Tag Archives: cdc covid-19

CDC COVID-19 Response Team and colleagues

Mark Thompson of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team and colleagues also demonstrated that the vaccines were highly efficient at lowering the viral load, febrile symptoms, and the duration of illness in people who acquired breakthrough infections despite being vaccinated. Full immunization was found to be 91% effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large prospective study of approximately 4,000 people, whereas partial vaccination was found to be 81 percent effective. According to the researchers, if more evidence shows that these vaccines reduce viral load and, as a result, limit SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, it could mean that the vaccinations are not only efficient in preventing infection but also in reducing the effects of breakthrough infections. The researchers compared the viral RNA burden of vaccinations that had a breakthrough infection to unvaccinated infected individuals to determine the efficiency of partial and complete vaccination in avoiding SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccinated individuals got either the BNT162b2 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech or the mRNA-1273 vaccine from Moderna, and efficacy was estimated after adjusting for geography, occupation, and local virus circulation. The vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection was estimated to be 91 percent for complete vaccination and 81 percent for partial vaccination. Following at least partial immunization, an adjusted analysis revealed a 40.2 percent decreased viral RNA load.

Reference

New data from CDC on effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210606/New-data-from-CDC-on-effectiveness-of-Pfizer-and-Moderna-COVID-19-vaccines.aspx

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

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

The CDC has updated its guidelines on the spread of COVID-19

The CDC has updated its guidelines on the spread of COVID-19. The CDC describes near contact as being within six feet of the person infected for 15 minutes or more during a 24-hour span. It is difficult to identify the current guidelines on which the health departments depend to perform touch tracing. The signs of the infection vary from minor symptoms to extreme illness, according to the CDC. It is not clear if the public has undergone proper instruction on proper selection and use of respiratory PPE, such as N95, for close interaction with an infectious person wearing a respiratory mask. Symptoms of the disease include: fever, chills, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, sore throat, and muscle aches, the CDC says. The disease can last 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and can be serious or moderate in some cases, it says. It is not clear if an affected person has signs for more than two days after being exposed to coronavirus, the Agency states.

Reference

CDC revises “close contact” definition. https://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=23565&z=58

Both the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine were developed with new technology

Both the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine were developed with new technology that uses messenger RNA. Neither Pfizer nor Moderna has reported any serious safety issues in their trials so far. An independent group of advisers will review vaccine data to the FDA and the CDC. The FDA will decide whether to grant authorization for emergency use; then, the CDC will decide who gets the vaccine. The advisory committees do not have the authority to make decisions, but they follow other groups’ recommendations, Salmon says. The decision does not end at the time of recommendation, Lee says. “We are always in creating new data as it emerges, so it can ch so that,” she says. Back To the pageYou came from: The page you were from. The CDC will craft guidance for the CDC about prioritizing, who receives the vaccine. First, Salmon said.


The public will view trial data and observe discussions as the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee conducts its review in early December. “It will include public deliberation, and that is a good thing,” Salmon said. Salmon added that this type of transparency would be a crucial way to bolster public trust and combat misinformation. This is particularly important because the pandemic has become heavily politicized.


Reference
Will the Covid vaccine be safe? What the scientists want to see.https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/will-covid-vaccine-be-safe-what-scientists-want-see-n1248466
What is mRNA? How Pfizer and Moderna tapped new tech to …. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/what-mrna-how-pfizer-moderna-tapped-new-tech-make-coronavirus-n1248054
What Is Homework’s Purpose in a Pandemic?. http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/oct20/vol62/num10/What-Is-Homework’s-Purpose-in-a-Pandemic%C2%A2.aspx

Masks in public places

Coronavirus Covid-19 increased by 467 percent in Kansas counties, requiring masks in public places. The number of cases fell within six weeks of the mandate, according to the CDC. The study looked at the disparities between the Kansas counties in the summer. Some counties that did not need masks had less strict instructions, according to the report. The CDC reports that the rate of Covids-19 cases has primarily been reversed after the mandate has been enforced.

Reference
CDC says mask mandates can slow Covid-19 spread. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-says-mask-mandates-can-slow-covid-19-spread-n1248417?cid=eml_nbn_20201120

Indoor behaviors do not all bear the same degree of risk, health experts say

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these indoor behaviors are far more dangerous indoors during the pandemic. More than 60 positive coronavirus cases were connected to one spin studio last month in Hamilton, Ontario. Indoor behaviors do not all bear the same degree of risk, health experts say. The airflow, which can be controlled by air quality expert Richard Corsi, is a critical indoor variable. Some gyms and indoor sports facilities have upgraded air filtration systems and security cleaning plans. In the U.S., 8 out of 10 deaths associated with coronavirus were among people 65 and older. Vast indoor fields are less dangerous than big indoor gymnasiums or tennis courts with a few people playing far apart. Especially when sweating and heavy breathing are risky, exercise without social distance is risky. While the chances are small, the virus could be transmitted by handling equipment or picking up a ball. Spend less time running if you go to a gym or an indoor court.

Reference
Trump Has An Elevated Risk Of Severe COVID-19. But It …. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trump-has-an-elevated-risk-of-severe-covid-19-but-it-helps-to-be-the-president/

Study: immunity from SARS-CoV-2 can last for at least six months

Study: immunity from SARS-CoV-2 can last for at least six months, or it may be longer, maybe a matter of years. Researchers also studied different forms of immunity, including antibodies, B cells and two groups of T cells. The study included 185 U.S. adults aged 19 to 81 who had recovered from infection with COVID-19. Researchers: Antibody reaction among the “200-fold set” participants in the study. The findings are consistent with the] latest discovery of SARS T cells 17 years after the original infection,” according to researchers. The findings are consistent with the latest observation that survivors of the SARS epidemic already had T cells more than a decade after recovery, they add. The results were released on Monday in the open-source e-virus journal iReporter on the bioRxiv pre-print server. The research was carried out by scientists at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology in California and the Icahn School of Medicine in New York.
Reference
Coronavirus immunity could last more than 6 months, possibly years: study. https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-immunity-6-months-possibly-years-study

Danish study finds that face masks provide only limited protection

Danish study finds that face masks provide only limited protection against SARS-CoV-19 infection. Researchers say findings should not be used to argue against widespread use to prevent people from infecting others. After one month, 1.8% of people wearing the masks had been infected, while 2.1% in a control group. Health experts have long said a mask provides only limited protection for the person wearing it but can dramatically reduce others’ risk.

Reference
Danish study finds face masks provide limited protection …. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/danish-study-finds-face-masks-provide-moderate-to-no-protection-against-covid-19/46169826

Patients with Type O or B blood spent less time in ICU than those with Type A or AB

Study: Patients with Type O or B blood spent less time in ICU than those with Type A or AB. They were also less likely to require ventilation and to have kidney failure. Study looked at 95 critically ill COVID-19 patients at hospitals in Vancouver, Canada, between February and April. Researchers did not see any link between blood type and the length of each patient’s total hospital stay.  Both new studies came out Wednesday in the journal Blood Advances.     

Reference

https://www.sciencealert.com/study-gives-more-evidence-that-blood-type-may-change-covid-19-risk-and-severity