Category: Covid-19

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CDC to Expand Wastewater Monitoring for COVID-19 Through Analytics Collab - HealthITAnalytics.com

Bill Gates said on Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Microsoft cofounder announced his condition on Twitter, saying that he is experiencing mild symptoms and am following the experts advice by isolating until Im healthy again.

I'm fortunate to be vaccinated and boosted and have access to testing and great medical care, he added in a separate tweet.

He noted that the Gates Foundation, which he cofounded with his former spouse Melinda French Gates, was meeting in-person on Tuesday for the first time in two years, and I am lucky to be on Teams to see everyone and thank them for their hard work," referring to Microsoft's video conferencing service.

We will continue working with partners and do all we can to ensure none of us have to deal with a pandemic again, said Gates, who published a book this week titled, How to Prevent the Next Pandemic.

On Sunday, Gates, speaking on CNN, discussed how COVID-19 has led to an explosion of digital services, helping people and companies connect and interact with each other without having to be nearby. He believes that the increased use of digital tools will not subside after the COVID-19 pandemic, and will instead be permanent.

I think that is a very positive thing, Gates said during the interview. And the software involved is going to get a lot better. I wouldnt underestimate that accelerated digitization including in health and education substantially.

Earlier in May, Gates discussed with the BBC his association with many COVID-19 conspiracy theories, which sometimes results in people yelling at him on the street.

You almost have to laugh because its so crazy, Gates said.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Bill Gates has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms - Yahoo Finance

Theres still much to learn about COVID-19 and its long-term effects on people who contract it.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

For about 80% of people who have a mild reaction to COVID-19, their symptoms go away in about two weeks. Others who have more serious cases need between three and six weeks to recover. One important area of study right now focuses on a third group known as COVID-19 long-haulers, people who experience new symptoms or prolonged symptoms more than three to four weeks after infection. COVID-19 long-haulers may need several months to recover, and even then, some symptoms and additional conditions like sleep disorders tend to pop up and linger along the way.

Sleep disorders are one of the most common symptoms for patients whove had COVID-19, says sleep medicine specialist Cinthya Pena Orbea, MD. They report insomnia, fatigue, brain fog and sometimes we even see circadian rhythm disorders.

Dr. Pena Orbea shares what we know so far about COVID-19s connection with sleep disorders and what we can do to help alleviate some of those symptoms.

Coined coronasomnia, COVID-19-induced insomnia is often attributed to pandemic-related stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions.

Long-hauler symptoms is a new phase of the pandemic, says Dr. Pena Orbea. This is an area that were still studying.

While weve identified more than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19, some studies suggest neuropsychiatric symptoms like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and insomnia can worsen over time. And according to Dr. Pena Orbea, people whove had mental health conditions before contracting COVID-19 are at higher risk for developing worse anxiety and depression. This often results in someone developing a sleep disorder.

The direct cause for long-hauler symptoms remains unknown, says Dr. Pena Orbea. Clinicians and researchers are exploring several possibilities that include having a persistent inflammatory state or an inadequate antibody response, and theres another thought that there is ongoing viral activity thats causing organ damage.

And while general fatigue is a symptom of COVID-19, sleep disorders like insomnia can set in up to a couple of weeks after first contracting the virus. So on the surface, the sleep disorder might not seem connected, but chances are, its a result of contracting the virus itself.

Theres currently little data to determine exactly how long COVID-19-induced sleep disorders may last. According to Dr. Pena Orbea, it could last up to 12 months after beginning treatment.

Most commonly, Dr. Pena Orbea has seen circadian rhythm disorders arise as a result of COVID-19. In these cases, people have a delayed sleep cycle where they fall asleep much later into the evening or earlier in the morning. This delayed cycle extends into the following day, causing people to feel groggy, have chronic fatigue or wake up later than they prefer.

Sleep is extremely important for the overall function of our bodies, including our metabolic systems and our immune systems, explains Dr. Pena Orbea. Since sleep is important for concentration and memory function, it will enhance how patients recover from the disease and impact their quality of life.

To treat sleep disorders, including those caused by COVID-19, doctors often turn to cognitive behavioral therapy, light therapy, melatonin or a mixture of methods to help correct your sleep schedule and improve your sleep hygiene.

This can be a difficult question for some people because its easy to assume your loss of sleep is a result of a long day of work, moderate stress or a small, one-time problem. But Dr. Pena Orbea suggests any symptoms related to sleeplessness is a cause to get a checkup.

Its important to see your doctor whenever youre developing a new symptom because it could be a sign or symptom of another disease and this is difficult to discern, says Dr. Pena Orbea. If youre experiencing any symptoms that are interfering with your daily life, thats when you need to call your doctor.

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Can COVID-19 Cause Insomnia and Other Sleep Problems? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

A recent study appearing in the journaleClinical Medicinesuggests that severe COVID-19 may be associated with persistent cognitive deficits, equivalent to a decline of 10 IQ points. In this study, severe COVID-19 was defined as COVID-19 that required hospitalization and critical care.

These cognitive deficits persisted until at least 6 months after contracting the SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a gradual improvement, if any, in these cognitive symptoms. These results underscore the importance of longer-term support for patients who have recovered from severe COVID-19.

According to official data from 2020, which is the same year that this study drew its data from, about 4 in 10 adults over the age of 18 are at risk of developing severe COVID-19 in the United States.

A significant minority of individuals with a SARS-CoV-2 infection experience persistent cognitive symptoms following the initial 4 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Some of the common cognitive symptoms include problems with concentration, brain fog, memory, and executive function.

Although persistent cognitive symptoms are also observed in individuals with mild COVID-19, such deficits in cognitive function are more prevalent in individuals with severe COVID-19. Previous studies suggest that 36%76% of individuals with severe acute COVID-19 show cognitive deficits 6 months after illness onset.

However, further research is needed to understand the specific aspects of cognitive function that are affected after severe COVID-19 and the factors that predict these cognitive symptoms.

Previous studies characterizing persistent cognitive symptoms in COVID-19 patients have relied on self-reports, which are susceptible to bias. Other studies have used pen-and-paper neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive function.

However, these tests do not possess the sensitivity to detect small changes in cognitive function or distinguish the various domains or aspects of cognitive function impacted by a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

To address these concerns, the authors of the present study used computerized cognitive tests to objectively characterize specific domains of cognitive function impacted after severe acute COVID-19. These computerized tests also allowed the researchers to assess the magnitude of these cognitive deficits.

Individuals with COVID-19 also experience persistent mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which could contribute to the deficits in cognitive function.

Another objective of the present study was to determine whether these mental health symptoms mediate the persistent cognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients.

The present study involved 46 patients who were previously hospitalized for severe COVID-19 and received critical care in Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, England. The former COVID-19 patients completed a series of computerized cognitive tests during a return visit to the hospital, an average of 6 months after the onset of the illness.

The performance of the 46 participants on the cognitive tests was compared with that of 460 individuals in the control group. The individuals in the control group were not hospitalized for COVID-19 and were matched for age, sex, and education levels. The researchers also used self-reports to assess symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

The researchers found that the COVID-19 patients had a lower score and a slower response time in the cognitive tests than the matched controls. People who had COVID-19 showed more pronounced deficits in specific domains of cognition, including processing speed, attention, memory, reasoning, and planning.

Notably, the deficits in cognitive function in the COVID-19 survivors were not associated with mental health symptoms present at the time of the cognitive testing, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Instead, the performance in the cognitive tests was correlated with the severity of acute illness. For instance, cognitive deficits were more pronounced in individuals who required mechanical ventilation.

The researchers then compared the performance of COVID-19 survivors with over 66,000 individuals from the general population.

The magnitude of cognitive impairment in COVID-19 survivors was equivalent to the age-related cognitive decline expected during the 20year period between the ages of 50 and 70 years.

The studys lead author Professor David Menon, head of the Division of Anaesthesia at the University of Cambridge, says: Cognitive impairment is common to a wide range of neurological disorders, including dementia, and even routine aging, but the patterns we saw the cognitive fingerprint of COVID-19 was distinct from all of these.

Dr. Betty Raman, a cardiologist at the University of Oxford, told Medical News Today, This prospective cohort study of 46 individuals recovering from severe COVID-19 and large normative reference population by Hampshire and colleagues has shown a clear association between severity of infection and degree of cognitive impairment.

This multidimensional characterization of cognition provides a nuanced understanding of distinct patterns of cognitive impairment during the convalescent phase of severe COVID-19. Future efforts are needed to understand how this pattern varies in the context of other post-infectious syndromes and critical illness.

The study found that these cognitive deficits persisted until 6-10 months after the onset of COVID-19, and there was only a gradual improvement, if any, in cognitive performance. The persistence of these cognitive deficits highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms underlying these symptoms.

Scientists have proposed multiple mechanisms, such as direct infection of the brain by SARS-CoV-2 and disruption of blood supply to the brain, to explain the persistent cognitive symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Among these mechanisms, systemic or whole-body inflammation has emerged as the leading candidate responsible for persistent cognitive symptoms.

Dr. Roger McIntyre, a professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto, told MNT, Inflammatory activation appears to be mediating these findings, highlighting the hazards of lengthy immune activation. The next steps are to unravel biological mechanisms more fully and identify prevention and treatment strategies.

Discussing major questions that need to be addressed, Dr. Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, said:

This study shows that these deficits can be substantial and persist more than 6 months after the acute illness. The results are convincing and important and raise further questions. For example, what happens following a less severe infection? How long do the deficits last? What causes them and, critically, how can they be treated or prevented?

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Severe COVID-19 may cause cognitive deficits equivalent to 20 years of aging - Medical News Today

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition where the immune system attacks the protective myelin layer that covers your nerves. Worldwide estimates for the number of people in 2020 with MS is 2.8 million, or approximately 35.9 people for every 100,000.

The symptoms of MS can affect processes like sensation, movement, and vision, just to name a few. While some people may have mild disease, others will have a gradually worsening disease that can cause significant disability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly concerning for people with chronic health conditions, including MS. If you have MS, you may have many questions about your COVID-19 risk, your MS treatment, and the COVID-19 vaccines.

In the article, we cover what people with MS need to know about these topics as well. We will also discuss the steps that you can take to protect yourself from COVID-19.

It doesnt appear as if people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. However, those with MS may have additional factors such as older age or medical treatments that increase their risk for a more serious outcome, should they contract the infection.

A 2021 study of 219 individuals with MS found that the incidence of COVID-19 in this group was actually lower than in the general population. However, the study also found that hospitalization risk was higher in people with MS.

Despite this, illness severity remained low. The study concluded that, compared to the general population, people with MS dont seem to have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or having a severe COVID-19 outcome.

Another 2021 study aimed to identify risk factors for poorer COVID-19 outcomes in 1,626 people with MS. The main risk factor for a worse outcome was a higher level of disability. Other potential risk factors that were identified were:

The mortality rate due to COVID-19 was also higher than that of the general population. However, the researchers note that other medical, societal, and public health issues that they did not investigate could have contributed to this.

A third 2021 study agreed with the findings above. Researchers found that an increased level of disability, older age, and pre-existing health conditions were risk factors for poorer COVID-19 outcomes.

MS is treated with disease-modifying therapy (DMT). These are drugs designed to modify the activity of the immune system and reduce the progression of MS.

Because these drugs affect the immune system, you may wonder if taking them increases your risk of contracting COVID-19 or becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.

There are concerns that some types of DMTs may increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

For example, a 2021 study found that drugs that inhibit CD20, a protein found on certain types of immune cells, could increase a persons risk of severe COVID-19. MS drugs in this group include ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) and rituximab (Rituxan).

A 2022 study reviewed 16 observational studies on MS, DMTs, and COVID-19. It found that the use of anti-CD20 drugs may lead to an increased risk of severe COVID-19. However, it did not see an increased risk with other therapy types.

Overall, the National MS Society recommends that people with MS continue taking their DMTs during the pandemic unless directed not to by their doctor. Should you contract COVID-19, its important to discuss DMTs with your doctor or neurologist.

Every individual is different. The potential benefits of adjusting DMT treatment in response to COVID-19 must be weighed against the effect that this could have on a persons MS.

The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Vaccination can not only reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, but it can also help to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.

The National MS Society recommends that people with MS get vaccinated as soon as they can. They state that the risk from COVID-19 itself is greater than the potential risks from the COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines are both effective and safe for people with MS. However, some types of DMTs may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. These include:

If youre taking any of the DMTs above, its important to talk with your doctor about your vaccination schedule. Its possible that they can recommend a way to better time your COVID-19 vaccine with your DMT to help maximize effectiveness.

As of May 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 5 and older be vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are preferred over adenoviral vector vaccines (Johnson & Johnson)

The current recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses in adults are shown in the table below.

If youre moderately to severely immunocompromised, vaccine recommendations for adults are slightly different. In order to provide better protection, an extra dose has been added to the primary vaccine series. See the table below for details.

NOTE: Having MS and being on a DMT does not necessarily mean you are immunocompromised. However, certain DMTs may increase your risk for COVID-19. Discuss the timing of your vaccinations with your doctor or neurologist.

According to the CDC, the most common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include:

A 2022 study compared the COVID-19 vaccine side effects in people with MS to those of the general population. Overall, it found that side effects were similar between the two groups. The most common side effects in people with MS were:

Side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine are typically mild and go away on their own in a few days. However, if side effects persist or get worse after a few days have passed, reach out to your doctor.

According to research from 2021, there have been case reports of people with MS experiencing a relapse following COVID-19 vaccination. However, whether or not this was directly caused by the vaccine has not been established.

Per the National MS Society, COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to lead to a relapse. This is supported by a 2021 study of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in 324 people with MS. The study found that vaccination did not raise short-term risk of relapse. This additional 2021 study also suggested that COVID-19 vaccines did not exacerbate MS or cause MS flares.

If you do contract COVID-19, there are some medications that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized to help limit the severity of the illness. You can use these medications along with at-home care as you recover.

Antiviral medications like nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and remdesivir (Veklury) can reduce the viruss ability to multiply in your body.

Monoclonal antibody treatments like bebtelovimab can boost your immune systems response to the virus.

You may have heard of another monoclonal antibody treatment, casirivimab/imdevimab (REGEN-COV), as well. However, the FDA has limited its use because it is less effective against the Omicron variant.

People with MS arent at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. However, some factors may put them at a higher risk of serious illness. These include:

The best way to avoid serious illness due to COVID-19 is to get a COVID-19 vaccine, which is safe and effective for people with MS. mRNA vaccines are preferred over adenoviral vector vaccines.

Because some DMTs may make the vaccine less effective, talk with your doctor about finding an optimal schedule for your vaccine and MS medications. They can also answer any questions you have related to vaccination for COVID-19.

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Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19: Illness Severity and Mortality - Healthline

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic.

By theend of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises themajority of casesin the U.S.

The United States as of May 6 reached 997,023 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 81.7 million COVID-19 cases, according toJohns Hopkins University.Currently, 66.3% of the population isfully vaccinated, and 45.9% of vaccinated people have received booster doses.

Stackercompiled a list of the counties with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in Pennsylvania using data from theU.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesandCovid Act Now.

Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in your state.

1 / 50Canadian2006 // Wikimedia Commons

Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.4% (34,779 fully vaccinated) 30.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 556 (408 total deaths) 59.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,587 (18,793 total cases) 15.8% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.6% (20,650 fully vaccinated) 30.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 537 (233 total deaths) 53.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,928 (9,088 total cases) 5.3% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.2% (21,756 fully vaccinated) 29.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 547 (247 total deaths) 56.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,625 (11,568 total cases) 16.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.2% (22,287 fully vaccinated) 29.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 398 (184 total deaths) 14.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,141 (8,857 total cases) 13.3% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.5% (22,360 fully vaccinated) 29.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 598 (276 total deaths) 71.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,720 (12,328 total cases) 21.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.9% (38,751 fully vaccinated) 28.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 439 (348 total deaths) 25.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,526 (19,438 total cases) 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.1% (22,035 fully vaccinated) 28.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 343 (154 total deaths) 1.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,260 (11,797 total cases) 18.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (60,349 fully vaccinated) 27.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 506 (616 total deaths) 45.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,466 (29,807 total cases) 10.8% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.7% (55,447 fully vaccinated) 26.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 455 (498 total deaths) 30.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,476 (23,500 total cases) 2.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.8% (52,361 fully vaccinated) 25.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 351 (362 total deaths) 0.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,266 (24,996 total cases) 9.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

11 / 50Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.2% (43,824 fully vaccinated) 25.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 486 (416 total deaths) 39.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,254 (19,030 total cases) 0.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.8% (28,929 fully vaccinated) 24.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 172 (96 total deaths) 50.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,730 (10,453 total cases) 15.2% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (74,488 fully vaccinated) 23.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 365 (518 total deaths) 4.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,977 (36,833 total cases) 17.6% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.6% (59,627 fully vaccinated) 23.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 459 (520 total deaths) 31.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,327 (28,695 total cases) 14.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (3,207 fully vaccinated) 22.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 593 (36 total deaths) 69.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,771 (1,078 total cases) 19.5% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (70,591 fully vaccinated) 20.9% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 562 (732 total deaths) 61.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,731 (34,801 total cases) 21.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.3% (70,154 fully vaccinated) 20.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 521 (674 total deaths) 49.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,147 (31,216 total cases) 9.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.5% (89,317 fully vaccinated) 20.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 453 (743 total deaths) 29.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,721 (40,525 total cases) 11.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.8% (2,437 fully vaccinated) 20.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 472 (21 total deaths) 35.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,349 (816 total cases) 16.9% less cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.5% (16,600 fully vaccinated) 19.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 338 (101 total deaths) 3.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,925 (7,156 total cases) 8.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

21 / 50Canva

Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.9% (250,950 fully vaccinated) 18.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 334 (1,501 total deaths) 4.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,662 (119,729 total cases) 20.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvaniahttps

Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.7% (96,598 fully vaccinated) 17.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 308 (524 total deaths) 11.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,071 (37,581 total cases) 0.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.9% (198,589 fully vaccinated) 16.9% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 394 (1,376 total deaths) 12.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,083 (80,538 total cases) 4.5% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.1% (51,835 fully vaccinated) 16.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 588 (534 total deaths) 68.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,333 (23,013 total cases) 14.7% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.4% (29,489 fully vaccinated) 16.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 335 (172 total deaths) 4.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,151 (10,350 total cases) 8.8% less cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.5% (313,649 fully vaccinated) 16.1% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 346 (1,888 total deaths) 0.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,380 (122,133 total cases) 1.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.4% (246,086 fully vaccinated) 14.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (1,594 total deaths) 8.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,489 (103,139 total cases) 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.6% (158,054 fully vaccinated) 14.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 282 (760 total deaths) 19.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,409 (57,747 total cases) 3.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.7% (82,984 fully vaccinated) 14.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 477 (674 total deaths) 36.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,520 (34,661 total cases) 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.8% (95,521 fully vaccinated) 14.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 215 (349 total deaths) 38.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,007 (35,736 total cases) 0.4% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

31 / 50Ruhrfisch (talk) // Wikimedia Commons

Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.3% (38,517 fully vaccinated) 13.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 379 (246 total deaths) 8.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,618 (15,343 total cases) 6.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.5% (38,220 fully vaccinated) 13.1% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 458 (294 total deaths) 31.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,041 (16,072 total cases) 13.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.6% (15,959 fully vaccinated) 13.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 396 (106 total deaths) 13.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,437 (5,208 total cases) 12.0% less cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.7% (38,623 fully vaccinated) 12.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 530 (343 total deaths) 51.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,711 (15,349 total cases) 7.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.7% (169,006 fully vaccinated) 11.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 346 (964 total deaths) 0.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,384 (59,511 total cases) 3.2% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.9% (128,002 fully vaccinated) 9.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 315 (652 total deaths) 9.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,851 (51,409 total cases) 12.5% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.1% (116,732 fully vaccinated) 9.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (742 total deaths) 13.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,911 (44,918 total cases) 8.2% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

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Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.7% (199,060 fully vaccinated) 8.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 429 (1,361 total deaths) 22.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,496 (74,580 total cases) 6.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.5% (399,025 fully vaccinated) 7.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 302 (1,898 total deaths) 13.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,963 (125,424 total cases) 9.6% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.7% (360,989 fully vaccinated) 7.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 331 (1,874 total deaths) 5.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,809 (112,267 total cases) 10.3% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

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Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.6% (163,669 fully vaccinated) 5.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 352 (892 total deaths) 0.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,289 (51,406 total cases) 8.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.6% (545,230 fully vaccinated) 4.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 280 (2,324 total deaths) 19.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,805 (156,254 total cases) 14.9% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.1% (201,785 fully vaccinated) 3.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 358 (1,093 total deaths) 2.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,525 (80,977 total cases) 20.1% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.0% (1,060,728 fully vaccinated) 2.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 322 (5,105 total deaths) 7.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,852 (314,469 total cases) 10.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.3% (831,092 fully vaccinated) 0.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 273 (3,319 total deaths) 21.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,098 (268,725 total cases) 0.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

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Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.9% (144,408 fully vaccinated) 0.6% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 368 (772 total deaths) 5.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,240 (44,534 total cases) 3.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.1% (368,106 fully vaccinated) 2.3% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 221 (1,158 total deaths) 36.7% less deaths per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,900 (93,973 total cases) 19.0% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.7% (261,137 fully vaccinated) 3.2% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 336 (1,242 total deaths) 3.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,579 (90,776 total cases) 11.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.1% (5,153 fully vaccinated) 3.8% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 483 (35 total deaths) 38.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,909 (2,240 total cases) 39.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania

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Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.9% (14,011 fully vaccinated) 12.3% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 510 (93 total deaths) 46.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,211 (4,596 total cases) 14.1% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania

Counties are ranked by the highest vaccination rate as of May 5, 2022. Due to inconsistencies in reporting, some counties do not have vaccination data available.

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Counties with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate in Pennsylvania - PAHomePage.com

Nasal spray vaccines accomplish just that. A technique known as thin-film freeze-drying, or T.F.F.D., allows scientists to transform liquid vaccines into powders. Trehalose, a derivative of sucrose, or table sugar, is often added, which prevents the formation of toxic structures by creating organic glass orbs around proteins, maintaining the biological activities that elicit the immune response. In T.F.F.D., liquid vaccines are dropped on an ultracool surface, causing materials to freeze. Pressure is then reduced and low heat is applied so that the frozen water changes directly from solid to gas. The result? Powdered vaccines that revive with a quick spray in the nose.

Medical research is currently well underway, spearheaded by Seongkyu Yoon, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, who was recently granted $930,000 for the development of freeze-dried mRNA vaccines suitable for large-scale production. He explains that the T.F.F.D. process makes vaccines more stable and able to extend their shelf life, as well as make them easier to transport, store and use. This eliminates the need for cold-chain systems, and perhaps even medical workers, which, together, account for 72 percent of worldwide transportation costs, the equivalent of more than $1.2 billion. With lowered costs, vaccines can reach developing countries that were previously unable to afford the massive costs of outreach and transportation.

Intranasal vaccines have also proven more effective than traditional injections against pulmonary diseases like Influenza B and Covid-19. As Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunobiology at the Yale School of Medicine, explained in an interview, the beauty of the local mucosal vaccine is that not only does it provide protection acutely, but also its a long-lasting immunity. More important, dry vaccines create the potential for a pain-free alternative, which, as Dr. Iwasaki goes on to add, will likely increase the number of people who want to vaccinate themselves, especially for the 20 percent of the worlds population afraid to take the needle.

With over a dozen nasal vaccines in development worldwide, some now in Phase 3 trials, vaccines can finally be made available to all countries, not just a select few. Their superior efficacy and low transportation and outreach costs offer great potential in controlling the pandemic, especially as new, more lethal variants emerge. These pain-free nasal vaccines could help us get back to pre-Covid normal.

Works Cited

AboulFotouh, Khaled, et al. Next-Generation Covid-19 Vaccines Should Take Efficiency of Distribution into Consideration. AAPS PharmSciTech, 9 April 2021.

Cicco, Nancy. UMass Lowell Is Working to Freeze-Dry Covid Vaccines. UMass Lowell, 20 Jan. 2022.

Forman, Robert. Nasal Vaccination May Protect Against Respiratory Viruses Better Than Injected Vaccines. Yale School of Medicine, 21 Dec. 2021.

Griffiths, Ulla. Costs of Delivering Covid-19 Vaccine in 92 AMC Countries. World Health Organization, 8 Feb. 2021.

Love, Ashley S., and Robert J. Love. Considering Needle Phobia Among Adult Patients During Mass Covid-19 Vaccinations. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 3 April 2021.

Mandavilli, Apoorva. The Covid Vaccine We Need Now May Not Be a Shot. The New York Times, 2 Feb. 2022.

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Dry Nasal Covid-19 Vaccines: A Pain- and Needle-Free Alternative - The New York Times

Mesa Biotech has recalled some of its COVID-19 tests because they may give false positive results after it was determined the facility where they were made was contaminated.

The recalled Accula SARS-CoV-2 tests were distributed between Jan. 19, 2022, and Feb. 8, 2022, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The PCR test is intended to detect the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19. It uses a nasal swab.

The FDA said, Mesa Biotech is recalling the Accula SARS-CoV-2 Test because certain lots of the test have an increased risk of giving false positive results due to contamination at the manufacturing facility.

No details were given about the contamination.

For more information, call Mesa Biotech at 858-800-4929 or 800-955-6288, option 2.

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FDA issues do not use warning for another unauthorized COVID-19 rapid test.

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COVID-19 test recalled because it may give false positives caused by contamination - PennLive

The effect of COVID-19 vaccination in children who contracted HIV vertically (from their mothers) has not been thoroughly evaluated. One study, presented at this weeks 40th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), endeavored to do just that.

The investigators assessed the COVID-19 neutralizing antibody titers against the Delta and Omicron variants in children with vertically transmitted HIV infection. The children received the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine and were monitored through the Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit at the Luigi Sacco Hospital in Milan, Italy.

The primary study cohort included 22 children with vertically transmitted HIV infection. The children were simultaneously undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Neutralizing antibody titers were assessed at 1 day before vaccination (T0), 25 days after the second vaccine dose (T1), and 6 months after the second dose (T2). After 6 months, antibody titers were compared to an age-matched cohort of 20 Pfizer-vaccinated, HIV-negative children.

Among the children living with HIV, the percentage of waning neutralizing antibody titers from T1 to T2 was 87.5% during Omicron and 82% during Delta. Notably, Delta displayed a moderate immune escape; Omicron titers were 456 during T1 while Delta titers were 144.

The pediatric HIV patients who had a previous COVID-19 infection had higher levels of neutralizing antibody titers during T1 and T2, and their titers dropped less than those with no COVID-19 infection history. There was no significant difference between the pediatric cohorts with and without vertically transmitted HIV.

The investigators concluded that Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccination had a high immunogenicity profile for children living with HIV. They noted that neutralizing antibody titers are considered representative of COVID-19 protection, concluding by recommending a booster vaccine to maintain high levels of protection.

This study, Humoral Immune Response in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated HIV-Vertically Transmitted Patients, was presented during the40th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), held online and in Athens, Greece from May 9-13, 2022.

Originally published on our sister brand, ContagionLive.

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COVID-19 vaccine immune response in children with HIV - Contemporary Pediatrics

Sarah M. Tolaney, MD, MPH, describes her usage of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase-zzxf subcutaneous injections in her clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with HER2+ breast cancer.

Sarah M. Tolaney, MD, MPH: I think the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on both healthcare providers and patients. It's just been a really challenging time in healthcare in general. I think it has influenced our treatment and approaches and in fact, taught us a lot about how some things can actually be done in a manner that really tries to save patients from needing to come in quite as much to the infusion center, or when they do come in, to make that visit as brief as possible, which again, even outside the pandemic is nice for patients because they're not spending so much time in a hospital. They're able to spend that time with their family, for example, which I think obviously, is a much higher priority. I think we're trying to figure out ways to do that again; to really to improve patient quality of life. I think things like subcutaneous formulations really do make a big difference because again, it allows someone to get in and out of infusion much faster. We did start using a lot more Phesgo [subcutaneous trastuzumab pertuzumab] during the pandemic because it did allow patients on maintenance HP to get in and out quickly. Currently, though, the subcutaneous HP [trastuzumab pertuzumab] cannot be given at home by patients. That would really be ideal though because then they wouldn't need to come in for infusion at all. I think that is a movement we really would like to see happen. Our group was actually participating in a trial that was looking at-home administration of Phesgo. That study involved sending a nurse to the patient's house to administer the Phesgo. And that has been tremendous for many patients who come from very far distances where they're not having to drive hours to come into an infusion center to get that dose, they get it in the convenience of their home, by a nurse. Thats really a tremendous time saver for that patient but I think the next step is going to be trying to figure out how to create self-injectors so that patients can self-administer these drugs. I think, again, all this stuff is moving toward home treatment. Moving toward self-treatment really would be tremendous for patients and I'm glad to see that there is work really being done to try to make that happen because this is just so important for patient quality of life.

Transcript edited for clarity.;

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Subcutaneous Treatment of Early-Stage HER2+ Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Cancer Network