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. 6 to 10, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Half of U.S. Parents of Teens Got Their Child Vaccinated, but Uptake Slows
FRIDAY, Dec. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of 12- to 17-year-olds in the United States have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, but the initial rush to get teens immunized has stalled, a new survey of parents shows. Only 1 percent of parents now plan to get their teen vaccinated as soon as possible; 13 percent said they will wait and see how vaccination works for others; and 30 percent said they will not get their teen vaccinated.
Barrett Esophagus, Esophageal Cancer Diagnoses Down During Pandemic
FRIDAY, Dec. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — New diagnoses of Barrett esophagus and esophageal cancer decreased during COVID-19, along with endoscopic ablation therapy, according to a report published online Nov. 18 in Gastroenterology.
No Increase Seen in CV Events in Elderly After BNT162b2 Vaccination
FRIDAY, Dec. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In the 14 days following each of the two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, there was no increase in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or pulmonary embolism among individuals aged 75 years or older from France, according to a research letter published online Nov. 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
200 Million Americans Are Now Fully Vaccinated as COVID-19 Cases Spike
THURSDAY, Dec. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The United States reached a vaccine milestone Wednesday as health officials reported that 200 million Americans are now fully vaccinated. However, that news came as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are spiking again in some parts of the country.
Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Lower at â¥120 Days
THURSDAY, Dec. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The vaccine effectiveness of both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccines declined at â¥120 days after the second dose, with higher vaccine effectiveness and antibody levels for Moderna than Pfizer-BioNTech recipients, according to research published in the Dec. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
FDA Approves Pfizer Boosters for Teens Aged 16 to 17
THURSDAY, Dec. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots for Americans aged 16 and 17 years old.
FDA Approves Drug to Help Immunocompromised Fend Off COVID-19
THURSDAY, Dec. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday granted emergency approval of a new antibody cocktail to prevent COVID-19 infection in people who have weakened immune systems or who cannot tolerate COVID-19 vaccines.
Abnormal Ventilatory Patterns Common After COVID-19 Infection
THURSDAY, Dec. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For patients with postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 infection, circulatory impairment, abnormal ventilatory patterns, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome are common, according to a study published in the December issue of JACC: Heart Failure.
Rates of COVID-19, Severe Illness Lower With BNT162b2 Booster Dose
THURSDAY, Dec. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Rates of confirmed COVID-19 and severe illness as well as related mortality are lower among individuals who receive a booster dose following the two doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2, according to two studies published online Dec. 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Risk Factors ID’d for Postdischarge Thrombosis in COVID-19 Patient
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, risk factors for postdischarge venous thromboembolism include history of VTE, peak D-dimer level greater than 3 µg/mL, and predischarge C-reactive protein level greater than 10 mg/dL, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in JAMA Network Open.
Convalescent Plasma Not Recommended in COVID-19
TUESDAY, Dec. 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Convalescent plasma is not recommended for patients with nonsevere, severe, or critical COVID-19, according to a living World Health Organization guideline published online Dec. 7 in The BMJ.
U.S. to Pump $400 Million Into Vaccination Programs for Other Countries
TUESDAY, Dec. 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The United States announced Monday that it will pour $400 million into a new program that should help other countries speed vaccines to their citizens.
Long-Term Glycemic Control Cuts Risk for Severe COVID-19 With T2DM
TUESDAY, Dec. 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Two- to three-year longitudinal glycemic levels are independently associated with COVID-19-related severity in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a study recently published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing Demand Overwhelming Pharmacies
MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — U.S. pharmacies are struggling to keep up with Americans’ demand for COVID-19 vaccines and tests, and the pressure could intensify as antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 are approved by federal regulators.
COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Myocarditis in Youth Typically Mild
MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Most cases of suspected COVID-19 vaccine-related myocarditis occurring in young people have a mild clinical course, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in Circulation.
Increase in Blood Pressure Observed During COVID-19 Pandemic
MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in blood pressure observed for U.S. adults, according to a research letter published online Dec. 6 in Circulation.
Procedures to Diagnose Cancer, New Cancer Diagnoses Decreased in 2020
MONDAY, Dec. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In 2020, there was a considerable reduction in procedures used to diagnose cancer and in diagnoses of new cancers, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in Cancer.
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