Category Archives: disease

Health experts say that at least 70 percent of the country needs to be vaccinated

Health experts say that at least 70 percent of the country needs to be vaccinated to ensure herd immunity and completely eradicate the epidemic that killed more than 300,000 Americans. National polls show a growing number of Americans are willing to get a coronavirus vaccine, but some populations, especially Black and Latinos, are reticent. Federal officials are releasing a 95 percent effective vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, and on Friday the Food and Drug Administration cleared a second vaccine from Moderna that was almost equally effective in preventing COVID-19 cases. Some people have quoted what the Trump administration calls politicizing a vaccine, despite officials’ denial that policy plays a role in rapid development.

These groups have been reinforced by the coronavirus epidemic, which both eroded trust in traditional institutions and left millions of people with few options for social interaction beyond the internet. Paul Barrett, deputy director of the Stern Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University, told The Hill that the biggest source of coronavirus vaccine disinformation is “the transformation of long-standing anti-vaccine activists. “There is a considerable foundation that existed before anyone heard of COVID-19,” he explained. The same mistrust in institutions that have revived anti-vaccination communities has also led thousands to conspiracy theories.

QAnon, whose followers believe President Trump is trying to expose a dark elite group running child sex trafficking gangs in the media and government, has had a clear benefit of shifting towards this conspiratorial notion. The growth of QAnon may make it difficult to achieve herd immunity as its supporters increase the lies about COVID-19 vaccines, as it is applied with a microchip to control and monitor citizens or Bill Gates is responsible for the coronavirus. “These conspiracy theories are wrong, but I am very concerned that they could enter the mainstream. And if we have people who will not be vaccinated, this makes it much more difficult for us to achieve herd immunity through vaccination and therefore end the epidemic, ”said Leana Wen.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey revealed that 42 percent of Republicans would likely not be or definitely would not be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Vice President Pence and his wife Karen were vaccinated live on television Friday in an attempt to bridge the partisan gap. “Today there are millions of Americans whose most trusted envoy is President Trump. And that’s why it’s really important for President Trump to speak to correct misinformation, ”Wen said.

Trump has repeatedly raised doubts about the seriousness of the epidemic and mocked his use of masks to limit its spread. According to a report from Cornell University, 38 percent of all articles published in January that contained misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, lawmakers in Congress supporting Trump also said things that could deter vaccine use. Ken Buck said in a Fox Business interview Friday morning that he would not receive the vaccine because he was “more concerned with the illness about the side effects of the vaccine”.

His office later announced that Buck believes people at risk should “get the vaccine immediately”. Right-wing media has also been the driving force of coronavirus misinformation. Beyond restricting current coronavirus misinformation, Barrett said platforms should work to increase information about vaccines from trusted sources. Still, healthcare professionals said tech companies can only go so far.

Reference

Health officials, social media scramble to fight vaccine misinformation. https://thehill.com/policy/technology/530943-health-officials-social-media-scramble-to-fight-vaccine-misinformation

Many people with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, also have food allergies

Many people with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, also have food allergies. Some people without diagnosed food allergies notice they experience flare-ups of their eczema after theySome patients with eczema or atopic dermatitis have food allergies, too. Any individuals without diagnosed food allergies notice their eczema flare-ups after eating such foods; this could be food intolerance rather than an allergy. It’s worth paying particular attention to how your diet impacts your eczema should it help prevent specific foods. If you have a child that seems to have allergic reactions, like eczema flare-ups, after consuming peanuts, peanut butter, or some other peanut-containing product, you might want to seek allergy tests. Soy reactions to soy are often related to eczema, and others say soy foods cause their eczema a bit worse. If you have eczema called dyshidrotic eczema, you might be susceptible to nickel. Because several producers use nickel in food storage containers, nickel may also occur in such canned goods. Eat certain foods; this may be a food sensitivity rather than an allergy. It’s worth paying careful attention to how your diet affects your eczema in case it might help to avoid specific foods. If you have a child who seems to have developed allergic symptoms, including eczema flare-ups, after eating peanuts, peanut butter, or any other food containing peanuts, you may want to consider allergy testing. Soy Allergies to soy are also linked to eczema, and some people believe foods containing soy make their eczema a little worse. If you suffer from a type of eczema called dyshidrotic eczema, you may be sensitive to nickel. Since many manufacturers use nickel in the production of cans for food preservation, nickel can also show up in those canned foods.
Reference
9 Foods to Avoid With Eczema. https://healthguides.cnn.com/finding-solutions-for-eczema/9-foods-to-avoid-with-eczema?did=t1_rss7

The diversional practice helps individuals to overcome the challenges and problems

The diversional practice helps individuals to overcome the challenges and problems in their everyday lives, and in some instances, to even reach an optimum existence outside the defined realities of time and space — a condition we term “flow.” Occupation can redirect citizens away from the difficulties of their lives toward happiness and positive participation. Habits have been found to improve knowledge, decrease exhaustion, free focus, and defend individuals against the stressful consequences of challenging conditions. During daunting situations, the profession provides the opportunity for a richer, more cohesive self after the crisis settles.

Reference
Seven constructive ways to get through the Covid-19 pandemic.https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/18/health/constructive-activities-covid-pandemic-wellness-partner/index.html

One week after obtaining a federal green light from Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine

On Friday, only one week after obtaining a federal green light from Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration officially approved a second emergency vaccine—this one produced by Moderna. The vaccine produced by Moderna, whose headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., has been given an immediate usage permit by federal regulators. The vaccine produced by Moderna, whose headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., has been given an immediate usage permit by federal regulators. FDA Authorizes Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine For Emergency Use: Coronavirus Changes Food and Drug Administration greenlights the U.S. biomedical firm’s emergency vaccine. The step bolsters a massive inoculation campaign already underway.With last week’s Pfizer vaccine permit, health and defense authorities have undertaken a vast campaign to deliver millions of doses throughout the world. Amid the flurry accompanying the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna’s alternative made steady headway in its drive toward a permission.

Reference
Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Becomes 2nd To Earn FDA Authorization.https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/12/18/947948227/modernas-covid-19-vaccine-becomes-2nd-to-earn-fda-authorization?refresh=true

Pfizer will only be able to deliver 2.9 million doses in the first few days

It is expected that Pfizer will only be able to deliver 2.9 million doses in the first few days and only up to 6.4 million doses by 19 December, according to Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine effort.

“As part of the discussion on who should qualify for phase 1b access to the vaccine, ACIP has so far discussed individuals with high-risk medical conditions such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), immunocompromised organ transplant status, obesity, severe heart disease, sickle cell disease, and type 2 diabetes,” said the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

For example, last month, the head of the Hawaii Healthcare Association told CNN that not a single hospital in Hawaii had a freezer that could remain cold enough to store Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine and that the state may not have enough access to dry ice to make proper use of the company’s distribution boxes.

They resolve quickly, but CDC and other officials are worried that they might scare some people away from getting a second dose of vaccine and are preparing educational materials to let people know the symptoms are a sign that the vaccine is working to reactivate the body’s immune response and is harmless.

Vaccine counselors have already broken down priority groups into subgroups, and only the first people to receive vaccines have been identified.

Operation Warp Speed Chief Counselor Moncef Slaoui has projected that Pfizer and Moderna can make and deliver between 60 million and 70 million vaccines in January and hopes that two other vaccine makers, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson, will join the vaccine mix in the coming months.

Moderna and Pfizer each claim that they can take up to a billion doses by the end of 2021, but Moderna say that it could be half that—a product that has never been sold before—and Pfizer has already severely adjusted its timeline for delivery of vaccines after unspecified manufacturing problems.

Slaoui said that up to 15% of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine participants had quite noticeable side effects,” including nausea, body aches, headaches, and chills.

Pfizer’s vaccine had its first scare in the US with a health worker in Juneau, Alaska, suffering from an allergic reaction.

“Around one in every million people who get a vaccine can have a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine,” Dr.

And what about the essential workers? ACIP’s expert bodies, including Johns Hopkins University and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, suggest it will be prudent to vaccinate those who work in food processing, emergency responders, and service workers before the general public.

The US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine on Friday, and it is widely expected that EUA will give a similar vaccine to Moderna next week.

Reference

Trump says he is ‘not scheduled’ to take Covid-19 vaccine …. https://www.rt.com/usa/509567-trump-white-house-vaccine-later/

The latest Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna

The latest Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna tend to be exceptionally effective at avoiding severe illness. Scientists are worried that if vaccinated people are silent spreaders of the virus, they could keep it circulating in their populations, putting unvaccinated people in danger. In certain respiratory infections, like the current coronavirus, the nose is the primary access stage. Vaccines are inserted directly into the tissues to activate the immune system to generate antibodies. This seems to be ample security to discourage the individual from being vaccinated from being sick.


Next-generation coronavirus vaccines can trigger immunity in the nose and the rest of the respiratory tract. Mucosal vaccinations are safer than intramuscular procedures to keep respiratory viruses from arising. The lungs are far more open than the nose or mouth to circulating antibodies. Vaccine studies did not produce results about how many patients became afflicted with the infection but showed no effects. The amount of the virus that you replicate in the nose can be decreased if one gets sick, says the immunologist. An informed guide to the global epidemic can be found at com/Heroes.


Coronavirus vaccinations demonstrate robust safety from being ill. Life can return to normal only when civilization as a whole has an inadequate defense against coronavirus. For the time being, even vaccinated citizens would continue to use masks to prevent indoor crowds. The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines are given as an injection through the arm, as most traditional vaccines. The injection will not be any different from that one had previously, and there are no significant side effects. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines utilize a genetic molecule to activate the immune response. The enzyme, known as mRNA, is ultimately killed by the body. The mRNA is wrapped in an oily bubble that can fuse into a cell, enabling the molecule to slide in. The cell uses mRNA to produce coronavirus proteins that may activate the immune system. The mRNA will only survive for at most a few days until it is lost.

Reference
Here’s Why Vaccinated People Still Need to Wear a Mask. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/health/covid-vaccine-mask.html

Consuming red meat and heavily processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke

Consuming red meat and heavily processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new report. The research followed almost 166,000 women and 44,000 men over a span of 24 to 30 years. Red meat, organic meat, processed meat, refined grains, sugary drinks are associated with increased inflammation. Leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, whole grains, berries, nuts, fatty fish, and olive oil may provide a safe inflammatory response, according to the report. “When selecting food in our diet, we should take care of their pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory capacity,” says the editorial. The analysis cannot determine cause and effect, says the Food Information Council official. These results are published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 
Reference
Choose anti-inflammatory foods to lower heart disease and stroke risk, study says.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/health/anti-inflammatory-foods-heart-disease-wellness/index.html

4,000 active cases among inmates and 1,430 more among workers in California

More than 4,000 active cases among inmates and 1,430 more among workers in California. These are the highest numbers reported since the beginning of the pandemic. California’s cumulative number of prisoner illnesses is now more than 22,300, including 90 deaths. Hospitalizations are also at record high levels, with more than 9,900 patients throughout the state. Increasing figures are coming as local and state governments are also seeking to monitor the spread across California communities. The state governor declared a stringent regional home stay order for ICU patients this week. The state governor declared a stringent regional home stay order for ICU patients this week.
Reference
Covid-19 is raging through overcrowded California prisons. https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-12-05-20-intl/index.html

Processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke

Consuming red meat and heavily processed foods raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. Nearly 166,000 women and 44,000 men followed the study for 24-30 years. Red meat, organ meat, processed meat, refined grains, drinks are associated with increased inflammation. Leafy greens, carrots, onions, whole grains, fruits, nuts, fatty fish, and olive oil, experts claim, will promote the safe inflammatory reaction. Mediterranean diet is one of the world’s healthiest diets, the International Food Knowledge Council stated.

The western diet is full of over-processed, fat-laden foods, sugar beverages, and red and processed meats. Chronic inflammation is related to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and many other conditions. Ninety percent of Americans don’t consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, he says. Many unhealthy, “ultra-processed” foods can also shorten your life, studies have shown. The good news is that anti-inflammatory elements like vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids can neutralize free radicals.

Reference
Choose anti-inflammatory foods to lower heart disease and stroke risk, study says. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/health/anti-inflammatory-foods-heart-disease-wellness/index.html

More than 100,000 Americans are in COVID-19 hospital

More than 100,000 Americans are in COVID-19 hospital, while the nation has recorded its one-worst daily death toll since the pandemic began.

COVID Tracking Project data show 100,226 people hospitalized on Wednesday with coronavirus disease — a figure that has been steadily rising for weeks. Meanwhile, 3,157 new deaths were recorded on Wednesday, surpassing April 15’s previous peak of 2,607 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The number of hospital beds in COVID-19 patients far outstrips peaks of around 59,000 in mid-April and July. Early last month, the number of hospitalizations again reached that mark and has been increasing ever since.

About 273,000 people have died from COVID-19 since the first cases were identified in January.

Record-breaking numbers news hits the same day. Announced a major step in the development of coronavirus immunizations, formally approving Pfizer and BioNTech’s emergency vaccine.

Reference

U.S. Hits 100,000 COVID-19 Hospitalizations; More Than 3,100 Deaths. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/12/02/941902471/u-s-hits-100-000-covid-19-hospitalizations