Health

A leading infectious disease scientist from the White House in the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that people who have not been fully immunized are many times more likely to be admitted to hospitals and die due to COVID19 infection. The expert has shared the data on the SARS-CoV-2 virus by the status of vaccination that has been taken from Public Health-Seattle and King County in the state of Washington. The data has revealed that people who have not been fully inoculated or have not even taken the first dose are at eight times greater risk of testing positive for COVID19. Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that such people are at 41 times higher risk of being hospitalized due to COVID19 and 57 times elevated risk of death due to the disease as compared to those who have taken both doses of COVID19 shots. He has said that estimates from the last month show how contagious the delta variant is and how efficient COVID19 shots are against the most severe complications induced by the virus. Dr. Fauci has said that COVID19 shots that are being used in the US are highly potent and free of cost and they are able to protect people and communities.

Experts who have come up with the data have compared breakthrough cases among residents of King County that have taken place when people have been diagnosed with COVID19 14 days after taking their first dose to people with COVID19 who have not taken the shots yet. Earlier experts have said that COVID19 shots do not offer 100 percent immunity from the SARS-CoV-2 virus; therefore, it means that there will be many breakthrough cases as people continue to take the shots. However, many studies have now shown that fewer than 1 percent of people who have been fully vaccinated will test positive for the dreaded virus, and even fewer people will have a severe infection even if they contract the disease. As per the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 14643 people who have been fully immunized have been admitted to hospitals after contracting the virus post-vaccination. Among these people, only 4493 people have lost their lives.

Experts have said that the new data collected by the King County officials have shown that breakthrough cases are quite uncommon and COVID19 vaccines have been working well against severe problems due to the disease. Experts have said that in the last one month, around 11868 people who have not started their vaccination or have completed their vaccine regimen within 14 days have been diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus as compared to only 5640 fully vaccinated people who have been fully immunized. The rate of new daily cases among fully immunized people has been 10.7 new cases per 100000 people. On the other hand, the rate of new cases among people who have not been fully vaccinated has been 82.4 cases per 100000 people. It shows that people who have not been fully inoculated are at a 7.7 times higher risk of testing positive for the virus. Health experts have said that the risk has been further higher among not fully vaccinated residents in terms of hospitalization and death due to COVID19. They have said that nearly 543 people from King County who have not been fully immunized have been admitted to hospitals along with a rate of 8.72 cases per 100000 people each day in the last month. While around 131 people who have been fully protected have been admitted to hospitals with a rate of 0.21 cases per 100000 per day. It shows that people who are fully immunized are at 41 times lower risk of hospitalization.

Experts have said that last month, nearly 90 people have lost their lives due to COVID19 among not fully immunized people and only 26 people have succumbed to disease among those who have been fully protected with COVID19 shots. The daily rate of death due to COVID19 among not fully vaccinated people has been 2.28 deaths per 100000 people. The death rate among fully vaccinated people has been 0.04 deaths per 100000 people per day. It shows that people who have not started their vaccine regimen or have not completed their second dose within 14 days are 57 times more likely to lose their lives due to COVID19 as compared to those who have been fully immunized. As these cases, deaths, and hospitalizations have taken place in the last month, Dr. Fauci has said that the delta variant might have been a driving factor. Last, week, a report from The State Health Department has shown that all virus samples that have been sent for genetic sequencing have been found to be linked to the delta variant. It shows that the delta strain has been behind all new cases in the county.

Experts have said that the delta variant is two times more infectious as compared to other dominant strains such as the Alpha strain that has been detected in the UK for the first time. The delta variant has been found in India for the first time during the second wave of the pandemic. The Secretary of Health of Washington, Dr. Umair Shah has said that officials are quite worried about the surge in cases that have been caused by the delta strain, which is spreading rapidly among men, women, children, and elderly people. Experts have advised people to take the shots as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones as COVID19 shots are the most vital tool to end the pandemic. They have said that people should adhere to COVID19 prevention guidelines such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

The COVID19 shot that has been developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is accessible for people who are in the age group of 12 years and above. Still, teenagers of any eligible age group are least vaccinated in the United States. An analysis of data obtained from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that only 46 percent of people who are in the age range of 12 to 17 years have been vaccinated with two doses of COVID19 shot as compared to 83 percent of adults who are above 65 years of age. A non-profit organization called Neighbor2Neighbor has recently held their Vax to School event in Randolph County, Georgia. However, the rate of vaccination in Randolph County has been considerably low. As per last week’s data, only 10 percent of teenagers in the age range of 12 to 14 years have received only one dose of COVID19 shot in Randolph County. Data from the Georgia Department of Public Health have shown that nearly 20 percent of people in the age range of 12 to 19 years have taken only one dose of COVID19 vaccines. A pediatric infectious disease expert, Dr. Adam Ratner has said that a mistaken belief that has been circulating since the start of the pandemic might be a reason behind the low rate of vaccination among teenagers. Dr. Ratner is working at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. He has said that he feels that there is still a lingering sense that it is a pandemic of elder people; however, it is not the case anymore. Dr. Adam Ratner who is associated with the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases has said that with the rising number of cases among children and teenagers and the number of kids dealing with severe infection, COVID19 has become a real concern now but people are still in denial.

Many studies have shown that kids are at a far lower risk of being infected with severe COVID19 disease or die due to the disease, however, they can still contract the virus. Experts have said that September specifically has been a bad month for children. The data from the American Academy of Pediatrics have shown that a large number of kids have tested positive for COVID19 in the US this month as compared to any other month of the pandemic. Experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that now children as well are at risk of death due to COVID19. As per the CDC data, nearly 571 kids who have been under 17 years have lost their lives after being diagnosed with COVID19. The month of September has been quite hard for the US, particularly Randolph County. The rate of COVID19 has shot up twofold among teenagers who are in the age range of 14 to 17 years as compared to adults in the last month. The rate of infection among teens has been three times greater as compared to the case rate among elderly people who are above 65 years of age. Neighbor2Neighbor has been doing great work so far in Randolph County. The nonprofit organization has been going door-to-door to create awareness about vaccination and has been answering people’s queries regarding COVID19 shots. In the month of July, a huge number of adults have lined up at their vaccine clinic to get the vaccines; it has been a testament to the success of their campaign. Nearly 80 people have received vaccines at their vaccine clinic in Randolph County that has a population of 6900 people.

The nonprofit group has expected that the same number of teenagers will come to their teen clinics for vaccination. Nearly a dozen volunteers have turned a lunchroom of the Old J.B. Smith School into a vaccine clinic that can cater to nearly 40 teenagers at a time. As per the report, volunteers of the nonprofit organization have been practicing all COVID19 prevention measures such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and hygiene at the clinic. They have arranged refreshments for teenagers and made the clinic teenager-friendly. A volunteer of Neighbor2Neighbor, Sandra Willis has said that it is essential for everyone to take the shots to put an end to this devastating pandemic. Schools in Randolph County have been closed for many days in August. As per the report, a student from elementary school and four high school students have been diagnosed with COVID19 in the county. The officials from Randolph County have said that closing down schools has been a good decision for more than 800 students. The decision has allowed them some time to disinfect school buildings and buses. The officials have said that parents should keep a tab on their social and personal interactions.

They should be mingling with a small group of friends and family and continue to practice COVID19 appropriate measures. Schools have put daily temperature checks on the buses and regular screening in place since authorities have opened schools in the county. A school nurse, who has helped the nonprofit firm to install Vax to School Clinic, Angela Wilborn has said that cases appear to be in control as of now in the county. Wilborn has said that schools in Randolph County have made mask-wearing and face shields compulsory, which is a good practice. Experts have said that a recent graduate has tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the county and failed to survive the disease, since then, other students have become more vigilant about COVID19 appropriate behavior. The death of the recent graduate student has come as a reminder that COVID19 should be dealt with with caution. The medical chief of the COVID19 Vaccine Program of the Children’s National in Washington DC, Dr. Claire Boogaard has said that if parents and teenagers are well aware of the COVID19 threat, they will make vaccination a priority. However, teenagers do not weigh the risk in the same way as adults do. Usually, teenagers do not comprehend the long-term consequences of their decisions. Dr. Claire Boogaard has said that pediatricians have a duty to convince them to get the shots and help them get rid of vaccine hesitancy.

Salesforce chief executive officer Marc Benioff has taken concerns of employees over new abortion laws seriously and has offered all assistance to those who want to relocate. The announcement has been made after several employees raised concern over abortion access in the state where they live. However, the company has not referred to any specific state in its message to employees. The message to thousands of employees was sent on Slack. It is pertinent to mention that new legislation went into effect in Texas this week and it allows abortions only before most women know they are pregnant.

“This is a very personal issue and has a direct impact on each one of us,” the message reads. “If our employees face any concerns or have any issue while accessing reproductive healthcare in their state, Salesforce will help relocate them and members of their immediate family.” The software giant is not the first company to offer such assistance to those who need help in this regard in Texas. Companies like Uber, Lyft, and dating site Bumble have already announced that they would support people in this. This comes as the US Department of Justice has sued the state over its new abortion law.

Without directly mentioning the name of the state, the company said that it stands with all women employees of Salesforce. Later, Benioff did say that Texas was in the mind when the company sent the Slack message. The new law of Texas bans puts a blanket ban on abortion after weeks. This is the time frame before which most people don’t even realize that they are pregnant. There is no exception in the law and empowers anyone to sue someone for helping in abortion in any way. This not only includes hospital or health care services but also those who help pay for the procedure. This even includes those who drive the person to the hospital for the procedure.

Scientists have said that the protective effects of immunization are at their highest levels two weeks after the second dose of COVID19 shot. At this time, people are considered fully immunized. After being fully vaccinated, if someone is diagnosed with COVID19, it means that the person has contracted a breakthrough infection. Generally, breakthrough infections are of the same nature as regular COVID19 infections in people who are not vaccinated. However, there are some differences between both kinds of infection. A study of COVID19 symptoms has highlighted the five most common signs and symptoms of COVID19. The authors of the study have said that headache, sore throat, loss of smell, sneezing, and runny nose are some most common symptoms of breakthrough coronavirus infection. They have said that some of these symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, and headache are quite frequent among people who have not taken COVID19 shots. People who are not immunized deal with persistent cough and fever as well; however, these symptoms are less common in breakthrough infections among people who are fully vaccinated. A study has shown that people who are diagnosed with breakthrough infections are at 58 percent lower risk of having a fever as compared to unimmunized people with COVID19 infection. Many people who have been detected with COVID19 after vaccination has said that they have been feeling like a head cold. Experts have said that people who are fully immunized are at a much lower risk of being hospitalized if they are diagnosed with COVID19 after taking the vaccine as compared to people who have not been inoculated. During the initial stages of breakthrough infection, vaccinated people are diagnosed with fewer symptoms and are at a lower risk of long COVID.

Health experts have said that if COVID19 shots are not able to prevent infection, they make it milder, that is the reason, fully vaccinated people are found with less viral load. A study that has been done by scientists from the United Kingdom has shown that at least one person in 500 fully vaccinated people are diagnosed with a breakthrough infection. The authors of the study have said that everyone is not at the same level of risk. They have said that there are four factors that contribute to the level of immunity of vaccinated people. As per the scientists, the specific type of vaccine that people take and the relative risk reduction that is offered by each type of vaccine play an important role. Experts have said that relative risk reduction is defined by the ability of the shot to prevent people from catching the virus as compared to people who have not taken the shot. Scientists have said that in many clinical trials, the COVID19 shot that has been designed by Moderna has been proved to be 94 percent effective in preventing COVID19 infection. While COVID19 vaccine that has been developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been able to reduce the infection by 95 percent and Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been able to cut down the risk by 66 percent and AstraZeneca shot has been proved to be 70 percent effective in reducing the risk of COVID19. Many experts have said that if a longer interval is left between two doses of AstraZeneca shot, the protection level offered by the shot will shoot up to 81 percent. Experts have said that the length of time since immunization as well as an essential factor; therefore, the debate over booster shots is heating up now these days. Early studies have shown that the protection provided by Pfizer shot wanes away after six months of immunization. Another preprint study from Israel has supported these findings. Experts have said that although it is too early to comment on the efficacy of COVID19 shots after six months of immunization, immunity offered by shots is more likely to reduce over time, said the experts. However, these studies have not been peer-reviewed by scientists yet.

Scientists have said that the emergence of different variants of coronavirus as well as a concerning factor. Health experts have said that most COVID19 vaccines have been tested against the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, therefore these vaccines might not be highly effective against a wide range of variants of COVID19. Public Health England has found that two doses of Pfizer COVID19 shot are faintly less protective against the Alpha variant of the virus. Scientists from the UK have said that the shot can reduce the symptoms of the disease by only 93 percent. Pfizer shot has been only 88 percent effective against the delta variant that has been circulating in the US and causing a massive surge in COVID19 cases across all states. AstraZeneca shot as well is less effective against the variants of concern, said the experts. The study on symptoms of COVID19 as well supports all these findings. The findings of the study have shown that after two to four weeks of taking the second dose of Pfizer shot, people, have been at 87 percent lower risk of having symptoms of COVID19 when they are exposed to delta variant. The authors of the COVID19 symptom study have said that after four to five months of having a second dose, immunity goes down to 77 percent. Health experts have said that these findings talk about average risk decline in a population. However, people’s level of risk relies on their levels of immunity and the ability of their immune systems. Experts have said that people’s vulnerability to the virus depends on some specific factors such as how exposed they are to the virus that can be determined by their profession. Experts have said that immune health keeps reducing with age. Long-term health issues as well can damage people’s response to inoculation. As per the latest report, elderly people who are dealing with weakened immune systems might have low levels of immunity that is induced by COVID19 vaccines. Experts have said that levels of protection derived from vaccination might wane away more rapidly among people with weakened immune systems as compared to the general population. Health experts have said that people who are at a higher risk of COVID19 have been given the shots nearly eight months ago; it might shoot up their risk of contracting the breakthrough infection as their levels of protection might have started waning away.

The Delta variant of Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on America’s public health system. The rising cases have once again left the health authorities on their toes. The slow pace of vaccination in some parts has only added to the woes. President Joe Biden recently signed executive orders to step up efforts to vaccinate Americans who are yet to take even the first dose. He also signed punitive measures. Although America’s vaccination speed was highest in the world, the country didn’t manage to inoculate the entire population with two doses and provide a shield against the Delta variant. Vaccines that are being administered to Americans are Pfizer and Moderna. Both are two doses vaccines. The single-dose vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson is also being given to people.

Vaccines are the most effective weapon to fight against Covid-19. However, the lower efficacy of vaccines against the Delta variant has come as a hindrance in the war. Scientists and doctors around the world are saying that a complete dose of vaccines can cut the threat of virus spread. Therefore, it becomes crucial to provide vaccines to the entire population. According to a new study, Moderna’s vaccine effectively works against Delta variant than other drugs. Indiana University researchers said that Moderna provides greater protection than vaccines developed by Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. The study said that Moderna is 95 percent effective. It significantly cuts the risk of hospitalization.

Researchers said that the study involved adults above 18 years of age. They recommended that all eligible people should take vaccines. Vaccines reduce the severity in case of infection. They said that vaccination can ease the burden on the country’s hospitals and healthcare facilities. Researchers said that Pfizer’s vaccine is 80 percent effective at cutting the hospitalization risk due to the Delta variant. The vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson works 60 percent against the variant. The study was done between June and August when the Delta variant was in the predominant phase. They found that unvaccinated people were required to visit hospitals around 5 to 7 times than those vaccinated group. The study added that vaccine effectiveness is lower in people above 75 years of age.

The chief executive of Pfizer Albert Bourla has pledged to provide enough doses of their COVID19 shot to meet the goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) to elevate equitable vaccine distribution across the world. He has said that the company has enough vaccine supply to meet the expectation of the WHO, while many pharmaceutical experts have been saying that an increased supply of vaccines will look like patent waivers are taken off the table. Pfizer is expected to deliver 41 percent of its vaccines to low and middle-income nations around the world towards the end of the year. On the other hand, Johnson & Johnson has pledged to ship more than 50 percent of doses of its single-dose COVID19 shot to poor countries across the world as production of the vaccine increases in the second half of this year. The CEO of Pfizer Albert Bourla has said that it is better to contribute to the WHO’s goal of vaccinating at least 10 percent of the population in each country of the world. Health experts have said that the donation of 200 million doses of Pfizer shots that has been proposed by the Biden government will be used to vaccinate nearly 15 to 18 percent of the population of 92 poorest nations across the world. In a conference of the global pharma industry association, Albert Bourla has said that by next year, the company will be able to offer enough doses to the WHO for their initiative. With enough doses, all countries around the world will have to address the same issues, as there will be many people who will be hesitant to take the shots.

Drugmakers have been protesting against the plan that has been proposed by South Africa and India to waive off intellectual property rights on COVID19 shots. The proposal has been supported by the United States as well. These countries have put forward this proposal in the hope of intensifying access to COVID19 vaccines for low and middle-income nations across the world. Albert Bourla has said that these shots have been designed by two visions, one is the original development, and the other is increased manufacturing. He has claimed that there is no point in transferring the technology as it is going to take years of effort. A new study that has been done by Airfinity, which is a life science analytics firm, has shown that developed nations own at least 500 million doses of COVID19 shots that might be distributed this month. These high-income countries will have nearly 1.1 billion doses by the end of this year, said the experts. However, these estimates do not talk about the supplies that are required to vaccinate teenagers and need to be stored for each nation to give booster shots to people who have already been immunized.

Health leaders have said that if western countries need to give booster shots only to those who are above 50 years and have been immunized with two doses, then, the surplus will increase twofold, which will be nearly 2.5 billion doses. The CEO of Airfinity, Rasmus Bech Hansen has said that the officials have estimated the surplus supply last month only as the production of the vaccines has shot up. He has said that earlier, government officials have been reluctant to acknowledge drugmakers’ predictions on supply due to setbacks in vaccine production and the supply chain. However now, vaccine makers such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna, who have come up with authorized COVID19 shots have shown consistent output. Hansen has said that in a situation where officials are unable to show confidence in future supply, stocking up is the best thing to do. However, looking at the current situation, when companies across the world are delivering the doses at a steady speed, there is no point in stocking up the supply.

Health leaders have claimed that the United States and European Union have massive total surpluses of doses; however, some western nations have many vaccines for their people as they have been trying to spread their bets. As per the latest report, the US and EU have signed contracts for five COVID19 vaccines each. The chief scientific officer of the Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Paul Stoffels has said that speeding up vaccination across the world will help fight against the new emerging variants of coronavirus as they might be able to dodge the antibodies that are derived from vaccines. He has said that it is essential to vaccinate as many people as possible at a faster pace as it will block the replication of the virus and the arrival of new variants in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has criticized many high-income nations for stockpiling COVID19 shots, treatment, and preventive medicines. The officials have said that it has derailed the WHO’s efforts to fairly distribute these resources across the world. The WHO has condemned global inequalities in COVID19 vaccination programs as immunization has started last year during winter.

The WHO has been advocating the equal distribution of doses in poorer countries as many high-income nations have already immunized most of their populations and have started offering booster shots as well. The technical chief of the COVID19 team at the WHO, Maria Van Kerkhove has said that the inequality in vaccination has elongated the pandemic. She has said that what these rich countries are doing is not just undue but it is immoral as well. Last month, the WHO has asked developed countries to halt the distribution of booster shots for at least two months. The global health agency has urged these countries to deflect their surplus doses to low-income countries to vaccinate at least 10 percent of the population of each nation across the world towards the end of this month. The WHO has pledged to immunize at least 40 percent of the world population by December 2021. As per the report, the US has already offered booster shots to more than 1.3 people. As per the data from the United Nations, France, and the UK as well have started distributing booster shots to their populations. On the other hand, only 3 percent of people in Africa have been fully vaccinated against COVID19 so far.

Health experts have been saying that added sugar content that is found in pre-packaged foods and drinks is increasing the number of people who are dealing with severe health conditions. Many people are at risk of death as well due to higher consumption of added sugar. Now, a study that has been done by experts from Massachusetts General Hospital has shown that cutting down added sugar content from packaged foods and beverages might have some long-term health benefits. The authors of the study have created a model to identify the effects of reducing added sugar content in 15 kinds of packaged foods and beverages. They have observed dietary data that have been taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They have combined the findings with the policy that has been proposed by the US National Salt and Sugar Reduction Initiative (NSSRI). The NSSRI is an association of more than 100 organizations and health officials across the country. The NSSRI comprises the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science, and Policy from Tufts University, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The results of the new study have been reported in a journal known as Circulation.

The findings of the study have shown that cutting down the amount of added sugar from packaged meals by 20 percent and reducing the content of added sugar in packaged drinks by 40 percent can prevent nearly 2.48 million events of cardiovascular issues such as strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrests. The authors of the study have said that these fractions of reduction in the amount of added sugar will halt nearly 490000 deaths linked to cardiovascular ailments. It will prevent around 750000 events of diabetes as well. The authors of the study have said that these reductions will also save nearly $4.28 billion in healthcare revenue as well in the next ten years. These cutbacks in the amount of added sugar will save around $118 billion in revenue over the life span of the adult population, said the experts. Another study as well has shown that eating ultra-processed foods like sweetened beverages, sodas, and fast foods each week is linked to an elevated risk of heart issues. This study has been done by the European Society of Cardiology. Experts from Greece have said that each highly processed food item that is eaten during the week can shoot up people’s odds of being diagnosed with a cardiovascular issue by 10 percent within 10 years. The authors of the new study have said that health officials should execute public health programs and nutrition policies to promote better food choices among people. A certified dietician, Sarah Koszyk has said that it is hard to keep a tab on companies that make processed foods; however, people can control what they eat. She has said that people should closely check the nutrition label present on the product to find out where the sugar is being sourced from in the food.

Sarah Koszyk is a sports nutritionist as well. She has claimed that not all sugars are made equally. Sugars that are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, starches, and dairy products are natural sugar. Natural sugar accounts for the total sugar that is found on a nutrition label. Koszyk has said that all these foods except dairy foods have dietary fiber as well. As per the experts, dietary fiber is a kind of carbohydrate that encourages satiety and offers health benefits linked to the heart. The authors of the study have said that if people are buying dried fruits, they should opt for a product that has a nutrition label, which mentions fruits only. Additional ingredients of sugar that are mentioned in the nutrition label contribute to the content of added sugar that is not good for the overall health. Health experts have said that as sweet stuff is called by numerous names, the content of added sugar is hard to be identified in packaged foods. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has claimed that cane juice, dextrose, corn syrup, fruit nectars, lactose, maltose, maple syrup, fructose, glucose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, and high-fructose corn syrup are kinds of added sugar only. Dr. Sarah Koszyk has said that moderation and frequency matter the most when it comes to eating low sugar or reduced sugar items as the amounts of sugary items can still make a difference if people start eating them more often. She has said that stevia and monk fruit are good options for people who want to add some sweetness to their coffee or tea, as they are plant-based substitutes for sugar. These alternatives will help people maintain their glycemic index and promote low to no calorie consumption. Experts have said that one tablespoon of powdered stevia is equal to one cup of sugar.

Under a recent executive order, businesses in the state of Georgia will not be required to follow any regional COVID-19 restrictions such as mask mandates or vaccination requirements, despite the state’s healthcare facilities being overburdened with COVID-19 patients. Governor Brian Kemp signed the order on Thursday preventing business owners from being forced to adhere to COVID-19 policies introduced by the local government. This measure was meant to protect recuperating businesses from another wave of shutdowns, according to the Republican governor. It will not stop firms from following local regulations, although he claims the rules will not be enforced.

Local authorities will not be allowed to impose business owners to comply with the state’s mask regulation, the vaccination policy, and any other restraint which could result in workers being fired, profits plummeting, and businesses having to close. In response to an increase in COVID-19 infections, numerous communities in Georgia have reinstated mask requirements. Atlanta enacted a rule regulating mask usage in public locations earlier this month. Decatur, which is close by, has enacted a similar ordinance, though firms can choose not to comply.

The city of Savannah has enacted a mask requirement for certain enclosed public venues, but not for business owners. As per experts at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, there is indeed a significant increase in the rate of infections of COVID-19 across districts in Georgia. The amount of vacant intensive care units in the region are becoming less available. Based on the most recent statistics from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Georgia’s ICU capacity stands at 94% occupied. The Gainesville facility of Northeast Georgia’s Health System is overloaded with COVID-19 cases. As people take up beds, local hospitals reported to ABC News on Thursday that medics have been examining certain patients requiring emergency treatment within their ambulances while waiting for a bed to become available. For an additional number of patients, the facility has put up tents beside the emergency unit.

According to hospital authorities, certain facilities in the Atlanta metropolitan area are using ambulances whenever their emergency units are fully occupied. Doctors from several of the state’s top medical centers have urged individuals to be vaccinated. As per various online sources, this factor is expected to create a huge demand for medical supplies and is expected to put stress on medical supply manufacturers.

There have been two outbreaks of salmonella in at least 17 states of the US. The officials from the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety and Inspection Service, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Public health regulatory officials from multiple states are looking into two salmonella outbreaks. They have said that these outbreaks might be linked to Italian-style meats. The CDC has issued a warning stating that two outbreaks of salmonella have led to 36 cases and 12 people have been admitted to the hospital. People who have been reported to be sick have said that they have consumed salami, prosciutto, and other meats that are usually found in antipasto or charcuterie collections before falling ill. Health experts are at present trying to pinpoint particular contaminated products and find out whether these two outbreaks of salmonella have been linked to the same source of food. Health experts have said that until experts find out which Italian-style meat might be the reason behind people falling ill, people should heat all Italian-style meats to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating. The CDC has said that heating food to a sufficiently high temperature can eliminate germs such as salmonella.

Health experts have said that nearly 23 people from 14 states such as Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Wisconsin, Illinois, California, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, and Utah have been infected in the first outbreak of salmonella. People who have fallen ill with salmonella infection have been in the age group of 4 to 91 years along with an average age of 44 years. Out of the available data of 21 people, nearly nine people have been admitted to the hospital. Health experts have said that around 67 percent of sick people have been men. People have started falling ill with salmonella infection from May to July 2021. The second outbreak has infected around 13 people belonging from seven different states such as New York, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Minnesota, and California. With an average age of 41 years, infected people have been in the age range of 1 to 74 years. Around 31 percent of people who have been infected in the second outbreak of salmonella have been men. Out of the available data of 19 infected people, nearly three of them have been admitted to the hospital. The second outbreak of salmonella has started from May 2019 to June 2021.

Health experts from the CDC have said that the number of people who have been affected by the outbreaks might be much higher than what is being reported by the officials. They have said that the outbreaks might not be restricted to states that have been identified with confirmed cases of salmonella infection as many people are not tested for salmonella and recover from the disease without any treatment. Health experts have claimed that it takes three to four weeks to find out if an infected person has been a part of an outbreak. In both outbreaks, nobody has lost their lives so far. Health experts have said that people who are in the age range of 65 and above are at a higher risk of salmonella disease. People who are on medications for some core health issues that can limit the body’s ability to fight against foreign invaders as well are at a greater risk of salmonella disease. They have claimed toddlers who are below 5 years of age are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with severe salmonella infection. If people are dealing with diarrhea, bloody diarrhea that continues for more than three days, if they are not able to keep liquid in their stomach and keep vomiting, if they are feeling signs of dehydration such as dry mouth and throat, and dizziness and if the fever goes higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, they should directly get in touch with their health care providers. Health experts have said that most people who have been infected with salmonella deal with stomach cramps, fever, and diarrhea. Experts have claimed that people start showing up symptoms from six hours to six days after being exposed to the bacteria. The majority of people recover on their own without any care after four to seven days.

A vaccine advisory panel from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has voted unanimously in favor to recommend an additional dose of COVID19 shot for people who are dealing with compromised immune systems in the US. After the panel’s voting, the CDC has immediately signed off on the new recommendation. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well has warded an emergency use authorization to the third dose of COVID19 shots among people who have not been able to develop sufficient immune response after two doses of either Pfizer’s or Moderna COVID19 shots. The FDA has said that there is a lack of data to discuss the odds of an additional dose of single-dose shot that has been developed by Johnson & Johnson. A member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to the CDC, Dr. Katherine Poehling has said that the committee has reached a consensus unanimously as the benefits of a third dose are remarkable and the negative effects of an additional dose are least. Dr. Katherine Poehling also works as a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at Wake Forest School of Medicine. The director of the CDC, Rochelle Walensky as well has supported the decision of the advisory panel; it means that people with weaker immune systems will be getting an additional dose of COVID19 shots very soon. Dr. Walensky has said that the new CDC advice after the FDA’s decision to alter the emergency use authorizations of COVID19 shots is vital to ensure that people who are more susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus can get as much immunity as possible through vaccination. However, the agency has not recommended COVID19 booster shots for the normal public.

The ACIP has said that it will depend on patients and their health care providers to decide who requires an additional dose of the shot and when. People will have to prove their requirement of an additional dose of the shot on their own. In such a case, there is no need for a doctor’s prescription or note. The advisory committee has not suggested any test to examine whether people have had enough immune response to COVID19 shots. There is no test authorized by the FDA to determine immune response after getting a COVID19 vaccine. The advisory panel as well as discussed if giving a third dose of COVID19 shot will be safe in children with compromised immune systems who are as young as 12 years. Later, experts have decided to recommend an additional dose for children who are 12 years and above and have been included in the Emergency use authorization of Pfizer shot. Moderna COVID19 shot has been authorized for use in people who are 18 years and above. This EUA is projected to be for people who are dealing with moderate to severe compromised immune systems. Dr. Amanda Cohn from the CDC has said that the EUA has not been given for people who are dealing with other underlying severe health issues where they might be suffering from mild compromised immune systems. Dr. Cohn has said that the intention of clinical reflections will allow some flexibility to health dare providers to examine patients’ compromised immune systems. Patients as well will be able to attest their compromised immune systems to get the third dose. The EUA will not allow people who are dealing with diabetics or heart issues and those who are in long-term facilities. However, more than 1 million people have already received the third dose of the shot before the CDC has recommended booster shots.

Dr. Kathleen Dooling has said that nearly 140 million people have completed their two-dose regimen of either Pfizer or Moderna’s COVID19 shot. Around 1 percent of 12 million people who have been given the single-dose shot that has been developed by the Johnson & Johnson have received a second dose of the shot as well. A recent study that has been done by the John Hopkins University has shown that people who are dealing with compromised immune systems are at 485 times higher risk of getting hospitalized or die with COVID19 infection as compared to other people who have been vaccinated. The CDC has reported around 7 million adult people in the US are suffering from compromised immune systems either due to the diseases they are dealing with or medicines they take. Most breakthrough cases of COVID19 are taking place in people who are dealing with compromised immune systems. The existing COVID19 vaccines that are being used in the US are only 59 to 72 percent efficient among people who are dealing with weaker immune systems. On the other hand, these shots are nearly 90 to 94 percent effective among the general public. People who are dealing with weaker immune systems are at a higher risk of falling sick with severe COVID19 infection. These people as well are at a greater risk of extended SARS-CoV-2 infection, said the experts. Dr. Amanda Cohn has said that there are many chances of greater viral evolution and transmission during prolonged infection and treatment. A small study has noted that nearly 40 to 44 percent of hospitalized breakthrough cases of COVID19 have taken place in people with compromised immune systems. It is a fact that COVID19 shots might not work very well on such patients. Experts have been saying that with higher rates of vaccination, herd immunity might protect these patients. However, it has turned out to be otherwise, as nearly a third of eligible people in the US have not taken even one dose of a COVID19 shot. When people test positive COVID19 even after being fully vaccinated, they are defined as breakthrough cases of COVID19. Although vaccines offer good immunity against severe infection, there have been around 7101 hospitalization and 1507 deaths due to the virus among 164 million fully vaccinated people. However, the CDC has said that these figures might be an undercount.

Many health experts have said that a new coronavirus variant that is called lambda variant might have elevated vaccine resistance. The new mutant is also known as the C.37 variant. It has been found in Peru for the first time in 2020. Peru is among the countries that have been hardest hit by the COVID19 pandemic. There have been around 595 COVID19 deaths per 100000 people. The country has recorded the highest rate of death due to COVID19 in the world. Now, health experts have revealed that the lambda variant has started becoming more prevalent in the United States as well. As per the latest report, more than 1300 cases that are linked to the lambda strain have been found in the US. A spokesperson from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that the lambda variant has been detected in 44 states of the country. Health experts have said that the lambda strain has been circulating in eight nations in South America. As per the Global Science Initiative GISAID, the deadly variant has been spreading in 41 countries across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) as well has said that the lambda variant is a variant of interest.

Peru has been relying heavily on the Chinese COVID19 shot that is known as Sinopharm. Sinopharm, the Chinese shot has been proved to be 79 percent efficient in preventing hospitalizations linked to COVID19. On the other hand, a COVID19 shot that has been developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and the other COVID19 vaccine that has been made by Moderna has been proved to be 94 percent efficient in averting hospitalizations due to COVID19. Health experts from Japan have said that the lambda variant has three concerning mutations on the surface of its spike protein that make it more contagious and deadly as compared to the original strain of the virus. A study has found that the lambda strain might be 150 percent more resistant to antibodies that are derived from COVID19 shots. A spike protein is found on the surface of the virus that helps the virus to latch on to the ACE2 receptor of human cells. However, the findings of the study have not been peer-reviewed yet. The officials from the WHO has said that the strain in question is a variant of interest, as it is considered to be either more infectious as compared to the original strain of the virus or might have more ability to dodge antibodies derived from COVID19 shots. Scientists from the WHO have said that when more facts emerge that a new mutant is able to do either of these two things, it is classified as a variant of concern. Many experts are currently studying the lambda variant.

Health scholars from Japan are quite concerned that categorizing the lambda strain as a variant of interest will lessen the potential threat that might harm public health in the future. Experts have said that as the variant has been termed as a variant of interest, it might not be considered an ongoing concern as compared to other variants of concerns that have surfaced during the COVID19 pandemic. Nevertheless, as the lambda variant has been found to be relatively resistant to COVID19 shots, it might be able to surge breakthrough infection among people who are already vaccinated. Health experts have assured that the lambda strain does not appear to be spreading as widely as the Delta variant that has been detected in India for the first time during the second wave of the pandemic. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report that says the 1300 cases linked to the lambda variant in the United States account for less than 0.2 percent of new cases at present. On the other hand, the Delta variant contributed to around 93 percent of new COVID19 cases in the US. Considering these findings, the CDC has not termed the lambda variant as either a variant of interest or a variant of concern so far. An epidemiologist, Marie Van Kerkhove has said that the lambda strain does not appear to take off immediately after it is detected in a country. Marie Van Kerkhove is the technical chief of the COVID19 response team at the WHO.

People who are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with severe COVID19 infection along with those who are dealing with compromised immune systems now will have an option of receiving preventive monoclonal antibody care if they are exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently authorized an injectable COVID19 antibody treatment to be used as a preventive means after exposure. Health experts from the FDA have said that around 3 percent of people living in the US who are dealing with compromised immune systems, autoimmune ailments, HIV, organ transplants, and cancer will be benefitted from the new antibody treatment that has been given a green signal by the officials of the FDA. Health experts have said that these people might be at a higher risk of being diagnosed with COVID19 even after vaccination. The new antibody treatment is known as REGEN-COV, said the experts. The lead researcher of the study, Dr. Myron Cohen has said that monoclonal antibodies offer protection against serious COVID19 infection. He has said that monoclonal antibodies can eliminate COVID19 infection while it is present in the nose and throat only and does not let the infection grow in the body. The new antibody treatment has been developed by experts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The lead author of the study has said that it is a kind of race between scientists to make a preventive treatment to protect the lungs and the rest of the body from the virus. Experts from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have said that new antibody treatment should not be considered a substitute for vaccination. They have said that people who are eligible for COVID19 vaccination should definitely take vaccines.

Dr. Ghady Haidar has said that issuing emergency use authorization (EUA) to the new antibody treatment is a good move. He has said that people who do not respond to COVID19 vaccines well or are unable to develop enough antibodies can be protected from being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus if exposed. Such people can be given the new antibody treatment after virus exposure. Dr. Ghady Haidar is a transplant infectious diseases expert at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Haidar has been a part of the study that has found that people who have gone through organ transplants and who are dealing with cancer and compromised immune systems are not able to enough antibodies after taking COVID19 shots. However, this study has not been peer-reviewed. There is a growing body of evidence that proves that patients who have weaker immune systems might not be protected after vaccination. Health experts have said that monoclonal antibody treatment can offer protection against fatal COVID19 disease, hospital admissions, and deaths. However, the usage of this treatment is quite limited, as it needs to be given via an IV infusion within 10 days of COVID19 symptoms showing up. As the FDA has given expanded authorization to the treatment, the Regeneron antibody blend can be administered as an injection. Health experts have said that the first dose of this antibody treatment should be given within 96 hours of virus exposure. The FDA has given the sanction to the Regeneron antibody treatment after seeing the findings of the large-scale clinical trial of the antibody blend. Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody cocktail consists of casirivimab and imdevimab antibodies.

The clinical trial has enrolled participants from the United States, Romania, and Moldova. These people have been household contacts of people who have been diagnosed with COVID19 within the past four days. These people have been kept in two different groups. One group has been given a single intramuscular injection of the treatment. People in the control group have been given a placebo. Around 1500 people have been included in the trial. Around 7.8 percent of the people who have been given antibody injections have started showing symptoms of COVID19 within four weeks as compared to 1.5 percent of people in the placebo group. Health experts have said that the antibody treatment has been able to reduce the risk of severe infection by 81 percent. For people who have started showing symptoms of the virus, the treatment has helped them clear the infection much faster. The treatment has reduced the duration of their symptoms as well. All participants have tested negative for COVID19 before they have been given the treatment, said the experts. Experts have said that antibody care has lessened the risk of being diagnosed with severe signs of COVID19 by 32 percent in those who have tested positive for asymptomatic COVID19 infection at the time of study over the next four weeks. None of them who have been given the antibody care have been hospitalized. On the other hand, around 10 people from the placebo group have been admitted to the hospitals. Although the trial has included very few people who have been dealing with the compromised immune system, the FDA has recognized people of this demographic as entrants for preventive care. The study has included people who have been at a greater risk of exposure to infected people at work, in hospitals, or prisons. Health experts have said that people who are at ongoing risk of exposure to the virus from close contact can be given repeated doses of the treatment per month. The makers of the antibody treatment have said that the cost of the care will be covered by the US government. The officials from the FDA have said that only those who are not vaccinated or are dealing with autoimmune disease and are at a higher risk of severe disease are eligible to receive antibody care. People who are living in proximity with people who are have diagnosed with the disease as well are eligible to take the new treatment. Dr. Katharine Bar has said that the new treatment is a kind of reassurance for people who are at a greater risk of exposure to the virus. Dr. Katharine Bar is an infectious disease expert at the University of Pennsylvania.

Many people tend to taste their recipes while they cook the food despite understanding the risks of having raw foods. Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that people should not taste or eat raw cake mix as it might lead to a severe illness. The agency officials have been examining a possible link between raw cake mix and an outbreak of E. coli. Health experts have said that people should not taste or eat undercooked cake mix or its ingredients before it is completely ready. The CDC has been gathering data regarding the outbreak of E. coli with the help of local public health officials and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to find out the cause of the bacterial contamination. Health officials from the CDC have said that people should bake store-bought and homemade cake mixes for sufficient time in the oven before eating them. Experts have cautioned that consuming raw cake batter might lead to serious illness as it might contain deadly bacteria. When raw cake mix is properly baked or cooked in the oven for enough time, it kills the bacteria. As per an investigation that has been conducted by the CDC, nearly 16 people have fallen sick across 12 states in the US after they have been diagnosed with E. coli. States such as Virginia, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois, Utah, Oregon, Iowa, and Washington have reported confirmed cases of E. coli. Around eight of 16 patients have been interviewed by the health experts so far. All of them have said that they have tasted or eaten raw cake mix within a week before they have fallen ill. All of them have had diverse brands and varieties of the cake mix.

The officials from the CDC have confirmed that all known patients of E. coli have been women who have been in the age group of 2 to 73 years with an average age of 13 years. Health experts have said that around seven of 16 infected patients have been admitted to the hospital due to their severe condition. However, no deaths have been reported yet. One of the 16 infected patients has been diagnosed with a kind of kidney failure that is known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The officials from the CDC have said that E. coli can lead to symptoms of food poisoning, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. They have said that raw batter might carry E. coli bacteria that can lead to severe food poisoning if eaten without properly cooking it. As per the CDC observations, symptoms of bacterial infection differ in each patient. More often, infection leads to bloody vomiting and diarrhea and a low-grade fever of nearly 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Health experts have said that infection lasts for five to seven days and patients feel better after a week. The federal agency has said that the majority of people who are infected with E. coli start feeling ill three to four days after eating contaminated food. Patients can start showing up symptoms anywhere from one to 10 days after being exposed to bacteria, said the experts.

Health experts from the CDC who have been investigating the outbreak of E. coli have said that anyone who is suffering from diarrhea that is lasting for more than three days or those who are dealing with diarrhea along with a fever that is greater than 102 degrees Fahrenheit and so much vomiting that they are not able to keep liquids down in stomach should immediately consult their health care providers. While the investigation into cake mix is in process, experts have said that people should avoid tasting or eating any kind of raw cake mix dough to keep the infection at bay. The agency has recently released Say No To Raw Dough food safety initiative. The initiative says that in 2016 and 2019, nearly two outbreaks of E. coli have sickened nearly more than 80 people in the United States. Health experts have warned about raw or undercooked eggs as well. They have said that undercooked eggs might contain bacteria known as Salmonella, a deadly bacteria that can result in food poisoning if consumed. Health experts from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that people should not taste or consume raw cake mix dough or batter whether it is for tortillas, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, pizza, or crafts that are prepared out of raw flour such as homemade play dough or holiday decoratives. They have warned that parents should not allow children to play with or eat homemade play-dough. As per the new initiative, people should try to avoid using raw flour in recipes like smoothies and milkshakes. People should wash their hands and surfaces after handling raw flour or dough. If people are using packaged cake mix, they should make sure that they are following instructions and recipes mentioned on the packet correctly and baking the food at the right temperature for a specified time in the oven.

A nasal vaccine against Covid-19 infection could soon become a reality. Pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca has said that it has made significant developments in finding a potential drug that can be taken through the nose. It is said that the nasal vaccine in animal models has delivered some promising results. The drug successfully prevented the virus from spread during the experiment. The study noted that the nasal vaccine reduced virus concentrations. This results in curbing the transmission. The study was done in two animal models exposed to SARS-CoV-2. It said that the results will bolster the experiments to find the right nasal vaccine for humans. The company said that there is a need for further study as a breakthrough in intranasal Covid vaccination will help speeding up the vaccination drive and cover the maximum population at the earliest to win the war against Covid-19.

The study was done by researchers from the US NIH and the University of Oxford. Researchers said that the nasal vaccine was administered to rhesus macaques and hamsters. The method reduced concentrations in nasal swabs and viral loads. It produced mucosal immunity. This gives protection against SARS-CoV-2. Researchers said that animal numbers involved in the study were limited. But results are very encouraging and significant. Researchers measured if the nasal vaccine in macaques and hamsters limits the detection of virus in nasal swabs. The animals were exposed to the original Covid variant. They found that viral loads in hamsters’ swabs were reduced compared to hamsters. Besides, no infectious virus was detected in the lung tissue of infected hamsters.

Notably, the past studies in rhesus macaques with AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 intramuscular vaccine had shown that it protects from pneumonia. It didn’t reduce virus shedding from the upper respiratory tract. The study said that nasal vaccine protected the lower respiratory tract. The intramuscular vaccine provided partial protection. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Oxford have already commenced the phase 1 clinical trial of the nasal vaccine on humans. The trial is being done on 54 healthy adults. Although vaccination against Covid-19 is going on in different countries, there are poor countries that are yet to begin the drive. The current vaccines are given using a syringe. It requires trained medical personnel. A nasal vaccine will cut this load. It can be administered by any individual. It will also help in covering vulnerable people at the earliest.

After people from Israel have been banned from traveling to four more countries and the green pass has been made mandatory, four major health funds of the country have announced that they are planning to vaccinate people who are above 60 years with the third dose of COVID19 shot. A unanimous majority of 56 versus 1 from the Health Ministry’s Coronavirus Committee has voted in favor of giving a third dose of Pfizer shot to senior citizens. Health experts have said that elderly people who are above 60 years and have been vaccinated more than five months ago will be eligible for the third dose of the COVID19 vaccine. Israel is the first country to give a green signal to the third jab of coronavirus shot. On the other hand, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has still not authorized the third job in the United States. Health experts have said that President Isaac Herzog will be the first one to receive the booster shot in the country. As per the latest news, Maccabi Health Services has informed that the vaccination for booster shots will start this week itself. The officials from other health funds have said that they will start taking appointments for booster shots from this weekend. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has said that the new vaccination strategy aims to protect people’s lives and their daily routines. Prime Minister Bennett has said that the decision to rollout booster shot has been taken after analyzing the findings of many studies and looking at the rise and spread of the Delta variant that has been termed as one of the most infectious variants of coronavirus.

Health experts have revealed that Israel as well has inoculated more than 2000 people who have been dealing with compromised immune systems with a third dose of the vaccine. Now, the officials are going to kick-start a nationwide third-dose vaccination program as well. Health authorities in Israel have said that they are going to share the rest of the details of their booster shot vaccination with the global community as they go ahead with their new strategy. Professor Nimrod Maimon, who is the chief of the Magen Avot V’Imahot program has called a meeting of delegates of the assisted living facilities of the country and said that people who are being facilitated there, will be given booster shots at their homes. Health authorities in Israel have taken this decision after Pfizer has told its investors that the third dose of their shot is able to elevate the levels of antibodies by five to 11 times among people. The officials from Pfizer have said that they are going to submit their application for emergency use authorization (EMU) for the third dose of their COVID19 shot in the month of August. As per the latest report, the Israel Gerontological Society as well is going to administer the third dose of the vaccine to its residents soon. It represents around 100 nursing homes and geriatric hospitals in the country.

Health experts from the country have said that the Delta variant has been circulating in Israel quite rapidly. Israel has reported 2177 new cases of COVID19 this week. The Health Ministry has said that around 2.36 percent of people who have been screened for COVID19 have been diagnosed with the disease. Around 26 people have been put on intubation and 151 people have been hospitalized with severe infection. One patient has lost his life due to the disease at Soroka Medical Center. The person who has died has not been identified with any other underlying medical issue, said the experts. As per a report from the Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center, in the absence of quick action and extensive vaccination coverage, the number of new and severe cases is going to shoot up to such an extent that it will result in congestion in the community health center and hospitals across the country. Health experts have said that most new cases are taking place among the younger population. Unvaccinated children as well are contributing to new cases that are being reported in Israel. Experts have said that the county has started to witness new cases among elderly people as well who have been vaccinated four or five months ago. A preliminary study by the Health Ministry has shown that the COVID19 shot developed by Pfizer-BioNTech has been proved to be only 16 percent effective against the Delta strain in people who have been vaccinated so far. As per the authors of the study, the efficiency of Pfizer shot has reduced from 97 percent to 81 percent in people who are above 60 years. Professor Eran Segal from the Weizmann Institute of Science has said that earlier, the chances of vaccinated people who are above 60 years getting infected with the virus has been 3 percent and now it is around 19 percent that means the risk of getting reinfection has increased six times more. The Health Ministry has requested the Knesset to add countries such as the UK, Turkey, Cyprus, and Georgia to the list of countries where people from Israel are banned from traveling. As per the latest report, some of the popular tourist destinations such as Greece, Bulgaria, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well are going to be included in the banned list. People from Israel are already prohibited from visiting countries such as Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Spain, Belarus, India, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan, said the experts. Health authorities have recently reinstated the Green pass program in the country. Under the program, people who are above 12 years need to show a vaccination or recovery certificate or a negative COVID19 test to be a part of an event or location that includes more than 100 people. Experts have said that the COVID19 negative test should be taken within 72 hours. This pass is needed to participate in a cultural or sports event. It is also required to enter hotels, cafes, bars, gyms, tourist attractions, and restaurants as well.

A Lancet study has said that levels of antibody from Covid-19 vaccines may decline in 60 to 90 days. It said that two doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines offer good protection from the virus. The antibody levels developed are substantially higher. But it starts diminishing after six of the second dose. The study said that antibody levels could reduce by around 50 percent over 10 weeks. The study was done at the University College London. Researchers said that the drop in antibody levels is a cause of concern. They said that this could weaken the body’s levels to fight off new variants. They, however, didn’t predict how soon mutation can happen.

Researchers said that high antibody levels are important in the fight against the virus. The vaccines do develop very high antibody levels to protect against severity. For the study, researchers analyzed the data of 600 people. All the participants were above 18 years of age. They were fully vaccinated. They found antibody levels after two doses are consistent across all age groups. They, however, said that clinical implications of lowering antibody levels after two to three months are yet to be established. A decline was surely expected earlier after a certain period. But the latest study shows that the reduction could be more than 50 percent. Researchers said that vulnerable adults should be given priority for booster doses.

Researchers said that those given the AstraZeneca vaccines are most likely to have the lowest antibody levels than those vaccinated with the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer. They recommended that this should also be taken into account while deciding who all be given the booster dose at the earliest when available. Researchers also said that there were limitations in the data as it involved a small sample size. Each individual contributed one sample. They added that immunity levels differ from person to person. It depends on the body’s ability to fight against the virus and also T-cell responses.

After experimenting with the COVID19 shot, Moderna is going to apply new mRNA technology to the influenza shot. The company has started an early phase clinical trial of a new flu shot that will be based on mRNA technology. As per the report, participants have been given the first doses of the experimental mRNA-based flu shot in the trial. Experts have said that Moderna is going to test the new flu shot on nearly 180 people in the phase 1/2 randomized, stratified, and observer-blind trial. Heath experts who are involved in the trial will look into the different doses of the shot, immune responses generated after vaccination, and safety. This flu shot will be known as mRNA-1010. It will be developed to target four lineages of influenza viruses that spread in the communities each year. It will be the same as the existing quadrivalent flu shots in the market. These four lineages of the flu viruses have been found by the World Health Organization to be targeted to mitigate the spread each year. These four lineages are seasonal influenza type A lineages H1N1 and H3N2 and influenza type B lineages Victoria and Yamagata. Health experts have said that if mRNA-1010 proves to be effective in late-stage trials, the company will package it with three other mRNA shots to develop one seasonal shot. Along with influenza, this new combination shot will cater for other two common respiratory viruses that spread along with flu, such as a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV). This shot will target the SARS-CoV-2 virus as well which leads to COVID19 disease. Many health experts expect that COVID19 will become seasonal flu in the future.

At present, there is no authorized shot for RSV and HMPV. It is uncertain if the SARS-CoV-2 virus will turn into seasonal flu or a booster shot will be needed to reduce the spread each year. The CEO of Moderna, Stephane Bancel has said that there are many benefits of mRNA-based vaccines as these shots have the ability to combine various antigens to offer protection from multiple viruses. These vaccines also have the ability to mitigate the evolution of various respiratory pathogens such as influenza, RSV, and the SARS-CoV-2 virus. He has said that with this combination shot, people can easily get just one shot for high-level immunity from almost all deadly respiratory pathogens. The influenza vaccine alone is expected to offer a major upgrade as compared to the existing flu shot. Currently available quadrivalent and trivalent flu shots are considered to have low efficiency. They offer around 40 to 60 percent protection from flu viruses. Health experts have claimed that during some years, these vaccines have even lower efficiency against flu viruses. Moderna expects to beat these figures. After the soaring success of its mRNA-based COVID19 shot that has been proved to be 94 percent effective in the late-stage trial, the company is aiming high with its superior technology to fight against influenza. At present, the company has three mRNA-based shots under development, mRNA-1010, mRNA-1020, and mRNA-1030.

Health experts have said that mRNA technology delivers a snippet of a virus’s genetic code into human cells. The snippet of the virus’s genetic code is in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA). This kind of RNA works as an intermediary that transports coded information from DNA to the molecular machinery of cells, which decodes the code into proteins. The mRNA snippets that are present in the shots transport the blueprint for viral proteins that are used by the immune system for target practice. Scientists have said that mRNA-based shots provide a highly precise way to target flu viruses HA and NA as compared to existing flu shots. Currently available flu shots depend on exposing whole viruses, weakened or inactivated viruses to the immune system. With the use of mRNA technology, it is easy to modify the shots. When many deadly strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have started circulating around the world, the co-developer of mRNA-based Pfizer shot, BioNtech has said that the company can easily tweak its mRNA shot in just a few weeks. It is the biggest benefit of the mRNA-based influenza shot over currently available flu shots. Existing flu shots are often developed using fertilized hen eggs, shot developers administer the virus into the eggs and aid the virus to make legions of clones. Then, experts harvest the viruses, purify them and later kill or weaken them. In the later stage, it is used in the shots. This method is quite inexpensive and has been in use for decades. The process is highly time-consuming and it may not produce high-efficiency vaccines. This method lacks the accuracy like other strategies such as mRNA or recombinant proteins, said the experts. In this method, at times viruses start to adapt to their fowl orders. This issue has taken place in the 2017 and 2018 flu seasons in the US when the H3N2 flu virus strain has begun to pick up a mutation in its HA during egg-based vaccine making. Health experts have said that the mutation might have enabled the virus to infect chicken eggs in a better way, but in the vaccine, the mutation has refrained people from generating antibodies to fight against the H3N2 flu virus strain, which has been spreading among humans.

People think that chest pain and uneasiness in the left arm are some common signs and symptoms of almost all types of heart attacks. However, over the years, many studies have shown it might not be true in all cases. Studies have revealed that only these symptoms are not the hallmarks for all patients. A new study has found that women go through a different set of heart attack symptoms than men. Experts who have been involved in the study have said that in many cases red flags of heart attack among women can start showing up weeks before the actual cardiac incident. The study has been done by experts from the American Heart Association (AHA). Experts have been analyzing symptoms of heart attack among women. They have found that around 95 percent of women start developing new symptoms of a heart attack a month prior to the cardiac event and these symptoms fade away after the incident. Around 71 percent of women have the same subtle symptoms before the heart attack, said the experts. The AHA has started a survey on 500 women who have recovered from a heart attack in 2003. The authors of the study have said that unexplained fatigue has been the most common symptom among 95 percent of women who have said that they have not been feeling well during the month or before the cardiac incident. The study has noted that around 71 percent of women have said that they have been experiencing tiredness for no logical reason weeks before they have suffered a heart attack. A cardiologist Leslie Cho has claimed that if people undergo new or unexplained fatigue or if they feel tired after their usual workout session or while resting, they should get in touch with their health care provider and consider the risk of a heart attack.

The authors of the study have said that unusual fatigue is not the only alarming symptom that can lead to a cardiac event. If people are not able to sleep properly, it might be a matter of concern. As per the survey done by the AHA, around 48 percent of women who have recovered from a heart attack have said that they have been facing difficulty in falling asleep a month prior to their heart attack incident. This is the reason; Dr. Leslie Cho has said that for people who feel exceptionally tired for no rational reason and have difficulty in falling asleep, then it might be an early sign of a heart attack. The survey has revealed that fewer than 1 in three women undergo chest pain during the onset of a heart attack. The survey has noted that only 31 percent of women experience chest pain before a cardiac event that is considered a hallmark sign of a heart attack. Nearly 43 percent of women have said that they have felt no chest pain during their cardiac events. The authors of the study have said that due to no chest pain prior to the onset of a heart attack, most heart attack cases are undiagnosed among women as compared to men. Experts have said that more often women are incorrectly diagnosed and discharged from emergency wards. Scientist Jean C. McSweeney who is a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has said that many health care providers still consider chest pain as the main sign of a heart attack.

Health experts from the AHA have said that unexplained fatigue is the most common and early sign of a heart attack among women, while women more often experience shortness of breath as compared to any other symptoms once their cardiac event starts. More than half of the participants of the survey, or around 58 percent of women have said that they have undergone shortness of breath during their cardiac arrest. At the same time, nearly 42 percent of women have said that they have been dealing with the symptom weeks before the heart attack. Experts from the AHA have said that if people feel unexplained shortness of breath with or without chest pain, they should immediately consult their health care providers. Dr. Nieca Goldberg has said that usually, women keep a record of their symptoms of heart attack to less life-altering health issues such as acid reflux or the flu. Still, there are many women who do not believe that they can suffer a heart attack. Dr. Goldberg works as the medical director for the Joan H Tisch Center for Women’s Health at the Langone Medical Center located at New York University. The authors of the new study have said that women, who are dealing with these symptoms, should not delay their treatment and immediately book an appointment with their health care providers. However, there are many past studies that have shown that men are two times more likely to suffer a heart attack as compared to women.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently said that surging cases of the COVID19 pandemic in several parts of the world might lead to the emergence of new and more deadly variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the next couple of months. Professor Didier Houssin, who is the chairperson of the WHO Emergency COVID19 Committee, has said that the pandemic is not going to be over soon. He has said that the global increase in the number of COVID19 cases has indicated the ongoing challenges inflicted by the pandemic. The officials from the WHO have said that COVID19 cases in Africa have beaten their second wave peak in the first week of July. The death toll linked to COVID19 as well has climbed up by 40 percent. During the early stage of the pandemic, there has been only one strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As the virus has started spreading across the world, it has kept on mutating and sprouting thousands of its other strains and some of these variants are more transmissible and contagious as compared to the original strain. The WHO has labeled four strains of the virus as variants of concern. The most recent variant of the virus known as the Delta variant that has been identified in India for the first time during the second wave has been spreading in more than 111 countries around the world.

Health experts have said that the Delta variant accounts for 60 percent of total COVID19 cases in the United States. The WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that the strain is going to be the leading variant across the world very soon. Over the past week, COVID19 cases and deaths have increased across more than half of the states in the US due to the slow pace of vaccination and the continuous spread of the Delta variant. In the last week, 47 states have reported a rise in the cases as compared to two weeks earlier. The death toll has shot up in 30 states as compared to a week earlier. One of the counties in Missouri has asked for additional funding to set up an alternate care site as cases have been shooting up in the state. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expecting a rise in the number of hospitalization as well in the next four weeks. As per the forecast of the agency, the US might witness 11000 additional hospitalizations linked to COVID19 in the next 15 to 20 days. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that in the last week, COVID19 cases have seen a 10 percent increase worldwide. The death toll that has been reducing for nine consecutive weeks as well has shot up in the last 10 days across the world.

The officials from the WHO has said that as cases of coronavirus continue to rise around the world, new strains of the virus will continue to emerge in the future and the situation might be quite hard to control. They have said that vaccination remains the single most crucial weapon against the virus. Vaccines play an important role in disabling the virus from evolving into new variants. However, there are still many countries that do not have access to enough doses of vaccines. According to the University of Oxford’s Global Change Data Lab, only 25.8 percent of people around the world have been given one dose of a COVID19 shot. The WHO has pledged to get at least 10 percent of each country’s population vaccinated by September 2021. The global health agency has asked rich countries to share vaccine supplies with underdeveloped countries. Health experts have said that vaccination, well-informed public health, and social measures such as the use of facemasks, social distancing, and hand hygiene are the most effective strategies to fight against the virus.

The test positivity rate is rising in at least 42 states of the United States right now; it shows that the COVID19 pandemic is not yet over. Vaccine rollout program in the US is extensively going on in the country, but still, there are many people who have not been vaccinated yet. Many people are hesitant to book an appointment for vaccination due to the fear of initial side effects of the vaccine and many people have dodged their second doses. However, children are still at a higher risk of contracting the virus, as there is no shot for them at present. Although clinical trials are going on, children who are below 12 years are still not eligible to get the vaccine. The situation is less likely to change until schools start reopening next month, experts have said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that though kids are less likely to fall ill with severe COVID19 disease but they can be a potential reservoir of infection. They can easily be infected with the virus and transmit it to others. The rate of infection and death due to COVID19 has reduced in the US as compared to last year; however, the more deadly Delta variant has become dominant in the country and is spreading across many states. Dr. David Cennimo, who is an infectious disease expert from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, has said that it is critical to vaccinate children to put a stop to the spread of the virus.

Pfizer and BioNTech have got their vaccine authorized from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use on children who are in the age range of 12 to 15 years. The companies have started testing their shot in a large group of kids who are under 12 years. The age range of children has been divided into five categories, 5 to 11 years, 2 to below 5 years, and 6 months to below 2 years, said the experts. Johnson & Johnson as well as asked for emergency use expansion for its shot to include kids who are in the age group of 12 to 17 years. The company has declared that it is enrolling kids who are in the age range of 12 to 17 years in its ongoing 2a phase clinical trial. Many experts are doubtful whether a COVID19 shot will be ready before schools reopen next month. Dr. Reynold Panettieri, the vice chancellor for translational medicine and science at Rutgers University, has said that many schools are up for reopening in the third week of August, and it is uncertain whether a vaccine will be ready and approved by that time. He hopes that a vaccine might be authorized and ready for emergency use by Thanksgiving. However, it is unclear whether there will be a vaccine for babies who are under 2 years. Pfizer as well is uncertain about a definitive date for when a shot will be ready for children below 12 years. The company has claimed that the data for kids in the age group of 5 to 11 years will be available by September 2021 and they can go ahead and apply for approval for emergency use. Dr. David Cennimo has noted that it is important to prioritize the age group first. He has said that school-going kids have more social interaction as compared to young kids and toddlers; therefore it is necessary to protect them as soon as possible.

Pfizer and BioNTech have said that the data for kids below 5 years will be available soon after they apply for emergency use authorization for a vaccine for kids in the age group of 5 to 11 years. The data for kids in the age group of 6 months to 2 years will be available around October and November and the company will file for authorization. Health experts have said that children contribute to a huge portion of the population. They can be potential spreaders or carriers of the virus. They have said that by vaccinating children, it will be easy to achieve herd immunity. As per the latest, kids who are below 15 years of age account for 26 percent of the global population. Health authorities claim that inoculating will lead to full protection against COVID19 only if the shots prove to be efficient against different variants of the virus. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been proved to be highly efficient among adolescents so far. The CDC has said that the Pfizer-BioNTech shot has been proved to be 95 percent effective against lab-confirmed COVID19 infection among people who are 16 years and above. The vaccine has been similarly effective among the younger population as well. Pfizer shot has been able to produce a robust immune response among children who are in the age range of 12 to 15 years. However, there have been many concerns regarding mRNA vaccines. There have been more than 1000 cases of myocarditis and pericarditis linked to mRNA shots. The CDC has said that these health conditions lead to inflammation of the heart. Cases of heart inflammation have been reported among adolescents particularly after vaccination. However, the advantages of getting the vaccine still outweigh the potential risk.