Coronavirus Tidbits #272, November 20, 2023

Americans’ Trust in Scientists, Positive Views of Science Continue to Decline

Pew Research Center

Overall, 57% of Americans say science has had a mostly positive effect on society. This share is down 8 percentage points since November 2021 and down 16 points since before the start of the coronavirus outbreak.

73% of U.S. adults have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests. But trust in scientists is 14 points lower than it was at the early stages of the pandemic.

https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/11/14/americans-trust-in-scientists-positive-views-of-science-continue-to-decline/

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Survey finds many Americans are letting their guard down during respiratory illness season

A third believe they don’t need vaccines if they’re not high risk and that their decision on whether to get vaccinated doesn’t affect others

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning this year will be potentially dangerous for respiratory illnesses, a third of Americans are not concerned about the threat, according to a new national survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The survey found that while the majority of those polled (87%) said they do everything they can to avoid spreading seasonal viruses, one-third think their vaccine decision doesn’t affect others and that they don’t need vaccines for the flu or COVID-19 if they’re not at high risk.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1007687

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RSV post-Covid

COVID-19 was associated with a significantly increased risk for RSV infections among children aged 0–5 years in 2022. Similar findings were replicated for a study population of children aged 0–5 years in 2021. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 contributed to the 2022 surge of RSV cases in young children through the large buildup of COVID-19-infected children and the potential long-term adverse effects of COVID-19 on the immune and respiratory system.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10582888/

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New polls again show white people are far less likely to take COVID precautions. % who say they are wearing a mask: Black 59% Hispanic 47% White 17% % who say they are taking any precautions: Black 72% Hispanic 68% White 39% https://kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/vaccine-monitor-november-2023-with-covid-concerns-lagging-most-people-have-not-gotten-latest-vaccine/

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Wow — from @nytimes

"Can't Think, Can’t Remember: More Americans Say They’re in a Cognitive Fog"

"Adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s are driving the trend. Researchers point to #LongCovid as a major cause."https://t.co/fEFHGlEzdT

— charlos (@loscharlos) November 13, 2023

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Fourth dose of COVID vaccine found to boost protection in patients with rheumatic disease

Patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, which include rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic disorders that cause inflammation, are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as death due to severe COVID-19. Many patients receive disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to treat these conditions, but this treatment has been associated with a blunted response to COVID-19 vaccines.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-fourth-dose-covid-vaccine-boost.html?

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How lawmakers in Texas and Florida undermine COVID vaccination efforts

A rule added to Texas' budget that went into effect Sept. 1 forbids health departments and other organizations funded by the state government to advertise, recommend, or even list COVID vaccines alone. "Clinics may inform patients that COVID-19 vaccinations are available," the rule allows, "if it is not being singled out from other vaccines."

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-lawmakers-texas-florida-undermine-covid.html?

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Other:

Influenza: 

#Flu in the US taking off.
www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

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CDC tells docs to look for lead poisoning in kids, as fruit puree investigation continues

Multiple states have reported potential cases to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of high blood lead levels (BLLs) in children consuming recalled cinnamon-containing applesauce products that have high levels of lead

https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2023/han00500.asp