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Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic Hinges on Trust: Science alone won’t pull us out of the pandemic.

1 Dec, 2021 | 09:47h | UTC

Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic Hinges on Trust – Think Global Health

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

Using wearable data, a real-time alerting system can be used for the early detection of Covid-19 and other stress events.

1 Dec, 2021 | 09:59h | UTC

Real-time alerting system for COVID-19 and other stress events using wearable data – Nature Medicine

Commentary: Scientists develop a smartwatch-based device for early detection of COVID-19 – News Medical

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

WHO Technical Brief and Priority Actions: Enhancing Readiness for Omicron.

30 Nov, 2021 | 08:46h | UTC

Enhancing Readiness for Omicron (B.1.1.529): Technical Brief and Priority Actions for Member States – World Health Organization

Commentaries:

The World Health Organization warns of very high risk posed by the omicron variant – NPR

Omicron Covid variant poses very high global risk, says WHO – The Guardian

See also the latest articles on the subject:

Statement On Omicron Variant – Infectious Diseases Society of America

Covid-19: Omicron may be more transmissible than other variants and partly resistant to existing vaccines, scientists fear – The BMJ

Helen Salisbury: Omicron—panic mongering or appropriate caution? – The BMJ

The Omicron variant underscores the global stakes of Covid-19 vaccine inequity – STAT

EXPLAINER: What we know and don’t know about omicron variant – Associated Press

Omicron: How do you detect it? – BBC

Are new COVID variants like Omicron linked to low vaccine coverage? Here’s what the science says – The Conversation

Omicron: why the WHO designated it a variant of concern – The Conversation

It looks like Omicron causes milder illness – is this how COVID becomes endemic? – The Conversation

As Omicron spreads, studies suggest that travel bans alone don’t do much good – NPR

 

RCT: SARS-CoV-2 transmission was largely prevented through a comprehensive preventive intervention in a large, live, indoor gathering event.

30 Nov, 2021 | 08:43h | UTC

Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during a large, live, indoor gathering (SPRING): a non-inferiority, randomised, controlled trial – The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Invited Commentary: Concerts and COVID: can the beat go on? – The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Related: No COVID-19 cases found after a well-controlled indoor concert.

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

WHO Update on Omicron + Several Articles on the Subject.

28 Nov, 2021 | 21:38h | UTC

Update on Omicron – World Health Organization

Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern – World Health Organization

See also:

Omicron COVID-19 variant: Africa CDC statement

Expert reaction to B.1.1.529 variant situation in South Africa; and UK travel restrictions in response – Science Media Centre

Threat Assessment Brief: Implications of the emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1. 529 variant of concern (Omicron) for the EU/EEA – European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

‘Patience is crucial’: Why we won’t know for weeks how dangerous Omicron is – Science

Scientists rapidly identified the Omicron variant. But firm answers about its impact could take weeks – STAT

New Covid variant: Will new measures against Omicron work? – BBC

Vaccine inequity and hesitancy made the Omicron variant more likely, scientists say – CNN

Travel bans aren’t the answer to stopping new COVID variant Omicron – The Conversation

Scientists sharing Omicron data were heroic. Let’s ensure they don’t regret it – The Guardian

The Omicron variant reveals the true global danger of ‘vaccine apartheid’ – The Guardian

We Know Almost Nothing About the Omicron Variant – The Atlantic

Covid: New Omicron variant not a disaster, says Sage scientist – BBC

New Covid variant: Will new measures against Omicron work? – BBC

World is put on high alert over the Omicron coronavirus variant – CNN

Moderna Announces Strategy to Address Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 Variant – Moderna

Omicron is the new COVID kid on the block: five steps to avoid, ten to take immediately – The Conversation

What’s known and unknown about Omicron, the coronavirus variant identified in South Africa – STAT

The new variant is worrying – but it doesn’t change how we tackle Covid – The Guardian

Omicron: everything you need to know about new Covid variant – The Guardian

Omicron variant unlikely to reboot Covid in UK, expert says – The Guardian

UK detects Omicron cases, as more countries eye new COVID-19 variant – CIDRAP

New COVID variant alarms researchers, triggers travel bans – CIDRAP

The omicron variant spreads across Europe as new travel bans take effect – NPR

What to know about omicron, the new COVID variant – NPR

What we know about the Omicron variant – CNN

The new Omicron variant is a pandemic gut check – CNN

Newly discovered Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529 is ‘red flag’ but US needs to learn more, Fauci says – CNN

Omicron, a new Covid-19 variant with high number of mutations, sparks travel bans and worries scientists – CNN

What to know about the omicron variant of the coronavirus – The Washington Post

 

Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)

 

Omicron Variant: Videos with opinions on the subject.

28 Nov, 2021 | 21:33h | UTC

 

Milestone Moment for Pandemic Treaty in Geneva – Calls for Tough Decisions by Countries.

28 Nov, 2021 | 21:28h | UTC

Milestone Moment for Pandemic Treaty in Geneva – Calls for Tough Decisions by Countries – Health Policy Watch

See also:

Countries prepare for pandemic treaty decision – The Lancet

WHO nears consensus on future international pact to prevent pandemics – diplomats – Reuters

The WHO is seeking a new treaty on handling future pandemics. It could be a hard sell – NPR

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

Too early to tell, but preliminary information from doctors in South Africa suggests the new Covid variant Omicron may be associated with less severe disease.

28 Nov, 2021 | 21:35h | UTC

 

European countries mandate medical-grade masks over homemade cloth face coverings.

28 Nov, 2021 | 21:26h | UTC

European countries mandate medical-grade masks over homemade cloth face coverings – CNN

 

Randomized Trial: Conventional in vitro fertilization resulted in a cumulative live-birth rate that was noninferior to live-birth rates with the addition of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy.

28 Nov, 2021 | 21:14h | UTC

Live Birth with or without Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: New research casts fresh doubt on a common procedure that promises to increase the odds of IVF – STAT

 

Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert – “Researchers are racing to determine whether a fast-spreading variant in South Africa poses a threat to COVID vaccines’ effectiveness”.

26 Nov, 2021 | 08:42h | UTC

Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert – Nature

See also:

Covid: New heavily mutated variant B.1.1.529 in South Africa raises concern – BBC

WHO calls special meeting to discuss new Covid variant found in South Africa with ‘a large number of mutations’ – CNBC

New COVID-19 Variant With Multiple Concerning Mutations Identified in Southern Africa – Health Policy Watch

Scientists warn of new Covid variant with high number of mutations – The Guardian

South Africa detects new COVID variant with many mutations – MedicalXpress

 

Related commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)

 

Opinion from thirty two ministers of health: The world must act now to be prepared for future health emergencies.

24 Nov, 2021 | 08:49h | UTC

The world must act now to be prepared for future health emergencies – The BMJ

Related:

Viewpoint | Strengthening global health security and reforming the international health regulations: making the world safer from future pandemics.

Perspective | Learning from crisis: building resilient systems to combat future pandemics.

Systematic review: Border controls, restricted entry, quarantine essential for curbing COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Opinion | The future of pandemic preparedness: agile coordination around clinical trials.

UN Report: Preventing the Next Pandemic – Zoonotic Diseases and How to Break the Chain of Transmission

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

RCT: A brief 5:2 diet advice resulted in similar weight loss at one year vs. a standard multicomponent weight-management advice (-2.6kg vs. -1.9kg, p = 0.37).

24 Nov, 2021 | 08:29h | UTC

A randomised controlled trial of the 5:2 diet – PLOS One

News Release: Brief 5:2 diet advice is as effective as traditional GP advice, but people like it better, according to new study – Queen Mary University of London

Commentary: Fasting 2 days a week can help obese people keep off the weight with modest results, study finds – CNN

 

Opinion: Texting thumb, trigger finger, gamer’s thumb and other smartphone injuries.

24 Nov, 2021 | 08:24h | UTC

Texting Thumb, Trigger Finger, Gamer’s Thumb and Other Smartphone Injuries – Scientific American

 

Is Delta the last Covid ‘super variant’?

21 Nov, 2021 | 23:07h | UTC

Is Delta the last Covid ‘super variant’? – The Guardian

 

Optimizing the use of Twitter for research dissemination: The “Three Facts and a Story” randomized-controlled trial.

21 Nov, 2021 | 22:48h | UTC

Optimizing the use of twitter for research dissemination: The “Three Facts and a Story” randomized-controlled trial – Journal of Hepatology

Related:

Perspective: How Twitter is Changing Medical Research

Keeping Up With Cardiology: Old-School Learning Versus the Twittersphere – TCTMD

Scientists on Twitter: Preaching to the choir or singing from the rooftops? – Facets

Rise of the Tweetorial – Precious Bodily Fluids

Social Medicine: Twitter in Healthcare – Journal of Clinical Medicine

University of Twitter? Scientists give impromptu lecture critiquing nutrition research – CBC

Twitter-Based Medicine: How Social Media is Changing the Public’s View of Medicine – The Health Care Blog

What’s your doctor reading? How social media is disrupting medical education – National Post

 

Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)

 

Pfizer COVID Pill to Be Made, Sold Cheaply in 95 Poor Countries.

17 Nov, 2021 | 08:40h | UTC

Pfizer COVID Pill to Be Made, Sold Cheaply in 95 Poor Countries – HealthDay

See also:

Pfizer agrees to license generic versions of its COVID-19 pill — in some countries – NPR

Pfizer and Medicines Patent Pool Reach ‘Ground-breaking’ Voluntary Licensing Deal for New COVID-19 Treatment Pill – Health Policy Watch

Pfizer Will Allow Its Covid Pill to Be Made and Sold Cheaply in Poor Countries – The New York Times (a few articles per month are free)

 

MSF responds to Pfizer and Medicines Patent Pool license for new Covid-19 treatment – “The deal, however, only covers 53 percent of the world’s population and excludes people in several upper-middle-income countries, leaving this promising medicine out of reach for millions”.

17 Nov, 2021 | 08:38h | UTC

MSF responds to Pfizer and Medicines Patent Pool license for new Covid-19 treatment – Médecins Sans Frontières

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

A billion-dollar donation: estimating the cost of researchers’ time spent on peer review.

17 Nov, 2021 | 08:16h | UTC

A billion-dollar donation: estimating the cost of researchers’ time spent on peer review – Research Integrity and Peer Review

Related:

M-A: Effects of experimental interventions to improve the peer‐review process – “Modifications of the traditional peer‐review process at reviewer‐level are associated with improved quality, at the price of longer duration.”

The $450 question: Should journals pay peer reviewers?

Opinion: Peer reviewers—time for mass rebellion?

5 things we learned about peer review in 2020

Editorial: Evaluation and Peer Review During a Pandemic

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

Covid: Austria introduces lockdown for unvaccinated.

16 Nov, 2021 | 08:43h | UTC

Covid: Austria introduces lockdown for unvaccinated – BBC

See also: Austria orders nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated – Associated Press

 

Pfizer’s pill is the latest COVID treatment to show promise. Here are some more.

16 Nov, 2021 | 08:41h | UTC

Pfizer’s pill is the latest COVID treatment to show promise. Here are some more – The Conversation

Related:

COVID antiviral pills: what scientists still want to know – “Drugs like Molnupiravir and Paxlovid could change the course of the pandemic if clinical trial results hold up in the real world”.

[Press release – not published yet] RCT: Pfizer’s novel Covid-19 oral antiviral treatment candidate reduced risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in interim analysis of phase 2/3 EPIC-HR study.

A prominent virologist warns new COVID-19 pill could unleash dangerous mutants. Others see little cause for alarm.

The U.K. approves Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, calling it a world first.

Merck to allow other nations to produce new COVID-19 antiviral.

Video: Merck’s Covid pill could transform treatment. Here’s how it works.

How antiviral pill Molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt.

What we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill.

[Press release – not published yet] Merck announces oral antiviral Molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50 Percent compared to placebo for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19.

Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.

Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.

 

Merck v Pfizer: here’s how the two new COVID antiviral drugs work and will be used.

16 Nov, 2021 | 08:39h | UTC

Merck v Pfizer: here’s how the two new COVID antiviral drugs work and will be used – The Conversation

Related:

COVID antiviral pills: what scientists still want to know – “Drugs like Molnupiravir and Paxlovid could change the course of the pandemic if clinical trial results hold up in the real world”.

[Press release – not published yet] RCT: Pfizer’s novel Covid-19 oral antiviral treatment candidate reduced risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in interim analysis of phase 2/3 EPIC-HR study.

A prominent virologist warns new COVID-19 pill could unleash dangerous mutants. Others see little cause for alarm.

The U.K. approves Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, calling it a world first.

Merck to allow other nations to produce new COVID-19 antiviral.

Video: Merck’s Covid pill could transform treatment. Here’s how it works.

How antiviral pill Molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt.

What we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill.

[Press release – not published yet] Merck announces oral antiviral Molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50 Percent compared to placebo for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19.

Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.

Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.

 

Phase 4 RCT: Concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca or Pfizer) with seasonal influenza vaccines in adults is safe and preserves antibody responses to both vaccines.

14 Nov, 2021 | 20:14h | UTC

Safety and immunogenicity of concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccines (ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2) with seasonal influenza vaccines in adults in the UK (ComFluCOV): a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 4 trial – The Lancet

 

What influences people’s responses to public health messages for managing risks and preventing infectious diseases? A rapid systematic review of the evidence and recommendations.

14 Nov, 2021 | 20:06h | UTC

What influences people’s responses to public health messages for managing risks and preventing infectious diseases? A rapid systematic review of the evidence and recommendations – BMJ Open

 

Commentary on Twitter

 

Deaths in children and young people in England after SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first pandemic year – “In total, 99.995% of children and young people with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test survived”.

12 Nov, 2021 | 10:39h | UTC

Deaths in children and young people in England after SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first pandemic year – Nature

Related:

[Preprint] Study confirms children’s extremely low risk of death from Covid-19 – “99·995% of children and young people with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test survived”.

Study: Children and young people remain at low risk of COVID-19 mortality

 

Commentaries on Twitter

 

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