
Coronavirus Tidbits #160 10/3/21
Announcements:
First, there is now a Resources Page here for the most commonly asked questions I'm getting.
Happy to continue to answer your questions/concerns as best I can, so don't be shy about that.
News
COVID-19 may trigger hyperglycemia and worsen disease by harming fat cells
COVID-19 may bring high risks of severe disease and death in many patients by disrupting key metabolic signals and thereby triggering hyperglycemia, according to a new study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-covid-trigger-hyperglycemia-worsen-disease.html?
Booster recap:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recent Authorization coincides with the CDC’s new guidance, which is as follows:
- People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their 2-dose Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
- People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
- People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/cdc-director-issues-interim-3rd-covid-19-vaccine-guidance
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Devastating to watch and more devastating to watch institutions and powerful individuals sit silently and let this happen https://t.co/B5VwmDDSFQ
— Eli Perencevich, MD MS (@eliowa) September 30, 2021
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Breaking: In the first such action in the nation, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a mandate requiring all eligible public & private schoolchildren in California to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a policy expected to affect millions of students by fall 2022. https://t.co/gQljNls5jW
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) October 1, 2021
Diagnostics:
still an incredible, negligent last of testing.
Drugs and Vaccines:
Hesitancy about COVID-19 vaccine for children highest among Black parents
Nearly half of Black parents (48 percent) were hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine for their child, compared to 33 percent of Latinx parents and 26 percent of white parents, according to survey results from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Parents of children with public health insurance also reported more COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (41 percent), compared to parents of children with private insurance (26 percent).
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11725-5
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Damian Lillard on getting vaccinated.#RipCity pic.twitter.com/h0trtXtwHz
— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) September 27, 2021
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Breakthrough cases of polio—including deaths—were common during early polio vaccination.
— Michael Clemens (@m_clem) September 28, 2021
What kept us safe was not perfect vaccine efficacy. It was that Americans quickly & massively stepped up to get the imperfect vaccine, quashing transmission.
From: https://t.co/djYf0JmWnQ pic.twitter.com/PiGRHYcct6
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How effective is a Johnson & Johnson booster shot?
When given two months after the first dose, protection against moderate to severe disease increased from 85% to 94% and the amount of neutralizing antibodies increased four-fold. If the booster was administered six months after the first shot, antibody levels increased 12-fold, when measured four weeks after the booster was given.
These findings suggest that although a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine provides strong, durable protection, people may still benefit from a booster because it improves the vaccine’s efficacy.
One important question is whether someone who received the Johnson & Johnson shot should get a second Johnson & Johnson dose or mix and match – get a second dose of a different vaccine. As of late September, the FDA seems more likely to approve a second dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because there isn’t much data yet about a mix-and-match strategy.
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People Are Getting Moderna 'Boosters' Anyway
— Most are getting them at pharmacies, not in doctors' offices
I Got Moderna. Can I Boost With Pfizer?
— "There's all sorts of anarchy going on"
https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/94678?
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Texas bypasses Gov't allocation of Regeneron's antibody
A Texas-based radio show interviewed Governor Abbott on September 27, 2021, during which he revealed the state of Texas is procuring COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments directly from the manufacturer.
The Dana Loesch radio program confirmed Texas bypassed the U.S. administration's new monoclonal antibody(mAb) treatment allocation plan by procuring the product directly from the provider.
In Texas, the REGEN-COV treatment is produced by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and is currently available at designated locations.
The mAb treatment is free and available to all Texans who test positive for COVID-19 and have a doctor's referral.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on September 13, 2021, 'it is committed to helping ensure consistent availability of these critical drugs for current and future patients in all geographic areas of the USA.'
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Merck's Covid pill (Molnupiravir) hailed after cutting hospitalizations by 50%
Pharmaceutical company Merck said Friday it will seek authorization in the US of its oral drug molnupiravir for COVID-19 after it was shown to reduce the chance newly infected patients were hospitalized by 50 percent.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-merck-covid-pill-hailed-hospitalizations.html?
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Carolyn has a fair bit of experience, @MackayIM so heed her advice. Also those resources people sent. In the MJA paper, see box 1. See also this from 6 months ago https://t.co/fFKDNGMQvj For content, see NCIRS FAQs and the Margie videos.
— Julie Leask (@JulieLeask) September 26, 2021
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A new protein-based vaccine developed in China protects against 5 variants and could be a boon for COVAX, @sciencecohen writes. And it could cement China's position as the world's COVID-19 vaccine powerhouse. https://t.co/sFpWpprHAx
— Martin Enserink (@martinenserink) September 29, 2021
Devices:
This is just remarkable. SARS-cov-2 rna eliminated from hospital ward air by air filtration. Which also removed a number of other bacterial and fungal pathogens.https://t.co/yX1m3mSaWw
— David Fisman (@DFisman) September 23, 2021
The before-after here is amazing. A who’s who of nosocomial pathogens. @VicLeungIDdoc pic.twitter.com/Bu937ViLVv
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A new CDC report comparing K–12 schools in two Arizona counties finds that schools without mask requirements were 3.5x more likely to have a COVID-19 outbreak than schools that required everyone to wear a mask from the beginning of the 2021 academic year. https://t.co/MP5owoHwzx. pic.twitter.com/oP1uDHbRRv
— Dr. Syra Madad (@syramadad) September 25, 2021
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.@CDCMMWR:
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) September 27, 2021
"Counties without school mask requirements experienced larger increases in pediatric COVID case rates after the start of school compared with counties that had school mask requirements (p<0.001)"https://t.co/ycMQ9IokMp
Dark blue: NO mask req'd
Light blue: mask req'd pic.twitter.com/GN6UsaD2ak
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A new study points to the power of wearables to predict even presymptomatic infections, suggesting use one day against Covid-19
A new study offers rigorous evidence that wearable health monitors can predict infections, even before a person starts experiencing symptoms.
https://www.statnews.com/2021/09/29/wearables-predict-presymptomatic-infections-study/
Epidemiology/Infection control:
Updated @KFF vaccine data show similar shares of Hispanic (73%), Black (70%), and White (71%) adults now report having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with Black and Hispanic adults making up a larger share of recent vaccinations.https://t.co/WVZUtCguOl
— uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) September 28, 2021
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Updated analysis of multiple COVID-19-diabetes studies shows the risks associated with diabetes
The latest update to a large and continuing review and meta-analysis of studies of COVID-19 and diabetes confirms that patients with a more advanced course of diabetes have a higher risk of death when infected with SARS-CoV-2. The new data are being presented at this year's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-analysis-multiple-covid-diabetes-diabetes.html?
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Vaccination guards against certain bacterial infections and slows the spread of superbugs in populations
Vaccines that boost immunity against bacteria can protect the immunized from contracting drug-resistant infections, according to a team of scientists in the U.K. who also underscore that the shots can slow the spread of resistant strains in populations.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-vaccination-bacterial-infections-superbugs-populations.html?
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This is quite a map from the NYT… pic.twitter.com/FAgOms5o1V
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 2, 2021
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From Drs. Trisha Greenhalgh adn Deepti Gurdasani
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00622-X/fulltext
Tips, general reading for public:
StayAtHome
Wash your hands.
Rinse and repeat.
Politics:
Now add this to thathttps://t.co/VEAu9VR7cs
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 29, 2021
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Instead of claiming “Dems in Disarray” (which is absurd) as they try to pass historic legislation to help Americans, let’s point out instead that ALL Republicans are united against voting rights, against improving infrastructure, against paying our debts, and against democracy.
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) October 1, 2021
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https://twitter.com/ResusCGMedia/status/1443775809957744641?s=20
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Novant Health has urged the community to get vaccinated. It joined other health systems in the Charlotte area in releasing data this month showing how more than 90 percent of their covid-19 patients had not been vaccinated. https://t.co/PhhfI8Wjxr
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 28, 2021
The buried lede is that it's ONLY 175 out of 35k.
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A recently leaked email from dark money group "No Limits" reminds donors that the critical Democratic reconciliation bill can still be killed, and praises Senator Kyrsten Sinema for her “heroic efforts” in the task of stopping it. https://t.co/p4DZl3hR40
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) September 23, 2021
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I live near Branson, MO. The hospital there has issued panic buttons for all medical staff due to violence caused by patients and family when they’re told they have covid.
— Chris (@reclusechris49) September 27, 2021
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This is straight-up authoritarian propaganda. They’re brainwashing viewers to see fellow citizens who disagree with them politically as enemy combatants — which means they’re conditioning them to resort to violence against the “enemy” if they need to https://t.co/c29oHRAiEr
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) September 26, 2021
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More Texans under 60 died in August than any other month in the pandemic.
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) September 27, 2021
Meanwhile the governor is focused on auditing the 2020 Texas election, which Trump won.
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Daughter of South Dakota’s Governor Kristi Noem denied an appraisal license. Noem then calls the supervisor of the head of the licensing agency for meeting with her daughter. Daughter gets license, head of agency forced to resign. https://t.co/OtOwwXT2V4 pic.twitter.com/NWwzz8sF9J
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) September 27, 2021
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NEW: The South Dakota Attorney General, who killed someone and refuses to resign, is investigating Kristi Noem's suspicious meeting with a government employee who denied her daughter a real estate license and then reversed the decision and resigned with a $200,000 payout.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) September 29, 2021
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This new interview by Powell is interesting. It suggests that the purpose of the insurrection was to DELAY the electoral college certification to give Alito time to intervene on this legal challenge. But, Powell says they didn’t anticipate Pelosi reconvening Congress that day. pic.twitter.com/HnmpcOci3Q
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 26, 2021
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yikes. brutal ad pic.twitter.com/UkiXwRCLzW
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) September 29, 2021
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We really are the worst. Just spoke to someone who tested COVID+. If he isolates for 2 wks, no pay (& no sick leave, remember we’re the worst). I told him I’d call boss & walk him through COVID sick pay tax credit. Guess what, it expires 9/30. So he’ll be working (food services).
— Carlos Mucha (@mucha_carlos) September 27, 2021
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This is hard to talk about but when I was a child, my parents, without my consent, took away my god given freedom to die of polio.
— Daniel Kibblesmith (@kibblesmith) September 28, 2021
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https://twitter.com/docrocktex26/status/1442291970920038400?s=20
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One of the most sought boudoir photographers in the Southeast and champion barrel racer Matt Mathews is fighting back after he says state officials swarmed his property and took his opossum. https://t.co/UD02swGAqr pic.twitter.com/7lnSOtvc9h
— AL.com (@aldotcom) September 26, 2021
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BREAKING: @GavinNewsom signs bill to make permanent California's pandemic policy of sending a vote-by-mail ballot to every registered voter
— Emily Hoeven (@emily_hoeven) September 27, 2021
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It starts with one man too vain to wear a mask, it ends with the triumphant return of polio. https://t.co/rJzzFtGTPX
— Schooley (@Rschooley) September 29, 2021
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https://twitter.com/willmenaker/status/1443635916833099782?s=20
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yelling down from my yacht why including means testing for social welfare programs is a hard line for me https://t.co/N4ZIZz4alq
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) October 1, 2021
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After fiercely criticizing the Biden administration for abandoning Afghan partners, all 50 Republican senators vote to curtail aid to Afghan evacuees who are granted parole to quickly enter the United States. https://t.co/TYK3w4RSbP
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) October 1, 2021
Feel good du jour:
🌎
— Alexander Verbeek 🌍 (@Alex_Verbeek) September 26, 2021
1. This is a Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis.
One of the over 2,400 Mantis species.
This starts an interesting thread with some great mantis videos.
Stay tuned.
➡️ RT#insects #nature #wildlife #mantis #NaturePhotography #science #photography #videospic.twitter.com/yNP35aHBUL
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A smile for your timeline! pic.twitter.com/cvwejRxFNd
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden_) September 24, 2021
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Even through my battle with cancer, I smiled, persevered, and when I was cured at @StJude, I felt like I was on top of the world. 💛
— Hayley Arceneaux (@ArceneauxHayley) September 24, 2021
19 years later, still smiling, I became an astronaut with @inspiration4x and quite literally made it to the top of the world 👩🚀🚀🌎 pic.twitter.com/gVzNIVslu9
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This is cool!
— Rebecca Cokley (@RebeccaCokley) September 30, 2021
“I’ve known about this fellowship from the time I was 11 years old,” he said. “I’ve always held it in my mind as being the American Nobel, and thought that in my career, it would be a real mark of having achieved.”https://t.co/4HQMmwt43s
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@DrNadiaChaudhri: artist, Full Professor, inspirerer of thousands, fundraising machine, Medal of the National Assembly recipient, friend, mother, wife, sister, daughter, teal warrior and advocate https://t.co/Ge6rJ17bWy
— Dr. Kristen Dunfield PhD (@DrDunfield) September 25, 2021
This happened because of the massive love I got from my global Twitter supporters!! More than 6000 donors raised half a million dollars for graduate fellowships for minority students! Thank you also to everyone on Team Wingspan, led by @DrDunfield! I’m flooded with peace
Here is page 2 pic.twitter.com/Zo9cOA6SEa
— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) September 18, 2021
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this is what true love looks like pic.twitter.com/JO4tiF9yO0
— Humor And Animals (@humorandanimals) September 30, 2021
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Shelter doggo with a huge smile being adopted#dogs #DogsofTwittter #dogsofinstagrampic.twitter.com/bXw8wdTayD
— dog lovers (@doglovers2020) September 27, 2021
Comic relief:
You think the HOA would frown on this Halloween decoration pic.twitter.com/0DgyBpLRqt
— Ashley Bartholomew, BSN, RN (@TheBlondeRN) September 29, 2021
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My horse kicked me in the head last month and sent me to the ER. My insurance is telling me to sue him. pic.twitter.com/drb3jvYeiV
— Jeepers & Pinkie Eq (@yeehawllywood) September 20, 2021
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Coworker: Doing anything special this weekend?
— The Cultured Ruffian (@CulturedRuffian) September 25, 2021
Me: I'm going to get a scary Halloween costume for my puppy.
Coworker: But puppies are cute, you can't possibly make them scary!
Me: pic.twitter.com/q2u8RMURll
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When your girl makes you pose with her for her new profile picture on social media. pic.twitter.com/peD9t4itPw
— The Cultured Ruffian (@CulturedRuffian) September 25, 2021
Perspective/Poem
imagine being in a country with limited or no access to the vaccine, watching the hospitals fill to capacity in America where you can get the shot at the fucking drug store for free
— Heather Anne Campbell (@heathercampbell) August 4, 2021
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How do you not even know the history of what your even participating in??? pic.twitter.com/kbTPfp3W95
— Hazard (@DatGreenMonstah) September 25, 2021
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I've published academic studies on trees, taught thousands of students at U of T forestry faculty, even appointed as an "expert" to urban nature committee that advises city hall. Facts and figures bring no comfort. But @RobGMacfarlane beautiful lament to a threatened tree does 🍃 pic.twitter.com/coAkxSuYN1
— Dr. Faisal Moola (@faisal_moola) September 26, 2021
Bits of beauty:
