Doctor Vaughan's COVID-19 Updates

The decision was made this week to create a pan coronavirus vaccine which would greatly decrease the need for vaccine boosters.

The CDC has made a recommendation for use of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children down to age 6 months.

Paxlovid is for available to treat COVID in patients with certain conditions. https://auburnmedicalgroup.com/covid-conditions

The FDA has approved a second booster for people age 50 and older.

People over age 65 and those with immune compromising conditions or medications absolutely need to have their full vaccination series and boosters. The rest of us need to be sensitive to their condition and be OK with wearing masks when we are around them in public.

A fourth shot or second booster is recommended for certain groups at higher risk for COVID-19.

The BA.2 strain of Omicron is currently 3.8% of cases in the US and doubling weekly.

Omicron New cases in Placer County have been decreasing for three weeks. The number of cases in general hospital beds and the ICU in Placer County have also been decreasing over the last week.

Free home COVID-19 test kits are now available through Covidtests.gov.

We are rapidly approaching the peak of Omicron and the resolution of the pandemic.  Welcome to the endemic.

The approved treatments for Omicron are extremely limited in availability. We are recommending vaccination as the primary means of avoiding detrimental effects of the Omicron Variant.

Paxlovid is an antiviral pill by Pfizer which was approved for emergency authorization by the FDA.

Omicron is responsible for 2/3 of COVID cases both in California and the US.

Oral antiviral medications against COVID include Mulnupiravir (already with FDA EUA) and Paxlovid. They decrease risk of death and hospitalization from COVID, but not as well as vaccination.

Evusheld is approved as a preventive treatment against COVID for patients with specific risks for COVID.

Omicron has arrived in nearly half of the United States. What action should we take?

There have been no reported deaths from Omicron… YET. There is reason for hope given the reports of notably mild infections so far in South Africa.

A new variant of concern in South Africa has been named.

Everyone over age 18 is now eligible for a booster 6 months after receiving their second mRNA vaccine dose.

A number of European countries are not giving the Moderna mRNA vaccine to people under age 30, yet they prefer it over Pfizer for people over age 30.

It's official.  You can now vaccinate children, age 5-11, with the Pfizer Covid vaccine.  Check vaccines.gov for a local pharmacy if your children are not already getting vaccinated through school.

The Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine has an association with a blood clot in the veins around the brain.  It is rare, and it is 30 times more rare in the group most likely to experience it than severe effects of COVID 19 if they don't get the vaccine.  This is not a problem with the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna.

Approval of the Pfizer vaccine in children, age 5 - 11, is likely to occur after going through review at the FDA, the ACIP, and then the CDC.  Send in a voice message to tell me what you think of the video format.

Final COVID-19 vaccine booster recommendations have been announced by the CDC.  Click to see if you count as immunosuppressed.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC recommends that booster shots be given to specific populations six months after receiving their second dose of mRNA vaccine and that anyone who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine receive a second shot two months after they received their first shot.

We now have 30 minute PCR testing at the other medical group for Auburn Medical Group patients who have been exposed to Covid or have possible Covid symptoms.

The FDA VRBPAC recommends a booster for Johnson & Johnson vaccines for everyone who received the first dose. This will be considered by the FDA.

The FDA’s VRBPAC has recommended certain individuals to receive a third dose if the Moderna COVID vaccine.

Overall, new cases, hospitalizations, and I see you occupation for Covid are improving in Placer County.

The national guard was called to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, California, and three other hospitals in Bakersfield, California to help with the Covid surge.

Johnson and Johnson is applying for approval for a second dose of its COVID vaccine.

Overall new COVID cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are on a decline.

The final CDC approval for boosters includes people with occupational exposure despite its removal from the FDA EUA by the CDC’s ACIP. It also retains recommendations for proponents with certain health risks both age 50 to 64 and age 18 to 49.

The FDA approved administration of a booster to certain groups for the Pfizer Covid vaccine.  It is an emergency use authorization for individuals 65 years old and older, people at risk occupationally or due to institutionalization and people with certain high risk conditions.  It is given at least 6 months after completing the initial two-shot series.

The FDA Vaccines and Related Biologic Products Advisory Committee voted against recommending a third dose to individual 16 years of age to 64 years of age. They did approve a recommendation for giving a third shot to individuals 65 years of age and older. This has not been approved by the FDA yet. It is likely they will approve it shortly.

FDA vaccine advisors rejected a recommendation to add boosters for everyone at this time.

There are three new publications supporting the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy.

There is some controversy regarding the CDC’s announcement of plans to make third doses of mRNA vaccines available.

A pre-print study from Israel suggests that natural immunity is superior to V vaccine immunity for COVID-19.

This week’s MMWR reports on a study done over the summer in Los Angeles which found that people who are unvaccinated are five times more likely to get COVID-19. It also found that unvaccinated people are 29 times more likely to get hospitalized compared to vaccinated people if they do get infected. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7034e5.htm

The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine, Comirnaty has full FDA approval for age 16 and older.

A listener left a message asking about adverse effects and dosing of Covid vaccine boosters.

The CDC has clarified who is considered immunocompromised enough to receive the third dose of mRNA vaccines. The ACIP of the CDC and the FDA have agreed on appending the Emergency Use Authorization for the mRNA vaccines in individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised to receive a third dose booster.  This includes people who have:   Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood  Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system  Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system  Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)  Advanced or untreated HIV infection  Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

The CDC’s Advisory Council on Immunization Practices unanimously voted to recommend third mRNA vaccine doses for the immunosuppressed.

Edward Nirenberg wrote an excellent blog post addressing Dr. Stock’s presentation to an Indiana school board. https://www.deplatformdisease.com/blog/addressing-dr-daniel-stock-claims

REGEN-COV Has been found to be effective in treating vulnerable unvaccinated patients exposed to COVID-19 before they start to have symptoms.

A recent CDC MMWR reported on a Delta Variant Outbreak where more vaccinated people were infected than unvaccinated people. This was an exception to national statistics.

We are seeing a high number of positive Covid test for our office. We have seen Covid tests positive and people have been vaccinated. We have also had to send a teenager to be admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 causing unstable vital signs.

Studies are being done to see if the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe for use in children and in people who had immediate reactions to their first dose of an mRNA vaccine.

The Delta variant increases the percentage of people needing to be immune to Covid to achieve herd immunity through increasing the reproduction rate and decreasing vaccine efficacy.

Delta Variant is the predominant strain and vaccinated individuals are getting it, although at a lower rate and lower symptom severity.

Dr. Michelle Fiscus, Director of Vaccines-Infectious and Preventable Diseases for the Tennessee State Board of Health was fired by the Governor for encouraging eligible adolescents to get vaccines. https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2021/aap-statement-on-the-termination-of-dr.-michelle-fiscus/

Despite a mild increase in early July, the US COVID-19 mortality rate is on the decline with it now in the 150s.

Infection rates are increasing, most likely due to spread of the Delta Variant.

Data indicate that it is much safer for adolescents to receive two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine than to not get it. This is still true even when considering possible risk of myocarditis caused by the second dose of the vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-06/05-COVID-Wallace-508.pdf#page=32

Not having your second dose of mRNA vaccine allows vulnerability to the Delta variant

Many Covid related mandates have been lifted in California on June 15, but there are still Covid related regulations in some settings.

Studies in Europe suggest that patients may benefit just as much from mixing mRNA vaccines with adenovirus vaccines as getting two doses of the same vaccine.

We had a positive case in a symptomatic patient in the office today. This is a Placer County case.

The majority of people yet to be vaccinated are not interested in detailed arguments.

Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to receive full FDA authorization in the near future.

The EEOC has stated that employers can’t mandate COVID vaccination of their employees.

Novavax announced 96.4% efficacy against original strain COVID and 86.3% against the B.1.1.7 variant.

After vaccination you should not get antibody test to check for immunity. Both visor and Materna are saying that individuals vaccinated with their products will probably need a booster in the Fall.

This is a replay of our June 18, 2020 podcast with an updated link to an article in Smithsonian.

The CDC has updated their recommended activities for fully vaccinated individuals.

The Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine now has emergency use authorization for use down to age 12.

Projections in this weeks MMWR are reason to get vaccinated now rather than later. People with chronic health conditions overall will be many times more likely to benefit from the vaccines than to be harmed.

Sign up for your COVID-19 at vaccines.gov.

The CDC has published interim activity guidelines for both people who are fully vaccinated and people who are not yet vaccinated.

A study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine documents that more than half of study patients still have effects from COVID-19 six months following their infection.

A study published in Nature on April 22 includes more bad effects of long-term Covid.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is now unpaused. Women under age 50 may want to consider getting one of the mRNA vaccines instead if they have a choice.

This week's article in the New England Journal of Medicine following patients who were pregnant at the time of vaccination finds a good report on safety of the mRNA vaccines in pregnancy.

Now more than half of adults in the US have received their first dose of COVID vaccine.

Both of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine and the Astro Zeneca Vaccine use an adenovirus vector to deliver RNA to cells.

Data are now available which show that breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated individuals are very rare.

The CDC is advisory committee on immunization practices is meeting today to review the occurrence of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with thrombocytopenia occurring in six women after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.  In addition to the thrombocytopenia, these patients also demonstrated antibodies to platelet factor 4.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has caused 6 blood clots in women after receiving the vaccine.  Administration of the vaccine is being paused until the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices can meet tomorrow.  https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0413-JJ-vaccine.html

Pfizer and BioNTech are requesting that their existing emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine be expanded to include people down to 12 years of age. https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/2021-04/EUA-12-15yo-Statement-9-April-2021.pdf?VersionId=Vg2h9d1M1XTo58jO8UIogPxXeLcn27cH

There is currently debate on the subject of vaccine passports in the United States.

The single demographic group most likely to refuse vaccination is self described white evangelical Christians.  Help them learn about vaccines. https://www.christiansandthevaccine.com/episodes/collins?fbclid=IwAR1ycj3vB_Ei5O2cyAZ9zigxW6ID_jfJwLqc1z4Z-kdIF3Gl8QxaRGQrfSU

The CDC announced today that it is safe for fully vaccinated people to travel.

Pfizer has announced results of a six month long study which finds their vaccine highly effective against the South African variant of COVID-19.

Pfizer-BioNTech announced results of phase 3 trials of their vaccine finding 100% efficacy in children aged 11-15 years.

Real world efficacy of the mRNA vaccines has been found to be 90% two weeks following the last dose of the vaccine in a .study published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Further study needs to be done to determine if vaccine administration actually helps long Covid symptoms rather than just function as a placebo.

Natural immunity at 90 days appears to be providing 80% protection against COVID-19. It also appears that vaccinated mothers pass on antibodies to protect their unborn babies.

People need to continue wearing their masks and social distancing until they are fully vaccinated, two weeks following their final dose of vaccine.

The list of COVID vaccine eligibility criteria continues to grow.

Astra Zeneca has a COVID-19 vaccine in use in several countries, but there has been no mention of an application for use in the US.

Novavax has announced 96.4% efficacy against mild, moderate, and severe disease caused by the original COVID-19 strain. It has an efficacy of 55.4% against the South African strain. It still has 100% protection against severe disease, including hospitalization and death.

The CDC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services have collaborated to update recommendations for visitation in nursing homes in light of the vaccination of most nursing home residents.

An official at the State Department's Global Engagement Center has identified Russian intelligence service influence on US vaccine news stories.  We cover these vaccine concerns in an Auburn Medical Group video.

The CDC has released interim guidelines allowing for non-physical distancing behavior between private parties who have been fully vaccinated.

Ultraviolet light band C may kill COVID-19, but there are difficulties in using it which may make it impractical.

The President has announced that the federal government will provide vaccines for all American adults by May.

The CDC will be publishing new guidelines for vaccinated Americans later this week.

This weekend the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine produced by their Janssen division.

It appears that a person with a positive COVID antibody test is 10 times less likely to get infected compared to someone with a negative antibody test.

There will soon be a nationwide resource for finding available COVID-19 vaccines.

A pair of California Coronavirus variants have been proposed as being a variant of concern, meaning that it is more easily transmitted and deadlier.

An article posted on Nature today describes factors contributing to superspreading of coronavirus.

The FDA has notified vaccine companies how they will approve variant vaccines. Moderna is already working on a vaccine for the South African variant of COVID-19.

Within a week there will have been 30 million confirm cases of COVID-19 in the US with 500,000 deaths. Encouragingly , we have nearly vaccinated 1/8 of the US population.

Studies find that COVID-19 has more of an effect on pregnant women than non-pregnant controls.

According to a recent article in Nature, COVID-19 is likely to become endemic.

The FDA admits that it made a mistake in how it allowed antibody tests to be marketed. Antibody tests have not been validated for determining if somebody has immunity to COVID-19.

A study published in JAMA Network Open finds that treatment with neither vitamin C, zinc, nor a combination does reduce the duration of COVID-19 symptoms.

As more of us get vaccinated, some things will change.

We are seeing a tremendous reduction in the number of COVID-19 tests for symptomatic patients. Along with that, we are seeing a great reduction in the number of positive test results.

The CDC published results of some studies on different ways to improve face masks.

The staff of the Auburn Medical Group describe their personal experiences with getting their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The numbers look good for Placer County from January, 2021. January has seen a reduction in the number of seven day testing positivity, hospitalizations, and deaths.

This is a recording of my experience of getting my second dose of the Moderna Covid Vaccine.

Vaccine reaction treatment is easily covered for the vast majority of patients by just taking a couple Tylenol with the onset of any symptoms. Severe reactions which occur at a rate of 2 to 5 per million usually occur within 30 minutes of vaccine administration, and should be treated with emergency medical attention.

There are significant hurdles slowing the implementation of the COVID-19 manufacturing process in the existing factories of other vaccine manufacturers.

Progress is being made in vaccinations both in the US and in the world at large.

The current COVID-19 vaccines may have to be changed to be able to effectively protect us against current and future variance of the virus.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been found to be 72% effective and could be distributed as early as February.

The South African Covid virus Variant has been found in South Carolina and Medina is starting vaccine trials specific to the South African Variant.

The current vaccines should still be effective against the more deadly South African strain (B.1.351) of COVID-19. Moderna is looking into adding either a third dose or a new version of their vaccine to give further protection against the South African strain.

For daily updates on the vaccine availability in your area check vaccinateca.com. Unfortunately, this is only good for California.

A new variant of the coronavirus called B.1.135, identified in South Africa may be less susceptible to the COVID-19 vaccine and may be able to reinfect those who have already had COVID-19.

Using a synthetic monoclonal antibody (Bamlanivimab) may be a good treatment for people in eminent danger of onset of COVID-19 before getting the vaccine.

Current research is looking into auto antibodies as a possible cause of severe COVID-19 disease and long Covid. Research is currently being performed to see if patient suffering from these will benefit from anti-rheumatologic drugs now used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

Patients deficient in vitamin D have been found to have worse outcomes in COVID-19. There currently is not strong evidence that vitamin D supplementation helps people who do not have an underlying vitamin D deficiency.

Unfortunately we do not have evidence of effective treatment for Long Covid symptoms, the symptoms that continue long after the presumed end of infection with COVID-19.

All of the local county COVID-19 vaccine online registration channels are currently full. Please try back in the coming weeks.  https://auburnmedicalgroup.com/covid19

El Dorado County residents age 65 years and older can sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine using a link found at https://auburnmedicalgroup.com/covid19

Patients who are 75 years of age or older with a Sutter affiliated HMO plan will be notified regarding receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.  If you have a Sutter-affiliated HMO but have not set up My Health Online, click here to set it up now.

As of the recording of this episode there is no mention by the CDC, the California Department Public Health, or Placer County health department regarding earlier administration of COVID-19 vaccine to those age 65 and older and those with certain pre-existing health conditions.

This week begins Vaccine administration through Safeway pharmacies for healthcare workers. You must be signed up through an online link available only to healthcare providers for vaccination at this time.

A study published in Science recently gave information about different forms of immunity over time after infection with COVID-19.  Most people infected with COVID-19 will continue to be immune to it for a long time with few exceptions.  There is a possibility that over time, people given the vaccine will be able to get infected (following exposure to an infected person) with a form of COVID-19 limited to only the upper respiratory tract.  The quickest and safest way to eliminate the threat of this virus is to have as many people as possible get vaccinated.

Serious reversible adverse effects are a 1000 times less common with either of the COVID-19 vaccines compared to death rates without vaccines.  Side effects of renewed hope in the future, joy, elation, and resolved dread of going to work have been described by some who have received the vaccine.

Members of our office staff have experienced mild symptoms overnight, but we are fine today, the first day after receiving the moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The Auburn Medical Group staff was able to get their COVID-19 vaccine injections today.  We still do not have the vaccine in the office to give to patients.

Phase 1b vaccine distribution includes Frontline essential workers and persons aged 75 years and older. Phase 1c includes those aged 65 to 74 years of age and people age 16 to 64 years of age with conditions at increased risk for severe COVID-19, and essential workers not previously included in phase 1a or 1b.

A highly contagious strain of COVID-19 that was thought to only exist in the UK until now has been discovered in Colorado.

The greater Sacramento region may relax on restrictions if we can continue to keep our ICU capacity open until January 1.

The study of the residents of Wuhan China published in nature in November does not discourage wearing face masks

A mutation of the COVID-19 virus was found in England which makes the virus 50 to 70% more transmissible.  Safely, it is not any more deadly and it seems to be equally responsive to vaccination.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC has made a recommendation for who should be included in phase 1B and 1C of COVID-19 vaccination.

We are going through the registration process with the California Department of Public health to be authorized to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. We do not yet know the earliest it could arrive at our office.

COVID-19 can last long beyond the regular acute illness for many people. This extended illness has been termed "Long COVID." There’s also a "Post Covid Syndrome" which can be experienced by people having symptoms longer than 12 weeks after their initial infection.

Abbott also now has a home COVID-19 antigen test which has been given an emergency use authorization by the FDA.  It is called BinaxNOW.

You can now search this podcast at https://auburnmedicalgroup.com/covid-podcast.

Ellumehealth.com has a home antigen test.

We are answering questions live on YouTube today at 4:30 PM.  https://youtu.be/fIBwNzI1iK4

The VRBPAC of the FDA voted 17 to 4 to recommend that the FDA grant emergency use authorization to the Pfizer and biotech COVID-19 vaccine. It is expected that the FDA will do this before next week.

The vaccines and related biological products advisory committee of the FDA meets today.

Ivermectin or the I-MASK+ protocol Is an anti-parasitic agent with a high incidence of G.I. side effects which has been found in initial study used to suggest an effect on COVID-19. Prospective randomized controlled trial‘s will be done to see if this effect is real.

Worldwide ICU mortality for COVID-19 patients was estimated to be 40% in July. A November article in Nature estimated mortality to be 30% for people over age 80.

Currently we are only testing people for COVID-19 if they have symptoms. We are also limiting in-office appointments to medical problems which must be evaluated in person and cannot be postponed.

The Moderno vaccine has a date scheduled with the FDA Vaccines and Related Biologics Products Advisory Committee. We expect fatalities from COVID-19 to continue to increase over the following two weeks.

Quarantine following contact with a COVID-19 infected person can be as short as seven days with a negative test result or 10 days without testing.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met yesterday and has recommended that healthcare providers and residents of long-term care facilities get vaccinated in phase 1A of the coronavirus vaccination program.

A study published this weekend in the Journal of Infectious Diseases confirms that less coronavirus transmission occurs outdoors compared to indoors.

Upcoming CDC ACIP and FDA VRBPAC meetings start tomorrow and December 10.

It looks like mortality will be reaching a peak right as vaccine distribution begins about a month from now.

Astra Zeneca announced their vaccine to be up to 90% effective in preventing infection with COVID-19. This is the third vaccine to be found to be over 90% effective in phase 3 trials.

cdc.gov has valuable resources for everyone in planning how they will have Thanksgiving.

A study published in JAMA Network today found that 1/3 of elderly patients presenting to an emergency department with COVID-19 had delirium and that delirium was the sixth most common presenting symptom, sometimes even with in the absence of the typical fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

The FDA has granted emergency use authorization for an in-home COVID-19 test.

There are a few treatments available for either hospitalized or outpatient COVID-19 patients.

Moderna made an announcement today that they found their candidate coronavirus vaccine to be almost 95% effective at preventing COVID-19.

The predominant strain of COVID-19 in the world now has a mutation which may decrease its chance of killing people.

Facemasks with unfiltered valves do not decrease the spread of COVID-19. Please do not wear them around other people.

States in the northern Midwest arevthe hardest hit with hospitalizations compared to the availability of hospital beds for their population.

Placer County‘s numbers for adjusted case rate and positivity rate put us at risk for being moved to the red level next week. Wear face masks and distance yourselves to lessen this risk.

The vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is effective.

While the percentage of deaths in people infected with COVID-19 decreases, the total number of deaths in the United States is increasing with the increasing infection rate.

There were 100,000 new COVID cases in the US yesterday.

A pre-print of an NSF study conducted in Massachusetts finds that the risk of contracting COVID-19 from touching surfaces is low.

It appears that medical providers have bern practicing pandering instead of good medicine by the numbers of prescriptions of dexamethasone written this summer.

California still has not made the contact tracing app in mobile phones available for its residents . Send in a voice message if you have found updated information on trials using the app in California or information on proposed policies for using such apps in California.

The Marshall islands gets its first two cases, Melbourne lessons a 111 day lock down, and US deaths increase during a decreasing death rate among severely ill patients.

The vaccine being studied by Pfizer and BioNTech is delayed because not enough people have come down with COVID-19 in the study to reach a significant number.

There are some simple and not-so-simple steps that could be taken by restaurants to increase safety.

It takes about eight days for activity restrictions to make a reduction in COVID-19 spread. It takes about two weeks to see an increase in spread of COVID-19 following relaxation of social restrictions.

As a country once again builds field hospitals for the overflow of COVID-19 patients, where will the needed healthcare providers come from?

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee made a recommendation to consider an alternate plan to early emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines.

Being within 6 feet of a person for a cumulative time of 15 minutes or more within a day is considered close contact.

This week’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report from the CDC shows that there have been nearly 300,000 excess deaths in the US already this year compared to the average for the last five years.

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meets this Thursday.

The Department of Health and Human Serviceshas posted on their website that a COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed to long-term care facilities through CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.

Some studies have found a very small differences in risk for contracting COVID-19 according to blood type.  The difference is less than 2%.  It is type O blood that seems to better.  There was no difference found in the rate of death from COVID-19 according to blood type.

Although the world health organization tells young adults not to expect a vaccine to be available for them until 2022 it is likely that they will be able to get a vaccine in the United States earlier than that.

Arizona had a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases following the implementation of requirements for wearing masks, social distancing, and closure of certain businesses.

A study of over 100 babies born to COVID-19 infected mothers found that only two of them tested positive for COVID-19, and none of them had COVID-19 symptoms.

The CDC’s morbidity and mortality weekly report describes how young adults are the age group most responsible for spreading COVID-19 in hotspot counties.

Will COVID-19 be worse during the Winter? There are too many factors to consider to predict this, but chances are that cases will increase.

A study by UCL researchers suggests 86% of individuals infected with COVID-19 have symptoms at the time of testing.

There are now two companies awaiting approval for monoclonal antibody treatments which have been found to be effective in decreasing the severity of COVID-19 when administered early.

The CDC updated their webpage on “How COVID is Spread” to account for airborne particles which can remain floating in a room for hours.

Taiwan still has just over 500 cases of COVID-19 with only seven deaths this far into the pandemic. They accomplished this through universal mask wearing, widespread testing, strict quarantine enforcement, and contact tracing. They did not have to shut down businesses.

As phase 3 trials come to an end for front runners Pfizer and Moderna, the companies may be seeking emergency use authorization from the FDA in about a month. Widespread availability of vaccines for the general public would not be expected until near mid-2021.

The current standard testing is too sensitive for population level screening of the community.

Our supply of flu shots has arrived for patients aged six months to Medicare age..

It is more important to avoid indoor settings with people and to wear masks than to work on air purification strategies.

Operation warp speed is getting ready to distribute doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Normal approval of a vaccine for distribution n the United States goes through the FDA with advice from the VRBPAC and the CDC with advice from the ACIP.

The published case reports regarding extensive spread of COVID-19 and airlines involved a long 10 hour international flight and almost exclusively affected people sitting within two seats or rows of the infected person.

There are cats infected with COVID-19 in Hong Kong and Chinese patients with COVID-19 wear eyeglasses less often than patients who don’t have COVID-19.

Studies finding coronavirus lingering in the air as an aerosol do not change recommendations nor evidence for mask wearing and social distancing.

A dilute solution of povidone iodine is thought to potentially decrease the risk of catching COVID-19 if applied to the inside of the nostrils following contact with an infected person. This is generally anticipated to be done in a healthcare environment where the person was wearing the proper protective equipment when the contact occurred.

Despite the recent removal of the state of health emergency in Placer County, we need to continue wearing facemasks to prevent widespread COVID-19 infections.

Articles in Science and Nature describe heart and brain effects of COVID-19

A study published in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Disease finds that wearing a face mask decreases the chance of catching COVID-19 for the person wearing the mask.

The two front runner vaccines are produced by Pfizer and BioNTech and Moderna. The first phase 3 trials should be completed in late October.

A study published in the CDC’s MMWR finds that people positive for COVID-19 were twice as likely to have gone to restaurants as people who tested negative. The same study found that people who tested positive were more than 3 1/2 times more likely to have gone to a coffee shop or bar than people who tested negative.

What do we do now? What do we expect for the timeline for the rest of the pandemic?

There is data to suggest that people do better with COVID-19 if they get their flu shot. The Auburn Medical Group now has flu shots appropriate for people age 65 and older in stock. Call for your appointment if you are an existing patient.

A statement was released by the executives of nine manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines stating they will not compromise safety principles and practices in their development and release of their vaccines for COVID-19.

Studies suggest that COVID-19 causes injury to heart cells which may cause a degree of heart failure immediately or later in life.

The CDC sent notifications to the states describing how to roll out a possible vaccination against COVID-19 as early as November 1.

Apple and Google are including contact tracing availability for COVID-19 un their mobile phone operating systems. It is currently operating in iOS 13.7. I encourage listeners to contact their elected representatives to push for making this available in their area.

The CDC has published that 6% of COVID-19 deaths were due to COVID-19 only.

It is important to know that a county has to be achieving certain targets for number of new cases per hundred thousand residents and percentage of positive tests for two weeks before changing risk levels in the blueprint for a safe economy. https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/#reopening-data

California, Florida, New York, Texas, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and New Jersey plan to continue testing asymptomatic individuals for COVID-19 despite a CDC recommendation to discontinue such testing.

Yesterday the CDC gave emergency use authorization to Abbot for an inexpensive rapid COVID-19 test. They also noted that because of its lack of sensitivity, retesting should be considered for the vast majority of patients using this test.

The CDC officially recommends to not argue with individuals noncompliant with mandatory mask wearing.

In office testing can be fast, but is it accurate?

Oleandrin has been found to have antiviral activity in a test tube, just like many chemicals. It should not be used as a home remedy for COVID-19. Call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 if you or somebody you are with has symptoms from Oleandrin and toxicity which can include nausea,headache, vomiting, irregular heartbeat and diarrhea.

The presence of wildfires and their smoke complicate social distancing measures for COVID-19.

Be wary for bogus COVID-19 contact tracers. Cooperate with legitimate contact tracers who will never ask you for payment, credit card information, or your Social Security number.

The US peaked in new COVID-19 cases again on July 24. California has plateaued in the number of deaths at around 130 per day.

We do not currently have a readily available test to determine if a person with recurrent symptoms of COVID-19 is truly reinfected.

Yale University has received FDA emergency use authorization for a saliva-based test for COVID-19.

A Study published in Cell by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm suggests that there may be long-lasting immunity after exposure to COVID-19 through T cells.

The CDC has officially posted on its website a warning against the use of valved or vented facemasks for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Russia is rolling out an adenovirus-based COVID-19 Vaccine to the public without conducting a phase 3 trial.

COVID-19 can have symptoms lasting for months in about 10% of patients testing positive by laboratory evaluation.

It is easy to find propaganda attempting to convince readers that mask wearing is not beneficial and is even harmful. The truth is, the difference made by mask wearing is small, but can make all the difference in the world if you are among those whose lives are saved by it.

New covered 19 cases are currently decreasing in the United States, in California, and specifically in Placer County. The rate of deaths may not yet have peaked, but is expected to also have a decrease in rate coming soon.

Correlation does not imply causation. A logical fallacy is not recognized by many touting the benefits of hydroxychloroquine.

The long-term presence of COVID-19 is an unknown. We need to be prepared for possibly having to live with it around us for years. It is of the utmost importance to continue mask wearing, physical distancing, and handwashing.

Dr. Vaughan, reviews today’s COVID-19 headlines and answers a listener voice message.

An article in JAMA network proposes a model for safely reopening a residential college campus.

A meta-analysis completed by a group in the UK and Italy provides information regarding duration of infectiousness, test positivity, and the reason for the difference.

There are two opinion pieces published in Newsweek over the last week with opposite opinions regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. The Key to Defeating COVID-19 Already Exists. We Need to Start Using It  Hydroxychloroquine Is Not a Key to Defeating COVID-19. Find all of Doctor Vaughan’s podcasts at vaughanmd.com.

The US GAO published information on contact tracing apps.

A group clean itself America’s Frontline Doctors released a video from the steps of the supreme court. They make dubious claims about mask wearing and hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 prophylaxis.

An article in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report investigated long-term illness in non-hospitalized patients, finding that a significant number of patients still had symptoms 2 to 3 weeks after testing positive.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can Include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

Refrain from air travel if possible. Check your potential carriers for policies regarding keeping middle seats free, requiring facemask use of passengers, and screening for fever or symptoms before boarding.

There is evidence that virus particles not attached to respiratory droplets may be floating in the air around patients with COVID-19.

A South Korean study demonstrated that the novel coronavirus spreads much more within households than it does to non-household contacts. It also found that children age 0 to 9 years are the least at risk for spreading COVID-19.

The use of cloth face masks increased from April to May overall and among most sociodemographic groups.

The country of Rwanda is maintaining admirable control over the spread of COVID-19.

The national Academy of Sciences, engineering, and Medicine have written a 100 page report on factors to consider in deciding whether to re-open schools for children. 

No symptomatic spread of Coronavirus occurred among 139 clients of two symptomatic COVID-19 infected stylists in Springfield, Missouri in May.

Vaccines are being developed and tested at warp speed by manufacturing multiple candidate vaccines at once before the testing is even completed to know which vaccine or vaccines will be found to be safe and effective.

We are experiencing pro long turnaround times for COVID-19 testing. We are not currently able to test people who do not have symptoms.

In contrast to many prior studies, a study done with 2500 patients in the Henry Ford Hospital system found mortality benefit to early administration hydroxychloroquine to COVID-19 inpatients.

Dr. Richard Bartlett has gone viral on YouTube with his claim of a silver bullet treatment for COVID-19 using nebulized budesonide.

There are five vaccine candidates receiving major funding from the United States government. They all use relatively new or completely novel vaccine technology.

A study found that the virus lasts for shorter times at colder temperatures, and the EPA approved two Lysol products for SARS-CoV-2.

They study from Princeton University analyzed data supporting the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The safest way to celebrate the Fourth of July with friends and family is to only be together outdoors, wearing masks, and maintaining 6 feet of distance between yourself and others.

In article published in JAMA Pediatrics reviews the effects of various influences on adolescent behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The advisory committee on immunization practices of the CDC has already met to discuss prioritization for administration of a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available.

The Chinese military has received approval for administering a vaccine to members of their armed services. This vaccine was developed by the Chinese military in cooperation with CanSino Biologics.

Nationally the numbers are getting worse than they have ever been in the United States. We can do something about it. Wear face coverings when you’re with non-household members, maintain a distance of 6 feet from non-household members. Try to not be indoors with non-household members as much as possible.

Face coverings are the most important thing, combined with keeping a 6 foot minimum distance from others, that you can do to help prevent sickness and death from COVID-19.

Evidence suggests that children can be together without significant risk to them or to their families from COVID-19.

There was a recent opinion piece questioning the appropriateness of human challenge trials for coronavirus vaccine testing.

And an article published in Nature Medicine suggests that immunity declines rapidly in patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infections. Dr. Vaughan explains that this is not the whole story about immunity.

The governor has announced mandatory use of facemasks in California. We go over some of the details. https://COVID-19.ca.gov/masks-and-ppe/

An article published by Nature today gives us eight ways to determine if information is reliable.

Michael Mina proposes a new way to track emerging infectious threats with a surveillance of blood samples

The old generic drug, dexamethasone, has been found to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 patients on ventilators or requiring supplemental oxygen.

Superspreading events occur when several individuals catch COVID-19 at the same event.

A modeling study published by the Royal Society finds that face mask wearing with social distancing can control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A woman in her 20s had a double lung transplant at Northwestern in Chicago because of the extensive damage done to her lungs by COVID-19.

California has had 7 county health officers resign since the Pandemic began. Support them #coontyhealthofficials

A WHO statement made on Monday was clarified today to keep from giving the impression that people without symptoms of COVID-19 are not a major source of spread Of the disease.

Evidence suggests that retesting coronavirus positive patients after symptoms resolve is not helpful. Patients should be considered to no longer be infectious if they have had at least 10 days since the onset of symptoms and at least three days without symptoms.

Articles in the Lancet in the New England Journal of Medicine based on the study showing increased mortality with hydroxychloroquine have been retracted.

A Dutch study suggests children are not a significant source of COVID-19 spread. Social “bubbles” are a strategy for gradual reconnecting with others socially.

Sweden’s mortality is the highest per capita in the world. Taiwan has still only had 443 cases of COVID-19 with only seven deaths. What did they do differently?

A review published in Lancet promotes the use of his school doesn’t seem combined with the use of facemasks and eye protection

The United States effort at developing a vaccine for SARS-coV-2is being conducted at warp speed.

Saliva testing for Coronavirus antibodies and for RNA and South Korea re-imposing social distancing

A Science Perspective reviews the latest information about SARS-CoV-2 transmission.  It emphasizes the importance of face coverings and the role of asymptomatic people in COVID-19 spread.

Yale University researchers have found that SARS-CoV-2 can be found in wastewater in municipal sewage treatment facilities. Surveillance of viral concentration scan predict community COVID-19 cases by one week and hospitalizations by three days. There are a few states which are seeing a concerning increase in the number of coronavirus cases following re-opening.

The latest research suggests remdesivir and convalescent serum help COVID-19 patients and hydroxychloroquine (and chloroquine) hurt patients.

We go over the results of the study from the Lancet which finds patients having twice the mortality rate with chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine compared to placebo.

Immunity Passports are considered a bad idea by the World Health Organization even as Estonia starts to roll then out, Columbia University researchers find that 45% of Coronavirus tweets are authored by robots.

Antibodies are immune system elements specific to a particular infecting agent. Some antibodies will confer immunity to that agent (virus). If we can accurately measure the right antibodies, we can tell who has had a particular infection and is (most likely) immune to getting it again.

May 19, 2020 COVID-19 update including the Announcement by President Trump that he is currently taking hydroxychloroquine.