General Interest
WHO Interim statement: A causal relationship between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the occurrence of blood clots with low platelets is considered plausible but is not confirmed
8 Apr, 2021 | 09:09h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
🆕 Interim statement of the #COVID19 subcommittee of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety on the AstraZeneca vaccine https://t.co/p8XMMAiUne pic.twitter.com/7DMRNFxQsX
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 7, 2021
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine: EMA finds possible link to very rare cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelets. The benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive it.
8 Apr, 2021 | 09:07h | UTCCommentaries: In rare instances, AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine linked to blood clots, regulators say – STAT AND Expert reaction to statements from MHRA and EMA in relation to the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots and low blood platelets – Science Media Centre
JCVI statement on use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: “JCVI currently advises that it is preferable for adults aged <30 years to be offered an alternative COVID-19 vaccine, if available.”
8 Apr, 2021 | 09:02h | UTCJCVI statement on use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: 7 April 2021 – GOV.UK
Commentaries: Covid: Under-30s offered alternative to Oxford-AstraZeneca jab – BBC AND Expert reaction to statements from MHRA and EMA in relation to the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots and low blood platelets – Science Media Centre
Video: Coronavirus Variants and Vaccines
8 Apr, 2021 | 09:00h | UTCCoronavirus Variants and Vaccines – JAMA
CDC Updated Guidance: “It is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, but the risk is generally considered to be low”
7 Apr, 2021 | 02:00h | UTCRelated: Catching COVID from surfaces is very unlikely. So perhaps we can ease up on the disinfecting – The Conversation AND Coronavirus is in the air — there’s too much focus on surfaces – Nature AND COVID-19 rarely spreads through surfaces. So why are we still deep cleaning? – Nature
Opinion | New COVID variants have changed the game, and vaccines will not be enough. We need global ‘maximum suppression’
7 Apr, 2021 | 01:44h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
✨"COVID-19 variants of concern have changed the game. We need to recognise and act on this if we as a global society are to avoid future waves of infections, yet more lockdowns and restrictions, and avoidable illness and death"✨ https://t.co/YXzqayMQFR
— Antibiotic Steward Bassam Ghanem 🅱️C🆔🅿️🌟 (@ABsteward) April 6, 2021
What’s the new coronavirus variant in India and how should it change their COVID response?
7 Apr, 2021 | 01:42h | UTC
Large study showed no association between blood group types and increased risk of Covid-19
7 Apr, 2021 | 01:41h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
This case-control study found blood type A was not associated with higher nor type O with lower COVID-19 susceptibility or severity. Blood types were not prognostically useful. https://t.co/P8VpvQWuwE
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) April 6, 2021
Leadership Essentials for CHEST Medicine Professionals: Models, Attributes, and Styles
6 Apr, 2021 | 01:10h | UTCLeadership Essentials for CHEST Medicine Professionals: Models, Attributes, and Styles – CHEST
Commentary and Summary: Leadership 101 – Commitments, Character, Competencies – Journal Feed
CDC Report: Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with a Local Bar Opening Event
6 Apr, 2021 | 01:29h | UTCCommentaries: Illinois bar opening event linked to 46 Covid-19 cases, a school closure and hospitalization, CDC report says – CNN AND Bar opening linked to 29 COVID-19 diagnoses among staff and patrons, 17 more across the community affecting school, nursing home – Science Speaks: Global ID News AND 46 COVID-19 cases linked to one indoor bar event in rural Illinois: CDC – The Hill
Related: Why indoor spaces are still prime COVID hotspots – Nature
How your doctor describes your medical condition can encourage you to say ‘yes’ to surgery when there are other options
6 Apr, 2021 | 00:56h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
📢Just out in @JOSPT
Labels for rotator cuff disease influence management preferences
People told they had a rotator cuff tear had higher perceived need for shoulder surgery than those told they have bursitis
Thread below 👇@msk_health @MaryOKeeffe007https://t.co/sLkvYJ77at
— Joshua Zadro (@zadro_josh) April 1, 2021
Long Covid Implications for the workplace
6 Apr, 2021 | 01:15h | UTCLong Covid Implications for the workplace – Occupational Medicine
Probable airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a poorly ventilated restaurant
6 Apr, 2021 | 01:27h | UTCRelated: Why indoor spaces are still prime COVID hotspots – Nature
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
📍AIRBORNE RESTAURANT TRANSMISSION—3 families—“No close contact or fomite contact identified, aside from back-to-back sitting—Airflow dynamics indicates the infection distribution is consistent with a spread of **long-range transmission of exhaled virus-laden aerosols**”. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/kapgqumWnV
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 5, 2021
Epidemiologic Evidence for Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during Church Singing
6 Apr, 2021 | 01:26h | UTCRelated: Why indoor spaces are still prime COVID hotspots – Nature
Commentary on Twitter
Pretty interesting report of #Covid19 transmission during church services in Australia. Infected choir member appears to have transmitted to up to 12 church goers, some seated more than 15 meters from the choir loft. No masks. Yes, likely airborne. https://t.co/w5CKMsaKp9 pic.twitter.com/Wmi6jxOPox
— Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 (@HelenBranswell) April 5, 2021
Covid-19 Has Created Thousands Of Newly Single Parents And Orphans
6 Apr, 2021 | 01:24h | UTCBREAKING: Covid-19 Has Created Thousands Of Newly Single Parents And Orphans – Brief19
Original study: Estimates and Projections of COVID-19 and Parental Death in the US – JAMA Pediatrics
Commentary on Twitter
New study finds that in the United States alone, "37,300 children aged 0 to 17 years [have] lost at least 1 parent due to #COVID19" as of February 2021. The authors suggest that accounting for excess mortality may shift this tally up to as many as 43,000: https://t.co/v5fACWMwtP
— Dr. Majumder is writing 🖋 (@maiamajumder) April 5, 2021
U.S. Saw Over 520,000 Excess Deaths in 2020, Most from COVID-19
6 Apr, 2021 | 01:18h | UTCU.S. Saw Over 520,000 Excess Deaths in 2020, Most from COVID-19 – NEJM Journal Watch
Original study: Excess Deaths From COVID-19 and Other Causes in the US, March 1, 2020, to January 2, 2021 – JAMA
Editorial: Learning From Excess Pandemic Deaths – JAMA
How mRNA Technology Could Change the World
5 Apr, 2021 | 01:36h | UTCHow mRNA Technology Could Change the World – The Atlantic (a few articles per month are free)
Exceedingly rare side effects reported with AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK – 22 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with low levels of platelets out of 18 million vaccinated individuals
5 Apr, 2021 | 01:45h | UTCCovid-19: Seven UK blood clot deaths after AstraZeneca vaccine – BBC
Original report: Coronavirus vaccine – weekly summary of Yellow Card reporting – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Related opinion: Undermining the AstraZeneca jab is a dangerous act of political folly – The Guardian
“Based on current experience, the expected benefits of both COVID-19 vaccines in preventing COVID-19 and its serious complications far outweigh any known side effects”
Using the COVID-19 pandemic to reimagine global health teaching in high-income countries
5 Apr, 2021 | 01:38h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Online teaching during this pandemic is a struggle for students & teachers.
These tips from 20 professors in global health might help!https://t.co/pZJQvTgN2V pic.twitter.com/iVJEIlx3Al
— Madhu Pai, MD, PhD (@paimadhu) April 3, 2021
Opinion | The Antiscience Movement Is Escalating, Going Global and Killing Thousands
5 Apr, 2021 | 01:34h | UTCThe Antiscience Movement Is Escalating, Going Global and Killing Thousands – Scientific American
Opinion | How to lose friends and alienate people? On the problems of vaccine passports
5 Apr, 2021 | 01:42h | UTCHow to lose friends and alienate people? On the problems of vaccine passports – The BMJ Opinion
Related: Resistance from health experts and business owners could doom ‘vaccine passports’ even before they launch – STAT AND How Vaccine Passports Will Worsen Inequities In Global Health – Microbiology AND Vaccine certificates: does the end justify the means? – The Lancet Microbe AND Covid-19 vaccine passports will harm sustainable development – The BMJ Opinion AND Covid-19 vaccine passports and vaccine hesitancy: freedom or control? – The BMJ Opinion AND “Vaccine Passport” Certification — Policy and Ethical Considerations – New England Journal of Medicine AND Interim position paper: considerations regarding proof of COVID-19 vaccination for international travellers – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter
"All in all, there are reasons to conclude that vaccine passports for basic activities may actually undermine vaccine rollout by disincentivising the very populations who most need incentivising" @ReicherStephen @ProfJohnDrury https://t.co/UL9qfFiOcA
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) April 2, 2021
Preliminary study finds a low-calorie diet and mild exercise may improve survival for young people with leukemia
2 Apr, 2021 | 09:12h | UTC
Video: Why you can’t compare Covid-19 vaccines
2 Apr, 2021 | 09:33h | UTCWhy you can’t compare Covid-19 vaccines – Vox
Long Covid in the UK – More than a million affected in February, survey suggests
2 Apr, 2021 | 09:31h | UTCLong Covid: More than a million affected in February, survey suggests – BBC
Commentary on Twitter
YOUNG ADULTS MOST AFFECTED—Long-Covid symptoms are affecting about 1.1 million people in the U.K., with about half that number saying the disease is harming their day-to-day lives, government statistics show. Top #LongCovid age group? 25-34! Thread 🧵 https://t.co/Fwo8Opeqr6
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 1, 2021
After the WHO report: what’s next in the search for COVID’s origins
2 Apr, 2021 | 09:26h | UTCAfter the WHO report: what’s next in the search for COVID’s origins – Nature