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277 Fully Vaccinated Indiana Residents Have Died of COVID in 3 Weeks
International Business Times reported:
More than 270 fully vaccinated residents in Indiana have died of COVID-19 over the past month as the state continues to see an increasing number of infections.
Between Dec. 31, 2021, and Jan. 20, 2022, Indiana health officials reported 277 new breakthrough COVID-19 deaths. The latest figure brings the state’s total number of COVID-19 deaths among the fully vaccinated to 1,367, according to the state’s latest COVID-19 Vaccination Breakthrough report.
Israel, One of Most-Vaccinated Countries in the World, Sets New COVID Case Record
The Israeli Ministry of Health announced this week that more than 72,000 people tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the largest rise in infections since the start of the pandemic.
Total active cases in the country rose to nearly 400,000 people, of whom 533 are currently hospitalized in critical condition, according to a Jan. 19 statement posted by the country’s health ministry.
Israel, which has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world with already nearly half of its citizens having received three shots, is leading the world in new daily cases per capita, according to Jan. 20 data.
Only 44% of Americans Trust What the CDC Has Said About COVID: Poll
Americans trust what their employers and schools have said about the COVID-19 pandemic more than they trust what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said, according to a new poll.
The survey, published by NBC News, found that only 44% of Americans trust what the CDC has communicated about the virus.
While 44% said they trusted the CDC’s statements, 43% said they did not. Eleven percent said they weren’t aware of what the agency has said about COVID, or had no opinion on the matter. Two percent of respondents said they weren’t sure.
We’re a Physician and Mathematician and a Data Scientist. N95s Won’t Work for Kids.
The Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) in the SF Bay Area where we live, announced on Tuesday that it was planning on “transitioning all students and staff” to KN95 respirators. These respirators would be required for the entire school day, including outdoors during gym and recess.
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of respirators is vastly overestimated, and there is scant evidence that they stop community transmission. Moreover, NIOSH-approved respirators are tight, uncomfortable, and can impede breathing.
The truth is, the burdens of these masks outweigh their benefits for kids. We need to consider more effective, less harmful interventions as we come together to keep schools open and safe.
Australian Children Facing ‘Generation-Defining Disruption’ Due to Pandemic, Experts Say
The indirect effects of the pandemic on children and adolescents are as substantial — if not more so — than the impact of being infected with COVID-19, pediatricians say.
A research review from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute led by pediatrician Prof Sharon Goldfeld said interventions needed to be developed now to address growing disparities in child health and wellbeing due to the pandemic.
Goldfeld said children were facing a “generation-defining disruption” with public health restrictions and interventions such as online learning, social distancing, increased screen time, reduced access to healthcare, less community sport and less outside play all having repercussions.
Pfizer CEO Says an Annual COVID Vaccine Is Preferable to Periodic Boosters
Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said on Saturday that an annual COVID-19 vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
In an interview with Israel’s N12 News, Bourla was asked whether he sees booster shots being administered every four to five months on a regular basis. “This will not be a good scenario. What I’m hoping (is) that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year,” Bourla said.
We are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesn’t forget the other variants and that could be a solution,” Bourla said.
Bourla has said Pfizer could be ready to file for approval for a redesigned vaccine to fight Omicron, and mass produce it, as soon as March.
FDA May Limit Use of Two COVID Antibody Treatments
U.S. News & World Report reported:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration may soon curtail the use of two monoclonal antibody treatments that do not appear to work against the highly contagious Omicron variant.
The treatments made by Regeneron and Eli Lilly performed well against earlier variants, but only GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody therapy has stayed strong against Omicron.
Last week, the National Institutes of Health updated its guidelines to advise clinics against using these treatments on patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 due to their diminished effectiveness.
Fauci Optimistic Omicron Will Peak in February
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease specialist, said Sunday he is “as confident as you can be” about the prospect of most states reaching a peak of Omicron cases by mid-February.
“You never want to be overconfident when you’re dealing with this virus,” Fauci told ABC “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz, adding that the COVID-19 virus has “surprised us in the past.”
“Things are looking good. We don’t want to get overconfident, but they look like they’re going in the right direction right now,” he said.
Half of First-Wave COVID Cases May Have Lasting Harm to Sense of Smell
Nearly half of those who became ill with COVID in the first wave of infections may have long-term and even permanent changes to their sense of smell, according to preliminary research from Sweden.
A sudden loss of smell, or an impaired or distorted perception of odors, emerged as an unusual symptom of COVID early on in the pandemic. While many people swiftly recovered, others found that their sense of smell never quite returned to normal.
To find out how common the impairments might be, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm ran comprehensive tests on 100 individuals who caught COVID in the first wave of infections that swept through Sweden in spring 2020.
Do Not Assume COVID Pandemic Reaching ‘End Game,’ Warns WHO
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that it was dangerous to assume the Omicron variant would herald the end of COVID-19‘s acutest phase, exhorting nations to stay focused to beat the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is now entering its third year and we are at a critical juncture,” he told a news conference earlier. “We must work together to bring the acute phase of this pandemic to an end. We cannot let it continue to drag on, lurching between panic and neglect.”
In South Los Angeles, Busy Hospital Deals With More Widespread but Less Severe COVID Infections
This time, hospital officials say, the virus is more widespread but not as deadly. That has flooded the emergency room with people who are not as sick, and whose preexisting conditions have been exacerbated by the virus.
During this surge, most COVID-19 cases are mild enough that patients are tested, given medication and released. But given the sheer number of people coming in, the hospital is full. And like other facilities, it is short-staffed, as the coronavirus is infecting healthcare workers throughout the state.
“We’re seeing a lower percentage of people being admitted to the hospital,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, the hospital’s chief executive. “We’re seeing shorter lengths of stay.”
Over-12s Should Be Able to Get COVID Vaccine in Australia Without Parental Consent, Say Experts
Children aged 12 or over should be allowed to receive a COVID vaccine without the consent of their parents, leading ethicists and pediatricians say, while also calling for clearer national guidelines on the issue.
Traditionally, parents have been asked to consent to vaccinations of their children, including those in high school, with vaccine providers “usually reluctant to vaccinate, fearing legal consequences or complaints against them” if this consent is not given.
While the federal and some state governments have developed guidelines that allow medical practitioners to treat mature minors without parental consent, some providers are not aware of these and even if they are, are still worried about potential legal issues or find them confusing, Massie said.
