Covid-19
[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”.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:12h | UTCCommentaries: Risks of severe illness in children from COVID-19 shown to be very low in largest study yet – University of Liverpool AND Covid: Children’s extremely low risk confirmed by study – BBC
Related study from the same group (preprint): Risk factors for intensive care admission and death amongst children and young people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and PIMS-TS in England during the first pandemic year – medRxiv
RCT: Another study shows Azithromycin does not improve outcomes in patients with Covid-19.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:09h | UTCCommentaries: Trial shows that the antibiotic azithromycin does not prevent mild COVID cases progressing to hospitalization, death – European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases AND Azithromycin: can its benefit be ruled out in mild COVID-19? – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Related: M-A: Azithromycin does not reduce the need for invasive mechanical ventilation or mortality in patients with Covid-19. AND RCT: Azithromycin provides no benefit for community treatment of patients with suspected COVID-19 AND RECOVERY trial: Azithromycin not beneficial for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 AND [Press release – not published yet] Azithromycin and doxycycline are not generally effective against COVID-19 in patients treated at home, shows PRINCIPLE trial AND Coalition Covid-19 Brazil – Randomized trial: Azithromycin not beneficial for patients admitted to the hospital with severe Covid-19 AND Coalition Covid-19 Brazil – Randomized trial: hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin in mild-to-moderate Covid-19
Commentary on Twitter
In patients with mild-to-mod #COVID19 managed without hospital admission, azithromycin + SOC did not reduce the risk of subsequent hospital admission or death
Read the ATOMIC2 trial here https://t.co/QXJ7T08JZS, being presented at #ECCMID2021 by lead author Tim Hinks @HinksLab pic.twitter.com/ZDiPhuQqFB
— The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (@LancetRespirMed) July 9, 2021
A correlate of protection for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is urgently needed – “Recent studies suggest that neutralizing antibodies could serve as a correlate of protection for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in humans”.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:03h | UTCA correlate of protection for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is urgently needed – Nature Medicine
Public Health England: COVID-19 vaccines highly effective in clinical risk groups.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:06h | UTCCOVID-19 vaccines highly effective in clinical risk groups – Public Health England
Commentaries: Covid vaccines do work well in clinically vulnerable – BBC AND Public Health England says Pfizer, AstraZeneca vaccines effective in high-risk groups – Reuters
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
NEWS: #COVID19 #vaccines highly effective in clinical risk groupshttps://t.co/mkVnxTqOrJ pic.twitter.com/M6Me98SRln
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) July 9, 2021
Pfizer says it’s time for a Covid booster; FDA and CDC say not so fast.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:08h | UTCPfizer says it’s time for a Covid booster; FDA and CDC say not so fast – CNN
See also: CDC, FDA contradict Pfizer on COVID-19 vaccine booster – CIDRAP AND Do I need a COVID-19 booster shot? 6 questions answered on how to stay protected – The Conversation AND Pfizer suggests booster shots will be needed this year, but government officials say science will dictate the timing – The Washington Post AND Pfizer to seek OK for 3rd vaccine dose; shots still protect – Associated Press AND Citing the Delta Variant, Pfizer Will Pursue Booster Shots and a New Vaccine – The New York Times (a few articles per month are free) AND Question open on need for COVID booster shot, data awaited, WHO says – Reuters
Can we stretch existing Covid vaccines to inoculate more people? Experts are divided.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:05h | UTCCan we stretch existing Covid vaccines to inoculate more people? Experts are divided – STAT
See also: Quarter-dose of Moderna COVID vaccine still rouses a big immune response
Lambda, the Newest WHO Variant of Interest, is Now in 29 Countries.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:06h | UTCLambda, the Newest WHO Variant of Interest, is Now in 29 Countries – Health Policy Watch
Benefits of mRNA COVID vaccines outweigh rare heart risks, says WHO.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:02h | UTCBenefits of mRNA COVID vaccines outweigh rare heart risks, says WHO – Reuters
See also: EU finds potential link between heart inflammation and mRNA COVID shots – Reuters AND Heart inflammation link to Pfizer and Moderna jabs – BBC
RCT: CoronaVac showed efficacy of 83.5% for preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:22h | UTCInvited commentary: CoronaVac: more data for regulators and policy makers
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—Interim analysis from phase 3 trial suggests efficacy of 2 doses of #CoronaVac is 83.5% against symptomatic #COVID19. More research is needed to confirm efficacy in the long term, in a more diverse group, and against emerging #variants of concern.
🔗 https://t.co/TN5b6wwclc pic.twitter.com/4zOvJFIIOH
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) July 8, 2021
Viewpoint | 7-1-7: an organizing principle, target, and accountability metric to make the world safer from pandemics.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:21h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
#COVID19 makes it possible and necessary to review lessons learnt and develop a framework to prepare for future epidemics, writes Thomas Frieden et al.
In this Viewpoint, they propose a 7-1-7 target for outbreak detection, notification, and response: https://t.co/TACjUplpmF pic.twitter.com/4uaxxgxJq2
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) July 7, 2021
Consensus Statement: Guidance for health care leaders during the recovery stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:20h | UTCCommentary: Experts issue pandemic-recovery guidance for health leaders – CIDRAP
Commentary on Twitter
32 experts in healthcare, health leadership, and public health from 17 countries collaborated to create a novel evidence- and expertise-informed framework of leadership imperatives during the recovery stage of the #COVID19 pandemic https://t.co/3gDKZIERBv
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) July 8, 2021
Reduced sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta to antibody neutralization.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:16h | UTCReduced sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta to antibody neutralization – Nature
Commentaries: Study highlights need for full Covid vaccination to protect against Delta variant – STAT AND How does the Delta variant dodge the immune system? Scientists find clues. – The New York Times
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Just published @Nature
Delta variant protection by mRNA and AZ vaccines requires 2-doses, little neutralizing antibody (nAb) with 1-dose, and insufficient nAb with prior covidhttps://t.co/TOgJdMe0g6 pic.twitter.com/KWLb9rBZ44— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 8, 2021
CDC: Use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after reports of myocarditis among vaccine recipients – “Continued use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in all recommended age groups will prevent morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 that far exceed the number of cases of myocarditis expected”.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:17h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
In a new @CDCMMWR, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends everyone 12 & older get a #COVID19 vaccine. The benefits of vaccination in preventing illness & death outweigh the rare risk of heart inflammation after vaccination. More: https://t.co/iPjbhU5jeV. pic.twitter.com/IggrZ4DX7L
— CDC (@CDCgov) July 6, 2021
After the pandemic: perspectives on the future trajectory of COVID-19.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:18h | UTCAfter the pandemic: perspectives on the future trajectory of COVID-19 – Nature
Perspective | “‘Too good to be true’: Doubts swirl around trial that saw 77% reduction in COVID-19 mortality”.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:13h | UTC‘Too good to be true’: Doubts swirl around trial that saw 77% reduction in COVID-19 mortality – Science (a few articles per month are free)
Will COVID become a disease of the young? – “A growing share of infections among unvaccinated youths in countries with high vaccination rates is putting the spotlight on the role of young people in the pandemic”.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:14h | UTCWill COVID become a disease of the young? – Nature
WHO: Countries urged to reopen with caution as world surpasses four million COVID deaths.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:12h | UTCSee also: WHO: World at perilous point in pandemic – CIDRAP
Related commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
I’m struggling with how best to stress how fragile the global situation is, so I’ll be blunt:
Each week >2.6 million cases and >53,000 deaths are reported to @WHO
Reported, meaning that there are many others.
Stop and think about that.
(Short thread⬇️) pic.twitter.com/OyQK98DkjR
— Maria Van Kerkhove (@mvankerkhove) July 6, 2021
Case series: therapeutic plasma exchange in 3 patients with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:17h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Three patients with severe manifestations of VITT after #COVID19 vaccination had poor response to initial therapy with anticoagulants and intravenous immune globulin. Their condition improved after therapeutic plasma exchange was initiated.
— NEJM (@NEJM) July 7, 2021
Prospective national cohort in Chile showed CoronaVac effectiveness was 65.9% for symptomatic Covid-19, 87.5% for hospitalization, 90.3% for ICU admission, and 86.3% for death.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:22h | UTCEffectiveness of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Chile – New England Journal of Medicine
Related: Phase 1/2 RCT: CoronaVac is well tolerated and safe and induces strong humoral responses in children and adolescents aged 3–17 years. AND WHO approval of Chinese CoronaVac COVID vaccine will be crucial to curbing pandemic. AND Brazilian town experiment shows mass vaccination can wipe out COVID-19.
Commentary on Twitter
https://twitter.com/hildabast/status/1412890823948079105
Mounting evidence suggests Sputnik COVID vaccine is safe and effective.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:14h | UTCMounting evidence suggests Sputnik COVID vaccine is safe and effective – Nature
Antibiotic resistance during and beyond COVID-19.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:09h | UTCAntibiotic resistance during and beyond COVID-19 – JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance
Schooling during COVID-19: Recommendations from the European Technical Advisory Group for schooling during COVID-19.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:11h | UTC
COVID and schools: the evidence for reopening safely.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:12h | UTCCOVID and schools: the evidence for reopening safely – Nature
Perspective | Should People With Immune Problems Get Third Vaccine Doses?
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:07h | UTCShould People With Immune Problems Get Third Vaccine Doses? – The New York Times (a few articles per month are free)
Related: [Preprint] 3rd AstraZeneca shot gives strong immunity. AND Case series: Safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients.
M-A: Association Between Administration of IL-6 Antagonists and Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 – “The 4% absolute risk reduction in mortality from 25% to 21% with IL-6 inhibition added to glucocorticoids may not translate to patients with a lower baseline mortality risk and likely do not justify the additional expense and risk for toxicities for patients hospitalized with modest oxygen requirements and a stable clinical course (from editorial)”.
7 Jul, 2021 | 09:02h | UTCEditorial: IL-6 Receptor Antagonist Therapy for Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: Who, When, and How? – JAMA
Commentaries: Interleukin-6 antagonists improve outcomes in hospitalised COVID-19 patients – King’s College London AND WHO advises 2 monoclonal antibodies for severe COVID – CIDRAP
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
https://twitter.com/msh_manu/status/1412473073715056645