Covid-19
Cohort Study: The effectiveness of heterologous AstraZeneca (AZ)/mRNA prime-boost vaccination was more significant (68%) compared to the effectiveness of homologous AZ/AZ vaccination (50%) against symptomatic Covid-19 infection in Sweden.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:27h | UTCCommentary: High effectiveness of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccines – UMEA University
Related:
A primer on what we know about mixing and matching Covid vaccines.
Another study shows increased immune response with heterologous Oxford-AstraZeneca/mRNA vaccination.
RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects.
Commentary on Twitter
Study from Sweden assessing heterogenous vaccination in 3,445,061 individuals who received AZ as the first dose and either #pfizer, #moderna, or #AZ as second dose showed the following vaccine effectiveness:
AZ/Pfizer- 67%
AZ/Moderna- 79%
AZ/AZ- 50%https://t.co/UN0pey2kJ2— Yan Leyfman, MD (@YLeyfman) October 19, 2021
Should You Mix and Match Your Booster Shot?
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:25h | UTCShould You Mix and Match Your Booster Shot? – The Atlantic
Related:
A primer on what we know about mixing and matching Covid vaccines.
Another study shows increased immune response with heterologous Oxford-AstraZeneca/mRNA vaccination.
RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects.
RCT: Interferon does not improve outcomes for hospitalized adults with COVID-19.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:28h | UTCNews release: Interferon does not improve outcomes for hospitalized adults with COVID-19 – NIH News Releases
[Preprint] Observational study in Brazil showed the J&J vaccine adjusted effectiveness was 50.9% against any symptomatic Covid-19, 72.9% for hospitalization, 92.5% for ICU admission, 88.7% for mechanical ventilation, and 90.5% for death.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:24h | UTC
Covid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK.
20 Oct, 2021 | 10:21h | UTCCovid-19: New mutation of Delta variant under close watch in UK – BBC
Long-term consequences of the misuse of ivermectin data.
19 Oct, 2021 | 09:56h | UTCLong-term consequences of the misuse of ivermectin data – The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Related:
Ivermectin: How false science created a Covid ‘miracle’ drug.
Fraudulent ivermectin studies open up new battleground between science and misinformation.
The lesson of ivermectin: meta-analyses based on summary data alone are inherently unreliable.
Ivermectin: Cochrane’s most talked about review so far, ever. Why?
Flawed ivermectin preprint highlights challenges of COVID drug studies.
Systematic review: no evidence to support the use of Ivermectin for treating or preventing COVID-19.
Why was a major study on ivermectin for covid-19 just retracted?
RCT: Ivermectin does not prevent hospitalizations in patients with COVID-19.
RCT: Ivermectin does not improve time to resolution of symptoms among adults with mild COVID-19
Commentary on Twitter
Ivermectin's data for Covid, checkered with inconsistencies, small/low quality clinical trials, and fraud, have long-term consequences for the drug's established and essential useshttps://t.co/NG6vpej8GP @TheLancetInfDis pic.twitter.com/Oz0FxUJetK
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 18, 2021
RECOVERY Trial: In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, Colchicine did not reduce 28-day mortality, duration of hospital stay, or risk of progressing to invasive mechanical ventilation or death.
19 Oct, 2021 | 10:14h | UTCRelated:
Systematic Review: Colchicine for the treatment of COVID‐19 – not beneficial for hospitalized patients; inconclusive evidence for the treatment of non-hospitalized patients, “probably slightly reduces the need for hospitalization or death within 28 days compared to placebo”.
19 Oct, 2021 | 10:13h | UTCColchicine for the treatment of COVID‐19 – Cochrane Library
Related:
Commentary on Twitter
JUST PUBLISHED – Is #colchicine (often used to treat #gout) an effective treatment for people with #COVID19? ➡️ https://t.co/IF1enksFpn New @CochraneHaem systematic review includes evidence from 4 RCTS with 11,525 hospitalised & 4488 non‐hospitalised people.
— The Cochrane Library (@CochraneLibrary) October 18, 2021
China’s COVID vaccines have been crucial — now immunity is waning.
19 Oct, 2021 | 09:53h | UTCChina’s COVID vaccines have been crucial — now immunity is waning – Nature
Related:
Editorial | Covid-19 vaccination: evidence of waning immunity is overstated.
COVID vaccine effects wane over time but still prevent death and severe illness.
Perspective | What we actually know about waning immunity.
Another study shows Pfizer mRNA vaccine immunity is reduced over time.
Studies: COVID vaccine protection waning against infection but not hospitalization.
BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19.
19 Oct, 2021 | 09:52h | UTCBJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19 – British Journal of Surgery
Commentary on Twitter
The @BJSurgery commission on surgery and perioperative care post #Covid_19
🌐 Global surgical community involved
😱 Pandemic uncovers problems in healthcare systems
🧑🎓 Training severely damaged
🧿 Ethics committee needed at surgical oncology centreshttps://t.co/CfNk9vBPjV pic.twitter.com/vomtZ3zcql
— Giovanni Marchegiani (@Gio_Marchegiani) October 16, 2021
Editorial: Preparing for “Disease X”.
19 Oct, 2021 | 09:54h | UTCPreparing for “Disease X” – Science
RCT supports the use of therapeutic heparin in moderately ill patients admitted to the hospital with Covid-19.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:35h | UTCRelated studies (some conflicting results)
Commentary on Twitter
What are the effects of therapeutic heparin compared with prophylactic heparin among moderately ill patients with covid-19 admitted to hospital? #BMJResearch by @sholzberg and colleagues.
Includes a #VisualAbstract summarising the study #BMJInfographichttps://t.co/82VisuBKSU pic.twitter.com/b06TdIJvLX
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) October 15, 2021
J&J COVID-19 Vaccine: FDA recommends booster shot for all adults aged 18 and older at least two months following initial vaccination with the single-shot vaccine.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:32h | UTCCommentaries:
FDA panel endorses booster shot for J&J COVID-19 vaccine – Associated Press
FDA advisers recommend J&J Covid-19 vaccine boosters, talk mix and match boosters – CNN
[Preprint] Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in 620,000 U.S. Veterans, February 1, 2021 to August 13, 2021 – “Vaccine protection declined by mid-August 2021, decreasing from 91.9% in March to 53.9%”.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:29h | UTCRelated:
Editorial | Covid-19 vaccination: evidence of waning immunity is overstated.
COVID vaccine effects wane over time but still prevent death and severe illness.
Perspective | What we actually know about waning immunity.
Another study shows Pfizer mRNA vaccine immunity is reduced over time.
Studies: COVID vaccine protection waning against infection but not hospitalization.
Commentary on Twitter
New on breakthrough infections in 620,000 Veterans
"Vaccine protection declined by mid-August 2021, decreasing from 91.9% in March to 53.9%"https://t.co/xonBb4aEqJ highest reduction with J&J vaccine pic.twitter.com/rbhXOREFPP— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 15, 2021
Review: SARS-CoV-2 Dose, Infection, and Disease Outcomes for COVID-19.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:30h | UTCRelated: Seroconversion and fever are dose-dependent in a nonhuman primate model of inhalational COVID-19.
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
SARS-CoV-2 Dose, Infection, and Disease Outcomes for COVID-19 – A Review @brosseau_lisa @KevinEscandonMD @AngelaKUlrich @angie_rasmussen Chad Roy @neuronerdsunite @SaskiaPopescu @mtosterholm
https://t.co/2rv0oH1OM5
Quick 🧵 1/ @CIDRAP @acinnacional pic.twitter.com/7lnNYu6eto— Kevin Escandón (@KevinEscandonMD) October 15, 2021
What can masks do? Part 2: What makes for a good mask study — and why most fail.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:25h | UTCCOMMENTARY: What can masks do? Part 2: What makes for a good mask study — and why most fail – CIDRAP
See also: COMMENTARY: What can masks do? Part 1: The science behind COVID-19 protection – CIDRAP
Eight months later: Researchers compare immune responses elicited by three COVID-19 vaccines.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:27h | UTCOriginal study: Differential Kinetics of Immune Responses Elicited by Covid-19 Vaccines – New England Journal of Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
Just published @NEJM
Neutralizing antibody levels and T cells response out to 8 months for Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines https://t.co/ghAgk3Y4kR
Moderna highest antibody response; J&J while lower doesn't fall off and best CD8 T-cell response at 8 months pic.twitter.com/uANSzAylMF— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 15, 2021
PHE Statement: The role of face coverings in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:52h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
https://twitter.com/OutbreakJake/status/1448651504563355657
What can masks do? The science behind COVID-19 protection.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:51h | UTCCOMMENTARY: What can masks do? Part 1: The science behind COVID-19 protection – CIDRAP
Study evaluated several heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccine regimens; no efficacy data but there was increased antibody production on study days 15 and 29 after booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:49h | UTCHeterologous SARS-CoV-2 Booster Vaccinations: Preliminary Report – medRxiv
Commentary: Study: Mixing and Matching COVID-19 Booster Shots Is Effective, Safe – U.S. News
Commentary on Twitter
So yes, mRNA vaccines are great at generating antibodies but what does that mean? Where is the efficacy data? How come JnJ gets really great efficacy at preventing symptomatic COVID and severe disease with low antibodies? T-cells? Still much to learn. https://t.co/YwKUyogAhQ
— Daniel Griffin MD PhD (@DanielGriffinMD) October 13, 2021
‘I hope you die’: how the COVID pandemic unleashed attacks on scientists.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:46h | UTC‘I hope you die’: how the COVID pandemic unleashed attacks on scientists – Nature
Commentary on Twitter
#COVID19 has changed many things- one has been the way the public interacts with scientists.
Like many of my colleagues I was not prepared for the onslaught of harassment and it affected me deeply.
Thanks to @Nature for telling our stories https://t.co/PiVCREyc8A
— Krutika Kuppalli, MD FIDSA (@KrutikaKuppalli) October 13, 2021
Statins linked to reduced risk of death from COVID-19 in major population study – “Randomized studies will be needed to ascertain whether there is a causal relationship, note the researchers”.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:47h | UTCNews release: Statins linked to reduced risk of death from COVID-19 in major population study – Karolinska Institutet
Original study: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and COVID-19 mortality in Stockholm, Sweden: A registry-based cohort study – PLOS Medicine
Commentaries:
Expert reaction to study looking at statins and risk of death from COVID-19 – Science Media Centre
People taking statins less likely to die from Covid, study suggests – The Guardian
Perspective | Trying to Block SARS-CoV-2 Transmission With Intranasal Vaccines.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:44h | UTCTrying to Block SARS-CoV-2 Transmission With Intranasal Vaccines – JAMA
Editorial: Covid-19 treatments and vaccines must be evaluated in pregnancy.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:41h | UTCCovid-19 treatments and vaccines must be evaluated in pregnancy – The BMJ
Related:
Study shows high effectiveness of the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy.
5 Crucial Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy.
CDC Guidance: Pregnant people should be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Cohort study: Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine associated with 78% lower risk of Covid-19 in pregnancy.
Commentary on Twitter
Inconsistent messaging from authorities, driven by lack of trial data, has increased covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women@DrAllyah and colleagues argue that pregnant women should be included in drug and vaccine development from the outsethttps://t.co/P3v1ouk8tQ
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) October 14, 2021
FDA panel green-lights Moderna COVID boosters for risk groups.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:43h | UTCFDA panel green-lights Moderna COVID boosters for risk groups – CIDRAP


