Coronavirus

The declaration set for May is a wind-down to allow health care and patients the time needed to adjust for the emergency to be over.

COVID-19 mortalities tend to be lowest in children, but the virus is still the #8 cause of death in children and young people 0-19 years old.

Patients suffering from post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, or “long COVID,” had virus-specific T cells that were more than 100 times higher than patients who fully recovered from COVID-19 infection.

A new report tracking patients suggests that even those who return to work experience persistent symptoms.

In the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, authors offer some strategies to avoid SARS-CoV-2 infection in this patient population as well as the US government changes course on COVID-19 vaccine policy.

The week's most-clicked COVID-19 stories included vaccine updates, new variants, and a pivotal FDA advisory committee vote.

Novavax will update its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, but maintains the current vaccine is effective against current and future variants.

The federal agency does not want clinicians utilizing this neutralizing antibody as newer, circulating COVID-19 strains and efficacy against them is limited.

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted to move toward a unified strain composition for COVID-19 primary and booster vaccines.

In the CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, investigators reported the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech updated vaccines helped prevent acute infection from the latest Omicron mutations.

The data may help explain why COVID-19 patients experience dangerous secondary infections.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was associated with rare instances of myo/pericarditis and acute kidney injury, according to a nationwide study in New Zealand that confirmed the safety profile of the vaccine.

The new guidance looks at preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis as well as treatment for COVID-19.

A new study demonstrated continuous neutralization after 3 doses.

COVID-19 patients had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death in both the short- and long-term.

“Vaccination coverage among pregnant women remains a priority,” the study authors noted.

In this week’s meeting, FDA is expected to ask their advisory committee to consider changes to simplify the vaccination schedule and look at delivering it annually, much like an influenza vaccine.

What factors contribute to post-COVID-19 conditions (“long COVID”)? Can vaccination before or after a COVID-19 infection decrease the risk of long COVID?

Reported reasons adults had not received a bivalent COVID-19 booster dose differed across age groups.

Children were hospitalized the most during the Omicron variant, but disease outcomes were the least severe during this variant period.

Although vaccine rates overall remain high, a new report shows a reduction 2 years in a row, leaving thousands of children not vaccinated against vaccine-preventable viruses.

Interleukin-6 receptor antagonists and antiplatelets are highly likely to improve long-term survival of critically ill adults with COVID-19, a recent study suggests.

This act designed to allow pharmacists and technicians the ability to administer certain vaccines without a prescriber order will lapse next year. A new report looks at vaccination trends in the US and how pharmacists are playing a vital role in administering vaccines.

High levels of mucosal IgA antibodies in the airways were found to protect against COVID-19 reinfection for at least 8 months.

A CDC report looked at 2 vaccine safety surveillance systems for the bivalent boosters in this population and there were no reports of myocarditis or death. Many of the reports were due to vaccine errors and not adverse events.

The two agencies said one of the vaccine surveillance systems prompted an investigation into whether there was a safety concern for ischemic stroke in seniors for this booster.

As COVID-19 continues to mutate, immunocompromised persons need new, effective treatments. Convalescent plasma could be the answer.

A randomized trial found the antidepressant to be ineffectual in helping improve time to sustained recovery.

A 2-year retrospective study looking at patients admitted to the ICU showed that the number of intubated males infected with Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) was double the number of intubated females.

Recent numbers show a lack of new people entering the field combined with existing shortfalls in many US locations.These factors demonstrate a potentially dangerous reduction in this vital medical specialty.