Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

PORTLAND, Ore. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eyes easing its five-day isolation policy for those who test positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) had already adopted that practice in May 2023.

The OHA's policy is that someone with COVID-19 doesnt need to stay home for five days.

"Were seeing a lot less severe disease than we had early on in the pandemic, given the amount of people who are vaccinated already, have recovered from COVID-19 or both and had some level of immunity," said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon's state epidemiologist. "So that is what contributed to our decision back in May."

OHA recommends people now look at symptoms to determine when it is time to stop isolating. With the new approach, the agency said people don't need to stay home if they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication and have mild or improving symptoms.

"COVID can be unpredictable, but so far, we are seeing a slow steady decline," Sidelinger said. "Our vaccines work to protect people from the variants that have emerged over the past couple of years. COVID is coming down, influenza is coming down and RSV is coming down."

As of February, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are down, according to the latest CDC data.

RELATED: Nearly 10,000 died from COVID-19 in December, fueled by holiday gatherings and new variant, WHO says

To keep this immunity up, OHA said it is important for people to stay up to date on vaccinations, especially when it comes to kids in school.

On Saturday, Multnomah County held a free catch-up clinic for children still needing their immunizations at David Douglas High School. If they dont meet this requirement by Feb. 21, they will be turned away from all schools or daycares.

"We want to make sure that our communities are protected," said Richard Bruno, the Multnomah County Public Health Officer. "We want to have very low-barrier access to vaccines that are needed. We dont check for insurance and have a great supply of vaccines available for anybody who needs it."

For parents who missed Saturday's clinic, they still have another chance to get their children up to date on vaccines. On Feb. 21, Multnomah County will hold its final immunization clinic with CareOregon Boys & Girls Club in Rockwood from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Meanwhile, the CDC is still recommending that people who test positive for COVID-19 stay home for at least five days and isolate themselves from others in their home. People should also wear a high-quality mask if they have to be around others in their home during the isolation period, according to current guidelines.

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Oregon Health Authority stresses though COVID-19 cases are 'coming down,' there's still need for vaccinations - KGW.com

Vaccines that protect against severe illness, death and lingering long Covid symptoms from a Covid-19 infection are linked to small increases in neurological, blood, and heart-related conditions, according to the largest global vaccine safety study to date.

The study is likely to deepen the debate over the relative merits of getting vaccinated and whether the response was proportional.

Researchers stress that the risk of an adverse event from a Covid vaccine remains relatively low and that association does not prove causation.

However, among the 13.5 billion doses administered globally, a small proportion of people immunised developed complications, fuelling a debate over the trade-offs involved.

The rare events identified early in the pandemic included a higher risk of heart-related inflammation

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The rare events identified early in the pandemic included a higher risk of heart-related inflammation from mRNA shots made by Pfizer Inc, BioNTech SE, and Moderna Inc, and an increased risk of a type of blood clot in the brain after immunisation with viral-vector vaccines such as the one developed by the University of Oxford and made by AstraZeneca Plc.

The viral-vector jabs were also tied to an increased risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system.

The new research, by the Global Vaccine Data Network, dove further into the data. The full results are published in the journal Vaccine.

Researchers looked for 13 medical conditions that the group considered adverse events of special interest among 99 million vaccinated individuals in eight countries, aiming to identify higher-than-expected cases after a Covid shot.

Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, was consistently identified following a first, second and third dose of mRNA vaccines, the study found.

The highest increase in the observed-to-expected ratio was seen after a second jab with the Moderna shot. A first and fourth dose of the same vaccine was also tied to an increase in pericarditis, or inflammation of the thin sac covering the heart.

Researchers found a statistically significant increase in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome within 42 days of an initial Oxford-developed ChAdOx1 or Vaxzevria shot that wasnt observed with mRNA vaccines.

Based on the background incidence of the condition, 66 cases were expected but 190 events were observed. ChAdOx1 was linked to a threefold increase in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a type of blood clot in the brain, identified in 69 events, compared with an expected 21.

The small risk led to the vaccines withdrawal or restriction in Denmark and multiple other countries. Myocarditis was also linked to a third dose of ChAdOx1 in some, but not all, populations studied. Possible safety signals for transverse myelitis spinal cord inflammation after viral-vector vaccines was identified in the study.

Widespread immunity through vaccination allowed the UK to lift lockdown measures

So was acute disseminated encephalomyelitis inflammation and swelling in the brain and spinal cord after both viral-vector and mRNA vaccines.

Seven cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were observed, versus an expectation of two.

The adverse events of special interest were selected based on pre-established associations with immunisation, what was already known about immune-related conditions and preclinical research. The study didnt monitor for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, that some research has linked with Covid vaccines.

This the largest study to date looking at the risks associated with Covid vaccination. The size of the study sample is pause for thought but the number of people injured is relatively small when compared to the people immunised without incident.

It's also important to understand the bigger picture here. Covid was a moving target and so were the interventions taken to stop it.

Furthermore, widespread immunity offered through vaccination allowed the UK to lift lockdown measures, revive the economy and restore a sense of normality to back to people's lives.

And numerous studies suggest vaccination saved lives. The largest study of its kind ever carried out in the UK has found that 7,180 of the 40,393 hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 could have been avoided had the population been fully vaccinated.

Still, those left injured by vaccination are demanding answers and dissent should not be silenced - a point powerfully articulated by a man who recently confronted Rishi Sunak over Covid vaccine injuries on GB News.

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Largest Covid vaccine study to date finds link to health conditions - GB News

Only 50% of nursing home residents in Maine have received the latest COVID vaccine, according to data from the U.S. CDC. That's down from 90% just over a year ago. A new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation says one reason for declining vaccination rates is the absence of federal initiatives such as clinics.

Angela Westhoff, CEO of the Maine Health Care Association, says another factor is vaccine fatigue.

"As we have seen cases of COVID come down and the mortality rate has dropped dramatically from where we were at the height of the pandemic, sometimes that equates to people not being interested or as interested in getting another vaccine or a booster to up to date on their shots," she says.

Maine 's 50% nursing home vaccination rate is lower than the 76% in Vermont, but higher than the U.S. average of 40%.

Westhoff says the Association is currently working with Maine's Long Term Care Ombudsman on a campaign to boost vaccinations at long term care facilities.

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Only half of Maine's nursing home residents have received the latest Covid vaccine - Maine Public

A walk-in flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21.

The clinic will be at 201 Wheatsworth Road, Hamburg. No appointment needed.

The flu vaccine costs $25 and the high-dose flu vaccine costs $65. They are free for those insured with Medicare Part B. No out-of-pocket fee for those insured with any Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. No other type of insurance accepted. Please bring insurance card.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available at no cost.

The clinic is sponsored by the Sussex County Office of Public Health Nursing.

For information, call 973-579-0570 ext. 1275 or go online to scphn@sussex.nj.us

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Flu, COVID-19 vaccination clinic Wednesday - Township Journal

In the largest global vaccine safety study to date, vaccines guarding against severe COVID-19 outcomes were linked to rare neurological, blood, and heart-related conditions. The Global Vaccine Data Networks research, encompassing 99 million vaccinated individuals across eight countries, revealed small increases in adverse events, including heart-related inflammation from mRNA shots and heightened risks with viral-vector vaccines. The study emphasises the need for balance in weighing the benefits versus harms of the over 13.5 billion COVID vaccine doses administered worldwide over the past three years.

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ByJason Gale

Vaccines that protect against severe illness, death and lingeringlong Covidsymptoms from a coronavirus infection were linked to small increases in neurological, blood, and heart-related conditions in the largest globalvaccine safetystudy to date.

The rare events identified early in the pandemic included a higher risk of heart-relatedinflammationfrommRNAshots made by Pfizer Inc., BioNTech SE, and Moderna Inc., and an increased risk of a type of blood clot in the brain after immunization withviral-vector vaccinessuch as the one developed by the University of Oxford and made by AstraZeneca Plc.

The viral-vector jabs were also tied to an increased risk ofGuillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system.

More than 13.5 billion doses of Covid vaccines have been administered globally over the past three years,savingover 1 million lives in Europe alone. Still, a small proportion of people immunized were injured by the shots, stoking debate about their benefits versus harms.

The new research, by the Global Vaccine Data Network, was published in the journal Vaccine last week, with the data made available via interactivedashboardsto show methodology and specific findings.

The research looked for 13 medical conditions that the group considered adverse events of special interest among 99 million vaccinated individuals in eight countries, aiming to identify higher-than-expected cases after a Covid shot. The use of aggregated data increased the possibility of identifying rare safety signals that might have been missed when looking only at smaller populations.

Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, was consistently identified following a first, second and third dose of mRNA vaccines, the study found. The highest increase in the observed-to-expected ratio was seen after a second jab with the Moderna shot. A first and fourth dose of the same vaccine was also tied to an increase in pericarditis, or inflammation of the thin sac covering the heart.

Researchers found a statistically significant increase in cases ofGuillain-Barre syndromewithin 42 days of an initial Oxford-developed ChAdOx1 or Vaxzevria shot that wasnt observed with mRNA vaccines. Based on the background incidence of the condition, 66 cases were expected but 190 events were observed.

ChAdOx1 was linked to a threefold increase in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a type of blood clot in the brain, identified in 69 events, compared with an expected 21. The small risk led to the vaccines withdrawal or restriction inDenmarkand multiple other countries. Myocarditis was also linked to a third dose of ChAdOx1 in some, but not all, populations studied.

Possible safety signals fortransverse myelitis spinal cord inflammation after viral-vector vaccines was identified in the study. So wasacute disseminated encephalomyelitis inflammation and swelling in the brain and spinal cord after both viral-vector and mRNA vaccines.

Seven cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were observed, versus an expectation of two.

The adverse events of special interest were selected based on pre-established associations with immunization, what was already known about immune-related conditions and pre-clinical research. The study didnt monitor forpostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, that some research haslinkedwith Covid vaccines.

Exercise intolerance, excessive fatigue, numbness and brain fog were among common symptoms identified in more than 240 adults experiencing chronicpost-vaccinationsyndrome in a separatestudyconducted by the Yale School of Medicine. The cause of the syndrome isnt yet known, and it has no diagnostic tests or proven remedies.

The Yale research aims to understand the condition to relieve the suffering of those affected and improve the safety of vaccines, said Harlan Krumholz, a principal investigator of the study, and director of the Yale New Haven Hospital Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation.

Both things can be true, Krumholz said in an interview. They can save millions of lives, and there can be a small number of people whove been adversely affected.

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Adverse events linked to Covid vaccines revealed in latest study - BizNews

In a collaboration with @WhatToExpect, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided updated COVID-19 vaccine guidelines for pregnant women and children. This move underscores an ongoing commitment to protect the most vulnerable from the severe impacts of the virus. These guidelines emphasize the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy to protect both the mother and baby from severe illness that may require hospitalization.

The CDCs updated recommendations on Instagram provide comprehensive information about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women and children. The organization underscores the importance of vaccination in these groups as a vital measure to protect them from the virus. Visit the CDCs Instagram page to learn more about their informative and practical advice related to COVID-19 vaccinations. (Link)

According to the CDC, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can help safeguard both the mother and baby from severe illness that may require hospitalization. In addition to this, the vaccine can also reduce the risk of preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with COVID-19.

Although pregnant people are at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people, vaccination rates among this group remain low. Thus, it is essential to spread awareness about the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. The CDC continues to recommend that all pregnant people or people who are thinking about becoming pregnant get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Recent research from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) highlights another significant benefit of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy: it can provide infants with strong protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection for at least six months after birth.

The study found that infants born to mothers who received both doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine as well as a COVID-19 booster had higher levels of antibodies at birth and greater protection from COVID-19 infection during their first six months. This research is particularly crucial as no COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for infants under six months old. The full details of this study can be found on the NIH website. (Link)

As the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety and health of vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children remains a top priority. The latest guidelines and research from the CDC and NIAID offer valuable insights into how we can protect these groups and underline the importance of vaccination. By getting vaccinated, pregnant women not only protect themselves but also significantly enhance the health and safety of their newborns.

Lets align with science, trust our health experts, and ensure a healthier future for ourselves and the generations to come by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Remember, every shot counts in our fight against this global pandemic.

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CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines for Pregnant Women and Children | Updated Recommendations - Medriva

(Precision Vaccinations News)

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) todayannounced itsadvice to the U.K. Governmentfor the COVID-19 vaccine programme in spring 2024.

Similar to recent campaigns, the JCVI's advice issued on February 7, 2024, is to offer an updatedCOVID-19vaccine to those at high risk of serious disease and who are, therefore, most likely to benefit from vaccination.

JCVIadvises the following groups be offered vaccinationthis spring:

Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of COVID-19 immunization on theJCVI, said in a press release, "The COVID-19 spring program will continue to focus on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill, who will benefit the most from a further vaccine dose."

"It is important that everyone eligible takes up the offer this spring."

Utilizing a deployment cost of 25 per vaccine, the non-standard cost-effectiveness assessment for booster vaccination in spring 2024 indicated that vaccination was likely cost-effective when offered to most people over 65 within the assumptions describing the most plausible projected scenario.

In addition to mRNA vaccines,Novavax Matrix-M adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine (Nuvaxovid) andHIPRA bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (Bimervax) may be used as a booster dose for certain persons in 2024.

As of February 8, 2024,13COVID-19 vaccineshave been granted Emergency Use Listingby theWorld Health Organization. Recent additions includeSKYCovione andCORBEVAX.

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UK Advises mRNA and Protein Based COVID-19 Vaccines for Spring 2024 - Precision Vaccinations

The winter respiratory virus season may have hit its peak in California, with coronavirus levels in sewage and COVID-19 hospitalizations starting to decline following weeks of steady increases.

Should the trend continue, 202324 would be the mildest winter of the COVID era in terms of severe illness free of anything even approximating the devastating and disruptive surges seen in prior years.

While theres been real progress in curbing coronavirus-positive hospitalizations, there are still significant numbers of people getting sick. And despite improvement in patient outcomes thanks to the rollout of vaccines and therapeutics COVID-19 still causes more deaths and new respiratory hospitalizations than the flu.

Despite recent declines, COVID disease levels remain elevated compared to pre-winter, and health officials say its important that residents especially those who are older continue to take steps to protect themselves.

Your next COVID-19 infection could be your worst, so dont gamble with your health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote in a social media post. Vaccination reduces risks and severity and keeps you protected.

For the week ending Jan. 27, the most recent for which data are available, there were 2,496 new coronavirus-positive hospitalizations in California, down 16% from the prior week, according to the CDC. The apparent seasonal high was 3,746 new hospitalizations for the week that ended Dec. 30.

Last winters peak for hospitalizations came the last week of 2022, when 5,260 coronavirus-positive patients were admitted.

Decreasing COVID-19 hospitalizations prompted Los Angeles County health officials on Friday to lift an order issued just after Christmas that required healthcare employees and visitors to wear masks at hospitals and other facilities that provide in-patient care.

However, personnel in licensed healthcare facilities who havent been vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu since the autumn must still mask up while working in patient-care areas. This health order lasts until April 30, the end of the respiratory virus season.

In L.A. County, levels of coronavirus detected through wastewater surveillance which the county uses as a baseline to assess COVID activity have dipped. For the week ending Jan. 20, the most recent data available, viral wastewater concentrations were at 64% of the peak recorded last winter. That measurement improved a bit from the prior week, which was 67% of last winters peak and the highest this season.

In the largest sewershed of Santa Clara County, Northern Californias most populous, coronavirus levels are also declining. Viral levels there appeared to peak in mid-January at close to the all-time high seen during the first Omicron wave two winters ago.

For the most recent reading, dated Saturday, coronavirus levels in the San Jos sewershed fell to 49% of the peak from two winters ago. That concentration is still considered high.

In L.A. County, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV the other two prongs of the tripledemic that stressed California hospitals last winter are still circulating at elevated levels but have declined from their seasonal peak, public health officials said.

Health officials are continuing to urge people to get an updated COVID-19 vaccination if they havent since a new version became available in September. Only 33% of California seniors 65 and older have received the latest shots.

The best vaccination rates for seniors in California are in the San Francisco Bay Area, where 52% of older Sonoma County residents and 56% of those in Marin County have received the most recent COVID-19 vaccine.

Get the updated dose that was formulated to offer better protection against new strains of the virus, the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a statement. The new vaccine can also restore immunity that may have diminished over time and lessen the risk of getting long COVID.

A study published Thursday by the CDC found that for adults who got an updated vaccine since September, there was 54% increased protection against symptomatic COVID-19 compared with those who did not.

Another study, published in January by the CDC, found that seniors 65 and older who received last winters COVID-19 vaccination were about 50% less likely to have a COVID-related stroke, heart attack or blood clot. A similar finding was made for adults receiving dialysis who also got that vaccination.

Getting COVID-19 has been associated with increased risk of stroke, heart attack and blood clots.

Even with recent improvements in key COVID metrics, officials and experts say its vital that residents take steps to protect themselves and if infected, to lessen the chance they spread the virus.

People who get COVID-19 and have symptoms should stay home until their symptoms are mild and improving and they havent had a fever for 24 hours without medication, California health officials say.

Anyone with a coronavirus infection, whether they have symptoms or not, needs to mask up around others for 10 days after they become sick or first test positive. Failing to do so risks spreading infection. People can remove their masks earlier if they have two consecutive negative rapid test results, taken at least one day apart, according to state guidance.

L.A. County health officials go a step further than the state and recommend waiting for a negative rapid test before leaving home in the 10-day window after symptoms appear or someone first tests positive. A negative rapid test result is not needed after that period.

Santa Clara County health officials also cautioned residents about the risks should residents end isolation before 10 days.

The best scientific information still indicates that individuals with COVID-19 may be infectious for around 10 days after they become sick or test positive, the county Public Health Department said. Given this ongoing risk of COVID-19 transmission, in instances where the benefits outweigh the harms, individuals may consider using additional layers of protection when feasible, such as maximizing indoor ventilation and filtration, working remotely and avoiding large indoor gatherings.

Those who seem to have recovered, but then see their symptoms return or worsen a phenomenon known as COVID rebound should take another rapid test. If that comes back positive, the isolation window resets.

California health officials also recommend people who test positive for the coronavirus avoid contact with seniors and anyone else at high risk for severe COVID-19 for at least 10 days.

The CDCs COVID guidelines differ somewhat from the states. The federal agency recommends that people who test positive stay home for at least five days after they become sick or, if theyre asymptomatic, for at least five days after their first positive test.

The CDC says people may end isolation after Day 5 if their symptoms are improving and theyve been fever-free for 24 hours. Those with moderate illness who experienced symptoms such as difficulty breathing need to isolate through Day 10.

Infected people should wear masks around other people through Day 10. They may remove them earlier if they get two rapid-result negative tests two days apart. But if they continue to test positive, they may still be infectious, and the CDC says they should continue masking until they get two consecutive negative test results at least two days apart. This may mean you need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond Day 10, the agency says.

If possible, coronavirus-positive people should stay in a separate room, away from family members and roommates who are not infected. Ways to reduce infection among household members include bringing fresh air in by opening the windows, using fans to blow out air and using air purifiers. Infected people should use a separate bathroom, but if theres only one, touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected after every use.

Amid reports that people with COVID-19 are having a hard time getting Paxlovid, an antiviral pill that can reduce the severity of COVID-19 illness, health officials say there are a number of ways to access the medicine. But its important to get tested and seek care promptly, as the medication should be started within five days of the onset of symptoms.

Los Angeles County residents can call the countys public health info line, (833) 540-0473, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, to discuss free treatment options with a health provider. The county may be able to send medication to residents for free.

Californians who dont have insurance or have a hard time getting anti-COVID-19 medication can schedule a free telehealth appointment by calling (833) 686-5051 or visiting sesamecare.com/covidca. Medication costs may be subject to a copay, depending on your insurance.

A program funded by the National Institutes of Health, featured at test2treat.org, gives adults who test positive for COVID-19 or flu free access to telehealth care and treatment.

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Has California's COVID-19 winter surge peaked? Here's what the data show - Los Angeles Times

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According to the U.S. government, the current respiratory season is ending with less impact on hospitalization than last year.

The combined weekly hospitalization rate for COVID-19 and influenza from theNational Healthcare Safety Network during the week of December 30, 2023, was 87.5% of 2022'speak (16.8 vs 19.2 admissions per 100,000).

On February 8, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published potentially its last Outlook regarding respiratory disease for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season.

The CDC anticipates that total hospitalizations for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV will decline but remain elevated into February 2024.

The CDC wrote, 'We do not anticipate producing additional respiratory disease outlooks during the remainder of the 2023-2024 season. We continue to monitor respiratory diseases and will update this Outlook should we identify any unusual events, such as a significant resurgence ofthese diseases.'

The final CDC Outlook is based on expert judgment, historical data, and scenario modeling.

From a prevention perspective, the CDC confirmed ample supplies of respiratory vaccines and antibody therapies are available at most clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

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RSV, COVID-19, Flu Hospitalizations Declining in February 2024 Precision Vaccinations News - Precision Vaccinations

Alternating the arm you receive the COVID-19 vaccination shot in could strengthen the immunity response.

A study published by The Journal of Clinical Investigation last month found that switching arms increases blood antibody levels by up to four times. For people who are immunocompromised or elderly, even a small boost in immunity is significant.

Experts said the report has not been corroborated by other research and only surveyed 947 individuals, but the results look promising. Further study will determine the validity of the findings, which may alter all multidose vaccinations including childhood immunizations against Covid.

For Annenberg Media, Im Yana Savitsky.

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Alternating arms for COVID-19 vaccinations strengthens immune response - uscannenbergmedia.com