Tag Archives: COVID-19

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

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Individuals tested positive for Covid-19

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According to Dutch authorities, 61 individuals who landed in Amsterdam on two planes from South Africa tested positive for Covid-19. Individuals being tested on different flights from South Africa.

The Dutch authorities are doing more testing to see if there are any instances of Omicron, which was declared a variety of concern by the WHO on Friday.

On 24 November, the variation was initially reported to the World Health Organization in South Africa.

By that time, the Dutch authorities had already imposed travel restrictions from the area due to the new variety and arranged for travellers to be tested and quarantined.

The Dutch health authorities said on Saturday that 61 passengers on the planes had tested positive.

The positive test findings will be analyzed immediately to ascertain if they pertain to the new concerning variety, which has been dubbed the Omicron variant, the company stated in a statement.

Anyone who tested positive would be required to stay at a hotel for seven days if they exhibited symptoms and five days if they did not, the statement continued.

According to reports, some passengers have not received formal confirmation of a negative test and hence are unable to board subsequent flights.

Reference

Covid: Dozens test positive on SA-Netherlands flights. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59442149

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Did you know that Germany debates imposing tighter rules as infections surge?

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Treating Covid-19 patients at a hospital in Leipzig, Germany, on Monday.
Treating Covid-19 patients at a hospital in Leipzig, Germany, on Monday.Credit…Waltraud Grubitzsch/DPA, via Associated Press

On Tuesday, about 40,000 new cases were recorded in the nation. In the 24-hour period, 236 individuals died from the sickness. “They have a true emergency scenario,” says Dr. Christian Drosten. Since the outbreak, Germany has recorded around 97,000 Covid fatalities. On Wednesday, officials in Bavaria announced a state of emergency, citing a 68 percent increase in cases in the past two weeks. Several additional states, particularly those that have been affected the hardest, have enacted or are about to implement stronger laws this week.

For anyone wishing to access specific services, the guidelines would require vaccines or paperwork demonstrating a previous illness. Approximately 67 percent of the population is completely immunized.

Reference

Germany debates imposing tighter rules as infections surge. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/10/world/europe/covid-germany-cases.html?fbclid=IwAR2mpFqsz7tIznyEdmYs0VoDbdELk96k3nfBeSpX1vtwzXo9PKRH7GSoSz0

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Would like to know more on how cause of neurological COVID-19 symptoms are explored?

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The Society for Neuroscience is the world’s biggest organization of scientists and doctors working on brain and nervous system health concerns. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, obtains entry into the brain and produces neurological symptoms. Fever, cough, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell are the most frequent respiratory symptoms of the virus. Dr. Kumar believes his results will aid in the development of future medications to prevent or cure the disease’s neurological symptoms. “We evaluated the expressions of NRP1 and furin in postmortem human brain tissue out of curiosity, and both of these molecules are abundant in all critical brain areas, including the olfactory and hippocampus,” the researchers said.


“The virus may enter the brain via the nose through the olfactory neurons, and their infection can also explain the loss of smell as a significant symptom in COVID-19.”

Reference

Cause of neurological COVID-19 symptoms explored.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cause-of-neurological-covid-19-symptoms-explored?fbclid=IwAR2Ex6U7jwErO0LDy7fY5V-ph7CPQFP_sPPD-2RsxlrR-zXaBqi9eANGhcQ

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Approximately 150,000 new instances of delta each day

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Currently, the United States is witnessing approximately 150,000 new instances of delta each day, with 100,000 hospitalizations. The efficacy of existing vaccinations has decreased due to delta’s dominance, although immunization provides adequate protection. Before introducing the delta vaccine, those who had had a complete vaccination were 16.6 times less likely to die from COVID-19 (confidence interval of 9.1 to 13.9). According to the scientists, the efficacy of the vaccination against infection decreased from 91 percent to 78 percent when delta was included in the equation. In addition, the efficacy seems to have decreased from 92 percent to 90 percent when it comes to preventing hospitalizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters stands in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

According to the study’s findings, vaccines were about 87 percent efficient in preventing hospitalization compared to baseline vaccine efficacy. In addition, people between 18 and 64 were protected from hospitalization at an extraordinary 95 percent. However, just 80 percent of those 65 and older were protected. It is unclear whether the declines seen in the trials are related to the power of the delta variant itself or a gradual deterioration of protection after the first immunization shot.

Reference
Unvaccinated are 5X more likely to catch delta, 11X more . https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/09/unvaccinated-are-5x-more-likely-to-catch-delta-11x-more-likely-to-die/

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

More than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19

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Between August 5 and August 26, more than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19 in the United States, according to state statistics obtained by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Across the US, more states and school districts enact mask and vaccine mandates, while others attempt to minimize exposure among the unvaccinated. Unfortunately, they have no other safeguards. Dr. Jonathan Reiner stated last week that they are sitting ducks. “We’ve been doing this for decades, requiring vaccinations against polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis,” Fauci added.

“So, requiring immunizations for youngsters to attend school is not novel.” In many parts of the United States, he said that public schools require that children who wish to attend be vaccinated.

Reference
More than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19 in 3 weeks. Experts say school mask mandates are needed. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/02/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/
More than 500,000 children tested positive for Covid-19 in …. https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/features/health/more-than-500-000-children-tested-positive-for-covid-19-in-3-weeks-experts-say/article_685ed2a2-05f6-577e-8b37-02571f7ae244.html

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Unvaccinated elementary school teacher infected 22 pupils and four parents

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According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an unvaccinated elementary school teacher infected 22 pupils and four parents with COVID-19 in California. The teacher began experiencing symptoms on May 19 and received a positive test on May 21, just in time. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says schools have measures to safeguard their students, including universal masks, immunizations, and social distancing rules. “This is not a permanent solution; this is a temporary solution,” Health Secretary Eric Walensky explains why children must wear face masks to school. “Universal masks at schools help avoid epidemics and limit the risk of children spreading the infection to susceptible family members,” he explains.

Reference
Unvaccinated, unmasked elementary school teacher infects 22 students and four parents with COVID-19, https://news.yahoo.com/unvaccinated-unmasked-elementary-school-teacher-155943932.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnlhaG9vLmNvbS9oZWFsdGgvP19ndWNfY29uc2VudF9za2lwPTE2MzAxOTMxMzI&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADwEMphjQUw1MJqZq18nPYMC9_jbPA6Rsy6K211ho4hVXv6ehUaQA3HMsVgKH0ArtYSQ1CPtZx_MLb4uAnR0UTEwXL8DxGcmz-uxUaERDEV1LqojsHyeZOSu0k4oP_uC-BU_WLNrUllicxgzJ15br6rWnJbzbO9dkwz2_KhmZf0W&_guc_consent_skip=1630193136

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

CDC Reveals New Data On COVID Vaccine Stopping Delta Variant

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The COVID-19 vaccine can still protect you against the delta variant, although the level of protection is smaller than the coronavirus’s original mutation.

Does the vaccine stop the delta variant? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new study that found vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection dropped from 91% to 66% when the delta variant became the majority of virus cases.

“While we did see a reduction in the protection of the COVID-19 vaccine against the delta variant, it’s still a two-thirds reduction of risk,” the study’s lead author, Ashley Fowlkes, an epidemiologist for CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response, told CNN. The study suggests that there are minor infections among fully vaccinated people, primarily due to the delta variant, which has shown to be highly transmissible.

That said, COVID-19 vaccines remain majorly effective at stopping severe COVID-19 illness from all known variants, according to CNN. More data on the delta variant and COVID-19 vaccines The new CDC study comes as new data from Israel suggests the vaccine’s protection against the delta variant will lessen with time.

Officials in Israel said the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines might not be effective at stopping the delta variant.

Though the vaccines can stop the delta variant, they’re less effective against delta than previous mutations.

Israel – one of the highest vaccinated places in the world with 78% of those 12 years old and up fully vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine – has been suffering from one of the world’s highest infection rates recently due to the delta variant, according to Science Magazine. Please make sure you have accurate information and consult your doctor.

Reference
The CDC reveals how well the COVID-19 vaccine protects you from the delta variant, https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/2021/8/25/22641187/cdc-delta-variant-covid-vaccine-latest-numbers-two-thirds.

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

Did you know 31% of unvaccinated U.S. adults who claim they are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccinations

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Of the 31% of unvaccinated U.S. adults who claim they are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccinations to be approved by the FDA, one-third of these individuals believe this to be for religious reasons. The FDA has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine for ages 16 and up on August 23, 2021. The FDA requires safety studies on a few persons for the temporary use of medications and medications that have received full approval from the FDA. Approximately 43,000 adults participated in the safety studies’ early phases. As Pfizer and Moderna launched their rolling submission for approval in the FDA’s “Fast Track” procedure, which expedites review, Moderna and Pfizer started that process off with a rolling submission in the FDA’s “Fast Track” program.

Initial FDA approval will be granted limited to the same age groups studied under the emergency use authorization issued previously. In Pfizer’s case, the vaccine was initially only licensed for those ages 16 and above and was anticipated to be approved for those ages 18 and up shortly afterward for Moderna.

Reference
What Does Full FDA Approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Mean?, https://heavy.com/news/pfizer-covid-vaccine-fda-approval/

disease, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

The worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge

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Florida has become one of the worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge, with new cases recently surpassing their winter peak.

Following President Biden’s announcement earlier this week, the Education Department would consider taking legal action to discourage states from prohibiting universal masking in classrooms.

On Saturday, Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, announced that the state’s lockdown, which has been in effect since early August, would be expanded to cover all of the conditions after 17 new cases of Ebola were discovered in the regional hub of Sheppparton.

New South Wales, which includes Sydney, recorded 825 new cases on Saturday, the highest number of new cases reported since the pandemic began.

David Elliott, the police commissioner for the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, stated on Friday that anyone who joins the protest on Saturday would be subjected to “the full force” of the state’s police force.

Long-term-care employees and state employees working in hospitals will be required to have at least one dose of the vaccine starting on September 27, according to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. All other state employees, including teachers, will be required to be vaccinated or undergo regular testing.

It is claimed that the Culver City Unified School District, a tiny school district in Los Angeles County, is the first in the state – and maybe the nation – to mandate children aged 12 and older to be immunized against the flu.

Reference

Covid Delta variant vaccine, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/21/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine