Health

Health officials in Florida are going to release thousands of genetically altered mosquitoes to fight against some disease-spreading species of bugs. The project is a part of an initiative to reduce those species of insects that spread harmful pathogens and germs. This program is called the buzzy project. It is sponsored by a British biotech company called Oxitec. Experts have said that the project has been designed to curb the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that are responsible for spreading ailments such as Zika and dengue fever. Health officials have genetically alerted male mosquitoes to mate with non-modified female mosquitoes that bite to infect humans. Experts have used a death mechanism that will prevent the survival of any resulting female mosquito offspring.

The company has said that the project will curb the survival of female mosquito offspring born out of genetically modified male and non-modified female mosquitoes. Therefore, the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes will stay in control. The officials of the company have said that altered pests will be released from six locations in the Florida Keys. Around 12000 modified pests will be released each week for the next 12 weeks. This project has been authorized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sunshine State, and the local mosquito control district’s board, said the company officials.

There are some local environmentalists who are not in favor of this initiative.  They have been protesting against the project for many years. They have said that such a project will harm people and the environment. Mara Daly, who is a resident of Key Largo, has said that the company should perform a simple test to convince locals who are going to be a part of the project trial that the project will not harm the environment and human beings. This project has been approved after years of debates and reviews. The modified pests are expected to be released from six location locations, two on Cudjoe Key, one on Ramrod Key, and three on Vaca Key. Ultimately, the plan is to release hundreds of millions of genetically modified pests. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that genetically altered mosquitoes will carry two types of genes a fluorescent marker gene and a self-limiting gene.

The fluorescent marker gene is the one that shines in red color light and the self-limiting gene prevents female mosquito offspring from surviving further. Experts have said that later, mosquitoes at the target location will be compared with the ones at untreated sites under an Environmental Protection Agency-Approved Project. The evaluation of the project will be done by the CDC and the University of Florida’s Medical Entomology Laboratory. The company Oxitec has said that the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes contribute to 4 percent of the mosquito population in the Keys. The class of mosquitoes is virtually responsible for all mosquito-borne ailments that can be transmitted to humans.

‘The officials have said that mosquitoes have developed a resistance to other control methods; therefore there is a need for new tools to fight against such deadly species of mosquitoes. The executive director of the Mosquito Control District in the Florida Keys, Andrea Leal has said that these tools need to be safe, target-specific, and environment friendly. Nearly more than 7300 cases of dengue have been reported in the US from 2010 to 2020. The CDC has said that largely the transmission has occurred outside the US for most cases. The agency has said during the summer of 2016, around 29 people have been diagnosed with Zika virus within a six-block that has forced officials to aerially spray to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The EPA has approved the project of the company in 2019 stating that there will be no major effects on humans and the atmosphere.

The company has claimed that a trial of their tool in Brazil has been quite successful. The officials have said that the findings have shown that the tool has not caused any harm to beneficial insects. A similar trial in the Cayman Islands has been delayed in 2016 as many people have protested against the project. Some ecologists are still skeptical about the efficiency of the new tool developed by Oxitec. They have said that the project looks like Jurassic Park Experiment. A non-profit digital science magazine has claimed that Oxitec has been trying to push a trial in Key haven and Key West but the authorities have rejected the plea due to the lack of more safety data. Experts from Oxitec have said that altered gene makes female pests dependent on the antibiotic called tetracycline. Later, they die in the early larval stages due to the lack of this antibiotic.

On the other hand, the EPA has said that the trial will not take place within 500 meters of commercial citrus growing fields or wastewater treatment sites.  Contrary to the company’s claim, some experts from Yale University have said that Oxitec’s Brazil trial has shown that some female mosquito offspring of the genetically altered pests have been able to survive to adulthood. However, the officials of the firm have refuted such claims.

A report has revealed that women are at a higher risk of having side effects after being immunized with COVID19 vaccines. Allen Country Health Commissioner, Dr. Matthew Sutter as well has confirmed the report that women have been seen having more side effects as compared to men after being vaccinated for COVID19. He has said that women have a stronger immune system response to the vaccine as compared to men. Dr. Matthew Sutter has noted that as women tend to have a more robust stronger immune response to the vaccine, they might be at a greater risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Women who are in the age range of 18 to 50 years are more likely to have such autoimmune diseases. Health experts have said that side effects start to show up as the immune system starts reacting to the vaccine. Sutter has said that it is beneficial for the immune system to trigger a robust response to vaccines, as the SARS-CoV-2 virus is quite risky for the human system. He has said that a stronger immune response helps the body to fight against the infection in the future. As per the experts, the majority of people who have been having side effects after vaccination will have minor issues only.

Scientists have said that many people might have a sore arm after vaccination. Many people might suffer from fatigue or body aches. Some people feel low-level fever as well the day after being vaccinated. They have said that these side effects typically last for a day or two and then completely fade away. In some cases, there have been severe reactions to COVID19 vaccines. Some people have suffered rare blood clotting disorders after being vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson vaccine; however, these cases are quite rare. As per the report, this side effect is found in one in 200000 doses. Experts have said that it is risky but not as big as not getting the vaccine at all. Dr. Matthew Sutter has said that COVID19 is a severe disease even for the people who have survived the disease.

The death risk not zero percent, even for those people who are at low risk or under 40 years of age. The death rate is much higher than the risk of side effects from COVID19 vaccines. Experts have said that if people are trying to adjust for risk, it is much safer to get the vaccine than getting the infection. While women are at a higher risk of having side effects from the vaccines, men are at a greater risk of death due to viral infection. This happens because women are less nervous about taking the shots. Dr. Matthew Sutter has said that statistics of other vaccines have not been assessed as much as COVID19 vaccines; therefore, there is no real model for women having side effects from other vaccines.

The silent transmission of Covid-19 has made the situation worse. The virus is wreaking havoc globally. According to a new assessment carried in the popular medical journal The Lancet, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is predominantly transmitted through the air. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes Covid-19 disease. It said that strong evidence and data are available that show that the virus is transmitted through the air. Several past studies suggested that Covid-19 infection may spread through the air. However, it could not be confirmed as studies were inconclusive. The latest claim is based on an analysis made by six experts from the US, Canada, and Britain. They said that measures failing to treat the infection are only leaving people unprotected and allowing the virus to spread.

Back in July 2020, more than 200 scientists from 32 nations had written to the World Health Organization that there is evidence available suggesting Covid-19 is airborne. They submitted that smaller particles too pose a serious threat and can infect people. It noted that WHO and other world agencies should urgently take note of scientific evidence and focus on mitigation. It called for tough measures to reduce airborne transmission. The assessment added that transmission of virus multiplies indoors than outdoors. It said that transmission from people not showing symptoms like sneezing and coughing accounts for 40 percent of all transmission. This makes the infection a serious threat for healthy people and affects mass.

Researchers find no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spreads easily through large droplets. They said that large droplets fall through the air quickly and make the surface contaminated. They cited long-range transmission between people in adjacent rooms in hotels. They said that the virus even affects people who were never in touch. Researchers said that robust measures should be implemented without any delay to check the airborne transmission. They said that hand hygiene and surface cleaning are important but the emphasis should be on airborne measures because inhalation of the virus will only give a rise to infection. They added that covering the face with a mask can prevent droplets from traveling through air, but not all masks are effective.

A new study has revealed that people who reside in sunnier areas might be at a lower risk of death due to COVID19. The study has been conducted in the US and has been repeated in Italy and England as well. Scientists have compared deaths related to COVID19 with ultraviolet levels of different areas. They have found that areas that are sunnier are linked to fewer deaths due to COVID19. The new study has found that the ratio between the risk of death in a certain group of people and the risk of mortality for all other groups of people has reduced in the US by 29 percent for every 100 kilojoules per square meter increase in average daily ultraviolet light. Experts have said that there has been a combined decline of 32 percent in the risk of mortality due to COVID19 in Italy and England. At present, health experts are trying to find out a correlation between sunlight and reduced risk of death due to COVID19. As per the experts, nitrate oxide is secreted from the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Some studies have revealed that nitrate oxide reduces the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to multiply further. The findings of the study have been released in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Experts have said that other studies have revealed that elevated exposure to sunlight is linked to a low risk of heart attack and lower blood pressure. Both these aspects might be able to reduce the risk of mortality due to COVID19. Experts who have been involved with the new study have said that the reduced risk of death linked to COVID19 cannot be explained by vitamin D levels in the local population. The study has been based in regions where UVB (type B ultraviolet) levels are too less to produce major vitamin D levels in the body.  The study has accounted for other known risk parameters linked to exposure and an elevated risk of death due to COVID19 including age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, rate of infection in the area, air pollution, and temperature. As the study has been observational, it has not been able to show cause and effect.

Health experts have said that there is a need for further studies to find out the cause and effect and if cause and effect are established, sunlight can act as an effortless public health intervention. The corresponding author of the study, Dr. Richard Weller, who is also a consultant dermatologist and reader at the University of Edinburgh, has said that the findings of the study show sunlight exposure as one of the effective ways of reducing the risk of death due to COVID19. Health experts have said that the results of the study might be quite relevant to Israel. Israel is a sunny nation with high levels of the UV index.

A new study has shown that a majority of children who have been diagnosed with the rare and severe inflammatory disease might have had COVID19 infection initially with no symptoms or have had a mild infection. The study has noted that odd post-infection conditions have been seen to be milder in children, who have been down with COVID19. However, more than half of kids who have been affected by the condition have been given intensive hospital care. The study has been done by experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings of the study have been released in JAMA Pediatrics. The study has analyzed the cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in kids across the US and the evidence of bolsters that is a stalled immune response to COVID19.

The study has looked at nearly 1800 cases that have been reported to the CDC from March 2020 to mid-January 2021. The majority of kids have been below 15 years but experts have included those who have been up to 20 years of age. Experts have found that a surge in MIS-C cases has been seen two to five weeks after COVID19 peaks. Experts have said that these cases have followed the transmission of initial infection from urban to rural areas. The CDC data has shown that there is a rising surge in the pediatric issue that has been consistent with that trend.

The CDC has reported there have been a total of 3185 cases of this pediatric condition in the US. There have been around 36 deaths among children due to the condition. The authors of the study have said that state reports are not on time always; therefore, it is unclear how many children might have been diagnosed with this condition in the US since the study has completed. They have said that most kids who have been diagnosed with   COVID19 are not diagnosed with the post-infection disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association have released their data that have shown that nearly 3.5 million children and teenagers have been diagnosed with COVID19.

The first case of this pediatric condition (MIS-C) has been reported in late winter and spring last year in Europe. Experts have said that in some cases that do not show any symptoms and have undiagnosed COVID19 infections can be mistaken for Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that can lead to red skin, swelling, and heart problems.

Dr. Sean O’Leary, who is the vice-chairperson of the Pediatrics’ Academy’s Infectious Disease Committee, has said that inflammatory condition makes kids very ill quite faster. However, most of them respond to the treatment quite well and get better completely. This condition can be treated by steroids and other medications, which can treat inflammation, said the experts. The authors of the study have said that the condition can be prevented by keeping COVID19 infection at bay. They have noted that vaccination might be a good way to prevent COVID19 infection. Experts have said that there are many clinical trials that are underway to test the COVID19 vaccines for children. The CDC authors of the study have said that fever has been the most common symptom of this condition among children.

Around half of the kids who have been dealing with this condition and have been enrolled in this study have reported having abdominal pain, red rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea. Nearly one-third of patients have complained of having heart inflammation and other cardiac issues. The authors of the study that has been conducted by the CDC have said that these symptoms have been least common in kids who have been up to 4 years of age. These kids have at a lower risk of being admitted to intensive care as compared to older children.

Scientists have come up with a blood test that can detect bipolar disorder and depression. At present, currently available diagnosis and treatment methods are largely based on trial and error. Newly developed blood test aims at a precision medicine method to treatment. The study has been done by experts from Indiana University. It sheds light on the genetic basis of mood disorders. The study has been led by Dr. Alexander B. Niculescu, who is a Professor of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. This study is based on Dr. Niculescu’s previous work on blood biomarkers that keep a track of suicidality, pain, post-traumatic disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease as well. Dr. Alexander B. Niculescu has said that his team has led the way for precision medicine in psychiatry over the last 20 years.

He has said that with the new findings, experts have brought psychiatry from the 19th century into the 21st century. As per the experts, with their constant efforts, the field of psychiatry has become like other modern fields such as oncology. The aim of the new blood test is simply to improve the quality of life of many patients, said the experts. The findings of the study have been released in the prestigious journal called Molecular Psychiatry. Experts have said that the blood test is composed of RNA biomarkers that can easily detect how fatal a person’s depression is. It as well can identify the risk of being diagnosed with severe depression in the future. The blood test will be able to diagnose the risk of developing the bipolar or manic-depressive disorder in the future.

Health experts have said that the test notifies about the modified medication options for patients. The study has continued for over four years. Nearly 300 patients have been enrolled in the study from the patient population at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. The team of experts has followed a four-step method of discovery, prioritization, validation, and testing. First, experts have followed participants over time and analyzed them in both high and low mood states. The team of experts has used a huge database obtained from other studies in the field of psychiatry to cross-validate and prioritize their outcomes. After that, experts have validated the top 26 candidate biomarkers in autonomous cohorts of people with severe depression or bipolar disorder.

In the end, they have tested these biomarkers in further autonomous cohorts to find out how effective they have been at identifying who is having these disorders and who are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with these diseases in the future. With this method, scientists have been able to show how to match patients with medications. They as well have been able to discover a new possible medication to cure depression. The lead author of the study, Dr. Alexander B. Niculescu has said with the new study, his team has developed a blood test that can differentiate between depression and bipolar disorder. It is able to match patients with their suitable treatment as well. He has said that biomarkers are essential tools to diagnose such disorders when self-report by the patients and clinical notions of health care professionals are not very reliable.

In the new study, experts have found that mood disorders are highlighted by circadian clock genes. These genes control seasonal, day-night, and sleep-wake cycles. This might be the reason why some patients go through a hard time with seasonal changes and the sleep alterations that can take place in mood disorders. The lead author of the study has said that the findings should be converted into clinical practice and these findings can help develop new drug therapy for such patients. Experts who have been involved in the study have said that the new work is essential in enhancing the quality of life for many patients, who are dealing with depression or bipolar disease.

Dr. Alexander B. Niculescu has said that blood biomarkers provide real-time clinical practice benefits. He has said that as the brain cannot be examined in real-time, his team has worked for years to find out blood biomarkers for neurological diseases. As per the report, at least one in four people is identified with a clinical mood disorder. The study has been backed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Many people might be excited to ditch off their winter clothes as summer is around the corner. However, it might be hard for people who are dealing with body acne. Dr. Rekha Tailor, who is a leading non-surgical cosmetic expert in Surrey, has shown why people develop black spots on their bodies and how such spots can be treated at home for hot months. She has said that people who are dealing with this issue should give up on sugary foods. Such people should opt for a Mediterranean diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. Dr. Tailor has said that people suffering from body acne can try out chemical exfoliation and should ensure that they are using the right product to wash their body. She has said that people should be careful while choosing fabric for clothing. These people should avoid wearing tight clothes and opt for natural fabrics such as cotton or silk. Cotton and silk are the best fabrics for air circulation around the skin.

Proper air circulation around the skin during summer is essential to prevent build-up in the pores. Dr. Rekha Tailor has said that controlling oil production in the skin and removing dead skin effectively are two important steps to treat acne at home. People should ensure that they are using products that are oil-free. Most importantly, they should avoid using serum as oil present in such products can worsen acne. People dealing with body acne should use non-foaming cleansers, as these products will reduce oil production. Products should be non-comedogenic that will help the skin to breathe properly and prevent pore blockage as well. She has said that if symptoms are severe, then, people should consult their dermatologists who can prescribe a suitable treatment plan. Professionals might prescribe combined treatments such as laser therapy with clinically tested skincare products.

There are a number of home remedies available that can be used to treat acne at home, said the expert. Dr. Tailor has said that topical retinoids might work well on the skin. Topical retinoids clean dead skin cells on the surface of the epidermis, improve turnover, and prevent them from building up in hair follicles.  She has said that it is crucial to see a professional for the right skincare regimen as per individual needs. Using antibiotic cream or tablets that are prescribed by a professional as well can be helpful, said the expert. For example, topical benzoyl peroxide is an antibiotic medicine that can reduce the bacteria on the skin and help reduce inflammation. Azelaic acid as well is a good treatment option for mild hormonal and cystic acne.

Dr. Rekha Tailor has said that products that have azelaic acid are effective in reducing swelling and inflammation as well. Such products help open up blocked pores and kill acne-causing microbes. These products are safe to use during pregnancy as well. Therefore, pregnant women who are dealing with acne or rosacea can easily opt for this skincare option. Doctors advise that people who are dealing with acne should avoid touching it again and again. Touching acne spreads the microbes and it leads to severe acne issues.  People should keep the acne area clean and wear more breathable fabrics such as cotton.

Health experts have said that people should eat a healthy balanced diet to avoid acne problems. They should reduce intake of alcohol, caffeine, and sugar as well. These factors dramatically affect the skin, said the experts. People should avoid processed foods and unhealthy snacks. Eating a Mediterranean diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, healthy fat, and rich sources of protein such as fish with complex carbohydrates might help prevent acne.  Experts have said that by making some changes in eating habits, people can avoid frequent rises in blood sugar and insulin levels that can trigger breakouts of acne. A healthy and balanced diet offers a range of added benefits that will improve the health and texture of the skin.

Dr. Rekha Tailor has noted that there are two forms of exfoliation such as manual and chemical. She has said that chemical exfoliation is a better option as compared to manual as people tend to over scrub their skin at times that leads to damage of the skin. People should use products that have chemicals like glycolic, lactic, and malic and salicylic acids to have glowing skin, said the expert.  She has advised that people should use an exfoliator at least two or three times a week to have the utmost benefits of removing dead skin without over scrubbing the skin and causing damage to the skin. People should keep cleaning their backs regularly and use a loofah to unclog the pores and reduce the chances of acne breakouts. People should maintain regular hygiene by cleaning their pillow covers bedding, undergarments, and towels to avoid acne-causing bacteria.

A survey that has been conducted by epidemiologists, virologists, and infectious disease experts has revealed that the first generation COVID19 vaccines might turn ineffective against new strains of coronavirus within a year or less. Therefore, there is a need for newly formulated COVID19 vaccines. Scientists have been saying that the vaccination effort across the world is required to defuse the threat of COVID19. They have said that it might be due to variations of the virus that are more contagious, lethal, and less vulnerable to vaccines. Such varied strains of the virus have been circulating across the world. People’ Vaccine Alliance that is a union of groups such as Amnesty International, Oxfam, and UNAIDS has carried out this survey.

It includes 77 scientists from 28 countries. Around one-third of the participants have said that a new vaccine might be needed within nine months or less. Nearly two-thirds of respondents from the survey have said that the first generation vaccines might be effective only for a year or less. As per the survey, around 88 percent of participants have said that vaccine-resistant mutants have been emerging due to constant low vaccine coverage in many countries. These respondents work in illustrious institutes such as John Hopkins, Yale, Imperial College, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Edinburgh.

Dr. Gregg Gonsalves, who is an associate professor of epidemiology at Yale University, has said that new mutations of the virus emerge every day. At times, they find a forte that makes them stronger than their predecessors. He has said that these strains can spread more effectively and possibly evade immune responses to past variants. Dr. Gregg Gonsalves has said that until the whole world is vaccinated, the entire playing field is left open for more and more mutations that can lead to variants, which have the capacity to evade existing COVID19 vaccines. Experts will need booster shots to deal with these variants.

The participants of the survey have said that the currently available lot of COVID19 shots that have been approved by the governments so far are a blend of new and old technologies. They have said that companies like Pfizer- BioNtech and Moderna have used mRNA technology to develop their COVID19 vaccines. These vaccines can be modified within weeks or months. However, manufacturing glitches are always a potential issue. Health experts have said that these vaccines are not accessible to poor countries as they are highly expensive. These vaccines have arduous temperature storage constraints as well.

Rich countries like the US and UK have vaccinated nearly more than a quarter of their populations with one dose of one of these vaccines. On one hand, these countries have already procured hundreds of millions of supplies of these vaccines. On the other hand, countries such as South Africa and Thailand have not been able to obtain shots for even 1 percent of their populations. Some nations have not even started vaccinating their citizens with the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine.  Experts have said that Covax, which is a global vaccine initiative coalition that aims at defying so-called vaccine nationalism, has been trying to supply vaccines to at least 27 percent of the population of low-income nations in 2021.

The survey has noted that the urgency of rich countries to inoculate their citizens is not seen worldwide. Rich countries are planning to vaccinate their adult population by this summer. The head of inequality policy at Oxfam and the chairperson of People’s Vaccine Alliance, Max Lawson has said that although Covax is trying to manage vaccines for 27 percent of populations of poor countries by the end of this year, it might not be good enough. He has been requesting the manufacturers of COVID19 vaccines to openly share the technology and intellectual property of their products to increase the production of the vaccine across the world.

Therefore, poor countries as well have a sufficient supply to vaccinate their populations. Health experts have said that COVID19 vaccine developers should keep the ambitious global goal in mind. They have said that at this time, the goal seems to be lost. The respondents of the survey have said that health officials and governments should understand that limited vaccination can be quite dangerous in the future.

An increasing number of people are being vaccinated against COVID19 as the vaccine program is being rolled out at a  rapid speed in the US. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that more than 51 million people in the US have been vaccinated with full two doses of the vaccine for COVID19. The CDC data has revealed that around 93 million people have been given the first dose of the vaccine. However, this means that more people are dealing with side effects that are linked to COVID19 vaccines. Most of these side effects are mild and fade away with time but health experts are worried about more serious adverse reactions. An adverse reaction of COVID19 vaccines is swelling that can take place in three particular areas of the body such as lips, eyes, and tongue. Experts have said that some COVID19 vaccine side effects make people feel a little low.

However, these side effects can be dealt with by resting up, staying hydrated, and using mild over-the-counter painkillers. An allergic reaction can also be seen in few small numbers of cases, said the experts. Now experts from the Mayo Clinic have warned people against some of the adverse side effects. They have said that people should be alert if they notice continuous shortness of breath or panting, redness, or swelling in parts of the body other than the limb where the shot has been given.

Experts have said that if people experience swelling on their lips, eyes, or tongue, they should immediately contact their health care provider. The CDC officials have said that it can be an adverse reaction to the vaccine. They have said that in severe cases treatment with epinephrine or hospitalization might be needed. The CDC has said that people should be monitored for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine to determine if patients have a quick reaction to the vaccine.

The agency has said that if people notice such a reaction, they should get in touch with their doctor and refrain from getting the second dose of the vaccine. If this reaction has surfaced after getting the mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna, people should not receive either of these vaccines, said the agency. A report from the CDC has shown that an instant reaction takes place within four hours of getting the shot. It includes symptoms such as hives, swelling, and panting, which is known as respiratory distress as well.

Experts have said that after people with such reactions contact their health care provider, they might be referred to allergies and immunology specialists for more care and advice. The CDC has reported that some people who have been vaccinated against COVID19 have been found to have red, itchy swollen, or painful rashes at the injection site. Experts have informed that the rash, which has been termed as COVID arm, can surface more than a week after the vaccination. As per the reports, most of the time, the COVID arm has been seen in people who have been vaccinated with the COVID19 vaccine that is developed by Moderna, therefore many people call it the Moderna arm.

Esther Freeman, the director at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has said that people who are vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine have been having such skin reactions at least 8 days after the vaccination, which is very surprising. She has said that few people who have been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine as well have developed these delayed rashes. However, the CDC officials have said that these rashes are not severe allergic reactions like the swelling of eyes, lips, and tongue. Therefore, people with these rashes should receive the second dose of the vaccine.  Health experts have said that most of the people who have been vaccinated with mRNA vaccines might be dealing with these side effects. They have said that these adverse reactions indicate that the body is responding to the vaccine.

These side effects show that the immune system is learning to recognize the pathogen and fight it next it tries to infect the body. As per the experts, people might suffer some usual side effects that indicate that the body is building up immunity against the virus. These side effects might impact people’s ability to do daily tasks; however, they should fade away in a few days. On the other hand, some people do not have any side effects after the vaccination. Some of the most commonly seen side effects of COVID19 vaccines are pain and rashes at the injection site, chills, fever, headache, muscle ache, tiredness, nausea, and fatigue.

Health experts have warned that a destructive disease, which is often referred to as Rabbit Ebola has been discovered in Idaho for the first time. Idaho state officials have advised domestic rabbit owners to follow precautionary measures to keep their pets safe. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a lethal disease that easily transmits among rabbits, said the experts. However, it does not infect humans, livestock, or other species of pets. The officials have confirmed that two jackrabbits have been found dead near the Boise Airport. The animals have been found to be infected with RHD. The Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) in New York has conducted the test on dead animals. The animals have been sent for initial testing before being sent to the FADDL for verification. A veterinarian from Idaho State, Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that domestic rabbit owners need to reduce the interaction of their pets with wild rabbits, they need to disinfect their boots and coveralls and wash their hands before and after interacting with their rabbits. Experts have said that infected rabbits often show only one symptom of the disease, which is sudden death. Other common symptoms of the disease are bloody nose, dullness, and loss of appetite, said the experts.

Health officials have said that the RHD virus can live on clothing and corpses for months. The virus can easily spread via fleas, flies, and mosquitoes. Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that people should never handle a dead rabbit on their own if they find it in the wild. He has said that people should immediately call Idaho Fish & Games if they find a dead rabbit. The officials have said that if any domestic rabbit is suspected of being infected with the RHD virus, owners should immediately isolate the animal. Owners of infected domestic rabbits should directly inform their veterinary doctor and Idaho State Department of Agriculture. However, Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that if rabbits recover and survive the disease, they might be the potential carriers of the virus and can infect others as well. The animals who survive the disease are considered a potential risk for continued shedding and spread of the virus, said the experts.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has not issued any orders to euthanize the animals that are infected with the virus neither the officials have asked to cancel the rabbit show as of now. A vaccine for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is available in the US but it is not easy to get. This vaccine needs to be brought from Europe after obtaining permission from the federal regulators. Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that domestic rabbit owners who want to get their pets vaccinated should form a group, get in touch with a veterinarian, who is eager to try and import the vaccine. He has said that after this he can work with the veterinarian to obtain required permission from the authorities to import a bulk of shipment of vaccine to the state.

The first lot of children has been vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine in the second phase of Moderna’s pediatric COVID19 vaccine trial. The clinical trial of children’s COVID19 vaccine is known as KidCOVE Study of mRNA 1273. The trial will include around 6750 children from the US and Canada, who are in the age range of 6 months to 11 years. Moderna has divided this clinical trial into two parts. In the first part of the clinical trial, children will be given different doses of the vaccine. Experts have said that kids in the age group of 6 months to 11 years will be given two doses of the Cambridge-based Moderna vaccine candidate for COVID19 in the gap of 28 days at either a 25 or a 50 or a 100-microgram level. Children who are in the age group of 2 to 11 years will be given two doses of the vaccine about 28 days apart at either a 50 or a 100-microgram level. As per the officials, the outcomes of the first part will help them identify which dose will be used in the second part of the clinical trial.

The second part of the clinical trial will include those children as well who are given a saline placebo, which does not have any effect. Experts have said that the children will be followed for 12 months after the second shot of the vaccine. Moderna is conducting these trials to determine whether its vaccine will provide enough immunity to kids against the COVID19 if they are exposed to the virus or contract the disease. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel has said that they are thrilled to start the 2/3 study of mRNA-1273 on healthy kids in the US and Canada. He has said that the findings of the pediatric trial will help experts to assess the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the COVID19 vaccine in the young age population. The company has joined hands with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the US Department of Health and Human Services for the study.

The officials of the company have said that the primary findings of the phase three COVE study of mRNA-1273 in adult people who have been in the age group of 18 years and above have encouraged them to conduct the pediatric trial. As Moderna is testing its COVID19 vaccine on children, Pfizer and BioNTech as well have started testing its COVID19 vaccine on children. Johnson & Johnson as well has declared its plan to launch a study to test its one-shot COVID19 vaccine on young people in the age group of 12 to 18 years. In December, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use of Moderna’s COVID19 vaccine for adults and the COVID19 vaccine which has been developed by Pfizer-BioNTech for people who are in the age range of 16 years and above. In the month of February, The FDA has approved the emergency use of a one-shot vaccine, which has been developed by Johnson & Johnson.

There are 20 conditions, which will make people eligible for vaccination in the next big group in Wisconsin. These 20 conditions include body mass index as well, which has been garnering much attention these days. Health experts have said that anyone who is in the age range of 16 years or above with a BMI of 25 or higher will be eligible to receive the vaccine from March 29. With the new condition, around 2 million residents of Wisconsin will be getting the vaccine in the next phase of the vaccination. The next phase of the vaccination will include people who are dealing with asthma, cancer, and Down syndrome. There are many studies, which show that being overweight and obese can lead to a severe reaction to coronavirus. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well has said that obesity might increase the risk of hospitalization due to COVID19 by threefold. The agency has warned that as people’s body mass index (BMI) shoots up, the risk of COVID19 as well increases. Experts have said that just like there are different degrees of asthma and diabetes, there are different degrees of being overweight as well. They have said that people with a BMI of 25 can look slim and thin. Though muscle mass is a contributing factor, people can have BMIs, which are increased for people, who might not have the same levels of risk.

Health workers are going to decide who will be receiving the vaccine first as young, muscular athletes as well have become eligible for vaccine the same day as cancer patients and people with other underlying health issues. The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has said that there are some ways that will help pharmacies, public health departments, and health systems to make this happen. Experts have said that prioritizing people with two or more underlying health issues or starting with younger people who are in the age range of 50 to 64 years with one high-risk condition then moving to a younger age group will be feasible.

However, health authorities have yet not decided how they are going to prioritize the next group for vaccination. Dr. Matt Anderson at UW health has said that most probably the process will depend on people to help identify them as eligible for vaccination in order to avoid further lapse. Health experts have said that the process of identifying people who are eligible for the next phase of vaccination is not going to be easy. There is a possibility that there will be someone who is young and a little overweight but relatively healthy getting the shot before a person who is dealing with a severe health condition. Dr. Anderson has urged young people to be a little patient and allow people who are at a higher risk of being contracting the virus to receive the vaccine first.

A new study has revealed that people who have been down with severe COVID19 disease might be at a higher risk of serious eye issues. Experts have looked at the details of 129 patients in France who have been admitted to the hospitals with COVID19. These patients have undergone Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Nearly 7 percent of these patients have shown signs of eye abnormalities, said the experts. MRIs of these patients have revealed an eye defect called nodules at the backside of their eyes. The lead author of the study, Dr. Augustin Lecler has said that nodules can be considered a sign of inflammation or direct injury to the eye. As per the study, around nine patients have been found to have nodules in the macula, which is essential for central vision. Central vision means the ability to see clearly in front. Around eight of the patients have been identified with bilateral nodules, which means that the eye defect has been found in both eyes. Health experts have seen the eye issue, which has been found in these patients, can be very serious as it is located in the macula region. The macula region in the eyes helps people to have a clear vision and the ability to see fine details. If it continues for long, it can lead to severe vision loss or blindness.

The authors of the study have said that people who have been diagnosed with severe COVID19 infection need to go for an eye checkup for potential eye issues. The findings of the new study have been released in the journal Radiology. Experts have said that such serious eye issues might be overlooked in patients who are admitted to the intensive care units with severe COVID19 as doctors are more focused to treat life-threatening diseases. The authors of the study have said that people clinicians and doctors need to be careful in finding if there is an eye problem in patients with a severe viral infection to protect them from severe vision loss. Earlier, the COVID19 has been linked to eye issues such as conjunctivitis and retinopathy. Retinopathy means damage to the eye’s retina. However, this is the first study, which has found that eye defects in severe COVID19 patients using MRIs. Experts have not been able to find the actual cause of this eye defect but they believe that it might be due to blocked blood vessels or bleeding in the eye. The authors have said how the SARS-CoV-2 virus inflicts eye damage has not been found. However, it is possible that the virus is to infect the eye directly as cells in the retina are known to convey the ACE2 receptor, which acts as a gateway for the virus to infect the cells. It might be due to the body’s inflammatory retort to the disease.

Experts as well have said that the eye defect might be the result of severe illness. The study has noted that patients who are intubated with a breathing tube and spend their time lying down on their stomachs in the ICU are at a higher risk of eye defects due to high pressure in the eyes. The majority of patients who have been observed in the study have been lying down on their stomach also known as the prone position in the ICU for some time. Now, experts are following up with the patients to know whether their eye abnormalities have been temporary. They are looking at more patients with severe COVID19 disease with the help of MRI and other comprehensive eye tests. Similar studies are being done on patients who have been diagnosed with mild infection to find out if these eye problems occur particularly in patients with severe viral disease.

A group of health experts has discovered seven unique strains of COVID19 spreading across the US. The study has reported that these distinct new strains have been mutating within the US itself. The seven new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been found between August and November 2020. All variants have been found to be in the same growing lineage. Experts have said that unlike more deadly variants, which have been identified in the UK and South Africa, these seven mutants show no sign of increased transmissibility. They have said that none of these seven variants have become prominent in the US. The authors of the study have said that neutral mutations can become constant in a lineage selectively by chance or human behavior. Therefore, the new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can show up and shoot up in numbers with time in the absence of any clear or persistent selective gain. One of the co-authors of the study, Jeremy Kamil, who is a virologist at Louisiana State University (LSU), has said that he has found these new strains of the virus while he has been sequencing coronavirus test samples. Then he has uploaded the details of these viral mutants on an online database. The co-author of the study, Daryl Domman from the University of New Mexico and Jeremy Kamil have found that the same mutants have been discovered in both places and the two have started investigating further.

Experts have said that the new mutation is more troublesome as it emerges within a gene that affects how the virus interacts with the human cells. It helps the virus to enter and attach to the human cells and attack the immune system. The authors of the study have said that that there is an apparent sign of an evolutionary benefit in the mutation. The study has noted that the lineage, which has been found by Jeremy Kamil, has separately grown a mutation in the 677th amino acid in the genetic sequence same as other six variants, which have been newly found across the US. Experts have said that the improved ability to bind and infect cells more easily and effectively is the superpower of the virus. They have proved that the virus has been able to adapt to its human host in more than many ways as it has survived over the many months. As per the experts, the variation in the 677th amino acid, which has been found in the seven new strains of the virus, makes it easy for the spike protein of the virus to be activated, which helps the virus to latch on and infect the human cells. It can lead to subsequent infection as well. It does not mean that the new strains are more infectious or can spread faster than the original variant but it means that encounters with the new strains can result in a greater percentage of infection.

The author of the study Emma Hodcroft has said that the common appearance of these new mutations in samples during the genomic analysis might be due to erratic outbreaks, super-spreader events, and holiday travel. Emma Hodcroft has been working on a number of studies as an epidemiologist at the University of Bern. Some experts have said that the way virus interacts with other organisms needs more research into the functionality of the mutation. They have said the findings of the new study need to be followed up with more experimental data. To validate the findings of this study, experts need to test a bigger set of coronavirus samples as compared to what is available right now. Well, the exact origin of these seven viral strains is still uncertain. The authors of the study have said that some of these variants are more prominent across the Midwest and others are quite prevalent across the coasts.

Prominent medical groups in the US have recently said that pregnant women should consider being inoculated against COVID19. Dr. Richard Beigi from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Immunization Infectious Disease, Public Health Preparedness Expert Work Group has said that pregnant women should take the vaccine shots. He has said that there is no solid evidence, which proves that taking the COVID19 vaccine will harm either the mother or the unborn child. Experts have said the vaccine will provide a considerable amount of benefit to the mother and their unborn child. They have claimed that only those who have a history of severe allergies and anaphylactic shock or people who are dealing with advanced-stage cancer should avoid the vaccine. Health experts have said that any pregnant women with such concerns should get in touch with their Gynecologists. Renowned medical groups and experts have said that pregnant women should have a choice to get the vaccine. They hope this new recommendation will help pregnant women and their families, who might be confused due to conflicting recommendations, to decide about their vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that pregnant women should not receive the Moderna vaccine unless the benefits of inoculating pregnant women outweigh the possible risks of the vaccine. The agency has advised against using the Pfizer vaccine during pregnancy as well. The WHO officials have said that there is a lack of safety data on vaccinating pregnant women. Pregnant women have been excluded from the original trial of the Pfizer vaccine.

Doctors from the US have said that possible vaccine risks mentioned by the WHO are purely based on speculative measures as compared to risks posed by the COVID19 for pregnant women and their unborn child. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of preterm delivery, stillbirth, severe disease, and death due to COVID19. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Kjersti Aagaard has said that medical science does not show how and why vaccinating pregnant women can cause harm. Experts have said that there are decades of safety data available, which show that inactivated vaccines do not harm pregnant women and their unborn babies. They hope this data will apply to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as well as these vaccines are not developed from a live virus. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines, which train the body to produce a protein, which can trigger an immune response. Experts have said that as soon as instructions are passed, the cell splits and gets rid of the mRNA. Therefore, the concerns of the WHO are based on hypothetical risks at the cost of identifying the benefits of vaccination.

There are enough data, which shows that the COVID19 adversely affects pregnant women and their unborn child. Pregnant women are at five times higher risk of hospitalization due to COVID19. They are three to four times more likely to be admitted to the ICU. Women who are expecting are at two to three times higher risk of being put on lifesaving measures such as breathing tube or life support. Pregnant women are also at a higher risk of stillbirth, preterm delivery, and maternal death due to COVID19. Black and Latino women are at a greater risk of death and severe disease due to COVID19. Such women can suffer from reduced lung capacity as the baby grown inside the womb. Experts have said that the heart of a pregnant woman pumps 1.5 times harder than normal to provide enough blood for the baby and the placenta. Therefore, due to higher cardiac output, pregnant women are at a higher risk of heart failure as well, which can be a possible cause of death from COVID19. Pregnant women are more likely to have an over-reactive immune system, which can cause cytokine storm in the case of COVID19 and lead to severe COVID19 disease.

A new study has reestablished the relevance of saying healthy mind healthy body. Health experts from the American Heart Association have said that positive mental health and staying hopeful about life can reduce the risk of heart disease among people. They have said that people’s heart, mind, and body are interlinked and mutually dependent in the mind-heart-body-connection. The study has shown the adverse effects of negative psychological factors, personality traits, and mental health on heart health. While positive thoughts and better mental health are linked to a lower risk of heart issues and associated death. Experts have said that staying optimistic can increase lifespan whereas negative mental health can be equally bad for people’s health. Mental issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and anger can increase the risk of developing heart ailments such as heart attack and stroke. The study has been sponsored by the American Heart Association. Experts have said that people who are dealing with mental issues are at a higher risk of increased heart rate, rhythm abnormalities, digestive issues, hypertension, chronic inflammation, and less blood flow in the heart.

Experts who have been involved in the study, have found that patients who have been dealing with negative mental health tend to be smokers, physically inactive, overweight, and forget to take their medicines. The authors of the research have said that regular mental health screening should be a part of the standard check-up for heart issues. As per the study, psychological therapy can help improve cardiovascular health in people. Along with unhealthy habits and negative mental health, daily stress and traumatic incidents can result in heart disease or stroke. The study has noted that people who have self-reported that they are dealing with work-related stress and tension, in general, are at a 40 percent higher risk of death due to heart diseases. Most studies of mental health are observational where patients self-report their details. It leads to a great deal of ambiguity to show specific cause and effect link. However, these studies aid people to make reasonable decisions about the connection between mental health and the risk of heart diseases. However, the data of the study is reliable, which shows that positivity and better mental health can play a crucial role in improved heart health.

Scientists have said that people with positive mental health have normal blood pressure, better glucose control, low inflammation, and low levels of cholesterol. Such people are physically active and more likely to quit smoking and eat a healthy diet. Experts have said that positive mental health is not just about having positive and happy thoughts rather people with improved mental health usually have more positive social relationships and a larger support network. They have noted that wellness cannot be defined by the absence of the disease, it is a process aimed towards a healthier, happier, and gratifying life. Researchers have concluded the study by saying that we must try to reduce the traits of negative mental health to encourage a healthy and happy state of being. The findings of the study have been released in the journal called Circulation.

In a new study, experts have found that people who are suffering from diabetes and being treated with the medicine metformin are significantly at a lower risk of death due to COVID19 as compared to those who are not being treated with the drug. The study has found that African American people are disproportionately at a higher risk of contracting the virus as compared to white people. The findings of the study have been released in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology. The COVID19 study has looked at the risk factors that might make people more likely to contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus or die due to the disease in case they test positive for COVID19. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a new coronavirus that has some similarities to other coronaviruses. However, experts are yet to uncover how it affects people from certain groups and how to reduce the risks linked to the disease. Many past studies have shown links between certain health issues, demographic traits, and the risk of being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus or dying due to the disease. The new study supports the early findings of observational studies and sketchy evidence.

Experts have done a retrospective observational study. They have included around 25326 people who have tested positive for COVID19 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from February to June 2020. They have observed de-identified electronic health data to offer demographic and medical details for each participant. As per the study, only 604 people have tested positive for COVID19, which is a quite low rate of infection. Experts have said that it might be due to the number of asymptomatic health care staff and patients, who have been receiving elective procedures. They have said that around 70 percent of people who have tested positive for the disease have been dealing with high blood pressure. Around 61 percent of them have been suffering from obesity and 40 percent of COVID19 positive patients have been dealing with diabetes. Experts have looked at people with diabetes in more detail. They have said that diabetes patients who have tested positive for COVID19 and are being treated with the drug called metformin for diabetes have been at 11 percent risk of dying due to COVID19. While diabetes patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19 and have not received treatment with metformin have been at 24 percent risk of death due to the virus. The study has noted that the risk of death due to COVID19 among diabetes patients who have been taking metformin has been the same as the general population. The author of the study has said that after adjusting age, sex, race, obesity, kidney disease, hypertension, and heart failure, the beneficial effect of metformin has been the same.

Experts have said that the beneficial effect of metformin might be due to its anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties. The study as well has noted that black people contribute to 26 percent of the Alabama population but they account for 52 percent of people who have been diagnosed with COVID19. The rate of death due to the virus among Black people has been quite different from the rate of death in white people. The lead author of the study Prof. Anath Shalev has said that being African American primarily seems to be a risk factor for contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus rather than the death due to the disease. It proves that the racial disparity, which has been reported in many past studies, might be due to exposure risk, external socioeconomic factors, and lack of access to proper healthcare. The study has shown that nearly 11 percent of people who have tested positive for COVID19 have lost their lives. In 93 percent of cases, people who have died have been over 50 years of age.

Two large-scale studies have revealed a much clearer picture of inherited genes, which are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in women without a family history of the dreaded disease. These studies have shown that how common these faulty mutations are in the general population. We all know that genetic inheritance impacts the probability of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Some genes are already known to shoot up the risk of cancer, whereas some are known to be involved in the process. It is important to understand which genes play a crucial role in increasing the risk of breast cancer, which will help health professionals to come up with more personalized follow-up and screening programs. The findings of the study have been released in the New England Journal of Medicine. The new study has reported that certain mutations in specific genes significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. Experts have said that the lives of many women can be saved if they get to know whether they carry these mutations in these genes before they are diagnosed with breast cancer. The American Cancer Society has revealed that last year, nearly 276000 cases of breast cancer have been reported in the US. The study has found that around 13800 of them have occurred in women with inherited gene mutations that shoot up the risk of developing the disease.

Earlier, experts have thought that inherited risk of breast cancer majorly comes from a family history of the disease or from unusual conditions such as getting it at a very young age. Specific mutations in these genes have not been well researched to find out how much each mutation affects the odds of developing the disease. However, the new studies have been able to fill some of those cracks. The first study has been led by pathologist Fergus Couch. This study has included experts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH has sponsored the study along with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Experts have observed 12 genes, which are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in nearly 64000 women. Half of the participants of the study have been diagnosed with the disease and half of them have been healthy. Experts have said that five percent of women with cancer have been identified with the deadly mutations and 1.63 percent of women in the control group have been found to have these risky mutations. The lead author of the study has claimed that nearly 2 percent of women in the United States have these deadly mutations. As per the study, there has been no difference in the odds of having these genes among ethnic groups. However, some gene mutations have been quite common among certain racial groups. Black women have been found to have genes linked to triple-negative cancers.

This study has found a mutation in a gene, which is known as BRCA1. Experts have said that this mutation increases the risk of breast cancer by eightfold. They have found this mutation in another gene called BRCA2, which shoots up the risk of developing breast cancer more than fivefold. The study provided more precise estimates of the risk, which will be beneficial for people to take further actions on it such as frequent mammograms, having family members tested for breast cancer, and removal of breasts and ovaries. The second study has been done by experts from the University of Cambridge in England. They have looked at 34 genes in women across the UK, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The study has included around 60000 women with breast cancer and 53000 women with similar genes but without the disease. This study as well has revealed that certain genes are responsible for an increased risk of breast cancer and these genes are prevalent in the general population as well.

A report has revealed that thousands of people who work on computers, technicians in the lab, research scholars have been vaccinated against COVID19 without qualifying the criteria. Hospitals, which are affiliated with the University of Columbia, New York University, Harvard, and Vanderbilt, have immunized their workers who are not eligible to receive the vaccine. At the same time, millions of frontline workers are still waiting in line to get the vaccine. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines to make sure that vaccines first reach people who are in high-risk groups. Health care workers who deal with COVID19 patients, residents, and staff members at nursing homes and people who are above 75 years of age and certain essential workers have been kept in high-risk groups. Each state in the US has come up with its own version of guidelines, but as the pressure of vaccine rollout is increasing, people have been demanding a more flexible approach. The officials from the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have said it will be apt to loosen the criteria and vaccinate as many people as possible. Still, these officials have not said that people who are in their 20s and 30s should be given the vaccine before elderly people and frontline workers, who are at a higher risk. The Commissioner of the FDA, Stephen Hahn has said that the state should prioritize groups of people who are at a higher risk of the disease.

A handful of the country’s most prestigious academic hospitals have defied the most important guidelines set by the government. Staff members who have nothing to do with patient care and who are not 75 years old and above have been given the shots. As per the report, some of these institutions have been among the first beneficiaries of the limited supplies of the vaccine in the US. A scientist from John Hopkins University in Baltimore Ruth Faden has said that connections have no place in the vaccine rollout. If vaccine rollout does not go in the right manner, the consequences will be disastrous. People need to adhere to the guidelines laid down by the government. Dr. Stanley Perlman, an immunologist at the University of Iowa has said that the CDC has never asked to include people in the first tier of the vaccine rollout who are not linked with patient care such as administrators and graduate students. Dr. Stanley Perlman is also a member of the committee that has set the guidelines for vaccine rollout in the country. Vanderbilt University in Nashville has asked all its staff members to enroll in the vaccination program regardless of they have been treating patients or not. The vaccination has started in the months of December last year when the Tennessee Hospital Association has approved inoculation for all staff members of the hospital irrespective of their job profiles. The medical center has announced that it is going to vaccinate people who are in the high-risk category, but only after they are done giving the initial vaccine dose to around 15000 people who are employed at the hospital. The Chief Communication officer at the Medical Center, John Howser has said that they have been pursuing the orders from the Tennessee Department of Health while vaccinating people from the Vanderbilt Health workforce and other people from the priority group. On the other hand, the Tennessee Department of Health has said that they have been pushed to use any remaining vaccine to immunize high priority people at the beginning of the vaccine rollout. Sadly, the authorities have tagged their own staff members as high priority people.

In Boston, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, which are affiliated with Harvard University, have vaccinated more than 26000 staff members. However, hospitals have included people who have been looking after patients as well and those who might have been exposed to the virus, and those who have been a part of clinical trials. Around 2.1 million frontline workers have been vaccinated in New York. Governor Andrew has said that hospitals that do not immunize faster to use their doses will have to pay a fine of up to $100000. The word has spread faster at research labs. Columbia University, medical centers, and hospitals have started distributing shots to everyone regardless of their eligibility. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have started gathering to get the vaccine. A report has said that almost everyone from a cancer research lab, which is affiliated with the Millstein Hospital, has received the shots. Although the officials from the hospital have said that people who do not need shots have not been given the shots. The vice president of the hospital has said that they have been following the directives of the New York Health Department. However, some people have been upset that they do not qualify for the vaccine. The officials have said that they have received an email from the state authorities saying that hospitals that are done vaccinating 15000 staff members who interact with patients can start vaccinating other workers. However, the email has not mentioned anything about older people and high-risk groups.

The Mayor of Los Angeles County Eric Garcetti has said that the COVID19 pandemic is taking a serious toll on the city as the virus spreads quite faster through the households and residents let their guard down. He has claimed that the world’s most populated city has been reporting a new case of COVID19 every six seconds. Eric Garcetti has said that the news of vaccine rollout has made people relaxed and they have stopped taking precautionary measures hoping that the vaccine will protect them from contracting the virus. He has said that this is not the time people should relax as this virus preys on people’s weaknesses and exhaustion. Although the county has seen high obedience of mask-wearing and people have been abiding by the stay home orders, but still, the state continues to report enormous numbers of new cases. Around 12400 new cases have been reported in Los Angeles County alone. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has said that this is the fastest pace of new cases since the pandemic has started. The county has a population of 40 million people, which is a fourth of the state’s total population. In Los Angeles County, around 40 percent have COVID19 patients have lost their lives.

The State Department of Public Health has said that the state has seen another 181 deaths and nearly 45350 new confirmed cases on Sunday, which brings the total number of state’s COVID cases to 2.4 million. More than 26530 people have lost their lives due to the disease in California, which makes it the third state to cross 25000 deaths since the outbreak has hit the US. As per the data from John Hopkins University, New York has reported around 38000 deaths due to the virus and Texas has seen more than 27000 deaths so far. The officials from San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles have said that they have found two confirmed cases of the new strain of the virus, which seems to be more infectious than the original one. There have been four confirmed cases of the new strain of the virus in San Diego County. The new variant of the virus has been identified in Colorado and Florida as well. Health experts have confirmed that two confirmed cases of the new mutant virus have been found in the same household in the Big Bear area of San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health has said that one of the patients has contracted the virus from a traveler, who has returned from the UK. The patient who has caught the virus has started showing symptoms of the disease three days after contracting the virus.

Health officials have been investigating whether the traveler who has returned from the UK is a resident of the Big Bear area. They are also examining whether the person who has returned from the UK has been infected with the new strain of the virus. The officials from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office have said that California’s Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System, which is usually used in response to wildfires, floods, and natural calamities will help those hospitals which have stretched their capacity. Paramedics and emergency medical workers are being sent out for a 14-day operational period to help emergency rooms and other hospital sectors that are dealing with a lack of staffing. As per the state records, more than 26000 people have been hospitalized across California on Sunday, whereas 4500 people have been admitted to the intensive care unit. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there has been a COVID19 outbreak at the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Emergency Department, where are around 44 staff members have been infected with the disease. The southern states of the US have been majorly impacted by the latest surge in cases from the agricultural San Joaquin Valley to the Mexico border. Hospitals in these states are flooded with COVID19 patients and intensive care units are struggling with the lack of beds for patients who have been recently diagnosed with the virus. Ambulances are forced to wait in bays for more than eight hours before transferring patients inside hospitals. In some cases, doctors have no choice other than to treat the patients inside the ambulance. Officials have said that there has been an increase in cases among homeless people around Los Angeles County, which has overwhelmed the health system. The rate of infection has increased significantly among homeless people after Thanksgiving and since then it has continued to shoot up.