Health

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.

A new study has found that a drug, which is being used to treat cancer for more than a decade, might be able to treat patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19. Scientists have said that this drug is called Pralatrexate. It is a chemotherapy medication, which has been developed to cure lymphomas, a type of cancer, which begins in the glands. Chinese scientists have said that this drug might be able to outperform Remdesivir, which is currently being used as a leading anti-viral drug for the treatment of COVID19 patients. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has given a green signal to Pralatrexate in 2009 for treating patients who are dealing with a terminal disease despite its toxic nature. There are many adverse side effects, which are linked to Pralatrexate such as fatigue, nausea, and mucositis. Mucositis is a type of inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes, which layers the digestive tract. Scientists have said that they might be able to repurpose this drug to eliminate the side effects, which will be more effective in treating COVID19.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Haiping Zhang from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, China has said that it is important to identify drugs that can cure COVID19. He has said that approved drugs can be straight away tested in clinical trials. The study has shown that Pralatrexate might be able to reduce the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The drug is able to trigger stronger inhibitory activity as compared to Remdesivir within the same experimental conditions, said the expert. They have said that artificial intelligence can be a great help to identify such drugs. It will simulate how differently these drugs react with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which leads to COVID19 disease. Zhang and his teammates have merged many computational methods, which are able to imitate drug-virus reactions to support virtual screening of existing drugs.

Scientists have used a hybrid screening method to test 1906 existing drugs for their potency to reduce the multiplication of the virus. They have targeted a viral protein known as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). RdRP is an important protein present in the genomes of all RNA containing pathogens like the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The hybrid screening approach has been able to find out four effective drugs. Scientists have said that there have been two drugs Pralatrexate and Azithromycin, which have been able to reduce the replication of the virus effectively. Further lab tests have proved that Pralatrexate has been able to cut down the replication of the virus more strongly than Remdesivir. It shows that Pralatrexate can be repurposed for treating COVID19. However, this medicine can lead to adverse side effects as it is used for treating lymphoma. Therefore, it cannot be immediately used to treat COVID19 patients. The lead author of the study has said that the novel hybrid approach involves deep learning technologies and traditional imitation of molecular dynamics.

Scientists have published the findings of the study in the journal called PLOS Computational Biology. They are going to develop additional computational techniques to produce novel molecular formations, which can be developed into a new drug that can treat COVID19 patients. Scientists have been a little cynical about the efficiency of Remdesivir, which has been developed to treat Hepatitis C and later has been repurposed to treat Ebola as well. The drug has delivered poor outcomes during the treatment of Ebola in 2014. Later it has been tested for the treatment of COVID19 in the early days of the pandemic. Scientists have been testing different drugs, which have been developed to treat other issues and can be repurposed to treat COVID19 as well.

Now parents might hesitate giving candies, cakes, and ice creams to their young kids. The US government has released its dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers. As per the guidelines, infants should be given only mothers’ milk for the initial 6 months and there should not be any added sugar in the diet of children under the age of 2 years. Nutritionist Barbara Schneeman has said that it matters what you feed your children in those early years of life. She has said that it is never too late to start a healthy habit. As per the experts from the federal government, added sugar should be limited to less than 10 percent of calories per day for children who are above 2 years. The dietary guidelines have made suggestions for alcohol intake among adults as well. It has been said that men should not take more than two drinks per day and women should stick to only one drink per day. Scientists have suggested that added sugar intake among children above the age of 2 years should be less than 6 percent of calories and men should stick to one drink per day. However, the government has gone ahead with previous advice only. The dietary guidelines are issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Agriculture Department.

Experts have said that if breast milk is not available for toddlers, then they should go ahead with iron-fortified infant formula for the first year. Dietary specialists have said that infants should be given supplemental vitamin D soon after birth. They have said that babies can be given other foods at around 6 months. They should be introduced to allergic foods along with other foods as well. The dietary guidelines say that babies should be given foods, which have peanuts in the first year itself, it will reduce the risk of the child developing a food allergy to peanuts. As per the guidelines, pregnant women should take 8 to 12 ounces of seafood per week to promote healthy brain growth in their babies. They should eat fish such as cod, salmon, sardines, and tilapia with lower levels of mercury. Mercury can damage children’s nervous systems. Experts have said that pregnant women should not consume alcohol. Modest amounts of caffeine might be fine, but they should discuss it with their healthcare providers.

Experts have said that sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, snacks, candy, sweetened coffee, and tea are the biggest sources of added sugar in the standard US diet. These foods do not have significant nutritional value. This is the reason the government has asked people to limit the intake of such foods in their daily diet plan and children’s diet. Most Americans are not able to follow the recommendation made by the government, which leads to obesity, heart issues, and diabetes.

People might need to show two passports while traveling in 2021. As per the latest report, many countries around the world are going to develop a ‘passport’ app, which will show a person’s COVID19 vaccination and test status. This verification method will be used for traveling on planes and attending large gatherings such as meetings and concerts. The Common Trust Network has developed such a COVID19 passport. The agency is going to team up with airlines such as JetBlue, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Swiss Air Lines, Cathay Pacific, and Lufthansa. It will join forces with health systems as well in the US and Aruba. This passport is called the CommonPass app. People can easily upload their COVID19 test results on it and proof of their COVID19 vaccination status given by a medical professional. The app will not make personal information public rather it will make a certificate in the form of a QR code, which will be scanned by flight attendants or security officers. The app will record health requirements at the time of passengers’ departure and arrival destination as well.

An official from the Common Trust Network, Thomas Crampton has said that people might be tested for the disease whenever they cross the border but they cannot be vaccinated. As per the report, tech giant IBM as well is going to develop a Digital Health Pass. This will help venues to set health requirements for entry, such as a negative COVID19 test, vaccination status, and temperature check. However, the information will be stored in the digital wallet. Some companies are planning to come up with a smart card, which will be able to record the credentials of people who do not have smartphones.

The lead author of the COVID19 Credentials Initiative Lucy Yang has said that they have come up with such a plan to digitally store and present the credentials not only via a smartphone but in other ways as well for those people who do not have access to a stable internet connection and do not have smartphones. He has said that there are many companies, which are doing incredible work to make it possible. Some experts have said that it will be effective in channelizing the right kind of information, however, there is no way to understand how these passports will make people’s travel safe. An Infectious Disease Expert, DR. Julie Parsonnet has said that health experts are still unsure whether a vaccinated person can spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Experts believe that 2020 might prove to be the deadliest year in the history of the United States. They have said that deaths due to the COVID19 pandemic are supposed to surpass the 3 million mark for the first time in the US. Although, final mortality data of the US might not be accessible for months for this year, however, initial figures show that the US is going to witness more than 3.2 million deaths this year. The death rate increases every year in the US, therefore a small increase in mortality rate is expected, but this year the death rate is supposed to increase by 15 percent, said the experts. It might shoot up even higher once all the deaths from this month are calculated. Experts have said that it is expected to mark the biggest single-year percentage jump since 1918. In 1918, tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in World War I and hundreds of thousands of people had lost their lives due to a flu pandemic. The death rate had increased by 46 percent in that year compared to 1917.

Health experts have reported that the COVID19 pandemic has claimed the lives of 318000 Americans and the number is still counting. This is the reason experts have predicted the deadly death trend in the US. As per the report, the mortality rate has fallen a bit in early 2019 due to a fall in deaths due to heart issues and cancer. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that in 2019, life expectancy as well as increased by many weeks for the second consecutive year. However, life expectancy might reduce by as much as three full years this year. The CDC has reported around 2854838 deaths in 2019, which have been 16000 more than in 2018. It has been regarded as good news as deaths commonly increase by 20000 to 50000 every year due to the aging and growing population of the US. The age-adjusted death rate has reduced by 1 percent in the US in 2019, while life expectancy has shot up to 78.8 years in the same year.

Health analysts have said that the COVID19 pandemic has been the biggest cause of death in the US this year. However, deaths due to other causes as well have increased amid the pandemic. The COVID19 has become the third leading cause of death across the nation this year. For some time, the pandemic has remained the number one cause of death. There have been some pneumonia cases early this year in the US, however, it seems they have been linked to COVID19 only but experts have failed to recognize it at an early stage. Health officials have seen some unexpected deaths due to circulatory diseases, diabetes, and dementia as well. The SARS-CoV-2 virus might have affected those patients who have been struggling with such underlying health issues, therefore these deaths as well can be linked to COVID19. There have been additional deaths due to drug overdose and suicide as well amid the pandemic. The CDC has disclosed that there have been nearly 81000 drug overdose deaths until May 2020.

An Advisory Panel at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that frontline essential workers and elderly people in the age range of 75 years and above should be next in line to get the Moderna Inc vaccine for COVID19. Moderna vaccine is the second one to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The distribution of this vaccine has started across the nation. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has voted in favor of the vaccine. Health experts have said that first responders, teachers, food and agriculture, manufacturing, the US Postal Service, public transit, and grocery store workers should receive Moderna Vaccine in the next round. This move will make another 51 million people entitled to the vaccine in the next round. The panel has said that nearly 200 million people along with non-frontline workers such as media professionals, finance, energy and IT, and communication sectors should be included in the following round. People in the age range of 65 to 74 years and those in the age group of 14 to 24 years with high-risk conditions as well should be given the vaccine in the next round of vaccination.

States, which have started giving the shots to their residents, are expected to follow the panel’s suggestions to make a plan for distributing the vaccine when supplies are limited. Experts have said that vaccination against the disease will help in reviving large parts of the economy. It will reduce the risk of outbreaks at crowded meatpacking plants, factories, and warehouses as well. However, there has been a lot of confusion over who is regarded as essential during the pandemic. Many firms and industry groups have been trying to get their workers in the US in line to get the vaccines after healthcare staff and long-term facility residents. United Parcel Service Inc (UPS) and FedEx Corp have started transporting the doses of the vaccine from warehouses to hospitals and other locations. Vials of Modern vaccine have been filled at Catalent Inc facility in Bloomington, Indiana. McKesson Corp has been sending the doses of Moderna vaccine across the country including Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, which are located nearby air hubs for FedEx and UPS. The officials from FedEx and UPS have said that the shipment is going smoothly as planned.

While the distribution of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is taking place in the US, the officials from the CDC have been looking at a new strain of the virus, which has emerged in the UK. Experts have said that the mutation of the virus shows that people should follow all the precautions to keep themselves safe while they wait for the vaccine. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the new strain of the virus has increased the number of infections. The UK government has applied strict restrictions across London and nearby areas considering surging cases. New restrictions have disrupted the holiday plans of millions of people in the UK. Experts have said that this variant of the virus is 70 percent more contagious than the original strain. It has raised many concerns over the extensive spread of the virus in the UK. Many European nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy have said that they have stopped their citizens from traveling to Britain. They have been planning to ban the flights and trains from commuting to the UK. The distribution of the Moderna vaccine will take place in more than 3700 sites in the US, which will expand the vaccine rollout, which has been started by Pfizer and its German partner BioNtech. The US Government has been planning to deliver 5.9 million Moderna shots and 2 million Pfizer vaccines this week. A report from the CDC has shown that nearly 2.84 million doses of vaccines have been allocated and around 556208 doses have been given to people so far.

A new study has revealed that a fraction of patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19 and are undergoing long-lasting side effects of the disease are not able to enjoy common food items. Experts have termed this condition as Parosmia. People affected by this condition, deal with an altered sense of smell. Dr. David Beckham, who is a neuro-infectious disease expert at Colorado’s UC Health, has said that many large scale studies have found that this type of neurological side effect of COVID19 can be found in patients who are struggling with elongated side effects of the disease after being diagnosed with COVID19. He has said that nearly 25 percent of patients with COVID19, he has seen so far, have been diagnosed with smell or taste abnormalities.

Dr. David Beckham has said that studies have shown that this condition takes place when the SARS-CoV-2 virus damages nerves in a region of the sinuses. He has said that it can significantly disrupt the signals, which are essential to go from the sensory nerves in the nose to the brain. However, he has been able to explain why some patients deal with this condition and some do not. However, patients will be able to recover from it over time, said the expert. The recovery depends on how much damage has been done to the nerves. Amanda Frankeny, a dietician, has said that she has started dealing with this condition a week after she has been diagnosed with COVID19. She has said that she was not able to smell any food item properly. Along with the smell, she has lost her sense of taste as well within a couple of days. After she has recovered from this condition, no food seems to be appetizing to her. She has experienced a distorted sense of smell and taste.

A retrospective cohort study has looked at patients who have lost their sense of smell after being diagnosed with the disease. Around 14 patients have been included in the study. The authors of the study have observed the link between smell-loss related factors and changes in overall and sub dimensional olfactory working of the threshold, inequity, and detection. They have found that people with lower baseline olfactory function are more likely to have significant improvement in overall olfactory function. People with lower baseline olfactory performance with Parosmia will have an improvement in discrimination function; they are more likely to have significant improvement in odor detection as well.

Health authorities have expanded the distribution of the COVID19 vaccine to nursing homes days after first doses of the vaccine have been given to frontline workers. Experts from the COVID Tracking Project have said that nursing home residents and long-term health facilities have reported more than a third of 306000 deaths due to the COVID19 pandemic. Healthcare workers in West Virginia and Florida have been the first people to be immunized with the COVID19 vaccine. Members of the Military as well are going to be vaccinated as the Pfizer vaccine rollout expands across the US. As per the data, more than 4800 doses of Pfizer vaccine have arrived at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. As the doses have arrived at the facility, experts have kept them in the ultra clod freezer. They have been taken out in small batches for labeling and have been defrosted. Dr. Nate Kupperman has been the first person to get the vaccine shot at the healthcare facility.

Some experts have reported a glitch in the vaccination process in California and Alabama, which has affected the vials. They have said that vials have been ultracold to be processed. Now, thousands of potential doses of the vaccine will be returned and new vials will arrive to continue the immunization. Many people have reported having side effects as well after being vaccinated. As per the report, a middle-aged healthcare worker has started experiencing an allergic reaction within 10 minutes of receiving the vaccine. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised that people who have a history of severe allergies, should not get the vaccine at this time.

Experts have said that though the vaccine has arrived but the despair fueled by the pandemic is still on the rise. California has reported around 54000 new COVID19 cases in one day. This is the highest number of new cases reported by any state. The rate of hospitalization and death due to coronavirus as well has been at a record level in the state. A report from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that the majority of children have contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus from their parents, not from their class fellows. Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is one of the top infectious disease experts in the federal government, has said that he believes that most people in the US will get the vaccine shots once it is widely available by this spring. He has said this way it will be easy to obtain herd immunity over the population. It will drastically reduce the dynamics of the epidemic.