EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic.
By theend of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises themajority of casesin the U.S.
The United States as of May 6 reached 997,023 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 81.7 million COVID-19 cases, according toJohns Hopkins University.Currently, 66.3% of the population isfully vaccinated, and 45.9% of vaccinated people have received booster doses.
Stackercompiled a list of the counties with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in Pennsylvania using data from theU.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesandCovid Act Now.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in your state.
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.4% (34,779 fully vaccinated) 30.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 556 (408 total deaths) 59.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,587 (18,793 total cases) 15.8% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.6% (20,650 fully vaccinated) 30.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 537 (233 total deaths) 53.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,928 (9,088 total cases) 5.3% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.2% (21,756 fully vaccinated) 29.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 547 (247 total deaths) 56.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,625 (11,568 total cases) 16.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.2% (22,287 fully vaccinated) 29.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 398 (184 total deaths) 14.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,141 (8,857 total cases) 13.3% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.5% (22,360 fully vaccinated) 29.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 598 (276 total deaths) 71.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,720 (12,328 total cases) 21.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.9% (38,751 fully vaccinated) 28.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 439 (348 total deaths) 25.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,526 (19,438 total cases) 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.1% (22,035 fully vaccinated) 28.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 343 (154 total deaths) 1.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,260 (11,797 total cases) 18.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (60,349 fully vaccinated) 27.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 506 (616 total deaths) 45.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,466 (29,807 total cases) 10.8% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.7% (55,447 fully vaccinated) 26.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 455 (498 total deaths) 30.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,476 (23,500 total cases) 2.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.8% (52,361 fully vaccinated) 25.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 351 (362 total deaths) 0.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,266 (24,996 total cases) 9.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.2% (43,824 fully vaccinated) 25.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 486 (416 total deaths) 39.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,254 (19,030 total cases) 0.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.8% (28,929 fully vaccinated) 24.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 172 (96 total deaths) 50.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,730 (10,453 total cases) 15.2% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (74,488 fully vaccinated) 23.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 365 (518 total deaths) 4.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,977 (36,833 total cases) 17.6% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.6% (59,627 fully vaccinated) 23.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 459 (520 total deaths) 31.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,327 (28,695 total cases) 14.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (3,207 fully vaccinated) 22.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 593 (36 total deaths) 69.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,771 (1,078 total cases) 19.5% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (70,591 fully vaccinated) 20.9% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 562 (732 total deaths) 61.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,731 (34,801 total cases) 21.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.3% (70,154 fully vaccinated) 20.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 521 (674 total deaths) 49.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,147 (31,216 total cases) 9.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.5% (89,317 fully vaccinated) 20.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 453 (743 total deaths) 29.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,721 (40,525 total cases) 11.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.8% (2,437 fully vaccinated) 20.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 472 (21 total deaths) 35.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,349 (816 total cases) 16.9% less cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.5% (16,600 fully vaccinated) 19.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 338 (101 total deaths) 3.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,925 (7,156 total cases) 8.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.9% (250,950 fully vaccinated) 18.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 334 (1,501 total deaths) 4.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,662 (119,729 total cases) 20.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvaniahttps
Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.7% (96,598 fully vaccinated) 17.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 308 (524 total deaths) 11.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,071 (37,581 total cases) 0.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.9% (198,589 fully vaccinated) 16.9% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 394 (1,376 total deaths) 12.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,083 (80,538 total cases) 4.5% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.1% (51,835 fully vaccinated) 16.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 588 (534 total deaths) 68.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,333 (23,013 total cases) 14.7% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.4% (29,489 fully vaccinated) 16.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 335 (172 total deaths) 4.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,151 (10,350 total cases) 8.8% less cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.5% (313,649 fully vaccinated) 16.1% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 346 (1,888 total deaths) 0.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,380 (122,133 total cases) 1.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.4% (246,086 fully vaccinated) 14.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (1,594 total deaths) 8.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,489 (103,139 total cases) 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.6% (158,054 fully vaccinated) 14.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 282 (760 total deaths) 19.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,409 (57,747 total cases) 3.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.7% (82,984 fully vaccinated) 14.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 477 (674 total deaths) 36.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,520 (34,661 total cases) 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.8% (95,521 fully vaccinated) 14.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 215 (349 total deaths) 38.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,007 (35,736 total cases) 0.4% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.3% (38,517 fully vaccinated) 13.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 379 (246 total deaths) 8.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,618 (15,343 total cases) 6.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.5% (38,220 fully vaccinated) 13.1% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 458 (294 total deaths) 31.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,041 (16,072 total cases) 13.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.6% (15,959 fully vaccinated) 13.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 396 (106 total deaths) 13.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,437 (5,208 total cases) 12.0% less cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.7% (38,623 fully vaccinated) 12.8% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 530 (343 total deaths) 51.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,711 (15,349 total cases) 7.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.7% (169,006 fully vaccinated) 11.4% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 346 (964 total deaths) 0.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,384 (59,511 total cases) 3.2% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.9% (128,002 fully vaccinated) 9.6% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 315 (652 total deaths) 9.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,851 (51,409 total cases) 12.5% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.1% (116,732 fully vaccinated) 9.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (742 total deaths) 13.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,911 (44,918 total cases) 8.2% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.7% (199,060 fully vaccinated) 8.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 429 (1,361 total deaths) 22.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,496 (74,580 total cases) 6.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.5% (399,025 fully vaccinated) 7.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 302 (1,898 total deaths) 13.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,963 (125,424 total cases) 9.6% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.7% (360,989 fully vaccinated) 7.0% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 331 (1,874 total deaths) 5.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,809 (112,267 total cases) 10.3% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.6% (163,669 fully vaccinated) 5.7% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 352 (892 total deaths) 0.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,289 (51,406 total cases) 8.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.6% (545,230 fully vaccinated) 4.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 280 (2,324 total deaths) 19.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,805 (156,254 total cases) 14.9% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.1% (201,785 fully vaccinated) 3.5% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 358 (1,093 total deaths) 2.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,525 (80,977 total cases) 20.1% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.0% (1,060,728 fully vaccinated) 2.2% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 322 (5,105 total deaths) 7.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,852 (314,469 total cases) 10.1% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.3% (831,092 fully vaccinated) 0.3% lower vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 273 (3,319 total deaths) 21.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,098 (268,725 total cases) 0.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.9% (144,408 fully vaccinated) 0.6% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 368 (772 total deaths) 5.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,240 (44,534 total cases) 3.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.1% (368,106 fully vaccinated) 2.3% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 221 (1,158 total deaths) 36.7% less deaths per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,900 (93,973 total cases) 19.0% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.7% (261,137 fully vaccinated) 3.2% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 336 (1,242 total deaths) 3.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,579 (90,776 total cases) 11.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.1% (5,153 fully vaccinated) 3.8% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 483 (35 total deaths) 38.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,909 (2,240 total cases) 39.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
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Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.9% (14,011 fully vaccinated) 12.3% higher vaccination rate than Pennsylvania Cumulative deaths per 100k: 510 (93 total deaths) 46.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,211 (4,596 total cases) 14.1% more cases per 100k residents than in Pennsylvania
Counties are ranked by the highest vaccination rate as of May 5, 2022. Due to inconsistencies in reporting, some counties do not have vaccination data available.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition where the immune system attacks the protective myelin layer that covers your nerves. Worldwide estimates for the number of people in 2020 with MS is 2.8 million, or approximately 35.9 people for every 100,000.
The symptoms of MS can affect processes like sensation, movement, and vision, just to name a few. While some people may have mild disease, others will have a gradually worsening disease that can cause significant disability.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly concerning for people with chronic health conditions, including MS. If you have MS, you may have many questions about your COVID-19 risk, your MS treatment, and the COVID-19 vaccines.
In the article, we cover what people with MS need to know about these topics as well. We will also discuss the steps that you can take to protect yourself from COVID-19.
It doesnt appear as if people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. However, those with MS may have additional factors such as older age or medical treatments that increase their risk for a more serious outcome, should they contract the infection.
A 2021 study of 219 individuals with MS found that the incidence of COVID-19 in this group was actually lower than in the general population. However, the study also found that hospitalization risk was higher in people with MS.
Despite this, illness severity remained low. The study concluded that, compared to the general population, people with MS dont seem to have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or having a severe COVID-19 outcome.
Another 2021 study aimed to identify risk factors for poorer COVID-19 outcomes in 1,626 people with MS. The main risk factor for a worse outcome was a higher level of disability. Other potential risk factors that were identified were:
The mortality rate due to COVID-19 was also higher than that of the general population. However, the researchers note that other medical, societal, and public health issues that they did not investigate could have contributed to this.
A third 2021 study agreed with the findings above. Researchers found that an increased level of disability, older age, and pre-existing health conditions were risk factors for poorer COVID-19 outcomes.
MS is treated with disease-modifying therapy (DMT). These are drugs designed to modify the activity of the immune system and reduce the progression of MS.
Because these drugs affect the immune system, you may wonder if taking them increases your risk of contracting COVID-19 or becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.
There are concerns that some types of DMTs may increase the risk of severe COVID-19.
For example, a 2021 study found that drugs that inhibit CD20, a protein found on certain types of immune cells, could increase a persons risk of severe COVID-19. MS drugs in this group include ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) and rituximab (Rituxan).
A 2022 study reviewed 16 observational studies on MS, DMTs, and COVID-19. It found that the use of anti-CD20 drugs may lead to an increased risk of severe COVID-19. However, it did not see an increased risk with other therapy types.
Overall, the National MS Society recommends that people with MS continue taking their DMTs during the pandemic unless directed not to by their doctor. Should you contract COVID-19, its important to discuss DMTs with your doctor or neurologist.
Every individual is different. The potential benefits of adjusting DMT treatment in response to COVID-19 must be weighed against the effect that this could have on a persons MS.
The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Vaccination can not only reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, but it can also help to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19.
The National MS Society recommends that people with MS get vaccinated as soon as they can. They state that the risk from COVID-19 itself is greater than the potential risks from the COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19 vaccines are both effective and safe for people with MS. However, some types of DMTs may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. These include:
If youre taking any of the DMTs above, its important to talk with your doctor about your vaccination schedule. Its possible that they can recommend a way to better time your COVID-19 vaccine with your DMT to help maximize effectiveness.
As of May 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 5 and older be vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are preferred over adenoviral vector vaccines (Johnson & Johnson)
The current recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses in adults are shown in the table below.
If youre moderately to severely immunocompromised, vaccine recommendations for adults are slightly different. In order to provide better protection, an extra dose has been added to the primary vaccine series. See the table below for details.
NOTE: Having MS and being on a DMT does not necessarily mean you are immunocompromised. However, certain DMTs may increase your risk for COVID-19. Discuss the timing of your vaccinations with your doctor or neurologist.
According to the CDC, the most common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include:
A 2022 study compared the COVID-19 vaccine side effects in people with MS to those of the general population. Overall, it found that side effects were similar between the two groups. The most common side effects in people with MS were:
Side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine are typically mild and go away on their own in a few days. However, if side effects persist or get worse after a few days have passed, reach out to your doctor.
According to research from 2021, there have been case reports of people with MS experiencing a relapse following COVID-19 vaccination. However, whether or not this was directly caused by the vaccine has not been established.
Per the National MS Society, COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to lead to a relapse. This is supported by a 2021 study of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in 324 people with MS. The study found that vaccination did not raise short-term risk of relapse. This additional 2021 study also suggested that COVID-19 vaccines did not exacerbate MS or cause MS flares.
If you do contract COVID-19, there are some medications that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized to help limit the severity of the illness. You can use these medications along with at-home care as you recover.
Antiviral medications like nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and remdesivir (Veklury) can reduce the viruss ability to multiply in your body.
Monoclonal antibody treatments like bebtelovimab can boost your immune systems response to the virus.
You may have heard of another monoclonal antibody treatment, casirivimab/imdevimab (REGEN-COV), as well. However, the FDA has limited its use because it is less effective against the Omicron variant.
People with MS arent at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. However, some factors may put them at a higher risk of serious illness. These include:
The best way to avoid serious illness due to COVID-19 is to get a COVID-19 vaccine, which is safe and effective for people with MS. mRNA vaccines are preferred over adenoviral vector vaccines.
Because some DMTs may make the vaccine less effective, talk with your doctor about finding an optimal schedule for your vaccine and MS medications. They can also answer any questions you have related to vaccination for COVID-19.
Mesa Biotech has recalled some of its COVID-19 tests because they may give false positive results after it was determined the facility where they were made was contaminated.
The recalled Accula SARS-CoV-2 tests were distributed between Jan. 19, 2022, and Feb. 8, 2022, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The PCR test is intended to detect the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19. It uses a nasal swab.
The FDA said, Mesa Biotech is recalling the Accula SARS-CoV-2 Test because certain lots of the test have an increased risk of giving false positive results due to contamination at the manufacturing facility.
No details were given about the contamination.
For more information, call Mesa Biotech at 858-800-4929 or 800-955-6288, option 2.
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FDA issues do not use warning for another unauthorized COVID-19 rapid test.
Nasal spray vaccines accomplish just that. A technique known as thin-film freeze-drying, or T.F.F.D., allows scientists to transform liquid vaccines into powders. Trehalose, a derivative of sucrose, or table sugar, is often added, which prevents the formation of toxic structures by creating organic glass orbs around proteins, maintaining the biological activities that elicit the immune response. In T.F.F.D., liquid vaccines are dropped on an ultracool surface, causing materials to freeze. Pressure is then reduced and low heat is applied so that the frozen water changes directly from solid to gas. The result? Powdered vaccines that revive with a quick spray in the nose.
Medical research is currently well underway, spearheaded by Seongkyu Yoon, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, who was recently granted $930,000 for the development of freeze-dried mRNA vaccines suitable for large-scale production. He explains that the T.F.F.D. process makes vaccines more stable and able to extend their shelf life, as well as make them easier to transport, store and use. This eliminates the need for cold-chain systems, and perhaps even medical workers, which, together, account for 72 percent of worldwide transportation costs, the equivalent of more than $1.2 billion. With lowered costs, vaccines can reach developing countries that were previously unable to afford the massive costs of outreach and transportation.
Intranasal vaccines have also proven more effective than traditional injections against pulmonary diseases like Influenza B and Covid-19. As Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunobiology at the Yale School of Medicine, explained in an interview, the beauty of the local mucosal vaccine is that not only does it provide protection acutely, but also its a long-lasting immunity. More important, dry vaccines create the potential for a pain-free alternative, which, as Dr. Iwasaki goes on to add, will likely increase the number of people who want to vaccinate themselves, especially for the 20 percent of the worlds population afraid to take the needle.
With over a dozen nasal vaccines in development worldwide, some now in Phase 3 trials, vaccines can finally be made available to all countries, not just a select few. Their superior efficacy and low transportation and outreach costs offer great potential in controlling the pandemic, especially as new, more lethal variants emerge. These pain-free nasal vaccines could help us get back to pre-Covid normal.
Works Cited
AboulFotouh, Khaled, et al. Next-Generation Covid-19 Vaccines Should Take Efficiency of Distribution into Consideration. AAPS PharmSciTech, 9 April 2021.
Cicco, Nancy. UMass Lowell Is Working to Freeze-Dry Covid Vaccines. UMass Lowell, 20 Jan. 2022.
Forman, Robert. Nasal Vaccination May Protect Against Respiratory Viruses Better Than Injected Vaccines. Yale School of Medicine, 21 Dec. 2021.
Griffiths, Ulla. Costs of Delivering Covid-19 Vaccine in 92 AMC Countries. World Health Organization, 8 Feb. 2021.
Love, Ashley S., and Robert J. Love. Considering Needle Phobia Among Adult Patients During Mass Covid-19 Vaccinations. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 3 April 2021.
Mandavilli, Apoorva. The Covid Vaccine We Need Now May Not Be a Shot. The New York Times, 2 Feb. 2022.
The effect of COVID-19 vaccination in children who contracted HIV vertically (from their mothers) has not been thoroughly evaluated. One study, presented at this weeks 40th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), endeavored to do just that.
The investigators assessed the COVID-19 neutralizing antibody titers against the Delta and Omicron variants in children with vertically transmitted HIV infection. The children received the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine and were monitored through the Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit at the Luigi Sacco Hospital in Milan, Italy.
The primary study cohort included 22 children with vertically transmitted HIV infection. The children were simultaneously undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Neutralizing antibody titers were assessed at 1 day before vaccination (T0), 25 days after the second vaccine dose (T1), and 6 months after the second dose (T2). After 6 months, antibody titers were compared to an age-matched cohort of 20 Pfizer-vaccinated, HIV-negative children.
Among the children living with HIV, the percentage of waning neutralizing antibody titers from T1 to T2 was 87.5% during Omicron and 82% during Delta. Notably, Delta displayed a moderate immune escape; Omicron titers were 456 during T1 while Delta titers were 144.
The pediatric HIV patients who had a previous COVID-19 infection had higher levels of neutralizing antibody titers during T1 and T2, and their titers dropped less than those with no COVID-19 infection history. There was no significant difference between the pediatric cohorts with and without vertically transmitted HIV.
The investigators concluded that Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccination had a high immunogenicity profile for children living with HIV. They noted that neutralizing antibody titers are considered representative of COVID-19 protection, concluding by recommending a booster vaccine to maintain high levels of protection.
This study, Humoral Immune Response in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated HIV-Vertically Transmitted Patients, was presented during the40th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), held online and in Athens, Greece from May 9-13, 2022.
Originally published on our sister brand, ContagionLive.
Sarah M. Tolaney, MD, MPH, describes her usage of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase-zzxf subcutaneous injections in her clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with HER2+ breast cancer.
Sarah M. Tolaney, MD, MPH: I think the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on both healthcare providers and patients. It's just been a really challenging time in healthcare in general. I think it has influenced our treatment and approaches and in fact, taught us a lot about how some things can actually be done in a manner that really tries to save patients from needing to come in quite as much to the infusion center, or when they do come in, to make that visit as brief as possible, which again, even outside the pandemic is nice for patients because they're not spending so much time in a hospital. They're able to spend that time with their family, for example, which I think obviously, is a much higher priority. I think we're trying to figure out ways to do that again; to really to improve patient quality of life. I think things like subcutaneous formulations really do make a big difference because again, it allows someone to get in and out of infusion much faster. We did start using a lot more Phesgo [subcutaneous trastuzumab pertuzumab] during the pandemic because it did allow patients on maintenance HP to get in and out quickly. Currently, though, the subcutaneous HP [trastuzumab pertuzumab] cannot be given at home by patients. That would really be ideal though because then they wouldn't need to come in for infusion at all. I think that is a movement we really would like to see happen. Our group was actually participating in a trial that was looking at-home administration of Phesgo. That study involved sending a nurse to the patient's house to administer the Phesgo. And that has been tremendous for many patients who come from very far distances where they're not having to drive hours to come into an infusion center to get that dose, they get it in the convenience of their home, by a nurse. Thats really a tremendous time saver for that patient but I think the next step is going to be trying to figure out how to create self-injectors so that patients can self-administer these drugs. I think, again, all this stuff is moving toward home treatment. Moving toward self-treatment really would be tremendous for patients and I'm glad to see that there is work really being done to try to make that happen because this is just so important for patient quality of life.
Transcript edited for clarity.;
The closure of Lincoln College is a shocking turnaround for a small Illinois college that welcomes first-generation students and qualifies as a predominantly Black institution. Google Earth 2022 hide caption
The closure of Lincoln College is a shocking turnaround for a small Illinois college that welcomes first-generation students and qualifies as a predominantly Black institution.
The 1918 influenza pandemic couldn't bring Lincoln College down. Neither could the Great Depression or World War II. It survived a major fire and economic hardships. But the college is closing for good on Friday the victim of two modern blights: the COVID-19 pandemic and a cyberattack.
It's a shocking turnaround for the small private Illinois school that has welcomed thousands of first-generation college students and qualified for federal recognition as a predominantly Black institution, or PBI.
"Lincoln College has been serving students from across the globe for more than 157 years," college President David Gerlach said in a statement on the school's website. "The loss of history, careers, and a community of students and alumni is immense."
"There were tears" when the college's board of trustees voted to shutter the institution, trustee Kathryn Harris told member station WGLT of Illinois State University.
"It's painful to the faculty, certainly to the students, to the alumni, to the city of Lincoln and to Logan County," Harris said. "I'm particularly pained by it because ... for a lot of students, particularly the Black students, are the first in their family to go to college. I'm proud for them ... but for those students who only have one more semester wow, that's painful."
The decision to close was announced in late March, when Gerlach told students the college would cease to operate after the end of the spring term. Current and former students said they felt blindsided by the school that had offered them opportunity and a safe haven from uncertain circumstances.
"That whole campus just can't go to waste. It's too necessary," recent graduate Arielle Williams, a Chicago native who was president of Lincoln's Black Student Union, told WGLT in April. "I don't think people are understanding what this is going to do to a generation of students."
Lincoln College saw record enrollment in the fall of 2019, filling its dormitories. But the pandemic hit months later, disrupting campus life and limiting the school's ability to raise money and recruit new students. COVID-19 forced the school to lay out cash for new technology and safety measures, at a time when it saw a significant drop in enrollment, as students paused their college careers.
Then, in December 2021, a ransomware attack struck that "thwarted admissions activities and hindered access to all institutional data," the college said.
The cyberattack blocked crucial data the college uses to project its academic and economic future. When it finally regained access to its computer systems in March, the news was dire: Fall enrollment of around 630 full-time students wouldn't be nearly enough to bolster its accounts. It would take a "transformational donation or partnership" for the school to continue to exist into the summer, it said.
The ransomware attack originated in Iran, Gerlach has said. The school paid less than $100,000 to restore its systems, he told the Chicago Tribune. But the college would need far more money as much as $53 million, Gerlach said in an interview with WGLT to guarantee its long-term survival.
At least 14 U.S. colleges or universities and nine school districts have been hit by ransomware demands so far in 2022, according to Brett Callow, a threat analyst at Emsisoft, a cybersecurity company based in New Zealand. Data was stolen in 13 of the 23 cases.
Callow says the hackers customize their ransom demands to each victim.
"The amount the attackers ask for varies enormously depending on the organization they've hit," Callow said. "They've typically had access to the organization's financials they'll know whether it cover carries cyber insurance, for example, and what the coverage limits are."
In each of the past two years, ransomware has hit more than 80 education organizations, Callow told NPR. In 2021, that included 62 school districts and 26 colleges and universities.
When asked why the education sector seems particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks, Callow says many school districts and colleges are facing such security challenges for the first time.
"School districts are basically having to design their own security networks, and you see these very small districts with barely any IT experience" trying to strategize and pay for measures such as quarterly penetration testing and 24/7 network monitoring.
The prevalent threat has made insurance itself into a burden: a public school district in Bloomington, some 30 miles northeast of Lincoln, recently saw its cyber-insurance price skyrocket from $6,661 to $22,229.
Lincoln College was chartered in 1865 and named for Abraham Lincoln. It's located in the small town of Lincoln, with a population of around 13,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In the past decade, Lincoln transitioned from being a junior college to return to its origins as a four-year institution. It has played a prominent role in its local community, fielding sports teams and operating student-run radio and TV outlets. But a fundraising campaign to help the school fell far short of its $20 million goal.
With its closing imminent, Lincoln College has devoted its website to answering the many questions its students, alumni and staff now find themselves facing. It's also working to provide transcripts and transfer information, to help them document the work they put in at the school.
At its final commencement ceremony last week, Lincoln conferred associate's, bachelor's, or master's degrees on 235 students.
But, in the last few weeks, reports have emerged that some people who receive the medication develop a "rebound" of symptoms of varying intensity and duration a few days after completion of the five-day course. For some, this included reversion to a positive diagnostic Covid-19 test.The frequency of the rebound is not well defined. The large clinical trial that resulted in emergency use authorization (EUA) of Paxlovid found that 1% to 2% of persons in both the treatment and placebo groups of the trial had a positive PCR test after an initial negative test post-infection. (Of note, many trial patients were otherwise asymptomatic when they had this post-infection positive result and an increase in hospitalization, death and drug resistance was not observed.) So, the Paxlovid rebound was not expected and the frequency of it is currently unknown.
My guess is that this is occurring more frequently than in 1% or 2% of people. Right now, we only have a series of anecdotes and friends' worried phone calls. Plus, some of the main symptoms, like sniffles and headache, can be ascribed to allergies or angst or whatever.
I should know... for I, too, am a rebounder. After the first dose or two of antiviral, I welcomed a glorious easing of my symptoms. But then, three or four days after stopping my meds, my nose began to run once more, my morning throat discomfort returned, as did the grinding headache, the low-grade fever and the sudden, even dramatic fatigue that resolved only after a brief, or not so brief, nap.
I wasn't certain that it was a rebound, so I reached out to doctor friends who also were caught in the latest Omicron wave to exchange stories. To my surprise, many told me that they too had rebounded a little or a lot after finishing their Paxlovid course. Granted, doctors are particularly predisposed to describing even a sniffle or the passing throat twinge in excruciating detail. The challenge of applying hyper-technical medical-ese to our own mortal selves somehow is irresistible.
The complaints I heard from friends though were not simply verbal acrobatics: Some felt lousy enough to miss a day or two of work. Others felt worse than ever. Personally, I dragged for several days, never quite sure if I was ill or milking it a bit -- until the sudden fatigue descended at an odd moment and lying down right there on the floor for 40 winks seemed like a great idea.
So once again we are in uncharted Covid-19 waters, trying to use sort-of-similar situations as a guide for what's ahead even as countless new questions arise.
First, does the rise in the amount of detectable virus during rebound mean a person is again contagious and, if so, does the rule of five days of isolation, five more days of masking no longer apply? (My guess is that a longer stay away from the crowd is necessary.) Second, is there a connection, favorable or not, between rebounding and development of long Covid-19? (I doubt it.)
Will this bounce back predispose to a faster emergence of drug resistance? (So far, no, but data is still being collected.) What about the impact of a rebound on protection against the next variant? It might be wishful thinking, but one could argue that the rebound and re-exposure to virus so soon after the first challenge could lead to a more durable immune response.
These questions lead us to the tiresome but correct bromide that more studies are needed to figure out the implications of this bump in the road.
As with other substantial steps forward, including effective vaccination, treatment with the steroid dexamethasone, immunity from infection and monoclonal antibody treatment, we have been reminded again that no shortcuts exist in the battle to control the pandemic. Like all real-life struggles, this particular game is very, very difficult to change. But all can agree that, more than two years into the pandemic, the likely fate of a person, aka the "game," who was infected in March 2020 versus now has been fundamentally changed.
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Washington CNN
You dont make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.
That was Dr. Anthony Faucis message for an anxious nation when the novel coronavirus first began to spread across the US. More than two years later, his words have new relevance in the face of a disturbing warning from the White House.
CNNs Kaitlan Collins reports: The Biden administration is issuing a new warning that the US could potentially see 100 million Covid-19 infections this fall and winter, as officials publicly stress the need for more funding from Congress to prepare the nation.
Bill Gates says preventing next pandemic will cost $1 billion a year
The projection of 100 million potential infections is an estimate based on a range of outside models that are being closely tracked by the administration and would include both the fall and winter, a senior administration official told CNN. Officials say this estimate is based on an underlying assumption of no additional resources or extra mitigation measures being taken, including new Covid-19 funding from Congress, or dramatic new variants.
Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid-19 response coordinator, confirmed the warning during an interview on ABC News Sunday, but stressed that whether that happens or not is largely up to us as a country.
Were looking at a range of models, both internal and external models, and what theyre predicting is that if we dont get ahead of this thing, were going to have a lot of waning immunity, this virus continues to evolve, and we may see a pretty sizable wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths this fall and winter, Jha said.
Already, cases of Covid-19 are rising again. Infections have increased by more than 50% compared with the previous week in at least eight states. Parts of New York have moved into the high designation of Covid-19 community level, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metrics.
But could the virus really infect 100 million Americans this fall and winter? We asked Dr. Syra Madad, an epidemiologist at NYC Health + Hospitals, about the White Houses warning and what it might mean for you. Our conversation, conducted over the phone and lightly edited for flow and brevity, is below.
WHAT MATTERS: What do you make of this warning from the White House?
MADAD: I think its an extremely important warning that everybody in the United States, whether youre unvaccinated or vaccinated and boosted, should certainly take heed of because weve been in this rodeo before and we know what to do.
We have the tools and resources to protect ourselves and protect those around us. Its important that people are aware that the risk level around them is increasing. And so there are things that you can do to reduce your risk of getting infected, and certainly having a severe outcome.
When we talk about severe outcome, we know that the Covid-19 vaccines are working and holding up really well against the most severe outcomes, which is hospitalization, ICU-level care and death. At the same time, we want to make sure that theres also funding in place where pharmaceutical companies can invest in bivalent, multivalent Covid-19 vaccines.
WHAT MATTERS: Officials say the White House estimate is based on an underlying assumption of no additional resources or extra mitigation measures being taken. It sounds like you agree that additional resources would make a big difference?
MADAD: Oh, absolutely. I think the best part about these predictions is that they are predictions at the end of the day. There are models that are projecting whats going to happen in the future, and we know that we have the resources and tools to change that future.
We can prevent I would say by and large that number, that amount of people getting infected. And I think that theres a couple of questions and probably points of clarification that Ill make on that 100 million number itself.
Its unclear where they got that particular ballpark number of infections from one can only predict its probably a combination of waning immunity in addition to obviously the Americans that havent even gotten fully vaccinated. We still have millions of Americans that have only had one dose. We have millions of Americans that havent even gotten one dose. And so its a combination of all of those factors, along with those that are immunocompromised.
Whats important is that theres transparency where this number is coming from. I just laid out some of the factors that are probably going into this number, but its important that we do understand what are the factors that are coming into play in this model.
WHAT MATTERS: Most of the US is fully vaccinated, and a lot of people are exhausted from the last two years. How do you get people to pay attention to warnings at this point in the pandemic?
MADAD: Its a great question, and we know pandemic fatigue is real and it has already set in here in the United States. We certainly are out of the acute phase of the pandemic, meaning that its not red sirens, even though we know obviously hundreds of Americans are still, unfortunately, dying every day, and thousands of Americans are still getting infected every day. And we know thats certainly an underestimate.
But because this virus and this disease is much more manageable because of the tools that we have, people are much more complacent. And I understand that; we are going onto year three. People want to go back to enjoying the life that they knew before this pandemic.
At the same time, I think its just important that people realize we are still in a pandemic. As much as we dont want to be in one, that is the reality. And its not just shaped by whats happening here in the United States. Its also shaped by what is happening around the world. And were seeing more and more of these subvariants pop up both here in the US as well as around the world. Its just important that people realize that its not over until its over all around the world.
We need to just continue to be cautious. I think that we can do all the things that we love doing, but doing so in a safer manner, knowing that theres much more virus in the community.
I think really understanding it from the standpoint of: You shouldnt want to get infected. You shouldnt want to get sick, even if its something thats manageable. For me, I think its also the risk of long Covid. Im not necessarily afraid of getting infected with the virus, even though I am still avoiding it. I am still masking in large indoor gatherings because I just dont want to get sick. I am actually afraid of long Covid. I dont know what the repercussions will look like in the long term.
WHAT MATTERS: What are the best metrics for people to pay attention to?
MADAD: So I would look at wastewater surveillance, which is an early indicator of telling you theres something brewing in the community and cases are rising.
I would also continue to look at the CDCs transmission level map. That kind of gives a good indication of where transmission levels are in your given community. And we know many places in the US are getting into that medium level of Covid-19 transmission, certainly here in New York City.
I still would want to know: Are hospitalization rates going up in my given community? Would there be a hospital available to me in the off chance I do get infected and I require hospitalization? But thats more of a lagging indicator.
WHAT MATTERS: Anything else youd like to add?
MADAD: The White House is in a very tough position. They are fighting for more funding. Theyre making it very transparent that they are very concerned. They want to make sure that people understand that this is no joke.
That 100 million number is a very large number, and so its really important that Congress understands that we are still in the pandemic, even though a lot of folks have put the pandemic behind them. You know, we could go back very, very quickly to the state that we were in just a few months ago with Omicron, with significant numbers of Americans getting infected.
We dont want to go back to that state, right? So we need to make sure Congress understands that this is really important for them to continue funding.
