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 Dec. 27 to 31, 2021. This …
Adverse Events Rare After BNT162b2 Vaccine in 5- to 11-Year-Olds
Data show 4,249 reports of adverse events after about 8.7 million doses of vaccine were administered; 97.6 percent not serious
Most COVID-19-Related EUAs Not Supported by High-Quality Evidence
Most EUAs were for diagnostic products; most supported by comparisons with previously authorized assays, analytical in vitro studies
Rivaroxaban Improves Clinical Outcomes After COVID-19 Hospitalization
Risk for thrombotic events reduced after 35 days of rivaroxaban compared with no extended thromboprophylaxis
FDA May Allow Pfizer Boosters for 12- to 15-Year-Olds by Monday
Agency also expected to reduce the amount of time adolescents and adults must wait between their second dose of vaccine and booster
Severe Illness, Viral Coinfection Common in Children With COVID-19 Hospitalization
Only one of 272 vaccine-eligible pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was fully vaccinated
BNT162b2 Vaccine Effectiveness 92 Percent for Teens Ages 12 to 17
Estimated vaccine effectiveness of full Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination 92 percent for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection
Seniors Report Medical Care Missed During the Pandemic
Rates of forgone medical care because of COVID-19 decreased over time; about 70 percent of forgone care due to physician-driven factors
Health Care Workers Had Acceptable Preparedness During First COVID-19 Wave
However, female health care workers had lower preparedness and awareness scores than male counterparts
CDC Lowers Estimate of Omicron Prevalence in the United States
Predictions likely to become more accurate as researchers learn more about omicron