CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 06/30/2021

HELLO,

From the Washington Post:

“…Australia and Israel offer two different examples of the ways countries are responding to the delta coronavirus variant. The variant has emerged in Australia, triggering a lockdown in Sydney and mask mandates and increased restrictions in other cities that had, till now, escaped the pandemic’s worst. “We’ve been the victims of our own success so far because, to some degree, there’s been a level of complacency and we’ve been living in a very gilded cage,” as the vice president of the Australian Medical Association put it over the weekend…”

WHY YOUNG FOLKS OPT OUT OF VACCINATION

Texas man who declined COVID-19 vaccine speaks out after undergoing double lung transplant

At-home virus tests could still be useful, even for the vaccinated. (click)

Assessment of a COVID-19 Control Plan on an Urban University Campus During a Second Wave of the Pandemic

“…This case series from a large [Boston] university found that strong central leadership; internal communication to students, staff, and faculty; frequent and adaptive testing of students15,16; short testing turnaround time; highly effective contact tracing coupled with isolation and quarantine; and vigorous enforcement combined to prevent widespread campus outbreaks of COVID-19 despite the worsening local situation…”

(J. Harris: East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas also educated, vaccinated, tested, and protected its student body, faculty, campus workers, and the community during this Pandemic. There is no substitute for enlightened leadership — in good times as well as in during crises. You don’t have to be in Boston to do things right.)

Seattle scientist digs up deleted coronavirus genetic data, adding fuel to the covid origin debate

“…it bolsters evidence that the virus was circulating in Wuhan, China, before a December outbreak of covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, that was linked to a market selling live animals…“These SARS-CoV-2 sequences were submitted for posting in SRA in March 2020 and subsequently requested to be withdrawn by the submitting investigator in June 2020. The requestor indicated the sequence information had been updated, was being submitted to another database, and wanted the data removed from SRA to avoid version control issues,” NIH said…Robert F. Garry, a Tulane University virologist who co-wrote an influential March 2020 paper saying SARS-CoV-2 was a natural virus and not engineered, took issue with the new Bloom paper. Among his criticisms: The key data from the China study, a list of mutations seen in the virus sequences, has remained available to researchers in an appendix. He said Bloom found the same mutations…it bolsters evidence that the virus was circulating in Wuhan, China, before a December outbreak of covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, that was linked to a market selling live animals…”

Utility of Mass SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Asymptomatic Patients Before Ambulatory and Inpatient Preplanned Procedures Requiring Moderate Sedation or General Anesthesia

“…A total of 75 528 preprocedure tests were performed….A total of 318 (0.4%) tested positive (Figure 1). The median (IQR) test turnaround time was 7.8 (6.5-9.4) hours..”

(J. Harris: Basically, routine preop Covid testing revealed what to me was a surprisingly low number of positive tests.)

Clinical Outcomes for Patients With Anosmia 1 Year After COVID-19 Diagnosis

“…Persistent COVID-19–related anosmia has an excellent prognosis with nearly complete recovery at 1 year. As clinicians manage an increasing number of people with post-COVID syndrome, data on long-term outcomes are needed for informed prognostication and counseling….[96.1% objectively recovered by 12 months]…”

FROM HOPKINS:

DELTA VARIANT The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) currently accounts for an estimated 20% of new COVID-19 cases in the US and likely will become the dominant strain in a matter of weeks, according to White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, who also noted the variant as the United States’ greatest threat in dealing with COVID-19. The European CDC (ECDC) Threat Assessment for the Delta variant projects that the variant will be responsible for 90% of cases by the end of August. Russia has already reached that threshold, where 90% of new cases in Moscow are being attributed to the Delta variant. This variant of concern (VOC) has been reported in 85 countries, is 40-60% more transmissible than Alpha (B.1.1.7), and may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization. 

According to a Public Health England study, a single dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines reduced a person’s risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms caused by the Delta variant by 33%, compared to 50% for the Alpha variant. A second dose of AstraZeneca brought protection to 60% (66% for Alpha), and a second dose of Pfizer increased protection to 88% (90% for Alpha). A Scottish study found an increased likelihood of hospitalization among patients infected with the Delta variant, nearly double the risk for the Alpha variant. Additionally, that study showed that among fully vaccinated individuals, Pfizer’s vaccine provided 79% protection against the Delta variant, while it offered 92% against the Alpha variant. Vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine showed substantial but reduced results among those fully vaccinated, with 60% efficacy against the Delta variant and 73% protection against the Alpha variant. These studies underline the importance of vaccination as a tool to reduce hospitalizations and disease severity among COVID-19 patients. 

AND LAST BUT NOT LEASED:

 What’s the easiest way to make a glow worm happy? Cut off its tail—it’ll be delighted!

How do you organize an astronomer’s party? You planet.

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READ THIS FIRST: Harrison County COVID-19 hospitalization remains below 2 percent

FROM CDC VIA HOPKINS:

mRNA VACCINES & MYOCARDITIS/PERICARDITIS The US CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is meeting this week as part of ongoing evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine safety and efficacy data. A major portion of this week’s meeting addressed emerging data regarding the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis—inflammation of the heart muscle and lining around the heart, respectively—following vaccination. Researchers presented data collected from several systems the CDC uses to monitor for adverse events after vaccination.

The data indicate there is a “likely association” between the mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and elevated risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in adolescents and younger adults, although the risk appears to be very low. The rates of myocarditis/pericarditis are higher in males than females, and the conditions are more common after the second dose of the vaccine. The analysis estimates the overall rate of myocarditis/pericarditis to be 12.6 cases per million second doses of the vaccines in individuals aged 12-39 years old. The conditions tend to present within approximately 5 days, and while most of the affected individuals were hospitalized, symptoms were generally mild and most recovered quickly. To our knowledge, neither condition has resulted in death among recently vaccinated individuals.

Importantly, the available data indicate that the benefits of vaccination still far outweigh the risks of myocarditis/pericarditis. Even for males aged 12-17 years—the group with the lowest COVID-19 risk and highest myocarditis/pericarditis risk—risk and benefit calculations* estimate that 1 million second doses of the mRNA vaccines would prevent 5,700 COVID-19 cases, 215 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths, compared to 56-69 cases of myocarditis/pericarditis. A group of prominent public health and healthcare organizations—including HHS, CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics—issued a statement emphasizing the rarity of myocarditis/pericarditis following vaccination and encouraging all eligible individuals to get vaccinated. The US FDA is expected to update associated information for the mRNA vaccines, and the CDC continues to recommend SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to all eligible age groups.

 From Hopkins :

Nearly All US COVID-19 Deaths Now Preventable (CIDRAP) For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest in March of 2020 in the United States, nearly all of the deaths recorded in recent weeks were preventable, occurring in unvaccinated Americans. According to an Associated Press analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from May, only about 150 of the more than 18,000 COVID-19 deaths in May were in fully vaccinated people, or less than 1%. This translates to 5 deaths per day attributed to fully vaccinated Americans experiencing breakthrough infections, and roughly 300 deaths per day in the unvaccinated. 

2. Israel, Counting on Herd Immunity, Declines to Reimpose Most Restrictions As Delta Variant Spreads (Washington Post) As the surging delta coronavirus variant forces countries around the world to reinstate restrictions, Israel’s new government is standing pat, expressing faith that the country’s high vaccination rate is shielding people from the variant’s worst effects. The number of positive cases is rising, but few people are becoming seriously ill. Officials decided Sunday night that a spike in positive cases did not warrant a return to lockdown or significant restrictions, other than reinstating an indoor mask mandate dropped just two weeks ago.

22 states altered telemedicine laws during COVID-19 pandemic

AND LAST BUT NOT LEASED:

If two vegans are arguing, can you still call it a ‘beef’????

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• 

NYT AND WORLD PRESS, 28 JUNEX;

J. Harris: I can’t find the above cases. 

FROM THE MARSHALL-HARRISON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Do you have a business, civic or church group that would like to get the COVID 19 vaccine? Give our office a call at 903-938-8338 or email vaccine@mhchd.org to get more information. We can come to you! Help us spread the word that we are scheduling COVID 19 vaccine clinics…….(THANK YOU JENNIFER HANCOCK, RN, FOR THIS AND ALL YOUR OTHER PRODIGIOUS WORK DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

“… in people who had survived Covid-19, immune cells that recognize the virus remained in the bone marrow for at least eight months after infection. A study by another team indicated that so-called memory B cells continue to mature and strengthen for at least a year after infection…Based on those findings, researchers suggested that immunity might last years, possibly a lifetime, in people who were infected and later vaccinated. But it was unclear whether vaccination alone might have a similarly long-lasting effect…”

In India, concern mounts over a variant called Delta Plus“…The new variant carries a spike protein mutation that is also found in the Beta variant, first identified in South Africa, though it’s unclear how that shared mutation might affect the variant’s function…Officials at the Indian Health Ministry emphasized that both Covid vaccines in wide use in the country — the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and the Covaxin shot made by the Indian company Bharat Biotech — are likely to be effective against variants, including Delta Plus…Reports suggest that cases of Delta Plus have been found in nearly a dozen countries, including the United States.”

From CDC via Hopkins:

1. The CDC updated its SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance data, adding official data for May 23-June 5 and projections for June 6-19. Including the new projection period, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) prevalence has increased from less than 1% to 20.6% over a period of 8 weeks, more than doubling in every 2-week period. Based on the current projection, the Delta variant is now the #2 variant nationwide. Gamma variant (P.1) prevalence also continues to increase steadily, now up to 16.4% of new cases. While still technically dominant based on the estimated prevalence, Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) prevalence has noticeably decreased over the past 2 reporting periods, down from a high of 70% to 52.2% in the June 6-19 projection. Combined, the Alpha, Gamma, and Delta variants account for more than 90% of all new cases in the US. These genomic data provide further evidence that the Delta variant is poised to become the dominant variant in the US over the coming weeks. In fact, the projection indicates that Delta is already the dominant variant in HHS Regions 7 (Central; 47.5%) and 8 (Mountain; 46.4%).

MORE HOPKIN CITATIONS:

1. Missouri Sees Rise in Severe COVID-19 Cases Among the Young, Unvaccinated as Delta Variant Spreads (ABC News) Health care workers in southwest Missouri are sounding the alarm over a wave of young, unvaccinated COVID-19 patients who are now filling hospital beds.Leanne Handle, an assistant nurse manager of a medical surgical COVID-19 unit at CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri, said she and her staff have seen the patient population over the past year go from elderly people who are immunocompromised or have multiple other conditions to, more recently, younger individuals who “don’t think COVID is real” and haven’t been vaccinated against the disease.

1. U.S. to Split 55 Million Covid Vaccine Doses Between Latin America, Asia and Africa (CNBC) The Biden administration announced it will send 55 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa as the coronavirus continues to rapidly spread in low- and middle-income nations. The 55 million vaccine doses are the remaining portion of 80 million shots President Joe Biden has committed to donating abroad.

2. World Bank Grants for Global Vaccination — Why So Slow? (Nature) Some day, my grandchildren will read how teams of scientists around the world developed vaccines against COVID-19 within a year. They will also read a sadder history: how millions of people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) died after those vaccines came to market. Part of the reason, they’ll learn, was the lack of financing to buy vaccines. 

3. PHILIPPINES VACCINATION According to multiple news media reports, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte recently indicated that he could begin arresting individuals who refuse SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. President Duterte is known for “brash rhetoric,” but he has demonstrated the willingness to take extreme measures to combat other threats, such as his “war” on drugs. The extent to which President Duterte can or will implement efforts to mandate vaccinations remains unclear. In comments earlier this week, he indicated that he would direct local government officials to compile lists of individuals who refuse vaccination. Mandatory vaccination policies pose a number of practical and ethical challenges, and many experts argue that they may not necessarily be the best option for increasing vaccination coverage, particularly from the perspective of establishing trust in the government and response. The Philippines has administered at least 1 dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to approximately 5.7% of its population, and nearly 2% are fully vaccinated. 

4. [THE GERMAN VACCINE THAT WORKS POORLY} CUREVAC VACCINE CLINICAL TRIAL On June 16, CureVac announced preliminary efficacy results from a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of its candidate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. CureVac is based in Germany, but the studies included approximately 40,000 participants from across 10 countries in Europe and Latin America. The vaccine demonstrated an overall efficacy of 47% against any COVID-19 disease severity, falling short of the 50% threshold established early in the pandemic.

While the CureVac candidate vaccine uses an mRNA platform similar to those used in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the estimated efficacy is much lower, approximately half of what was observed in those vaccines’ Phase 3 clinical trials. The exact cause for the lower efficacy is unclear; however, there are some potential factors that could contribute to the disparity. First, the CureVac clinical trials were conducted at a time when variants of concern (VOCs) are more prevalent around the world, and lower efficacy against these variants would impact the overall estimate. Additionally, the CureVac product uses a much smaller dose than other mRNA vaccines—12μg compared to 30μg or 100μg in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, respectively—which could potentially limit the magnitude of the immune response. One researcher who led one of the trials in Germany indicated that the lower efficacy is “very likely due to the dose.” The mRNA used in CureVac’s vaccine was slightly different from those in other vaccines, and it did not allow for higher doses due to increased risk of adverse events.

*125 of 134 total cases have genomic sequence data available for the interim analysis.

The CureVac press release indicates that final analysis is still underway, and the company will assess potential regulatory options once that is complete. While the vaccine’s performance may be viewed as disappointing compared to similar products already authorized for use, this example illustrates the extreme difficulties in developing novel vaccines, particularly on an accelerated timeline, and it should serve as a reminder of how fortunate we are that multiple of the early vaccine candidates successfully demonstrated such high efficacy.

WHAT’S SO FUNNY?

MY NEXT TO THE LAST BLOND JOKE: Did you hear about the two blondes who froze to death in a drive-in movie?They had gone to see ‘Closed for the Winter.’

FROM NY CITY: 453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake

• A boiled egg is hard to beat. 

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THE TWO CHARTS  BELOW SHOW WHAT THE NATIONAL AND WORLD PRESS IS SEEING REGARDING EAST TEXAS WITH NO COMMENTS ON THE STATE WEB SITE.  THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO CARRIED BY THE TEXAS TRIBUNE AND SMART NEWS AND NYT. THIS HOPKINS SITE HAS BEEN THE BEST SITE I HAVE FOUND FOR COMPLETNESS. 

ACTIVE CASES ACCORDING TO HOPKINS

and

 NEW CASES BY 100K POPULATION BY HOPKINS

(same address; Almost certainly, most of the world looks at East Texas via the Johsn Hopkins map, including the NYT. Since the NYT has for me the most user friendly graphs, I will stick with it. 

FROM THE NYT TRACKER TODAY, 25 JUNE:

SMITH, GREGG, AND OTHER NEARBY COUNTIES;

ACTIVE CASES IN HARRISON COUNTY ACCORDING TO THE STATE (CLICK)

(J. Harris: This might be the most reliable site to use for a while?)

WHAT I THINK: While word of mouth mentions many active Covid cases in the community, possible due to several holidays and other super spreader local events, our cases must be mild since our hospitals have a very low Covid census currently. I think I’ll get may mask out again and avoid restaraunts and crowds again until I can figure out what is happening. 

FROM THE STATE TEXAS COVID DATA SITE (https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/additionaldata.aspx)

FOR THE LAST 7 DAYS:

                      June 19.        6/20.          2/21.           6/22.          6/23.           6/24

FROM THE MARSHALL-HARRISON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Do you have a business, civic or church group that would like to get the COVID 19 vaccine? Give our office a call at 903-938-8338 or email vaccine@mhchd.org to get more information. We can come to you! Help us spread the word that we are scheduling COVID 19 vaccine clinics…….(THANK YOU JENNIFER HANCOCK, RN, FOR THIS AND ALL YOUR OTHER PRODIGIOUS WORK DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

Russia mandates vaccinations for some as virus cases surge

“…Daily new cases have grown from about 9,000 in early June to about 17,000 on June 18 and over 20,000 on Thursday, with Moscow, its outlying region and St. Petersburg combining for about half of all new infectionsDaily new cases have grown from about 9,000 in early June to about 17,000 on June 18 and over 20,000 on Thursday, with Moscow, its outlying region and St. Petersburg combining for about half of all new infections…So now, many regional governments across the vast country are obligating some workers to get vaccinated and requiring the shots to enter certain businesses, like restaurants….Moscow authorities said companies should suspend without pay employees unwilling to get vaccinated, and they threatened to temporarily halt operations of businesses that don’t meet the goal of having 60% of staff get at least one shot by July 15 and both shots by Aug. 15…” VARRIANT?

Inside the extraordinary effort to save Trump from covid-19

(J. Harris: Nice article of historical value; President Trump was sicker than the public knew.)

CHEER UP:

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No surge of Area G Covid Cases Noted in Hospitals

FROM THE NYT TRACKER 24 JUNE: PERHAPS REFLECTS BOOKKEEPING CLEAN UP?

Nearly 900 Secret Service employees were infected with the virus, a watchdog group finds.

Effect of Vaccination on Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in England

(J. Harris: Your vaccination dramatically reduces the chance that you will bring home Covid to your family. Piece of mind for you and your family is a great reason to get vaccinated. )

Convincing the hesitant

(J. Harris: I plan to keep a copy of this short article on my desk. The remaining unvaccinated are going to be a hard sell, and if they don’t get vaccinated, we may have a Delta Dawn in our hospitals before fall [with apologies to Tonya Tucker].)

HOPKINS CITATIONS:

1. Future of Covid-19 Vaccine Pricing: Lessons from Influenza (BMJ) The increasing availability of covid-19 vaccines has signalled to many the beginning of the end of a devastating pandemic. Yet evidence is emerging that the novel coronavirus will continue to evolve and that immunity from vaccines is likely to be time limited, requiring use of booster doses or modified vaccines. Bilateral bulk purchasing agreements between individual countries and manufacturers have allowed vaccines to be procured at lower prices and dispensed to patients without charges. After the pandemic, however, the future pricing landscape of covid-19 vaccines remains unclear.

2. Opinion: Vaccine Hesitancy In The U.S. Is A Peculiar Privilege (NPR) “I want to wait and watch.” This is a peculiar response I receive from my friends and some family members in the United States when I ask them about their thoughts on COVID vaccination. This is a peculiar response for a couple of reasons: COVID vaccines are exceptionally effective, they are now readily available and they are the best way to end the pandemic and return to normalcy. This skeptical response is reflective of broader trends in the U.S.: an NPR/Marist poll this spring revealed that up to one-fourth of the national population would decline to get vaccinated even when offered.

3. US Hits Encouraging Milestones On Virus Deaths and Shots (Associated Press)

COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have dipped below 300 a day for the first time since the early days of the disaster in March 2020, while the drive to put shots in arms hit another encouraging milestone Monday: 150 million Americans fully vaccinated. The coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But now, as the outbreak loosens its grip, it has fallen down the list of the biggest killers. CDC data suggests that more Americans are dying every day from accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, strokes or Alzheimer’s disease than from COVID-19.

FUNNY?:

A blonde goes into work one morning crying her eyes out.

Her boss asked sympathetically, ‘What’s the matter?’

The blonde replies, ‘Early this morning I got a phone call saying that my mother had passed away.’

The boss, feeling sorry for her, says, ‘Why don’t you go home for the day? Take the day off to relax and rest.’

‘Thanks, but I’d be better off here. I need to keep my mind off it, and I have the best chance of doing that here.’

The boss agrees and allows the blonde to work as usual.

A couple of hours pass and the boss decides to check on the blonde.

He looks out from his office and sees the blonde crying hysterically…

‘What’s so bad now? Are you gonna be okay?’ he asks.

‘No!’ exclaims the blonde.’

‘I just received a horrible call from my sister. Her mother died, too!’

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A review of the state Covid data shows that no additional “active” cases have been added since the 56 that were added on 19 June, apparently due to  a bookkeeping procedure. 

Hospital data in area G looks good. If we don’t get a Delta event with Juneteenth and July 4th we should be doing well. J. Harris

TEXAS COVID DATA

*****

FROM HOPKINS: DELTA DATA:

DELTA VARIANT OF CONCERN Experts predict the highly transmissible Delta variant of concern, also known as B.1.617.2, will become the dominant strain in the US in the near future. As select states roll back pandemic guidelines and restrictions on social gatherings, the number of Delta variant cases has roughly doubled every two weeks in the US, raising concerns among experts over the potential for breakthrough infections and localized outbreaks. US CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky warned that transmission of the variant coupled with stagnating vaccination rates in some states could allow the variant to mutate enough to evade protection offered by the vaccines. Dr. Walensky and other experts continue to urge the public to get fully vaccinated, while others note an alarming trend in some states: people skipping their second dose. According to one study (preprint), 2-dose effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 87.9% with the Delta variant, but only 33.5% after 1 dose. 

According to data from the CDC and the US Department of Health and Human Services, 5 states—Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Utah—have experienced increases of 37% or more in their 7-day daily case averages over the last two weeks. Notably, the vaccination rates in those 5 states are lower than the national average. Currently, 45.7% of the US population has been fully vaccinated. States with higher vaccination rates, including Vermont, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, have achieved levels of population immunity that could be more successful at keeping the Delta variant at bay.

Internationally, COVID-19 cases attributable to the Delta variant are rising sharply in parts of Indonesia, including the capital Jakarta, which has seen an increase in the number of severe cases among younger adults. In Europe, experts are closely watching spikes in SARS-CoV-2 cases driven by the Delta variant. Officials in the UK and Portugal have reimplemented or held off on lifting lockdown measures due to an increasing number of cases, and experts in France, Germany, and Spain are monitoring clusters of Delta cases. The greater transmissibility and disease severity of the Delta variant could cause outbreaks to grow more serious more quickly than surges caused by previous variants.

From Other Hopkins Citations:

1, Rapid Displacement of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7 [ALPHA] by B.1.617.2[DELTA]( and P.1 [GAMMA] in the United States (MedRxiv) The SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.617.2 displaced B.1.1.7 as the dominant variant in England and other countries. This study aimed to determine whether B.1.617.2 was also displacing B.1.1.7 in the United States. We analyzed PCR testing results and viral sequencing results of samples collected across the United States, and showed that B.1.1.7 was rapidly being displaced and is no longer responsible for the majority of new cases. The percentage of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases that are B.1.1.7 dropped from 70% in April 2021 to 42% in just 6 weeks. Our analysis showed rapid growth of variants B.1.617.2 and P.1 as the primary drivers for this displacement. Currently, the growth rate of B.1.617.2 was higher than P.1 in the US (0.61 vs. 0.22), which is consistent with reports from other countries. Lastly, we showed that B.1.617.2 was growing faster in counties with a lower vaccination rate. 

2. Covid-19 Delta Variant Threatens to Set Back Europe’s Recovery (WSJ) The Delta variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly across continental Europe, raising the risk of a rebound in infections and a delay to the region’s economic comeback. The variant, first discovered in India late last year, has prompted Portugal to seal off its capital city of Lisbon on weekends. In Germany, where Delta is still rare, scientists expect it to make up the majority of Covid-19 infections in the coming months. In France and Italy, the prevalence of the variant is still below 5%, according to official figures, but has at least doubled in recent weeks.

COVID-19 may cause loss of brain tissue; Delta variant fuels steep infection rise in England

Our Pathetic Herd Immunity Failure 

(J. Harris: An opinion piece that makes a lot of sense to me. I’ve had it a while)

A LITTER VIEW:

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CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 06/22/2021

(J. Harris: I trust the above counts and they show NO increase in Area G hospital usage which suggests that the “new active cases” are likely to be a bookkeeping error. HOWEVER, Delta is here and we must remain vigilant because of the massive number of unvaccinated residents that we have in East Texas and Harrison Counties)

FROM THE MNM TODAY:

HARRISON COUNTY ACTIVE CASE COUNTS ARE NOT ACCURATE

(J. Harris: Presumably the high counts in most of the surrounding counties are also in error? The state spreadsheets with the County counts seem to be unchanged for several days. See: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/additionaldata.aspx.... they appear to be unchanged and don’t show an increase in active cases, new or old that I can find, yet)

HERE ARE THE NYT COUNTS FOR TODAY:

(J. Harris: Presumably, the above active case counts/100,000 are just due to adding “old” cases. Data from The TEXAS TRIBUNE is similar to the NYT Data. However, we might just as well keep up with their numbers anyway since they have been very accurate in the past. At any rate, my Norwegian housekeeper says it’s safe to eat out, but not at any “Bubba” joints.)

What is the Delta variant and how is it altering the course of the pandemic?

“…It may be too early to understand what impact the Delta variant will ultimately have on hospitalizations and deaths, but researchers are noting this strain could change the course of the entire pandemic. … the recent rise in UK COVID-19 cases suggests a high proportion of the population needs to be fully vaccinated to overcome the Delta variant….”

(J. Harris: This is a readable and informative summary which is also available on audible.)

FROM HOPKINS CITATIONS:

1. Moderna plans to expand COVID-19 vaccine production: WSJ (Reuters) Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) is adding two new production lines at its COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing plant in Massachusetts, in a bid to prepare for making more booster shots, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

2. CDC Director: Delta Variant to ‘Probably’ Become Dominant Strain in U.S. (Politico) The very contagious and possibly more harmful Delta variant of the coronavirus “probably” will become the dominant strain in the United States in the coming months, Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday on “Good Morning America.” “It’s more transmissible than the Alpha variant or U.K. variant that we have here. We saw that quickly become the dominant strain in a period of one or two months,” Walensky said. “I anticipate that is going to be what happens with the Delta strain here.”

3. COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Intent Among Adults Aged 18–39 Years — United States, March–May 2021 Overall, 34% of adults aged 18–39 years reported having received a COVID-19 vaccine. Adults aged 18–24 years, as well as non-Hispanic Black adults and those with less education, no insurance, and lower household incomes, had the lowest reported vaccination coverage and intent to get vaccinated. Concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness were commonly cited barriers to vaccination. (CDC MMWR, 6/21/2021)COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Intent Among Adults Aged 18–39 Years — United States, March–May 2021 Overall, 34% of adults aged 18–39 years reported having received a COVID-19 vaccine. Adults aged 18–24 years, as well as non-Hispanic Black adults and those with less education, no insurance, and lower household incomes, had the lowest reported vaccination coverage and intent to get vaccinated. Concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness were commonly cited barriers to vaccination. (CDC MMWR, 6/21/2021)

4.Maine’s Mobile Vaccination Unit Ends Mission After Delivering More Than 10,000 COVID-19 Vaccinations After administering more than 10,000 vaccinations across 12 communities in Maine since its launch on April 12, the Maine Mobile Vaccination Unit (MVU) ended its mission, Friday, June 18, 2021, in Old Orchard Beach. The MVU, a partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Maine, provided free COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment or on a drop-in basis to adults in Maine who wanted one. At the time of the MVU’s launch in April, Maine was the second state in New England to host a mobile vaccination unit. (FEMA, 6/18/2021)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEASED:

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CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 06/21/2021

From THE LANCET:

Neutralising antibody activity against SARS-CoV-2 VOCs B.1.617.2[DELTA] and B.1.351 [BETA]by BNT162b2 [initial Covid-19 virus] vaccination

“…In the case of single-dose recipients, our data show that NAbTs [antibody levels] are significantly lower against B.1.617.2 [Delta] and B.1.351 [Beta]VOCs relative to B.1.1.7 [Alpha], implying that although a single dose might still afford considerably more protection than no vaccination, single-dose recipients are likely to be less protected against these SARS-CoV-2 variants. These data, therefore, suggest that the benefits of delaying the second dose, in terms of wider population coverage and increased individual [antibodies] after the second dose,7 must now be weighed against decreased efficacy in the short-term, in the context of the spread of B.1.617.2 [Delta}. Worldwide, our data highlight the ongoing need to increase vaccine supply to allow all countries to extend second-dose protection as quickly as possible….

“Consequently, further booster immunizations of JCVI Priority Groups in the UK and similar groups in other counties, as well as others with lower vaccine-induced..[resistance] than the cohort of BNT162b2 [Delta] recipients studied here (ideally with modified vaccines that induce [resistance]…. that broadly neutralize emerging …[variants]) are more likely to be required to maintain the highest levels of [resistance] in regions where B.1.617.2[Delta] or other equally … resistant strains become prevalent.

(J. Harris: So, Vaccination with two jabs, and with the second jab administered at the prescribed time, is necessary to protect against the variants studied so far, especially when vaccinated with the British (AstraZeneca)vaccine. This Delta variant is already in the US, but another hospital gutting, mortuary filling US pandemic should be prevented by VACCINATIONS.   We need to vaccinate all the unvaccinated folks we can. I am embarrassed and saddened to have seen with this epidemic just how naive, uneducated, and careless many, many people seem to be. I thought most Americans were smarter than we are. I thought that because of the gross horror of the pandemic, governmental, medical and scientific leaders would be more dynamic, united, and forceful. We have had great success if the rapid discovery, manufacture, and testing of at least two magnificent vaccines. Now, to get comprehensive distribution, we need LEADERSHIP and ORGANIZATION.  For now, the more educated and reasonable folks are mostly vaccinated. Now, we need concerted effort to vaccinate the “hesitant,’ which is about the nicest moniker you can give to most of the unvaccinated. And, we must remember, there will be a next time with other capricious and bastardly viruses — or, we need more gravediggers, and the good ones are being paid not to dig anymore.  Somewhere, Typhoid Mary is chuckling with glee and amazement because “the current authorities” haven’t been more diligent in insisting on —actually demanding — programs for public health management and safety.

VARIANT REVIEW:

The Delta variant is proving to be a stubborn hurdle

“As the U.S. heads into its second pandemic summer, President Biden warned that those who fail to get vaccinated against Covid-19 risk becoming infected by “a variant that is more easily transmissible, potentially deadlier and particularly dangerous for young people...In Russia, the Delta variant is now the most prevalent version in Moscow, where case numbers have tripled over the past two weeks and city officials have added 5,000 beds to coronavirus wards. The outbreak has led to some vaccine mandates.

Mental health crisis is kids’ long-haul COVID

“…We spend a lot of time talking about adults with long-haul COVID…” the behavioral mental health crisis is going to be the long-haul for kids.”

One way children’s hospitals have extended a limited mental health infrastructure and pediatric psychiatric workforce is through behavioral telehealth visits… Patients have responded positively to virtual visits. The hospital saw no-show rates for behavioral health visits drop from 16 percent to 6 percent,…the hospital plans to keep 65 percent of its mental health-related telehealth visits remote. Part of the reason is the accessibility aspect, while another is the ability to see into children’s home lives…”

FROM THE NYT TODAY:

Without access to health care, undocumented immigrants turn to expensive, unproven cures.

(J. Harris: This is also happening here. We need a big ole shaded tent on the square with a sign saying (in English and Spanish) “FREE VACCINATIONS FOR COVID. NO ID NEEDED. FREE. There is plenty of vaccine here and people willing to give it. There are plenty of Spanish speakers willing to help. The County Health Dept., ETBU, Christus, multiple clinics and Pharmacies have and have had vaccines. We have a LOCAL problem. Only 24% of Harrison County residents are vaccinated. About 8% of the population here has had documented Covid, and you can assume at least that many have had silent cases. So, maybe 40 % of us are at least mostly immune to the current Variants, and Delta is coming. In addition, it seems that we have had a super spreader event locally and have a sharp increase in local cases here and in surrounding counties.

Long COVID has exposed medicine’s blind-spot

(J. Harris: Good short discussion about Long Covid. )

AND LAST BUT NOT LEASED:

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Sperm Parameters Before and After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination

“In this study of sperm parameters before and after 2 doses of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, there were no significant decreases in any sperm parameter among this small cohort of healthy men. Because the vaccines contain mRNA and not the live virus, it is unlikely that the vaccine would affect sperm parameters. While these results showed statistically significant increases in all sperm parameters, the magnitude of change is within normal individual variation and may be influenced by regression to the mean.5 Additionally, the increase may be due to the increased abstinence time before the second sample. Men with oligospermia [low sperm count] did not experience further decline.”

(J. Harris: Thank goodness the family jewels are safe — and in good working order?)

Christus ends Longview mass vaccine hub, transitions appointments to Trinity clinics

The COVID-19 vaccine will now be available Monday through Friday at designated Christus Trinity Clinic primary care locations in Longview, Marshall and Kilgore. Walk-in appointments also are available at Christus Trinity Clinic Urgent Care, 2021 W. Loop 281 in Longview….

All patients will receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is available to everyone 12 and older. The vaccine remains free to patients. Those interested in receiving a vaccine may schedule an appointment online at vaccinate.christushealth.org.

(J. Harris: Thank you Christus Hospitals in Longview, Tyler, and Marshall for your tireless vaccination work. THANK YOU AGAIN! We also want to thank Texas Eastman for their financial donation and support  as well.)

From JAMA:

Lung Transplants for COVID-19—The Option of Last Resort

“….As of today, close to 33 million people in the US have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Some reports have suggested that up to 80% of these patients, even many who were asymptomatic, can have demonstrable lung injury. It remains to be seen whether or not other patients who have recovered from mild, moderate, or even severe COVID-19 are going to be organ donors. If not, this may lead to a significant contraction of our donor pool.’

(J. Harris: A moving interview with a transplant surgeon.)

From Hopkins:

1. Inside Pfizer’s Race to Produce the World’s Biggest Supply of Covid Vaccine (Washington Post) The first attempt to produce industrial-scale quantities of the experimental vaccine that has played a central role in arresting the coronavirus pandemic in the United States was a total failure. Operators at a Pfizer plant outside Kalamazoo hoped the trial run could provide quick validation of the company’s gamble on a newfangled mRNA technology. It also was an early test of Pfizer’s strategy of refusing government aid to develop and rapidly ramp up commercial scale production of its vaccine.

2. Hope Amid Challenging Times for Antibiotic Developers (CIDRAP) A new report from the Access to Medicine Foundation (AMF) is highlighting innovative approaches that these small- and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, are using to navigate this challenging environment. These approaches could help ensure that powerful new antibiotics not only come to 

market, but are used judiciously and are available to the populations that need them the most.

3. Has a ‘Moscow Strain’ of Coronavirus Emerged? (Moscow Times) The developers of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine are studying the jab’s effectiveness against the so-called “Moscow strain” of the virus, they told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency Tuesday. Gamaleya Center head Alexander Gintsburg’s comments come as Moscow officials have sounded the alarm over the Russian capital’s surge in new infections, with reported daily cases more than doubling in the past week. 

4. How the COVID pandemic Is Changing Global Science Collaborations (Nature) Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, science leaders talked widely about leveraging global knowledge and working together. Researchers have paid particular attention to collaboration between the United States and China, the two nations with the biggest scientific output. In the first few months of the pandemic, these two countries collaborated on COVID-19 papers more than any other pair of nations, and at higher rates than they did for non-COVID-19 science. But as the pandemic wore on, the United States turned instead to collaborating on COVID-19 papers with other countries, such as the United Kingdom.. This corresponded with a decline in China’s relative contribution to the literature, as case rates went down and as the government restricted the flow of information about COVID-19.

 5. CureVac’s Covid-19 Vaccine Disappoints in Clinical Trial (New York Times) The trial, which included 40,000 volunteers in Latin America and Europe, estimated that CureVac’s mRNA vaccine had an efficacy of just 47 percent, among the lowest reported so far from any Covid-19 vaccine maker. The trial will continue as researchers monitor volunteers for new cases of Covid-19, with a final analysis expected in two to three weeks.

Deaths of younger people from Covid-19 have upended Hispanic American families.

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