A mass study of COVID-19 vaccines has shown they are overwhelmingly safe despite the presence of some side effects.
The largest study of its kind involved more than 99 million people across Australia, Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, New Zealand and Scotland who received a vaccine.
The researchers are collaborators to the Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN), which has used an electronic database to leverage large amounts of data to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine safety.
The analysis found vaccine safety signals were warranted for myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (swelling of the thin sac covering the heart) after mRNA vaccines and Guillain-Barr syndrome (where the immune system attacks the nerves) and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (a type of blood clot in the brain) after an AstraZeneca vaccine.
A new signal for acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (inflammation and swelling in the brain and spinal cord) was also detected, warranting further investigation.
Molecular virologist and leader of the infection and immunity research strength at Monash University Malaysia said given the number of people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, severe side effects were rare.
He said it was significantly safer to take a vaccine than risk COVID-19.
With over 13.5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses administered worldwide and approximately 71% of the global population having received at least one dose, the impact on public health has been profound, saving numerous lives and mitigating the severity of symptoms associated with the virus, he said.
The likelihood of experiencing a neurological event following a COVID-19 infection is markedly higher, up to 617 times, compared to post-vaccination occurrences. Similarly, the risk of myocarditis is greater after a COVID-19 infection than following vaccination, with statistics indicating a risk of 35.9 cases per 100,000 individuals after the second vaccine dose, compared to 64.9 per 100,000 after contracting COVID-19.
Based on comprehensive data and numerous publications, I firmly advocate that the risk of adverse events remains substantially lower with vaccination compared to contracting SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Thus, vaccination remains the vastly safer choice for protecting against COVID-19.
The Australian government offers compensation to people who receive serious side effects as a result of the vaccine. This is not unusual in vaccines, most of which carry a small risk of adverse effects.
The scheme covers losses or expenses of $1,000 and above due to the administration of a TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, or due to an adverse event that is recognised to be caused by a COVID-19 vaccination.
The scheme is currently due to expire in September.
University of Sydneys School of Public Health immunisation expert Julie Leask said the government should expand the program to include all vaccines.
The Australian government should extend its COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation scheme, due to end in April. It should continue to include COVID-19 vaccines but extend it to all vaccines recommended on our national program, she said.
People vaccinate as part of a social contract. Very rarely a person will get a serious side effect. It is right for the government to compensate for the costs from rare vaccine side effects, which can include care, medical expenses, and time away from work.
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Health secretary vs virus revisiting the COVID-19 pandemic firestorm
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of research has primarily been on COVID-19 symptoms and vaccinations. Despite the widespread administration of millions of vaccine doses worldwide, concerns about the safety and efficacy of vaccinations continue to be raised. To address this, our study aimed to investigate the adverse events (AEs) associated with different types and doses of COVID-19 vaccines across six Arabic countries during the fourth wave of the pandemic.
The variation in the number of vaccinated participants among the studied Arab countries reflects differences in vaccine availability and compulsory vaccine regulations. For example, Saudi Arabia initiated vaccination for children aged 12 and older in July 2021 and mandated that all citizens and residents receive a booster dose by February 2022. In contrast, compulsory vaccination policies and booster doses had not been implemented in the remaining five countries at the time of data collection46,47,48.
The pattern of AEs after each dose aligns with previous reports49. This may be attributed to the cumulative immunological effect of the second dose rather than a direct immunological response50. We observed a lower frequency of AEs after the second dose with many types of vaccines compared to the first dose. However, we reported an increase in the frequency of AEs after the Sputnik V vaccine, local AEs after the Sinopharm vaccine, systemic AEs after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and serious AEs after the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. Previous studies have shown different trends, with higher local and systemic AEs reported after the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines26,50,51,52.
In our study, the most prevalent local AEs, such as pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, were reported after the Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm vaccines. Previous studies conducted in the reported varying percentages were reported after the first and second doses20,26,53. The most commonly reported general AEs were fatigue, body aches, fever, headache, and myalgia, which is in line with published studies20,49.
Headache was reported in more than 50% of participants after the AstraZeneca vaccine54,55,56. There are no details about the pathophysiologic mechanisms, whether the intracellularly synthesized spike protein is produced by using mRNA vaccines, or the protein triggers the immune response from activated anti-inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins, nitric oxide, and cytokines. Headache is the leading symptom of cerebrovascular thrombosis (CVT), including vaccine-induced ones. So, it's important to distinguish between vaccine-induced headaches and those caused by cerebrovascular thrombosis54,55,56.
Visual disturbances were reported by a small number of participants. There are reported cases of transient loss in the visual field due to possible acute vasospasm of the artery in the postchiasmatic visual pathway, triggered by the COVID-19 vaccine that resolved after two hours57. In other cases, macular detachment and severe choroidal thickening were detected causing visual loss and suggesting a potential inflammatory or autoimmune response to the vaccine58,59,60.
Elevations in blood pressure were observed among some vaccinated participants, which is consistent with reports of blood pressure surges after mRNA vaccines and an increase in home blood pressure after the first mRNA vaccine dose. Some patients required modification of anti-hypertensive drugs. This may be attributed to nervousness or white-coat hypertension. However there was no baseline data, and BP follow-up over a long period after vaccination is very important56,61.
Menstrual changes were reported among vaccinated females and it is noteworthy that by September 2, 2021, over 30,000 COVID-19-vaccinated females had reported menstrual changes to the United Kingdoms Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Yellow Card surveillance system12,62. This might be a result of immunological effects on the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle or biological effects of immune cells on the uterus lining, which contribute to the tissue's cyclical building and breaking down12,63.
Rheumatological symptoms such as bone pain, myalgia, body aches, and weariness were reported in our study, similar to some studies conducted in Italy, Libya, Iran, China, and Turkey61,63,64,65,66,67. These symptoms might be attributed to the immune response triggered by the vaccine, leading to transient inflammation and musculoskeletal discomfort26,68. It is important to note that these symptoms are generally self-limiting and resolve within a few days after vaccination. The association between COVID-19 vaccination and the occurrence of certain symptoms remains uncertain when compared to other vaccines. The hyper-inflammatory response triggered by the COVID-19 vaccine raises concerns about its potential as a risk factor for inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders. This cytokine activation can be attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, other components of the vaccine, or the adenoviral vector used67,68.
New-onset autoimmune manifestations, including Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS), rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, have been reported in eleven cases following COVID-19 vaccination, particularly after the first dose. The precise nature of the link between the COVID-19 vaccine and autoimmune symptoms is still unclear, whether it is coincidental or causal. Molecular mimicry, the generation of specific autoantibodies, and the influence of specific vaccination adjuvants are all thought to play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases63,69. For instance, we documented one case of GBS, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nerves and nerve roots. GBS has been associated with other vaccines such as rabies, hepatitis A and B, influenza, and more recently, the COVID-19 vaccine70,71.
In this study, we documented the occurrence of symptoms suggesting vaccine-induced myocarditis and pericarditis, including chest pain (88 cases), shortness of breath (103 cases), and sensations of a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart (34 cases). These presentations align with the CDC report on these conditions72. Our findings are consistent with previous research indicating that COVID-19 vaccine-related myocarditis primarily affects young men and is more commonly associated with mRNA vaccines such as those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna73.
We observed a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of serious adverse events (AEs) among different vaccine types. We identified 10 cases of VITT out of 3,239 vaccine doses, which is a rare syndrome involving venous or arterial thrombosis at unusual sites such as cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and splenic thrombosis. Additionally, we found 10 cases of thrombosis out of 3,239 vaccine doses, a comparable rate to reports from the US (17 cases of VITT, 14 cases of thrombosis out of 7,000 participants after the J&J vaccine) and lower than the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (222 cases of thrombosis out of 35 million participants after the AstraZeneca vaccine)74,75. VITT occurs when DNA leaks from the imperfect adenoviral vector used in AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines, infects cells, binds to platelet factor 4 (PF4), and triggers the production of anti-PF4 autoantibodies76.
We also discovered a significant increase in post-vaccination COVID-19 cases among individuals previously infected with COVID-19. Such findings may raise the issue of the benefit of vaccines for people who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. It is noteworthy that a study conducted in Kentucky (MayJune 2021), reported an odds ratio of 2.34 (95% CI 1.583.47) of re-infection among unvaccinated participants compared to those who were fully vaccinated, suggesting that full vaccinations after a past SARS-CoV-2 infection provide additional protection by decreasing its transmissibility by shortening the duration of infectivity and so decrease the transmissibility77. Therefore, vaccination should be offered to all eligible individuals regardless of their previous infection status. While there is limited epidemiological evidence supporting the benefits of vaccination for previously infected individuals, our study supports the notion.
Regarding the frequency of post-vaccination COVID-19 in relation to the number of doses, the interpretation of the increase in infections after the second dose is still uncertain. Cumulatively, they were part of the sample that received the first dose, resulting in a significantly lower difference. Notably, the second dose can cause up to a tenfold increase in antibody levels, a stronger T-cell response, as well as more changes in the immune cells. Moreover, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged, primarily focused on the spike protein, a crucial element for developing vaccine candidates. Diverse vaccinations are currently undergoing clinical trials and demonstrating remarkable outcomes, however, their effectiveness still requires evaluation in various SARS-CoV-2 variants4,20.
We carried out a multicenter study in six Arab countries that included the assessment of AEs associated with eight different vaccine types. We were able to identify several associated factors with post-vaccination AEs, which can aid in monitoring and follow-up efforts during and after vaccination campaigns. Additionally, our study included patients from a previous wave of COVID-19, allowing us to track AEs across different vaccine doses. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of our study. Firstly, being an observational study, it is susceptible to bias and confounding issues. Secondly, the use of an online self-administered survey introduces limitations such as data accuracy concerns due to recall bias, sampling bias (as more than 80% of participants were well-educated), and availability bias (excluding individuals who couldn't access or use the Internet, and those who were illiterate or deceased). Thus, our study population may not represent the entire population. Furthermore, assessing SARS-CoV-2 infection rates after vaccination is complicated by the presence of the delta variant and other variants of concern, especially as the immunity from previous vaccinations may be waning. The timing between the first and second doses is relatively close together, but the interval between the second and third doses can vary widely across countries. The availability of COVID-19 confirmatory testing in the studied countries also affects the diagnosis of infection rates, potentially missing asymptomatic cases. Another limitation is the lack of assessment of participants' pre-COVID-19 vaccine health status, making it challenging to differentiate pre-existing health issues from those related to the COVID-19 vaccine. The use of a reporting system for the participants to report the AEs themselves can introduce bias in exaggerating or underreporting some AEs. Although these limitations exist, our findings are consistent with those of other international studies. Lastly, the variation in response rate among countries with a low number of responses in some e.g. Syria may be due to the method of sample collection using an online questionnaire, compounded by political unrest in some countries (e.g. Syria) hindering internet access. It is important to interpret the data of vaccine and AE rates while considering such political conditions for further extensive studies. Such variation can affect the generalizability and comparisons of results among such countries.
February 27, 2024
Most COVID-19 cases are mild, but many still lead to life-threatening complications. Severe cases feature an overactive immune response that causes dangerous inflammation. This inflammation affects many different tissues and cell types, including uninfected ones, and resembles that seen in some autoimmune diseases. Its not clear why SARS-CoV-2 can cause such inflammation while other coronaviruses responsible for common colds dont.
One way the immune system fights viruses is by breaking down the viral proteins into small fragments called peptides. An NIH-funded research teamled by Dr. Gerard Wong at the University of California, Los Angeles, in collaboration with Richard L. Gallo at the University of California, San Diegoinvestigated whether these peptides could continue to activate the immune system. Their results were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on February 6, 2024.
The team used machine learning to search SARS-CoV-2 proteins for fragments that resemble molecules called antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The body makes these molecules as part of its defense against infections. Certain AMPs can bind to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which is produced during some viral infections. The resulting AMP-dsRNA complexes have been shown to trigger inflammation and have been implicated in autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. Among the SARS-CoV-2 AMP-like fragments, the team looked for those that carried a strong positive electric charge. This would allow them to bind dsRNA, which is negatively charged.
The researchers studied three SARS-CoV-2 fragments that both resembled AMPs and had a large positive charge. These fragments were also found in the airways of patients with severe COVID-19. The scientists dubbed these AMP-like peptides xenoAMPs. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 contained more potential xenoAMPs than common cold coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 xenoAMPs also mimicked real AMPs more closely than those from common cold coronaviruses.
XenoAMPs bound to dsRNA and caused it to form liquid crystalline structures like those formed when AMPs bind to dsRNA. These structures were the optimal size and shape for binding to certain receptors that control the innate immune response. When tested in various types of human cells, the xenoAMP-dsRNA complexes enhanced inflammatory responses. They also triggered gene activity changes resembling those triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Corresponding peptides from a common cold coronavirus did not bind and form such structures with dsRNA. They also did not enhance inflammation in the cells.
The researchers injected one of the xenoAMP-dsRNA complexes into the bloodstream of mice. After they did, the mice had higher levels of proinflammatory molecules in the blood, similar to those seen in people with COVID-19. They also had higher levels of various immune cells.
These findings could lead to new strategies for treating severe cases of COVID-19. They also suggest a way to determine whether future coronaviruses could cause similar inflammation. More generally, they show how viruses can continue to affect the host even after theyre destroyed by the immune system.
The textbooks tell us that after the virus is destroyed, the sick host wins, and different pieces of virus can be used to train the immune system for future recognition. COVID-19 reminds us that its not this simple, Wong explains. For comparison, if one were to assume that after food gets digested into its molecular components, then its effects on the body are over, it would be very liberating. I wouldnt have to worry about the half-dozen jelly donuts I just ate. However, this simple picture is not correct.
by Brian Doctrow, Ph.D.
References:Viralafterlife: SARS-CoV-2 as a reservoir of immunomimetic peptides that reassemble into proinflammatory supramolecular complexes. Zhang Y, Bharathi V, Dokoshi T, de Anda J, Ursery LT, Kulkarni NN, Nakamura Y, Chen J, Luo EWC, Wang L, Xu H, Coady A, Zurich R, Lee MW, Matsui T, Lee H, Chan LC, Schepmoes AA, Lipton MS, Zhao R, Adkins JN, Clair GC, Thurlow LR, Schisler JC, Wolfgang MC, Hagan RS, Yeaman MR, Weiss TM, Chen X, Li MMH, Nizet V, Antoniak S, Mackman N, Gallo RL, Wong GCL. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Feb 6;121(6):e2300644120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2300644120. Epub 2024 Feb 2. PMID:38306481.
Funding:NIHs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and Office of the Director (OD); National Science Foundation; W. M. Keck Foundation; Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative.
While the world has largely moved on from the COVID-19 pandemic, for Michelle Dawn, thats not possible.
Dawn is an Arizona artist who suffers from a chronic illness that lands her in the high risk category when it comes to the coronavirus. So, she still has to be careful about COVID-19 today in ways that many of the rest of us have left behind.
Its an isolating experience that led her to find a community of her own online. There she met Katrina Dreamer, and the pair became friends.
They have created a new zine together "The Covid Logs." It's dedicated to the experiences of chronically ill and disabled people during the ongoing pandemic.
Michelle Dawn
Michelle Dawn
MICHELLE DAWN: So I have a genetic condition that makes me disabled and also chronically ill. It makes me high risk, which means if I get COVID, I'm at a higher risk of death or getting long COVID. And it also makes me immunocompromised, which means that I'm more likely to catch COVID and also less likely to be able to fight it off.
So tell us a little bit about what that meant for you living through this pandemic. I mean, it was difficult for everyone, I think in many ways, but this sounds like a whole different level for you.
DAWN: Absolutely. It was completely life changing. I felt so alone the past four years and isolated. I have to do a serious risk assessment anytime I literally do anything, anytime I go out into the world. And it's not really because of COVID itself. It's more so because of people, people's unwillingness to mask, to test, to stay home when they're sick. People have just really denied the severity of COVID and its effects.
What do you think it is like if you had to pick one thing because it sounds like there are many, right, but what do you think maybe the top thing is that people do not understand about what this has been like and what it's still like for somebody like you who has a chronic illness?
DAWN: I, I feel like people are just sort of misled about the severity of this. Like, yes, I am drastically affected by it because I am more high risk for things like death. But this affects everyone, like anyone can contract long COVID. It's been really hard for me to deal with that level of grief as far as seeing people just acting in a way where they just, they truly don't understand what they're getting themselves into, how it's affecting people around them and yeah, it's, it's just very, very isolating.
So, have you managed to stay away from COVID up until this point?
DAWN: I have, I have not gotten COVID yet. My immediate household has not gotten COVID yet, and it's because we've drastically had to alter our lives.
So you and another person have also gotten together and, and created some, some real art out of this, it sounds like. So I want to talk about "The COVID Logs," the scene that you have created. Where did this idea come from?
DAWN: So I in feeling isolated, I have been able to find a wonderful community mostly through Instagram of other like-minded people who practice disability justice. And it's really helped me to feel seen and less alone. And one of the people that I met through that is Katrina Dreamer. They live in Colorado, and they're the co-creator of "The COVID Logs." And we just had so many similar values and interests. We actually have the same chronic illness, and it was actually Katrina's idea. They came up with wanting to make a zine called "The COVID Logs" and just have it be something for the disabled and chronically ill community. People who feel forgotten and obsolete by this COVID experience. So this zine was just a way for us high risk people who feel disregarded to be like an outlet for our community. A place for us to connect and feel less alone and then also just a space, hopefully a vehicle to get our voices heard. It's a topic that not a lot of people are talking about.
So let's talk about what this looks like. I mean, this is large. It's 98 pages. It's 36 different contributors. Tell us about what's in here.
DAWN: Yeah. So, in the fall we put out a call for artists, and we got an overwhelming response. So many submissions, and yeah, it turned into basically it went from a little zine to 100-page book. It's a full color, it's a collection of different artwork and poetry, essays, just people's narratives about their experience of what life has been like since 2020.
So what are some of the ones that stand out to you? There's one I really loved in here. One artist took greeting cards, right, that she had gotten during the pandemic, even their grandmother's last letter, which was, you know, really touching and, and made artwork out of it. What, what, what do you love in this?
DAWN: Yeah, I, I absolutely love those pieces as well. Amy Pascal definitely stands out. They have beautiful paintings. One called "Still Life with COVID," one called "Well Wishers" and another called "What Doesn't Kill Us" and just a beautiful representation, somewhat abstract, of what their experience has been like.
And then another one that really stands out is by Bug Crew. They submitted, it's a short act graphic novel. It's beautifully illustrated and there's text involved, and again, just surrounding the ideas of community care and the importance of that in a COVID world.
Michelle Dawn
The Covid Logs, from Michelle Dawn and
Tell us what you contributed to this as well because you're also an artist and, and do your own kind of work, right?
DAWN: I am. Yeah. So I often do a motionless which is a manipulation technique with Polaroid photos. And I worked on a series back in 2020 when this all started, I kind of used art as an outlet. And I created a series of three photos called "Unseen Unheard. And it's a motionless and also double exposure of myself. And I'm kind of blurred, and there's a overlaying layer of floral and different plant life over the top of me. So you can't fully see the image of myself. And it's just sort of was made to represent that feeling of being unheard and feeling obsolete. And also, again, just like the zine a way to kind of connect with other people in my community and help people to feel less alone and let them know that, hey, you know, I'm experiencing something similar to you.
Yeah. What does it mean to you to have done this and to be able to let other people who have been through similar experiences also be able to tell their stories?
DAWN: It's just, it's been so important to me obviously, this affects me personally so much. But it's also important to me because just the idea of community care is something that's extremely important to me. The idea of wearing a mask to not just protect yourself but to protect your community and strangers and just everyone that you come in contact with. Also, COVID disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous communities and other people of color. So wearing a mask is not only care, but it's also just a sign of solidarity, and all of those things are so important to me and our zine really helps get that out into the world.
So many people have just stopped talking about COVID. They think it doesn't exist anymore or it's not dangerous and it's just not accurate, like those aren't the scientific facts. And so it's just so important to me to get this out into the world and to help other people who are in my position to not feel alone and also just to put it out in the world as an active community care.
Strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 circulating in 2023 typically took about three days from exposure to showing symptoms. This incubation period is shorter than previous strains of the virus. It may take up to a week before an at-home antigen test shows positive.
This article will review the the incubation periods of various SARS-CoV-2 virus variants, from Alpha to Omicron, after exposure and how long it typically takes to get a positive test. It will also discuss multiple reasons times may differ from person to person, including vaccination and booster status, general health, and if youve had COVID-19 before.
FG Trade / Getty Images
Terminology relating to viral illness varies. Here are a few key terms used in this article to clarify what what they mean:
After youve been exposed to a virus, theres not much you can do to determine whether you will get sick. It always helps to take good care of yourself, including by eating healthily and drinking lots of water.
Take regular COVID-19 tests and monitor yourself for symptoms like fever before leaving the house to ensure you dont unwittingly transmit the virus to other people.
You may want to order or pick up more COVID-19 tests in case you do end up with an infection. Youll need to test regularly if you are still positive before seeing other people, especially those with a weakened immune system.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
A review of studies conducted from 2020 to March 2022 indicated an average incubation period for COVID-19 at six to seven days, ranging from 1.8 to 18.87 days. The average incubation period shortened as new variants circulated, with Omicron at an average of 3.42 days.
As COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person, it mutates (changes genetically) along the way. These mutations can change the virus enough that it may develop into a new strain.
New strains, or variants, can have changes in common symptoms, how easily they spread, and how long they take to cause illness.
Many variants have circulated since 2020. A variant of concern (defined by the CDC) passes between people faster, is more virulent (has greater potential to cause disease), has shown resistance to a vaccine or immunity from a previous infection, or doesnt show up on current tests.
The average incubation periods of the main variants from the 2022 review study were:
The 2023 COVID strains, including Omicron and its subvariants, appear to be more transmissible because of their shorter incubation period. Studies on Omicron indicate a shorter incubation period with an average of three to four days after exposure before symptoms show up.
The variant circling in most areas in late 2023 was Omicron-5, or EG.5, first reported in February 2023. Incubation period data is not yet available for the EG.5 subvariant. Still, experts say it seems to be behaving similarly to past iterations of Omicron. The incubation period of Omicron-5 is about three to four days.
The symptoms of a COVID-19 infection can vary from asymptomatic (no symptoms) to mild or severe.
If you've been vaccinated, boosted (received a booster shot), or have had COVID-19 in the past, your symptoms are likely to be less severe. But if you've had a change in your immune system (for example, pregnancy or a new medication or illness), your symptoms may be more severe than previous infections.
Many symptoms are very similar to those of other upper respiratory viruses, including the common cold, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which have similar seasonality (their transmission often peaks in the fall and winter). If you have symptoms, over-the-counter tests can help determine whether you have COVID-19.
An Omicron infection's first signs and symptoms include sore throat, dry cough, and fever. The most commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are:
You should start testing for COVID-19 after waiting at least five days after potential exposure to someone who is sick. Test again one to two days later. Then, test again another couple of days later. You should plan to take three tests within five days to make sure youre in the clear.
Getting a positive test on an at-home COVID-19 antigen test may take a week or longer after exposure or symptom onset. A lab-based PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test would show a positive result much earlier. You should wear a mask when around other people for 10 days after a potential exposure.
When you've had a potential COVID exposure or have been in contact with someone who is sick, you're sure to have a lot of questions. Here are the answers to some common questions people have about COVID incubation periods.
COVID seems to have a more extended incubation period than other common respiratory illnesses. Different viral incubation periods include:
Presymptomatic and asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 has been a significant factor in the pandemic's spread. This virus seems to spread quickly before it causes symptoms. If youve been exposed to COVID, its possible you can spread it, even if you dont feel sickand potentially even if you never feel sick.
This contagious period for COVID lasts from before you start feeling sick until your at-home antigen test turns negative.
If vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, youre more likely to have a milder infection. But studies suggest the viruss incubation period will remain the same.
Some studies have suggested that the average incubation period in people 60 and older may be longer, around seven to eight days, than in the general population. Studies have also shown that children under age 18 may have an incubation period of 8 to 9 days.
If youre generally healthy and are current with your COVID-19 vaccinations, theres no need to seek medical care after a positive COVID test.
Call a healthcare provider if youre at high risk for severe infection, for example, if you have a weakened immune system, are over 65, or havent been vaccinated.They can prescribe Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), a prescription oral antiviral pill for a COVID-19 infection. It can help with recovery and decrease the risk of severe complications.
If you see any of these emergency warning signs, seek immediate medical help:
You'll want to let your workplace or school know if you've been exposed to COVID and get a positive test result. They may want you to isolate and stay home for a certain amount of time.
You should avoid being around others while testing positive for COVID. That includes other people in your house. Try to stay in one room, away from other people. Wear a mask if you will be around others. Stay home to avoid transmitting the virus. If you need to go out of the house, wear a mask.
Day zero is the day you first had symptoms or, if you had no symptoms, the day you first tested positive for COVID-19. CDC guidance for isolation is as follows:
For anyone after isolation, continue to wear a mask when around others (at home and in public) until at least day 11.
The incubation periods of COVID-19 variants vary. Generally, the incubation period is getting shorter. Symptoms of recent strains like Omicron typically show up about three to four days after exposure. The newer Omicron-5 variant is similar to the original Omicron strain.
Getting a positive COVID test at home may take a week to 10 days. Regular testing after potential exposure can minimize your risk of spreading the virus.
The first COVID symptoms are typically a dry cough, sore throat, and fever. These are similar to other respiratory viruses that spread in the fall and winter. The COVID incubation period tends to be slightly longer than some of these other viruses.
Studies suggest that COVID-19 vaccine and booster status don't change the incubation period, but factors like age might. Older people and children may have a more extended COVID incubation period.
Its no secret the United States abandoned its immunocompromised, elderly and disabled residents throughout the last four years of the pandemic. While these vulnerable groups remain at risk, general consensus unfortunately paints the wider population as in the clear.
But now that we find ourselves in a sudden surge with fewerprotections than ever, our responsibility to act collectively is long overdue.
Although we should have never scaled back COVID-19 surveillance in the first place, its not too late to bring it back. As a first step, we must lean into wastewater testing to regain any sense of direction in this ongoing pandemic.
Wastewater testing offers insight into a communitys health through sewage sample collection. Its a unique form of testing because it catches asymptomatic and mild cases that would otherwise fly under the radar. It also helps detect viral presence in communities before symptoms even kick in, making it an important tool for proactive safety measures.
However, its flaw is its inability to paint a detailed picture. It only shows if theres a surge of viral presence, not how much of it is there. As Nirav Shah, the CDCs principal deputy director, told TIME Magazine, We will still be able to tell that its snowing, even though we are no longer counting every snowflake.
Its unclear exactly how big the most recent surge is for this reason, but scientists claim it may be the second-largest since the pandemic began, just behind the Omicron variant. Utahs residents have found themselves at the mercy of this surge, with the CDCs wastewater surveillance data showing a clear increase in viral particles. In fact, were one of 10 states with the highest levels of the virus.
The JN.1 variant, highly contagious and emerging in tandem with a variety of other respiratory diseases, should have us concerned. Well over 20,000 people were hospitalized in the last week in this country. Deaths are averaging 1,000 per week. Over 100 Utahns have died as a result of COVID infection in the last three months alone.
News sources throw around COVID-19 death counts with an all-too-normal detachment that disregards the value of life. They treat the 1,500 people who died of COVID-19 between Thanksgiving and Christmas as chump change.
Experts have consistently warned the public about a COVID-19 resurgence. Even if that doesnt happen this time around, it could burst our countrys complacent bubble next time.
Wastewater analysis technology is helping prevent the erasure of COVID-19 as a still-present and serious issue. The governments irresponsible actions and the constant push for a return to normalcy have cost too many lives.
While not a perfect solution, wastewater testing remains one of the last measures being taken to keep an eye on the virus that has haunted us since 2020. Laboratories, state health departments and hospitals havent been required to report test results since last May.
Although take-home test kits are once more free to order, the governments decision to relaunch the program came after eight straight weeks of increased COVID-19 hospitalization. Our government must invest in our health and safety and bring back required reporting from state institutions.
Wastewater testing is critical, but its not enough alone. Problems like dilution from rainwater, contaminants and inadequate regulations for standardized testing complicate the effectiveness of this surveillance program.
The answer is clear: we need to combine wastewater testing with other virus-tracking efforts. We also need consistent wastewater testing so we can get an accurate idea of where were at in this pandemic which hasnt actually ended.
Wastewater testing gives us the chance to monitor disease transmission in our communities, but to do nothing with the information it gives us is reckless at best. As weve seen, its fatal at worst.
Its been four years of learning the hard way that our government is careless and disregards our lives. Rather than setting up safety measures for the next pandemic, weve seen the U.S. work to sweep this one under the rug at our expense. We should be furious. We cannot let them continue to throw us under the bus when they have the technology available.
Let wastewater testing inform your choices. Wearing a mask to class, work and crowded functions can save lives. Get vaccinated and boost your immunity. Test yourself after traveling and stay home if youre sick. But most of all, demand more from your government.
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@angela_lezaic
CLEVELAND, Ohio Firearm-related deaths increased among children and adolescents after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with seven children per day dying by firearm in 2022, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation report on the impact of gun violence on children and teens.
The United States has the highest rate of children and teens ages 17 and below dying from firearm violence compared to similar countries, the report said. Firearms now kill more children and teens than any other cause, surpassing car crashes, and youth who are exposed to gun violence are at greater risk for mental health problems, according to the report.
Among the findings:
Firearm deaths up in Ohio, surrounding states
Ohio had a 50% increase in firearm death rates per 100,000 children and adolescents, when the Kaiser report also looked at U.S. states and the percent of change in firearm death rates. This section of the report compared pre-pandemic years (2017-19) against pandemic years (2020-21).
Firearm death rates were per 100,000 children and adolescents in 2020-21. Data was not available for several states.
Here are Ohio and its contiguous states, ranked from highest percentage to lowest:
Among all U.S. States, North Carolina had the highest increase in firearm death rates (104%), followed by Wisconsin (100%).
Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.
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How does coronavirus spread through the body? A new study, available on the preprint server bioRxiv, can help us answer that question. Professor Jakob Nilsson from the Novo Nordisk Center for Protein Research is one of the researchers responsible for the study.
"When a virus infects the body, it hijacks part of the body's machinery either to produce new virus particles or to counteract the cell's antiviral defense. What we wanted to know was which part of the machinery SARS-CoV-2 targets," Nilsson says.
SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus variant that caused the COVID19 pandemic.
"We were extremely surprised to find that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks proteins associated with fragile X syndrome, which is the most common hereditary cause of intellectual disability," Nilsson says.
To further explore the connection between coronavirus and the fragile X-related proteins, Postdoc Dimitriya Garvanska, who did the lab work, used various cell-biological and biochemical methods to understand the process.
Fragile X syndrome, which is caused by a defect in the so-called FMR1 gene, is the most common cause of hereditary intellectual disability. It is characterized by intellectual disabilityoften moderate to severe in boys/men and mild in girls/women. About 1 in 4,000 baby boys and 1 in 10,000 baby girls are born with fragile X syndrome.
The team wanted to know whether hijacking the fragile X-related proteins was vital to the virus' ability to spread through the body. Together with a group of researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, they therefore produced a "mutant virus."
"We mutated a small part of the virus protein, NSP3, that binds to the fragile X-related proteins, and the cell culture test showed that this reduces the virus' ability to spread. Moreover, tests on hamsters showed that infection with the mutated virus had a less severe impact on the lungs in the early stages of infection," Garvanska explains.
"That is, binding to fragile X-related proteins is vital to the virus' ability to spread. Subsequent tests showed that these proteins are part of the cell's antiviral defense, and that SARS-CoV-2 seeks to counteract this defense system by hijacking the proteins."
The results of the study may indicate that persons with fragile X syndrome are more susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.
"This suggests that we should perhaps be more attentive to these patients," Nilsson says.
Aside from identifying the connection between coronavirus and fragile X syndrome, Nilsson, Garvanska and their colleagues also gained a deeper understanding of fragile X syndrome.
"We know that fragile X-related proteins are key to brain development. Because when we do not have enough of them, we run into problems. But we do not know why they are so important. In this study, we have learned that they bind to another protein, UBAP2L, which helps determine which proteins the cell produces," Nilsson says.
The researchers also found that mutations in the fragile X-related proteins prevent them from binding to UBAP2L.
"This suggests that to understand fragile X syndrome we need to understand how this affects the production of proteins in the cell," Nilsson explains.
While the new study can be described as fundamental research, the results may nevertheless prove useful in future treatment.
"So far, this is speculation. But basically, the more insight we gain into these mechanisms, the better are our chances of impacting them in the future," Nilsson concludes.
More information: Dimitriya H. Garvanska et al, SARS-CoV-2 hijacks fragile X mental retardation proteins for efficient infection, bioRxiv (2023). DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.01.555899
Journal information: bioRxiv
An Instagram user with 2.6 million followers posted suggesting that getting certain COVID-19 vaccines can keep you from donating blood for 1 year, which is not true
CLEVELAND The pandemic may be over, but misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 are still being spread on the internet, particularly when it comes to vaccines.
We recently came across a post on Instagram by a person who goes by Rogan O'Handley, who has 2.6 million followers on the platform under the username @dc_draino. The post (pictured below) shows screenshots of a question about the coronavirus vaccine that potential blood donors have to answer before donating blood to the American Red Cross.
This person claimed in the caption of his post that his good friend told him that "if you received certain jabs in the last year, they won't draw your blood," apparently referring to COVID vaccines.
To VERIFY whether this claim is true when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, we checked the following sources:
First, I personally took the potential blood donor survey, called the American Red Cross RapidPass Survey, to see if the question that was screenshotted and posted by the Instagram user popped up.
The question did indeed pop up as No. 79 in the survey, and it asked, "Have you EVER had a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine?" Then, below the question it says that, "If you answer 'YES' to the question, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) before coming in to donate to determine if this will affect your eligibility."
I called that number, and reached out to the American Red Cross via email, and a representative told me this:
"The question is asked to determine if the COVID vaccine they've received is FDA-approved in order to faithfully adhere to the FDA's eligibility guidelines. The donor will be asked which company manufactured the vaccine they received. As long as the donor gives the name of the manufacturer, the manufacturer is FDA-approved, and the donor is feeling well, then they are immediately eligible to donate. If they cannot remember the name of the vaccine manufacturer, they will be asked to wait two weeks."
To confirm this, we checked with the FDA, and their representative told us the exact same thing. The representative also pointed us to the page on the FDA website where this policy is posted publicly.
So we can VERIFY that the claim that if you've received certain COVID-19 vaccines in the last year, they won't draw your blood at the American Red Cross, is false. The longest waiting period after a COVID-19 vaccine for anyone is 14 days, and that's only if your vaccine was not FDA approved (more information on approved vaccines can be found here).
Remember, regardless of which coronavirus vaccine you received, blood donors must be feeling well and have a normal temperature on the day they donate blood, and blood donors are very much in need right now.
Do you have something you'd like our team toVERIFY? Email your question or claim to verify@wkyc.com or text it to 216-344-3300.
A much higher percentage of the population has experienced persistent COVID-19 infections lasting more than 30 days than initially assumed, according to new research by the University of Oxford.
The study, published on February 21 in Nature, found that one to three of every 100 infections may last a month or longer.
The scientists, using data from the Office for National Statistics COVID Infection Survey (ONS-CIS), found 381 individuals with the same viral infection for a month or longer including 54 whose persistent infection lasted two months and two over six months out of 77,561 infections detected through ONS-CIS between November 2020 and August 2022.
In some cases, the infecting lineage had gone extinct in the general population. More than 90,000 ONS-CIS participants were sampled monthly for almost three years.
What we uncovered is striking, given the leading hypothesis that many of the variants of concern emerged wholly or partially during long-term chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals, the authors wrote in their paper. As the ONS-CIS is a community-based surveillance study, our observations suggest that the pool of people in which long-term infections could occur, and hence potential sources of divergent variants, may be much larger than generally thought.
In other words, the study debunks an assumption that new variants are only formed because of prolonged COVID-19 infections in immunocompromised individuals. This new study shows that the prevalence of persistent COVID-19 infections in the general population may be much higher and, therefore, also play a role in the evolution of the virus.
Relatedly, the authors found that people with persistent infections lasting for 30 days or longer were 55% more likely to report having long COVID than people with more typical infections.
Although the link between viral persistence and Long COVID may not be causal, these results suggest persistent infections could contribute to the pathophysiology of long COVID, said Co-lead author Dr Katrina Lythgoe of Oxfords Department of Biology and its Pandemic Sciences Institute.
The paper carefully points out that not every persistent infection can lead to long-term COVID-19, and not all cases of long-term COVID-19 are due to persistent infection. Indeed, said Lythgoe, many other possible mechanisms have been suggested to contribute to Long COVID, including inflammation, organ damage, and micro thrombosis.
Nonetheless, these results suggest that persistent infections could be contributing to the pathophysiology of long COVID, the paper reads.
What about the rate of mutation?
Some people who developed persistent infections had many mutations, suggesting they could act as reservoirs to seed new variants of concern. However, this was only sometimes the case.
Certain individuals showed an extremely high number of mutations, including mutations that define new coronavirus variants, alter target sites for monoclonal antibodies, and introduce changes to the coronavirus spike protein, the authors wrote. However, most individuals did not harbour a large number of mutations, suggesting that not every persistent infection will be a potential source for new concerning variants.
However, co-lead author Dr. Mahan Ghafari of Oxfords Pandemic Sciences Institute in its Nuffield Department of Medicine, cautioned that the data from ONS-CIS did not include details about the medical history of people with persistent infections, so it was unknown how many of them were immunocompromised, such as with cancer, advanced HIV, etc.
He said the hope is that there would be further studies to better understand these individuals who developed persistent COVID and their health implications, and also to better understand how likely it is for these persistent infections to transmit highly mutated variants to the rest of the population.
Finally, the scientists also found rare infections with the same variant. They identified only 60 reinfections by the same major lineage, suggesting that infection does build at least some immunity in infected individuals from the same variant.
Our observations highlight the continuing importance of community-based genomic surveillance both to monitor the emergence and spread of new variants, but also to gain a fundamental understanding of the natural history and evolution of novel pathogens and their clinical implications for patients, Ghafari said.
Image Credits: peterschreiber.media/Shutterstock , Flickr NIAID, Flickr.
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