New CDC booster information on omicron, defending seniors

January 21, 2022

New information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention present booster pictures of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines had been extremely efficient at stopping omicron-related hospitalizations.

The booster doses had been 90% efficient at retaining folks contaminated with the omicron variant out of the hospital and 82% efficient at stopping emergency division and pressing care visits, the information reveals.

The CDC report analyzed emergency room visits, pressing care visits and hospitalizations between August 2021 and Jan. 5, 2022, through which the common individual obtained their booster shot inside a month and a half of needing medical assist.

The info emphasizes current analysis and assertions by public well being officers that boosters considerably stop extreme sickness and hospitalization.

One other CDC examine revealed in The Journal of the American Medical Affiliation on Friday discovered individuals who obtained three doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine had been much less prone to be symptomatic after they obtained examined for COVID-19, in comparison with folks receiving checks who solely obtained two vaccine doses.

Additionally within the information:

►The CDC on Thursday additionally launched information exhibiting unvaccinated adults age 65 and older who’re contaminated with COVID-19 are 49 instances extra prone to be hospitalized than these in the identical age group who’re vaccinated and have gotten their booster pictures.

►Federal information launched Thursday present the variety of COVID-19 sufferers in hospital beds is up simply 0.84% from every week earlier, whereas the variety of sufferers admitted within the newest week is down some 1.62% from every week earlier. That also leaves 160,714 sufferers in American hospital beds.

►Vaccination has “no hostile associations” with fertility in the American Journal of Epidemiology, vaccination has “no hostile associations” with fertility in girls. Researchers studied greater than 2,000 girls between ages 21 and 45.

►Singer Adele has postponed her Las Vegas residency on account of COVID-related manufacturing delays, the singer introduced a day earlier than her first present was set to kick off.

►A passenger’s refusal to put on a face masks on board, which is required by federal regulation, pressured an American Airways flight certain for London to return to Miami this week. Police haven’t arrested the lady, and the division spokesperson stated American Airways will deal with the incident administratively.

📈Right this moment’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded greater than 69 million confirmed COVID-19 instances and greater than 860,000 deaths, in line with Johns Hopkins College information. World totals: Greater than 340 million instances and over 5.57 million deaths. Greater than 209 million Individuals – 63% – are absolutely vaccinated, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

📘 What we’re studying: Respiratory therapists are tasked with serving to sufferers breathe — a fundamental perform of life, however a hellish ordeal throughout a pandemic that goals at folks’s lungs. Here is how two Iowa respiratory therapists push on by COVID’s omicron wave.

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Vaccine hesitancy amongst Black adults decreased sooner than white adults, examine finds

Vaccine hesitancy amongst Black adults has decreased extra quickly over time in comparison with hesitancy amongst white adults has decreased exceptionally quickly over time in comparison with hesitancy amongst white adults. The findings, the researchers say, recommend COVID-19’s disproportionate impression on Black communities may have fueled sooner vaccine acceptance.

“A key issue related to this sample appears to be the truth that Black people extra quickly got here to imagine that vaccines had been obligatory to guard themselves and their communities,” wrote the authors of the examine that surveyed 1,200 folks.

Researchers noticed will increase amongst Black folks within the intention to be vaccinated in spring and thru early summer season of final 12 months. Extra Black folks than white folks got here to simply accept that vaccines had been “obligatory for cover” in March and April 2021, particularly.

Though deep-seated suspicions stemming from historic medical traumas exist, Black individuals are additionally “strongly motivated to guard themselves” from discrimination and well being neglect, the authors wrote, mirrored in community-led well being training efforts to counter well being disparities.

Nonetheless, vaccination charges amongst Black folks proceed to path behind white folks, the authors warn. However the outcomes “recommend that this could be much less doubtless the results of vaccine hesitancy than different elements.”

— Nada Hassanein

DeSantis administration places Florida well being official on depart for encouraging vaccinations

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration put Orange County Well being Director Dr. Raul Pino on depart this week after encouraging his workers to get vaccinated.

Pino had written in a Jan. 4 e mail to his workers: “I’ve a tough time understanding how we might be in public well being and never follow it,” WMFE, a public radio station in Orlando, reported.

Pino’s e mail to his workers detailed that solely 219 of his 568 workers members had obtained two doses. “I’m sorry however within the absence of cheap and actual causes it’s irresponsible to not be vaccinated. We now have been at this for 2 years, we had been the primary to present vaccines to the plenty, we’ve carried out greater than 300,000 and we’re not even at 50% pathetic,” he wrote.

DeSantis and his state surgeon basic, Joseph Ladapo, have questioned the efficacy of masks and vaccines. The state’s Division of Well being additionally has suggested towards testing for individuals who haven’t any signs, stating, “COVID-19 testing is unlikely to have any scientific advantages.”

— Frank Gluck, Fort Myers Information-Press

Important employees coming into US want vaccination proof

The U.S. Division of Homeland Safety introduced Thursday that important employees crossing U.S. land borders, resembling truck drivers and nurses, should present proof of COVID-19 vaccination beginning Saturday.

The USA started permitting absolutely vaccinated international nationals to cross its land borders in November for nonessential functions resembling tourism or visiting family and friends. The brand new announcement extends the vaccine requirement to important employees who are usually not U.S. residents or lawful everlasting residents.

In contrast to these arriving by airplane, these arriving by land journey is not going to need to present proof of a destructive COVID-19 check for entry.

“These up to date journey necessities replicate the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to defending public well being whereas safely facilitating the cross-border commerce and journey that’s essential to our economic system,” DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas stated in a information launch.

Earlier this month, United States federal officers warned U.S. vacationers to keep away from Canada on account of its “very excessive” degree of COVID-19, upgrading its degree 3 journey well being discover to degree 4, the best alert degree.

“If you happen to should journey to Canada, be sure you are absolutely vaccinated earlier than journey,” the CDC warned on its web site. “Due to the present scenario in Canada, even absolutely vaccinated vacationers could also be in danger for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.”

Massachusetts man with COVID dies whereas ready for hospital switch

A Massachusetts man and pizza store proprietor died whereas ready for a hospital mattress to open up after contracting COVID-19

Antonios “Tony” Tsantinis, 68, of East Brookfield, Massachusetts, died Dec. 10. He had fallen unwell simply after Thanksgiving and his longtime companion, Angela DiUlio, was sick, too. Throughout a visit to the emergency room, they each examined constructive for COVID-19.

Tsantinis was admitted to a hospital in Southbridge, Massachusetts, after his daughter, Rona Tsantinis-Roy, realized he had change into quite a bit sicker. He wanted extra care that the hospital was unable to offer and a search ensued for an out there hospital mattress.

“They referred to as each hospital inside 75 miles,” Tsantinis-Roy stated, including that by the point there was a spot for him at a Connecticut hospital, he was too sick to be transferred.

As he battled COVID-19, his kidneys started to fail and he wanted dialysis, in line with NPR. A short while later, Tsantinis-Roy and her brother, Andy Tsantinis, noticed their dad, however it was to say goodbye.

“He actually seemed me within the eyes and stated this did not need to occur,” Tsantinis-Roy recounted to NPR when the physician instructed her that her father was lifeless.

— Asha C. Gilbert, USA TODAY, and Kim Ring, Telegram & Gazette