CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 05/28/2021

FROM THE NYT TODAY: NOTICE DAILY CASES PER 100,000 POPULATION

Scientists Are Figuring Out if Fully Vaccinated People Will Need Booster Shots — and Which One (New York Times) U.S. scientists are expanding efforts to evaluate when fully vaccinated people will need booster shots — and, if so, whether people can switch brands — in the latest chapter of the global quest to stop the pandemic.

Effect of 2 Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines on Symptomatic COVID-19 Infection in Adults

“In this prespecified interim analysis of a randomized clinical trial, treatment of adults with either of 2 inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines significantly reduced the risk of symptomatic COVID-19. Data collection for the final analysis is pending” (J. Harris: This “immunological boost” makes sense and will bear watching.)

Covid Immunity is Long Lasting

(A Becker summary of a NYT summary of an article in Nature}The first study, published in Nature May 24, involved 77 people who were infected with COVID-19 about a year earlier and had since recovered. Researchers focused on memory B cells, which retain a memory of the virus, and found that while the antibody levels in the participants’ blood samples dropped in the months after infection, memory B cells lingered in the bone marrow, ready to produce antibodies as needed. 

HOPKINS SELECTIONS

1. PRESS RELEASE

Antibody Testing Is Not Currently Recommended to Assess Immunity After COVID-19 Vaccination: FDA Safety Communication The US Food and Drug Administration is reminding the public and health care providers that results from currently authorized SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests should not be used to evaluate a person’s level of immunity or protection from COVID-19 at any time, and especially after the person received a COVID-19 vaccination. While a positive antibody test result can be used to help identify people who may have had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, more research is needed in people who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. Currently authorized SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests have not been evaluated to assess the level of protection provided by an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. If antibody test results are interpreted incorrectly, there is a potential risk that people may take fewer precautions against SARS-CoV-2 exposure. (FDA, 5/19/2021)

2. PRESS RELEASE

More Than 10 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered by Community Health Centers The US Department of Health and Human Services announced that Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program-funded health centers and Health Center Program look-alikes (LALs) have administered more than 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses nationwide—with 61% provided to racial and ethnic minorities. Community health centers, which largely serve the nation’s underserved and most vulnerable communities, have been central to President Biden’s commitment to ensuring equity and access in the COVID-19 response and vaccination program. Critical to this effort has been the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program, a collaboration between HRSA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which provides a direct allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to HRSA Health Center Program-supported health centers in addition to COVID-19 vaccines that health centers might receive through their states. This program started on February 9 with an initial cohort of 25 health centers, and expanded in less than two months to include all HRSA Health Center Program-funded health centers and LALs on April 6, increasing its reach to 1,470 health centers nationwide. (HHS, 5/19/2021)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEASED:

1.What do you call a fly without wings?      A walk!

2. I’m no cheetah, you’re lion!

3. One lung said to another, “we be-lung together!”

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CDC TO QUIT FOLLOWING MILD VARIANT CASES POST VACCINATION

(J. Harris: I’d follow every variant case possible for a while yet. Maybe the CDC can develop better tracking skills and systems in the meantime.)

HOPKINS CITATIONS:

1. Intelligence on Sick Staff at Wuhan Lab Fuels Debate on Covid-19 Origin (WSJ) Three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, according to a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report that could add weight to growing calls for a fuller probe of whether the Covid-19 virus may have escaped from the laboratory. The details of the reporting go beyond a State Department fact sheet, issued during the final days of the Trump administration, which said that several researchers at the lab, a center for the study of coronaviruses and other pathogens, became sick in autumn 2019 “with symptoms consistent with both Covid-19 and common seasonal illness.” The disclosure of the number of researchers, the timing of their illnesses and their hospital visits come on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization’s decision-making body, which is expected to discuss the next phase of an investigation into Covid-19’s origins.

2. C.D.C. Is Investigating a Heart Problem in a Few Young Vaccine Recipients (New York Times) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into reports that a very small number of teenagers and young adults vaccinated against the coronavirus may have experienced heart problems, according to the agency’s vaccine safety group. The group’s statement was sparse in details, saying only that there were “relatively few” cases and that they may be entirely unrelated to vaccination. The condition, called myocarditis, is an inflammation of the heart muscle, and can occur following certain infections. The C.D.C.’s review of the reports is in the early stages, and the agency has yet to determine whether there is any evidence that the vaccines caused the heart condition. The agency has posted guidance on its website urging doctors and clinicians to be alert to unusual heart symptoms among young people who had just received their shots.

3. WEBINAR (for city, county, and education officials

Infection Prevention and Control in Schools The National Association of County and City Health Officials invites local health department leadership and staff to participate in a webinar, Infection Prevention and Control in Schools, on Thursday, June 10, 3:00-4:00 pm ET. As more schools return to in-person learning, the work of balancing the best possible education while keeping students and staff safe has become even more challenging. The Infection Prevention and Control in Schools Task Force, led by Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor and Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University, will discuss a roadmap that will support education and public health leaders in building the organizational capacity and partnership needed for maintaining healthy schools in this pandemic and the next. (NACCHO, 6/10/2021)

TO ENROLL IN WEBINAR (CLICK )

PERSONAL NOTE: My 8-year-old Mac Book Pro developed pointer problems yesterday (after a certain rapidly recovering Norweigan housekeeper had used it to Zoom). It won’t highlight, cut, and paste. Only Apple and various dieties have the proper size screwdriver to open the back of the computer to fix what is generally said to be a minor problem. But, fortunately, I had just put a new hard drive in my old, old IMac, and I can’t as yet retrieve my Joke File which was not saved in the clouds. No joke! Here are a few old headlines, probably from the Longview paper:

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FROM THE NYT:

For Some Anti-Vaccine Advocates, Misinformation Is Part Of A Business (NPR) He is one of many anti-vaccine advocates with a business on the side. They promote false claims about the dangers vaccines pose, while selling treatments, supplementals or other services. Their potential market is the roughly 20% of Americans say they do not want to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to recent polling. Health experts worry that the misinformation being spread is doing real damage. Without sufficient vaccination, communities could see a resurgence of the virus, particularly in the coming fall and winter months

Hopkins Cited:

 Global Health Security

‘A Toxic Cocktail:’ Panel Delivers Harsh Verdict on the World’s Failure to Prepare for Pandemic (Science) There was warning after warning after warning, and yet the world failed to do what was needed to prepare for a pandemic, the first comprehensive review of the global response to COVID-19 finds. This lack of preparation left countries short of essential supplies, burdened by under-resourced health systems, and scrambling to coordinate a response, while large vulnerable populations had few options to protect themselves.

On a personal note: My Norwegian housekeeper is doing well — as well she should considering the quality of nursing care, housekeeping, and cooking she is receiving. I can now definitely verify the old adage: “A woman’s work is never done.” It seems that as soon as the work is finished it starts all over, day after day. I may give her a raise when she gets back to work.

LAST BUT NOT LEASED: some real groaners:

8 nickels = 2 paradigms

1000 cubic centimeters of wet socks =1 literhosen

What did the hamburger name it’s baby?      Patty!

Why are frogs so happy?      They eat whatever bugs them.

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CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 05/22/2021

HOW VACCINES WORK MADE SIMPLE (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN)

(J. Harris: A short and understandable UTube.)

Neutralizing antibody vaccine for pandemic and pre-emergent coronaviruses

(The above is an unreadable scientific article explained in the article below)

A promising new vaccine candidate could protect us from multiple coronaviruses — including some that haven’t jumped to humans yet

“…“If you just look at history, there’s been outbreaks of coronavirus about every eight to nine years… Can we find a vaccine that would protect us against whatever the next coronavirus outbreak ends up being?…The team hopes to create a pancoronavirus vaccine that could spell the end of coronavirus pandemics altogether…the coronavirus family is large, and many researchers think a future vaccine could offer far broader protection.

A team at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute has developed a pancoronavirus vaccine that might be able to protect against multiple coronaviruses in the SARS family. That includes SARS-CoV-2, as well as the virus most people know as SARS — SARS-CoV-1 — which was responsible for an outbreak in 2003….“You would have protection against these variants that are circulating currently, but also you could have protection against any type of new SARS-related virus that might be similar to SARS-CoV-1 or SARS-CoV-2, that could originate from the bat species,…

OREGON LIFTS MASK MANDATES FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE

(J. Harris: This makes sense to me–you may have to show proof of your vaccination status.)

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HELLO: I am happy to report that my Norwegian housekeeper is almost ready to pirouette on her new hip. I have also learned that nursing is more time-consuming as well as more physically and emotionally difficult than doctoring.

 The article below discusses current nursing needs:

Patient safety: the value of the nurse

“…The nursing profession has never been more visible, thrust into the spotlight of the COVID-19 pandemic. This focus has not only brought gratitude and fleeting displays of public support for so-called health-care heroes, but also vulnerability for patients and nurses alike. 1 The importance of a competent, confident, and credentialled nurse has never been more crucial, yet in many settings, a robust nursing workforce and a safe health system are elusive…The devastation witnessed in the elder care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear signal of the challenges of staffing and workforce composition.9 Further workforce studies in community and primary care settings are urgently needed….Building a robust nursing workforce is inextricably linked to patient outcomes and should be central to health services planning.

The above data reflects only a slight increase in area Covid cases. 

Consumer Views on Using Digital Data for COVID-19 Control in the United States

Conclusions and Relevance  In this survey study of US adults, many were averse to their information being used on digital platforms to mitigate transmission of COVID-19. These findings suggest that in current and future pandemics, public health departments should use multiple strategies to gain public trust and accelerate the adoption of tools such as digital contact tracing applications.

(J. Harris: We need to be able to test, track, trace and “tie up” (quarantine) to stop the next pandemic. Of interest, during the last Yello Fever epidemic, some citizens of Harrison County blocked the roads from Shreveport to keep those folks out since LA was where most of the cases were coming from.)

Incident SARS-CoV-2 Infection among mRNA-Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Nursing Home Residents

Across all the study groups, most infections were asymptomatic, and the incidence of both asymptomatic and symptomatic infections decreased. Nursing homes that were located in counties with the highest incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection had the most incident cases but still had large decreases (Table S2). We observed inconsistent patterns in the incidence of infection among residents relative to rates of vaccination among staff members (Table S3).

These findings show the real-world effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines in reducing the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in a vulnerable nursing home population. Our observation of a reduced incidence of infection among unvaccinated residents suggests that robust vaccine coverage among residents and staff, together with the continued use of face masks and other infection-control measures, is likely to afford protection for small numbers of unvaccinated residents in congregate settings. Still, the continued observation of incident cases after vaccination highlights the critical need for ongoing vaccination programs and surveillance testing in nursing homes to mitigate future outbreaks.

Incident SARS-CoV-2 Infection among mRNA-Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Nursing Home Residents

Across all the study groups, most infections were asymptomatic, and the incidence of both asymptomatic and symptomatic infections decreased. Nursing homes that were located in counties with the highest incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection had the most incident cases but still had large decreases (Table S2). We observed inconsistent patterns in the incidence of infection among residents relative to rates of vaccination among staff members (Table S3).

These findings show the real-world effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines in reducing the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in a vulnerable nursing home population. Our observation of a reduced incidence of infection among unvaccinated residents suggests that robust vaccine coverage among residents and staff, together with the continued use of face masks and other infection-control measures, is likely to afford protection for small numbers of unvaccinated residents in congregate settings. Still, the continued observation of incident cases after vaccination highlights the critical need for ongoing vaccination programs and surveillance testing in nursing homes to mitigate future outbreaks.

COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for Pennsylvania health system

“Philadelphia’s six-hospital University of Pennsylvania Health System will make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all employees and clinical staff, the health system said May 19. .. employees and clinical staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by no later than Sept. 1. New hires must provide proof of at least one dose two weeks before beginning work. There are exemptions for medical or religious reasons, similar to the health system’s long-standing flu vaccine policy…”As an institution grounded in the science and art of healthcare, we believe it is imperative for the University of Pennsylvania Health System to take the lead in requiring employee vaccinations to protect our patients and staff and to set an example to the broader community as we work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” the health system said…As of May 19, all University of Pennsylvania Health System employees and clinical staff have been offered the vaccine, and more than 33,000 of them (nearly 70 percent) are fully vaccinated…”Evidence is clear that COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be very safe and highly effective at preventing transmission, hospitalizations and death from the virus,” the health system said. “The transformational mRNA technology discoveries at Penn which laid a foundation for the first COVID-19 vaccines are a tremendous point of pride, which further buoys our confidence in the science that is now being deployed to save lives across the globe.”

And Last but not Leased:

The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.

IF BARBIE IS SO POPULAR, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BUY HER FRIENDS?

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