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disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Should Individuals Be Worried About Covid — Again?

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Covid instances are declining in the United States, and mask restrictions are being removed throughout the country. Despite this, almost a third of the wastewater sampling locations in the United States revealed growing Covid-19 levels in the first ten days of March. So, is Covid on its way out or not?

According to experts, there are many reasons why Americans should not relax their guard just yet. “For some reason, the world has decided Covid is finished — and that really bothers me,” said Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine. “It’s asking for problems to lift all of these regulations so rapidly.”

Reference

Should I Be Worried About Covid — Again?.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-16/is-covid-over-how-to-protect-yourself-post-lockdown?fbclid=IwAR0OyKQnW-DCSR57uqylMsvkVd9Ar-yzyxrU0V8rSeyf1frrFQQ4pl5tgrk

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Did you know China’s zero covid wavers as infections spread and complaints about lockdowns surge?

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China’s greatest coronavirus epidemic in two years has spread to practically every corner of the nation, straining medical resources, closing companies, and industrial plants, and raising doubts about the government’s steadfast adherence to its zero COVID policy.

On Wednesday, health officials recorded 3,054 domestic coronavirus cases, a decrease from the previous day, when officials reported the country’s highest daily toll since 2020 of 5,154 local infections—still tiny numbers compared to most other big nations, but huge jumps for China.

On Tuesday, there were new coronavirus cases in at least 28 of the country’s 31 provinces and regions. The majority of the cases were caused by the BA.2 variant of the omicron coronavirus.

China is especially susceptible to the rapidly expanding omicron form.

According to a National Health Commission briefing on Tuesday, more than 50 million Chinese citizens over the age of 60 have not been completely immunized. If the epidemic is not contained, China risks becoming like Hong Kong, where more than 4,500 people died as a result of not being adequately vaccinated.

One user tweeted on the microblog Weibo on Monday that their family was detained on a highway for 14 hours attempting to reach the eastern Chinese town of Wuxi due to the abrupt new lockdown measures.

Despite signals of dissent, China has vowed to stick to its zero COVID policy.

Reference

China’s zero covid wavers as infections spread and complaints over lockdowns surge. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/16/china-coronavirus-zero-covid-outbreak/?fbclid=IwAR1W-fAMbWARxZCoXUkm9mJ8z0wh0FiJlsISSyWN0OmZFKMr4I5eF8Fn6uI

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Did you know that Pfizer is intending to publish data on the fourth Covid injection in the near future, while also working on a vaccination for all variants?

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According to Pfizer’s CEO, the business is developing a vaccine that will protect against all coronavirus types. In addition, Pfizer is preparing to submit data to the FDA for a fourth Covid injection and additional vaccinations. A Covid vaccination has been administered to about 81.4 percent of the US population aged five and above. According to Pfizer’s CEO, the business is developing a vaccine that will protect against all coronavirus types. Pfizer intends to submit data for a fourth Covid injection to the Food and Drug Administration shortly.

The statements came two years after the World Health Organization designated Covid a pandemic. Due to the omicron wave, the number of persons vaccinated against Covidroids in the United States has declined dramatically since peaking in January of this year. Since then, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have given at least one vaccination dose to 81.4 percent of the American population aged five and above. “I believe the most pressing challenge for all of us is how to keep ahead of the virus,” said Ian Bourla, CEO of Pfizer.

Reference
What’s new in coronavirus: Pfizer is preparing to submit …. https://newyorklatestnews.com/whats-new-in-coronavirus-pfizer-is-preparing-to-submit-data-to-the-fda-about-children-aged-5-11-years/291946/

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

The extremely infectious omicron variation

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BA.2 is a strain of the extremely infectious omicron variation that seems to spread 30 percent more readily than the original. The danger is that dissemination will drastically increase in the not-too-distant future.

Thousands of people test positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. daily, and a small but growing fraction of them are for the more contagious omicron variant BA.2.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

BA.2 has already been discovered from coast to coast, accounting for 3.9 percent of all new infections in the United States. Although BA.2 does not seem to make patients worse than the original omicron, it may result in more severe disease and death if the drop in new cases is slowed. According to a new study, one of the remaining COVID-19 antibody therapies may be less efficient against BA.2. This virus seems to be a little better at avoiding the immune system than the last one. Because the virus is still present, we must take every precaution to safeguard ourselves.

Reference

More contagious version of omicron spreads in U.S., fueling worries.https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/21/1081810074/omicron-ba2-variant-spread?fbclid=IwAR12RMhI8BpQY_BZt4fNkJK5XZcj1SZMTmcM1Eu0iOPjE9G38hN_ohB1mWk

Diet, disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

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Vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, few large, higher-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to corroborate this. A recent RCT examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation in Finland. It found no association between vitamin D and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer. There is evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with nearly all primary chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and mortality.

It looked at data from 2,495 people, including those with no cardiovascular disease or cancer history. To provide further evidence of the relationship between vitamin D, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, the researchers behind the present study conducted the Finnish Vitamin D Trial. Despite the large doses, the study failed to see any effect of the supplementation on lowering the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] and cancer. Those who might benefit from the vitamin D supplementation — i.e., those with low serum vitamin D levels — are a small minority in the trials. Prof. Karani: “High-dose vitamin D supplementation may modestly reduce the risk of cancer death, but not overall cancer incidence.” Dr. Virtanen states, So far, there is no evidence that [Vitamin D] supplementation could prevent [SARS-CoV-2] infection. Still, it is well-documented that those, especially with the severe form of COVID-19, have low serum vitamin D levels.

It is also possible that this is a consequence of the [SARS-CoV-2] infection rather than the cause because it is known that acute infection leads to lower serum vitamin D levels. In addition, many of the COVID-19 patients are overweight or obese or have a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, which is associated with lower serum vitamin D levels, explained Dr. Virtanen. “It is challenging to obtain vitamin D from food intake alone unless that food is fortified with vitamin D. It would be essential to explore whether vitamin D supplementation can decrease the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] and cancers, as that would make a strong case for mandatory vitamin D fortification or promotion of fortified foods in the population.

Reference

Vitamin D supplements, heart health, and cancer risk. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vitamin-d-supplements-heart-health-and-cancer-risk?fbclid=IwAR0anIA4BSbVWh-5gq1EcPeh0-2HN8CGkxNh4ZlnIESqCqFndScGFYXPraE

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Fast-spreading Omicron variant

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A fast-spreading Omicron variant that causes milder illness compared with previous versions of the coronavirus has fueled the view that COVID-19 poses less of a risk than in the past. For those who do have symptoms, a higher proportion experience very mild illness, such as the sore throat or runny nose without the breathing difficulties typical of earlier infections.

Covid-19 Testing

Omicron is the fifth highly significant variant of the original SARS-COV-2, and it remains to be seen if the ability of the virus to mutate further will slow down. In fully vaccinated and boosted individuals without underlying medical conditions, Omicron “will not do too much damage,” said David Ho, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University.

Reference

Explainer: Why you should still try to avoid catching Omicron. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/why-you-should-still-try-avoid-catching-omicron-2022-01-12/?fbclid=IwAR3Wu9sI6Yum4sL57_fv9qsSfqqGk6meKH7GIdZ2fc_GofHdUpGV9jQ7peo

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

Omicron-specific vaccination

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron accounted for more than 95% of all new cases in the United States last week. The representative verified that the production of doses of the Omicron-specific vaccination has already commenced. Symptoms of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant: Recent investigations indicate that Moderna Pharmaceuticals is working on an Omicron-specific variant vaccination. Moderna anticipates initiating advanced clinical studies for the vaccine early this year but did not say when. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s senior medical advisor, has recommended that Americans obtain booster injections, which are 75% effective at avoiding symptomatic COVID-19 infection.
Stéphane Bancel, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Moderna, said last week that he expects the current vaccine’s protection to fade. Moderna said on Monday in a website update that although the pharmaceutical company’s first line of defense against Omicron is a third dosage of its current vaccine, it is also creating an Omicron-specific booster injection.
Reference
Pfizer says its vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-pfizer-omicron-variant-march/?fbclid=IwAR2AnmzLdZ_7a62wM76ClL4T8z0oQbad3cuHbuuqSLvSRSxV6SB6Ib1VSS4

Diet, disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Worldwide about a possibly more transmissible version of the coronavirus

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Concerns are growing worldwide about a possibly more transmissible version of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As fresh instances are verified, scientists are scrambling to learn more. President Biden said that the mutation is “cause for concern, not a cause for panic” California verified the first case in the United States; omicron has been discovered in 16 states. In three days, the number of new coronavirus cases in South Africa has tripled.
The positive rate for Omicron increased from 1% in early November to 22.4 percent on December 2. The omicron version most likely acquired genetic material from a human virus that causes the common cold. A public health expert argues it is “premature to panic” over the mutation, which the World Health Organization has designated (WHO). Public health authorities in the United States are redoubling their efforts to distribute immunizations to everyone, including boosters for people who have previously been vaccinated. Within 100 days, Pfizer and BioNTech plan to have a “tailor-made vaccine” for the variation.
Each time the virus crosses between persons, it might undergo several genetic alterations. According to public health specialists, there is a strong likelihood that the new type has already spread to a number of nations beyond those where cases have been recorded. Public health professionals are advising the public not to make hasty judgments. Certain initiatives are already being scrapped in the aftermath of Omicron. Google said that it would delay its required in-office work beginning Jan. 10 for the length of the epidemic. Additionally, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor suspended the city’s New Year’s Eve event.

Reference

What to know about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/11/26/faq-new-variant-omicron/

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Warning about the Johnson & Johnson

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The Food and Drug Administration has issued a fresh warning about the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccination. The majority of the instances are recorded within two weeks after vaccination, and the majority of the victims are males over the age of 50. The administration’s attempts to increase vaccinations in places where skepticism about coronavirus vaccines is strong and the vaccination rate is low might be hampered by the new warning.

According to a frequently asked question (FAQ), 60 to 120 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome occur at a rate of 60 to 120 cases each week. According to reports, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has been linked to a rare but “likely indicates a small possible risk” sickness. An early warning safety network established by the CDC and FDA was alerted to the syndrome after reports were filed with the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). A doctor warns that the United States’ immunization efforts have “hit a brick wall.”He argues that the government should force vaccinations.

Vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna are now required by the FDA to include a warning about the dangers of coronavirus. Due to the difficulties at Johnson & Johnson’s Baltimore factory, approximately 75 million doses of the vaccine were thrown away. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are recommended for people 12 and older since the benefits of immunization substantially exceed the risks. A Boston man who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccination was the subject of a similar instance recounted in an editorial that appeared with the article.

Flu vaccination doses have regularly resulted in one or two more illnesses per 1 million doses delivered when there was an elevated risk. According to the group, there were examples of significant facial paralysis in the patients from England and India. Vaccine safety experts in Europe have advised that the AstraZeneca vaccine include a warning for Guillain-Barré.

Reference

FDA adds new warning on Johnson & Johnson vaccine related to rare autoimmune disorder. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07/12/johnson-and-johnson-warning/

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

Novel antiviral medication for Covid-19

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Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ Molnupiravir is a novel antiviral medication. If approved by the FDA, it will be the first oral home therapy for COVID-19.

Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug to treat mild to moderate COVID-19, is under consideration by the FDA for possible authorization.
Merck

Molnupiravir, a five-day tablet regimen, looks less effective than monoclonal antibodies. The Pfizer medicine Paxlovid may be more effective. Both tablets inhibit viral replication by targeting certain steps. Concerns about molnupiravir do not immediately relate to Paxlovid, as Pfizer has not yet made its safety data public. Exist any hazards or adverse effects?
Waiting a few days for a test and a few days for findings means the most effective time for these tablets has past.

Will they work against omicron and its variants?
Particular tests pitting the tablets against specific versions are required, say Dieffenbach and Gandhi.

The antiviral medicines target a distinct stage of the virus’ life cycle.

If approved by the FDA, these antiviral tablets might be effective, but stronger antivirals are needed, adds Dieffenbach. “These variations will continue till COVID rates fall,” Gandhi said. Treatments: “They are a back-up.

Reference

New antiviral drugs are coming for COVID. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/11/30/1059926089/new-antiviral-drugs-are-coming-for-covid-heres-what-you-need-to-know