Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

In COVID-19, Latest News
by Healthday

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of March 8 to 12, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

Over Half Have Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder After COVID-19

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — More than half of individuals with prior COVID-19 illness have met the criteria for symptoms of major depressive disorder, according to a research letter published online March 12 in JAMA Network Open.

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Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Highly Effective in Clinical Trials

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A COVID-19 vaccine developed by Novavax was 96 percent effective against the original strain of the coronavirus in preventing mild, moderate, and severe cases of illness and was 100 percent effective against severe disease caused by new, more contagious variants, two new clinical trials show.

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Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine 97 Percent Effective Against Symptomatic Disease

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is 97 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease in actual use, which is better than previously thought.

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In Under 25s, Racial, Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Incidence Varied

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Among persons younger than 25 years old, racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 incidence varied through 2020, according to research published in the March 10 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Immune Response Strong After One Dose in COVID-19-Seropositive Vaccinees

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with preexisting immunity receiving an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 have higher antibody titers after one dose than those without preexisting immunity, according to a letter to the editor published online March 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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One Year Into Pandemic, Biden Promises Vaccines for All U.S. Adults by May 1

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — During a speech reassuring Americans that the pandemic could be nearing its end in this country, President Joe Biden on Thursday promised that all U.S. adults will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine by May 1.

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Guidelines Provided for Unilateral Lymphadenopathy After COVID-19 Vaccination

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In a report published online March 4 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, guidelines are provided for the management of unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy identified on imaging tests in the context of COVID-19 vaccination.

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Biden Announces Plan to Buy 100 Million More Doses of J&J Vaccine

THURSDAY, March 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — An additional 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine will be ordered by the U.S. government by the end of the year, President Joe Biden announced Wednesday.

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Most Employees Want Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination at Work

THURSDAY, March 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Seven in 10 U.S. employees who started working at home during the pandemic say their companies should introduce mandatory COVID-19 vaccination before workers are called back to the office, according to the results of a new survey.

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Rates of Acute Allergic Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines Extremely Low

THURSDAY, March 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Severe reactions consistent with anaphylaxis have occurred among 2.47 per 10,000 health care workers receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a research letter published online March 8 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Decline in Kidney Function Faster After COVID-19-Related AKI

THURSDAY, March 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For patients with in-hospital acute kidney injury, those with COVID-19-associated AKI have a greater rate of decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate after discharge, according to a study published online March 10 in JAMA Network Open.

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Tocilizumab Use Not Supported for Moderate-to-Severe COVID-19

THURSDAY, March 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Tocilizumab is not associated with progression of COVID-19 among adults admitted to hospital with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, according to a study published online March 4 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

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States, Pharmacies to Receive Additional Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines

WEDNESDAY, March 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — An additional 900,000 doses of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines will be sent to states and pharmacies this week, according to the White House.

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Risk for Severe Outcomes in COVID-19 Increases With Increasing BMI

WEDNESDAY, March 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Adults with higher body mass index, especially those with obesity, have an increased risk for severe outcomes in COVID-19, according to research published in the March 8 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Mistrust High Among Black Americans

WEDNESDAY, March 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The majority of Black Americans are not sure they will get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the results of a new survey conducted by the RAND Corporation.

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Alcohol Withdrawal Rates Up in Hospitalized Patients During Pandemic

WEDNESDAY, March 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In 2020, there was an increase in alcohol withdrawal rates among hospitalized patients, with a peak at the end of the stay-at-home period, according to a research letter published online March 3 in JAMA Network Open.

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Most Women Would Vaccinate Their Children Against COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, March 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — More than two-thirds of women globally say they would vaccinate their children against COVID-19, according to a study published online March 1 in the European Journal of Epidemiology.

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Mandating Masks Linked to Drop in COVID-19 Cases, Deaths

TUESDAY, March 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Implementing mask mandates is associated with a reduction in COVID-19 cases and deaths, while on-premises dining at restaurants is associated with increased COVID-19 cases and deaths after 40 days, according to research published in the March 5 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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FDA Authorizes First T Cell-Based Test to Detect Prior SARS-CoV-2

TUESDAY, March 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The T-Detect COVID Test, a T cell-based test that helps to identify individuals with recent or prior severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, was granted emergency use authorization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.

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Airlines Ask White House for Standardized COVID-19 Credentials for Passengers

TUESDAY, March 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Uniform guidelines are needed for credentials showing that travelers have been tested and vaccinated for COVID-19, major airline, airline labor unions, and business groups say in a letter to the White House.

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U.K., U.S. COVID-19 Symptom Checkers May Delay Health Contact

TUESDAY, March 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Symptom checkers could be of use for the health care COVID-19 response, but the U.S. and U.K. symptom checkers may delay health care contact for serious cases, according to a study published online March 8 in BMJ Health & Care Informatics.

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Researchers Differentiate MIS-C From Severe COVID-19 in Children

TUESDAY, March 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Patterns of clinical presentation and organ involvement may distinguish between children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and severe acute COVID-19, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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White House Provides $250 Million to Reduce COVID-19 Inequities

TUESDAY, March 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The Biden administration will provide $250 million in federal grants to community organizations that encourage underserved and minority populations to get COVID-19 vaccinations and follow safety measures to prevent infection.

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CDC Issues New Guidelines for Vaccinated Americans

MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — New social distancing guidance released by the federal government on Monday gives fully vaccinated Americans more freedom to socialize and move through their communities.

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Nonprescription At-Home COVID-19 Test Receives Emergency Approval

MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization last week to two at-home tests to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, including the first home test that does not require a prescription.

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AstraZeneca to Seek FDA Approval of COVID-19 Vaccine Within Weeks

MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — AstraZeneca says it will file for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine in the United States after it gets the results of a clinical trial within the next few weeks.

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Neurologic Involvement Common in Children Hospitalized With COVID-19

MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For children with COVID-19-related hospitalization, neurologic involvement is common and is usually transient, according to a study published online March 5 in JAMA Neurology.

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FDA Warns Consumers to Not Use Ivermectin for COVID-19

MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer update last week regarding the use of ivermectin for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

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Inflammatory Heart Disease After COVID-19 Rare in Athletes

MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Few cases of inflammatory heart disease have been detected among professional athletes who tested positive for COVID-19, according to a study published online March 4 in JAMA Cardiology.

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New Models Predict Risk for Ventilation, Death From COVID-19

MONDAY, March 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Two new models help predict which hospitalized COVID-19 patients will require mechanical ventilation or die, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in EClinicalMedicine.

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