Mean monthly admissions for AHT in children younger than 5 were lower in 2020 than in 2019, 2018, and 2017
Recovered but RT-PCR-Positive Individuals Unlikely to Transmit SARS-CoV-2
Those who have clinically recovered but continue to test positive on RT-PCR after the requisite isolation seem not to be infectious to others
Guidance Updated for Assessing Allergy Risk of COVID-19 Vaccines
Janssen adenovirus type 26 vectored vaccine may be considered for individuals who self-report PEG allergy
Sex Disparities in COVID-19 Deaths Not Seen Across Race
However, Black women have COVID-19 mortality rates nearly four times higher than White men, three times higher than Asian men
Vaccinating Lactating Mothers May Protect Infants From COVID-19
Anti-spike protein IgG and IgA levels in breast milk significantly elevated from baseline at 80 days after maternal COVID-19 vaccination
Globally, No Increase Seen in Suicides in Early COVID-19 Pandemic
Findings seen in 21 countries through July 2020, including the United States
FDA: Multiple Violations Found at Baltimore Plant Making COVID-19 Vaccines
Violations included not properly disinfecting equipment, not following procedures meant to prevent contamination, improperly trained employees
Supply May Soon Outstrip Demand in U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
When supply exceeds demand, finding willing arms to receive vaccines gets a lot harder
SARS-CoV-2 Cardiac Involvement Low in Collegiate Athletes
Diagnostic yield for SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement higher for clinically indicated versus primary screening cardiac MRI
J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Should Be Used, but Carry Blood Clot Warning
European Medicines Agency also said the vaccine’s benefits still far outweigh its risks
COVID-19 Burden Greater Compared to Influenza
The Journal of General Internal Medicine published a study by physician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) that assessed the relative impact of COVID-19 on patients hospitalized with the viral infection versus patients hospitalized with influenza.
COVID-19 and influenza are both contagious respiratory viral diseases that can lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory failure in severe cases, says the U.S. CDC.
Novel Influenza Vaccines Identified for Pandemic Preparedness
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a review of the zoonotic influenza virus activity and virus characterization and describes the current status of the development of vaccine candidates for pandemic preparedness purposes.
The development of influenza candidate vaccine viruses, coordinated by WHO, remains an essential component of the overall global strategy for influenza pandemic preparedness.
Flu Vaccine Changes Confirmed for 2021-2022
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the influenza vaccine selection committee finalized its recommendations for the Northern Hemisphere's 2021-22 flu season.
These recommendations were made within the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, record-low levels of influenza detections were reported, and fewer viruses were available for characterization during September 2020 to January 2021 time period than in previous years, said the WHO.
Expanded Collaboration to Advance New Therapeutics for Respiratory Viruses
Vir Biotechnology, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) announced an agreement to expand their existing collaboration to include the research and development of new therapies for influenza and other respiratory viruses.
COVID-19’s Mortality Risk 3.5 Times Greater Than the Flu
A recent study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) found that the risk of death from COVID-19 was 3.5 times higher than from the seasonal flu.
"We can now say that COVID-19 is much more severe than seasonal influenza," said Dr. Amol Verma, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, and the University of Toronto, in a press statement.
Intranasal Flu Shot Candidate Spurs Strong Immune Response
An experimental single-dose, intranasal influenza vaccine candidate, was found safe and produced a durable immune response when tested in a Phase 1 study, announced the National Institutes of Health.
This study was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on February 2, 2021.
Fewest Flu-Related Hospitalizations Reported in Nine Years
Seasonal influenza activity in the USA remains lower than usual for this time of year, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC also reported the number of influenza-associated hospitalizations is lower than average for this point in the 2020-2021 flu season and are ‘comparable to counts seen at this point during the 2011-12 season.’
And the CDC’s new weekly report (#50) confirmed since September 27, 2020, only (0.2%) of virus species tested were found infected with influenza. Of those found, 56.9 percent were identified as Influenza A.
Fewest Flu-Related Hospitalizations in Nine Years
The seasonal influenza activity remained lower than usual for this time of year, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC also reported the number of influenza-associated hospitalizations is lower than normal for this time of year and is ‘comparable to counts last seen during the 2011-12 season.’
And the CDC’s new weekly report (#50) confirmed since September 27, 2020, only (0.2%) of virus species tested were found infected with influenza. Of those found, 56.9 percent were identified as Influenza A.
Five Good Reasons to Get a Flu Vaccine
As influenza viruses spread this flu season, getting an influenza vaccination is more important than ever, stated the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on December 7, 2020.
According to various reports, about 190 million vaccines were produced for the USA this flu season.
The CDC strongly encourages everyone to discuss their flu vaccine options with a healthcare provider.
The CDC identified five reasons why you should get a flu shot:
Benefits Confirmed of Adjuvanted Seasonal Influenza Vaccines
A systematic review and meta-analysis presented at the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza virtual conference on December 7, 2020, confirmed the benefit of an MF59®-adjuvanted trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (aTIV) for adults 65 years and older.
As announced by Seqirus, the results indicate that relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) favored aTIV over non-adjuvanted standard dose quadrivalent and trivalent influenza vaccines in averting influenza-related medical encounters.
TSA’s New Technology Speeds Up Security Lines
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed ‘it is ready for the continued surge in travelers across the country.’
According to the TSA’s data, on April 18, 2021, over 1.5 million airline passengers were screened. This news indicates the USA travel industry had recovered from 2020 when only 105,382 passengers were screened on the corresponding day.
However, when contrasted to 2019’s activity of about 2.3 million screened travelers, the travel industry’s volume is well below maximin consumer demand.
Digital Technology Speeds Up TSA Security Lines
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed ‘it is ready for the continued surge in travelers across the country.’
According to the TSA’s data, on April 18, 2021, over 1.5 million airline passengers were screened. This news indicates the USA travel industry had recovered from 2020 when only 105,382 passengers were screened on the corresponding day.
However, when contrasted to 2019’s activity of about 2.3 million screened travelers, the travel industry’s volume is well below maximin consumer demand.
Polio Outbreak Ends in Somalia
The Director of Polio Eradication for World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region declared Somalia’s outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 3 (cVDPV3) closed.
According to an article published by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) on April 14, 2021, Dr. Hamid Jafari confirmed a full twenty-eight months have passed since this strain of polio was last detected in Somalia.
Attending Japan’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Comes With Risks
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) published an editorial on April 14, 2021, highlighting the health risks related to the 2020 Olympics rescheduled in Japan in late July 2021.
Excerpts from this BMJ article are included below:
‘In February 2021, the G7 leaders confirmed their support of Japan’s commitment to holding the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo (Tokyo 2020) “safely and securely… as a symbol of global unity in overcoming covid-19.’
Test and Travel Strategies Might Be Beneficial
Almost 90% of infectious travelers could be detected with rapid SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus tests at the airport, according to a computer simulation by UC San Francisco (UCSF) researchers.
Furthermore, these researchers say most imported virus infections could be prevented with a combination of pre-travel testing and a five-day, post-travel quarantine and continued testing.
International Travelers Exposed to Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
A recent study published by The Lancet could be the first to characterize in real-time the dynamics of acquiring multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial colonization during international travel.
This study’s data suggest that travelers are exposed to a more significant burden of multidrug-resistant bacteria than previously thought.
The data published on February 23, 2021, emphasized the need for preventing travelers’ diarrhea and limiting antibiotic use, addressing the two major factors predisposing colonization.
US Government Offers Ebola Outbreak Support in Africa
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it is committed to bringing an end to the 12th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Guinea.
The CDC stated in a press release on March 25, 2021, it is working closely with ministries of health and international and local partners in DRC, Guinea, and bordering countries to respond to these Ebola outbreaks.
The Bahamas Re-Welcomes Travelers to the Caribbean
The warm Caribbean Sea and sandy beaches of The Bahamas are once again welcoming millions of vacationers from around the world.
However, due to the ongoing fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic, entry requirements for The Bahamas have changed, says the U.S. Embassy for The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Japan Restricts Visitors to Its Summer Olympics
The International Olympic and Paralympic Games announced today Japanese parties had decided not to allow entry into Japan by overseas spectators for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
This decision is due to the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, said the IOC in a press statement issued on March 20, 2021.
“We share the disappointment of all enthusiastic Olympic fans from around the world, and of course the families and friends of the athletes, who were planning to come to the Games,” stated IOC President Thomas Bach.
Europe’s Digital Green Certificate Could Empower Free Movements
The European Commission (EC) announced creating a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Digital Green Certificate will be proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result, or recovered from COVID-19.
Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, stated on March 17, 2021, “The Digital Green Certificate offers an EU-wide solution to ensure that EU citizens benefit from a harmonized digital tool to support free movement in the EU.”