the virus began spreading among humans in a market or as the result of a laboratory accident may never be known, as much of the world moves beyond the pandemic. WHO officials have expressed frustration with efforts to investigate the pandemic’s origins, with politics hampering collaboration and damaging trust among Chinese counterparts. Additionally, the amount of time elapsed since the first recorded cases in China has made investigations into the pandemic’s origin increasingly difficult. The WHO last week said there will not be a “phase 2” of its original coronavirus investigation but another WHO panel—the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO)—will continue looking for answers.

Multiple studies examine aspects of long COVID, including neurological symptoms, organ damage, racial/ethnic disparities; WHO releases clinical case definition for children, adolescents

Researchers continue their work to learn more about post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) and most commonly as long COVID.

• A study published February 14 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine examined the prevalence of organ impairment in long COVID patients at 6 and 12 months after initial symptoms. Symptoms such as extreme breathlessness, cognitive dysfunction, and poor health-related quality of life were common at 6 and 12 months and associated with female gender, younger age, and single-organ impairment. Overall, 59% of 331 patients followed for 1 year experienced single organ impairment and 29% had multi-organ impairment with implications for persistent symptoms and reduced function. Researchers observed mild damage in patients’ hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers, spleens, and pancreas.
• Some of the most common symptoms among people living with long COVID are neurological, and a few experts are beginning to focus on these persistent brain and nervous system issues of their patients. A study published February 23 in The Lancet Regional Health Europe found that among 165 people with PCC in Sweden, cognitive, sensorimotor, and fatigue symptoms were the most common symptoms persisting at 24 months. Some studies suggest SARS-CoV-2 might trigger an immune response leading to ongoing inflammation in the brain, and understanding these inflammatory processes might point to potential treatment options. Still, more research is necessary to understand the mechanisms behind the possible neurological impacts of COVID-19 and differentiating those symptoms from functional neurological disorder (FND), according to a recent study published in the European Journal of Neurology.
• A preprint posted January 26 to medRxiv found SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of developing new-onset autoimmune diseases after acute infection, with the highest incidence rate ratio (IRR) observed for the rather uncommon autoimmune diseases of the vasculitis group, such as small vessel inflammatory processes. The large matched cohort study, which is not yet peer-reviewed, included 641,704 patients with COVID-19.
• New evidence from US NIH-supported studies shows that long COVID symptoms and diagnostic experiences vary among different racial and ethnic groups. Two studies show that Black and Hispanic Americans seem to experience more symptoms and health problems related to long COVID than White Americans; however, they are less likely to receive a long COVID diagnosis. This is even more concerning given findings from other studies showing that patients with long COVID report higher rates of unemployment, underemployment, new-onset symptoms, disabilities, and financial problems 6 months after hospitalization.
• Efforts are being made to better define long COVID but there is no consensus on its prevalence, what symptoms it comprises, or standard diagnosis protocol. Some experts question the need for a standard diagnosis, arguing that treating symptoms of the condition is sufficient, though others disagree. The WHO previously released a clinical case definition for PCC and last week published a clinical case definition for PCC in children and adolescents. Both definitions were developed using robust protocol-based methodologies and engaged diverse groups of representative patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders.

Emergency US SNAP benefits ending March 1; older adults, rural populations, communities of color most likely impacted by increased food insecurity, hunger

During the pandemic, numerous families have received additional assistance through the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); however, these emergency allotments will end on March 1 in 32 states as well as Washington, DC; Guam; and the US Virgin Islands. With more than 41 million US residents relying on SNAP benefits, this upcoming change—dubbed by some experts as a “hunger cliff”—is expected to strain family finances, with the average recipient losing an estimated $82–$90 per month in benefits, shifting aid burdens to food banks and other similar local programs that most likely will not be able to make up the difference in assistance. Coupled with food price inflation since 2020, the end of emergency allotments is expected to hit older individuals, rural populations, and communities of color the hardest with increased food insecurity and poverty-related hunger. If you are or know someone in need of food security assistance who may be impacted by this upcoming change, contact your local SNAP office and/or call the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Hunger Hotline: 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish), Monday through Friday, 7 am to 10 pm ET.

Popular figures influenced public opinion, discourse on COVID-19 through social media networks; US FDA working to dispel medical myths

Through the use of online social networks, people in the public eye (PIPE)—including news anchors, politicians, athletes, entertainers, and others—helped shape public opinion and discourse on the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health efforts, according to an analysis of 45,255 tweets posted between January 2020 and March 2022 published in BMJ Health & Care Informatics. Overall, the related sentiments shared by subgroups of public figures were found to be more negative than positive, and posts shared by politicians and news anchors appeared to be the most influential. The researchers note the analysis underscores the importance of cooperation among health professionals, public health organizations, and community groups to proactively and efficiently share clear, correct, and population-relevant health messaging to inform and educate the public about mis- and disinformation in response to future disease outbreaks.

According to US FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, some people are dying of COVID-19 because they are “misinformed” and influenced by “distortions and half-truths.” To counter misinformation, the FDA is stepping up its presence on social media outlets to debunk medical myths. But some experts are concerned the agency’s reputation as a trusted messenger might have been damaged by contentious drug approvals and other controversies. Experts also warn that the agency’s messaging is reaching a small audience and that its language, particularly surrounding decisions on COVID-19 vaccine boosters, needs to be simplified.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is engaged with several projects working to combat health-related misinformation and disinformation through conducting research, identifying best practices, educating public health professionals and policymakers, and furthering policy solutions to the problem. Read more here.

What we’re reading

MASK USE EFFECTIVENESS The January 30 publication of a Cochrane review that found masking, either with surgical masks or N95 respirators, made little to no difference in the outcome of laboratory‐confirmed influenza/SARS‐CoV‐2 compared to not wearing masks has reignited the debate over mask use. As we mentioned in our February 9 coverage of the meta-analysis, the review emphasized that the finding could be due in part to multiple factors such as poor study design, low adherence to mask rules, quality of masks used, and incorrect mask usage. Several sources have since reviewed the publication, including The Atlantic, Vox, and Your Local Epidemiologist, outlining the Cochrane review’s potential shortcomings and highlighting evidence showing that masking works to reduce the risk of respiratory disease transmission. Additionally, the WHO reiterated its firm recommendation that wearing masks is an effective method to prevent the spread of COVID-19, along with vaccination and physical distancing when possible.

LIFE EXPECTANCY & ECONOMIC IMPACTS An article published in Scientific Reports assessed the impact of 1 million COVID-19 deaths in the US between February 2020 and May 2022, focusing on economic and life expectancy losses. The researchers estimated that COVID-19 deaths contributed to a drop in US life expectancy at birth by 3.08 years, effectively reversing all gains made in the last 40 years. Economic welfare losses estimated in terms of national income growth supplemented by the value of lives lost were around US$3.57 trillion. Hispanic and Black populations were disproportionately impacted. The results of the analysis underscore the need for additional investments in pandemic preparedness to prevent economic shocks from future disease outbreaks.

DEATHS IN US PRISONS The New York Times examined data on deaths in US state and federal prisons during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting that prisoner deaths rose nearly 50% during 2020, more than twice the increase in the US overall and exceeding the estimate of the percentage increase in nursing homes. In several states—particularly those with histories of elevated prison deaths including Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, and West Virginia—deaths more than doubled, and many states had high death rates continue into 2021. Though COVID-19 drove the higher death rates, inmates also died of other illnesses, suicide, and violence, according to the data collected by researchers at UCLA Law. The higher death rates were due to a variety of factors, including older inmate populations, many with other known or undiagnosed health problems; crowded and often harsh conditions; inadequate or delayed access to testing and care, for COVID-19 and other conditions; and prison worker understaffing.

CORONAVIRUS VACCINE ROADMAP The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota this week released the Coronavirus Vaccines Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap (CVR), a strategy to develop broadly protective vaccines that are suitable for use in all world regions. With US$1 million in funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CIDRAP convened 50 international scientists who mapped out a strategy to develop new vaccines. The roadmap—a summary of which was published in the journal Vaccine—covers a 6-year timeframe, is organized into 5 topic areas—virology, immunology, vaccinology, animal and human infection models, and policy and finance—and includes 20 goals and 86 R&D milestones, 22 of which are ranked as high priority. In a separate effort reported on by NPR, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is funding an initiative to develop a better way of coding mRNA that makes it more stable and does not require the use of ultra-low temperature freezers for storage and transport.

Epi update

As of February 21, the WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports*:

• 757 million cumulative COVID-19 cases
• 6.85 million deaths
• 1.08 million cases reported week of February 13
• 13% decrease in global weekly incidence
• 8,013 deaths reported week of February 13
• 22% decrease in global weekly mortality

Over the previous week, incidence declined in all WHO regions except the Eastern Mediterranean region (+25%) and Europe (+3.5%).
*Starting this week, the WHO will update the dashboard once per week on Wednesdays.

UNITED STATES
The US CDC is reporting:

• 103 million cumulative cases
• 1.1 million deaths
• 259,339 cases week of February 15 (down from previous week)
• 2,838 deaths week of February 15 (down from previous week)
• 5.7% weekly decrease in new hospital admissions
• 6.7% weekly decrease in current hospitalizations

The Omicron sublineages XBB.1.5 (80%), BQ.1.1 (12%), and BQ.1 (4%) currently account for a majority of all new sequenced specimens, with various other Omicron subvariants accounting for the remainder of cases.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2634

Post by dryrunguy »

And these are the same fools who freely and carelessly scream words like "freedom"...

Idaho bill would criminalize giving mRNA vaccines – the tech used in popular COVID vaccines

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 316055002/
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2635

Post by ti-amie »

Jonathan-FL 🇺🇸 🌊🇺🇦🇵🇸⚛️
@AmerLiberal@mastodon.social
Former Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) attributed his decision to retire due to the long-term effects of COVID-19, telling local newspaper Tulsa World that certain symptoms were still affecting him day-to-day.

Inhofe voted against multiple coronavirus aid packages meant to help Americans at the height of the pandemic
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-ex-sen-
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2636

Post by ponchi101 »

The gig is up.
All the evidence needed to prove that this entire C19 thing was a hoax, planned by Pfizer et al, in order to sell a bogus vaccine, was exposed and we can no longer deny it.
How? When?
Woody Harrelson monologue in SNL. Since SNL is live, the PTB that control the media could not stop him, and he told the entire truth.
Do NOT, repeat, DO NOT be surprised if he has "an accident".

---0---
Some friendships are hard to keep. Next thing that we can expect: this was planned by the The illuminatti. In the late 1800's.
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2637

Post by ti-amie »

ponchi101 wrote: Tue Feb 28, 2023 4:53 pm The gig is up.
All the evidence needed to prove that this entire C19 thing was a hoax, planned by Pfizer et al, in order to sell a bogus vaccine, was exposed and we can no longer deny it.
How? When?
Woody Harrelson monologue in SNL. Since SNL is live, the PTB that control the media could not stop him, and he told the entire truth.
Do NOT, repeat, DO NOT be surprised if he has "an accident".

---0---
Some friendships are hard to keep. Next thing that we can expect: this was planned by the The illuminatti. In the late 1800's.
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2638

Post by ti-amie »





This issue of Myocarditis or Pericarditis Events After BNT162b2 vaccine has become a talking point for some because of the recent death of the brother of actor Hayden Panettiere which was reported in his autopsy report as being the result of an enlarged heart. There is no evidence of it being vaccine related but every highly publicized death is, according to these people, related to the vaccine.
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2639

Post by Deuce »

I've had 5 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. I just checked my pulse, and can confidently state that I am alive.

Prior to COVID, I avoided vaccines, and medication in general. I didn't even take Aspirins. But COVID has scared me - so I got the 2 primary COVID vaccines, and 3 boosters. I even got my first 'flu vaccine ever this past December.
I keep up to date on the evolving information about the vaccines and about COVID-19 - I only take information from independent, non-government affiliated medical sources, such as independent doctors in the infectious diseases department, and historically trusted sources like the Mayo and Cleveland Clinics.

I wish that none of us had to deal with COVID, of course - it has changed life immeasurably - but it is a fact of life, and I, for one, chose not to pretend that it isn't.
R.I.P. Amal...

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Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2640

Post by dryrunguy »

Here's the latest Situation Report. Haven't read it yet.

::

US Department of Energy concludes with ‘low confidence’ COVID-19 pandemic began as result of lab incident, prompting congressional hearing; experts call for actions to improve biosafety, biosecurity

After assessing new intelligence, the US Department of Energy (DoE) concluded with “low confidence” that the SARS-CoV-2 virus likely emerged from a potential laboratory incident in China, according to a classified intelligence report delivered recently to the White House and key members of the US Congress. The DoE joins the FBI as the only other US intelligence agency to conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic most likely began as the result of a laboratory leak. The FBI arrived at its conclusion with “moderate confidence,” according to FBI Director Christopher Wray. Four other unidentified government agencies and the National Intelligence Council maintain their positions with “low confidence” that the pandemic arose as a result of natural zoonosis. The US CIA and one other unnamed government intelligence agency have yet to arrive at conclusions about the pandemic’s origin. Despite the divide, all agencies currently agree that the virus was not released as an intentional weapon. The new intelligence that led the DoE to change its previous position from undecided remains classified. Some officials briefed on the new intelligence said it is relatively weak, likely leading to the DoE saying its decision was made with “low confidence.” Notably, DoE shared the intelligence with other agencies and none have changed their previous conclusions.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan this week said there is “no definitive conclusion” on the pandemic’s origin. Many scientists and virologists point to data and what some say is “overwhelming evidence” of a zoonotic origin. Some of these same scientists are curious to learn more about the intelligence information that led the DoE to its conclusion. In the US Congress, reactions to the report have been mixed. Some lawmakers are calling for the declassification of information related to the pandemic’s origin, the establishment of a nonpartisan commission to investigate the virus’s beginnings, and restrictions on data-sharing with Chinese scientists. Others, however, are requesting classified intelligence briefings and warned against too much focus on the past at the expense of current threats. The US House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic announced it will hold a hearing March 8 focused on investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The chairs of the subcommittee and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability this week sent a letter to DoE Secretary Jennifer Granholm requesting the release of certain documents and information related to the pandemic’s origins. Additionally, US Senator John Barrasso, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), requested the DoE hold a classified briefing for all members of Congress on the new intelligence that led to its revised conclusion.

Notably, the DoE assessment likely will create more tension for US-China relations already strained by recent events. US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns this week called on China to be “more honest” about the origins of the pandemic and increase cooperation with the WHO. In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Mao Ning said China has been “open and transparent” in matters related to origin investigations and shared information and data with the international community, including the WHO, in “a timely manner.” Foreign Minister Mao also said the US government is politicizing origin investigations and called for a stop to efforts that she said are “disrupting social solidarity and origins cooperation.”

Several experts say the debate over whether the pandemic arose due to a lab leak or a viral jump from animals to humans detracts from efforts that could help prevent either scenario in the future. Several experts previously have outlined specific steps governments and scientific institutions should take to address uncertainties about the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist and Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, this week wrote about the importance of taking actions to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity despite the likelihood that the world will never have a definitive answer on where COVID-19 originated. Such actions could include enhanced oversight of research with high consequence pathogens, better mechanisms for providing proper equipment to laboratories in low-resource settings, and the adoption of a code of conduct for biological scientists. Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist and science communicator, echoed this sentiment, writing that accidental laboratory leaks, intentional laboratory leaks, and natural spillover events all need to be addressed for a safer future. She also called for more transparency, because without concrete evidence, people are forming narratives based on incomplete or sometimes downright false information, leading to the resurgence of conspiracy theories that have been disproven, as well as the emergence of new, unproven theories.

Most US states with pandemic-related emergency declarations will allow them to expire this month

Three years into the pandemic, the few US states that still have COVID-19 emergency declarations are allowing them to wind down, for the most part, offering symbolic endings to a period marked by pandemic-related challenges and the loss of more than 1.1 million lives to the disease. California’s emergency declaration ended on February 28, although some local emergencies remain in place. One of those localities is Los Angeles County, which is expected to end its COVID-19 emergency on March 31.

According to the National Academy for State Health Policy, 7 other states have ongoing emergency declarations related to public health, disaster recovery, or supply chain issues, but all are set to expire in March unless renewed. The exception is Illinois, which is ending its disaster declaration on May 11 to coincide with the end of the federal emergency. Notably, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has continued to extend the state’s emergency declaration to prevent cities from imposing their own restrictions, including mask and vaccine requirements. Governor Abbott has indicated that the state’s emergency declaration will stay in place until the Texas legislature passes laws to prevent local governments from imposing these types of restrictions. The state’s Republican-controlled legislature is currently considering several bills to forbid what the sponsor called “restrictions on our personal liberties.”

US CDC advisory panel supports annual COVID-19 vaccine booster for high-risk populations; Pfizer-BioNTech request EUA for bivalent vaccine as booster for youngest children

There is insufficient evidence to support SARS-CoV-2 vaccine boosters more than once a year for older adults and people with compromised immune systems, the COVID-19 working group of the US CDC's Advisory Committee For Immunization Practices (ACIP) said on February 24. The working group supported an annual COVID-19 vaccine booster, likely in the fall, for high-risk populations, although ACIP advised showing flexibility in booster frequency recommendations, particularly for individuals at risk of severe COVID-19. CDC advisors did not vote on new recommendations, and both the CDC and US FDA continue to explore how best to annually update the vaccines to target circulating variants, in a way similar to annual influenza vaccines.

In February, the CDC added the COVID-19 vaccine to its child and adolescent immunization schedule. The schedule recommends that children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years receive 2 doses of a primary series 4-8 weeks apart and a booster dose at least 8 weeks after the second dose. On March 1, Pfizer-BioNTech requested emergency use authorization for their Omicron-adapted bivalent vaccine as a booster dose for children aged 6 months to 4 years. The bivalent vaccine is already authorized as a third dose of the 3-dose series for this age group, but a new EUA would allow children under age 5 to get a fourth dose using the updated vaccine, at least 2 months after completing their primary series.

Incidence of long COVID could be declining; people with condition more likely to develop cardiac complications, suffer from orthostatic tachycardia

Several recent studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, suggest the incidence of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), commonly known as long COVID, has decreased over time. Nevertheless, there are an enormous number of people who are suffering with lasting symptoms—at least 65 million people worldwide, according to one study. Notably, a recent study published in Preventive Medicine found the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and incidence of long COVID among US adults during the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 surge was higher than previous estimates that focused primarily on people who were hospitalized or sought medical care, which has key implications on the burden of long COVID.

A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases earlier this year showed prolonged symptoms of COVID-19 were more common among participants during the beginning of the pandemic, before the Delta and Omicron variants of concern emerged. When the researchers adjusted for vaccination status, the differences were no longer significant, suggesting vaccination, or possibly immunity from prior infection, has a beneficial effect on the risk of long COVID. Two other studies published this week in BMJ Medicine, as well as another published in JAMA Network Open, also support the theory that vaccination reduces case severity and the risk of developing long COVID, although it is not known to what degree and additional studies are needed.

According to a meta-analysis to be presented next week at the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/World Congress of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session, people with long COVID are at more than double the risk of new-onset cardiovascular symptoms than people who were never infected with SARS-CoV-2. The researchers noted that clinicians need to be aware of the association between long COVID and cardiac complications, which some speculate could be caused by chronic inflammation. Another condition that impacts up to 30% of patients with long COVID is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that can result in symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and a significant increase in heart rate upon standing or exertion. Few clinicians know how to care for POTS patients, and The BMJ recently published a Practice Pointer on orthostatic tachycardia after COVID-19 to raise awareness.

To help better understand the long-term implications of post-COVID conditions, the US CDC recently expanded its guidelines for certifying deaths to include PASC as the reason for or an underlying cause of death, even if the original SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred months or years prior.

US FDA authorizes first-ever at-home COVID-19, flu test kit

The US FDA on February 24 issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first over-the-counter (OTC) at-home diagnostic test that can differentiate and detect influenza A and B, commonly known as the flu, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test, a single-use at-home test kit, uses nasal swab samples to provide results in about 30 minutes. Notably, Lucira Health, the California-based test manufacturer, filed bankruptcy on February 22, blaming the FDA’s “protracted” authorization process for its financial troubles. Questions remain about the company’s manufacturing capacity, how much the test will cost, and when such a combined test—from Lucira or other companies—will be widely available to consumers.

What we’re reading

VACCINE RESEARCH PUBLIC INVESTMENTS According to a study published March 1 in BMJ, the US government invested at least US$31.9 billion to develop, produce, and purchase mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including significant investments made in the 30 years prior to the pandemic. Moderna recently made a US$400 million payment for the rights to a chemical technique that its scientists said they borrowed from government-funded research to make the company’s mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The payment will be shared among the US NIH and 2 US universities where the method was invented. Moderna and NIH continue to dispute who owns the rights to information that makes up the central component of the vaccine.

PRETERM BIRTHS Across a group of mostly high-income countries—including Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States—about 4% fewer preterm births than expected occurred in spring 2020, when most of the world was in lockdown at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the research, published in Nature Human Behavior, this translates to nearly 50,000 premature births averted globally in the first month of lockdown alone. The finding could help researchers better understand what leads to preterm birth, which is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide.

SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of surveillance technologies—such as overhead infrared thermometers and wearable tracking devices—ramped up quickly. These technologies often forced essential workers to change how they worked, sometimes made workplaces less safe, and typically did not offer clear and accurate information to help workers protect their own health, according to a new report by the nonprofit Data & Society. The report assessed the impact of COVID-19 surveillance on the employees—who were mostly Black, Latino, and low-income—of several industries such as meatpacking and food processing, warehousing, grocery retail, and manufacturing.

ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Initially, SARS-CoV-2 was thought to spread only from symptomatic infected people, as SARS-CoV did, but was later understood to also transmit from people without symptoms. This covert transmission potential prompted public health officials to encourage widespread mask use, physical distancing, and testing to help prevent the virus’s spread. Now, enthusiasm for these protective measures is waning, partially because people have more immune protection from vaccination and/or prior infection; however, asymptomatic transmission still occurs, leaving questions about how many people experience COVID-19 without becoming symptomatic.

PANDEMIC TREATY In a commentary published in The BMJ, Dr. Alexandra Phelan, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, discusses the importance of operationalizing equity through international law surrounding infectious diseases, specifically within a draft pandemic treaty currently under negotiation among WHO member states. Dr. Phelan calls for the “effective participation of all member states, strong civil society engagement, and transparency” in the negotiation processes, as well as the incorporation of legal measures aimed at decolonization and benefit sharing, as all will help prepare the world to better respond to the next disease threat.

Epi update

As of February 28, the WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports:
• 758 million cumulative COVID-19 cases
• 6.86 million deaths
• 1.02 million cases reported week of February 20
• 13% decrease in global weekly incidence
• 6,958 deaths reported week of February 20
• 13.5% decrease in global weekly mortality

Over the previous week, incidence declined or remained relatively stable in all WHO regions except the South-East Asia (+9.35%).

UNITED STATES
The US CDC is reporting:
• 103 million cumulative cases
• 1.1 million deaths
• 236,131 cases week of February 22 (down from previous week)
• 2,407 deaths week of February 22 (down from previous week)
• 7.5% weekly decrease in new hospital admissions
• 7.3% weekly decrease in current hospitalizations

The Omicron sublineages XBB.1.5 (85%), BQ.1.1 (9%), and BQ.1 (3%) currently account for a majority of all new sequenced specimens, with various other Omicron subvariants accounting for the remainder of cases.
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