Tag: Covid

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Health

Vacuna covid: los efectos secundarios son peores en mujeres

Vacuna covid: los efectos secundarios son peores en mujeres

Sex hormones containing estrogens, progesterone and testosterone can stick to the surface of immune cells and affect how they work. For example, exposure to estrogens causes immune cells to produce more antibodies in response to the flu vaccine.

In addition, testosterone appears to be “very immunosuppressive,” according to Klein. The flu vaccine tends to be less protective in men with high levels of testosterone than in men with lower levels of the sex hormone. Among other things, testosterone inhibits the body’s production of immune chemicals known as cytokines.

It is also possible that genetic differences between men and women have some impact on immunity. There are many immunity-related genes on the X chromosome, of which women have two copies and men only one. Immunologists have always believed that only one X chromosome was turned on in women and the other was inactive. However, studies show that 15 percent of genes bypass this inactivation and are more strongly expressed in women.

These strong immune responses explain why 80 percent of autoimmune diseases affect women. “Women have greater immunity, either against themselves, against a vaccine antigen, or against a virus,” Klein said.

The amount in a vaccine dose can also be important. Some studies have shown that women absorb and metabolize drugs differently than men and that they almost always require fewer doses for them to work. However, until the 1990s, many drug and vaccine clinical trials excluded women. “In the past, recommended drug doses were based on clinical trials in which the participants were men,” said Morgan.

Current clinical studies already include women. According to Klein, however, the side effects were not sufficiently differentiated or analyzed by gender in the studies of the new Covid vaccines. Nor did they test whether a lower dose might be as effective for women and cause fewer side effects.

Until she does, Klein said health professionals should talk to women about the side effects of vaccines so they don’t panic if they get them. “I think it’s useful to make women aware that they may have more side effects,” she said. “This is normal and probably reflects that his immune system is working.”

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Health

J&J’s one-shot Covid vaccine accredited by Europe

J&J's one-shot Covid vaccine approved by Europe

Crystal Jones, 52, head of the Athens City Department of Health, loads syringes of the vaccine on the first day of Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine.

SOPA pictures | LightRocket | Getty Images

The European Medicines Agency on Thursday recommended approval of the one-off coronavirus vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, which may add another weapon to the armory used to fight Covid-19.

The vaccine will now be sent to the EU Commission for approval later on Thursday.

The vaccine has the added benefit of only requiring a single dose and can be stored in most standard refrigerators at temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (or about 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit), making transportation and storage easier and cheaper makes.

Once delivery begins, the shot could add a lot to Europe’s difficult vaccination program and is the fourth to be approved by the EMA. Two-dose vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, and Oxford University have also been approved.

While easier to distribute, the vaccine has been found not to be as effective as the Pfizer and Moderna shots in preventing Covid infection. However, the data shows that it offers an adequate level of protection: data from clinical trials from the United States have shown that J & J’s vaccine is 72% effective against moderate to severe Covid (although it has been found to be less effective in studies elsewhere which gives it an overall efficacy of 66% protection) compared to about 95% for the other two vaccines.

The speed at which the EU can introduce the J&J vaccine is not yet clear. The EU has ordered 200 million cans of the shot, with an option for an additional 200 million, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement last October.

However, it was reported on Wednesday that, like other vaccine suppliers in the EU (Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca), delivery of the J&J vaccine to the block may be slower than expected.

An unnamed EU official told Reuters that Johnson & Johnson had told the EU it was facing supply issues that could complicate plans to deliver 55 million doses of its vaccine to the block in the second quarter of the year. CNBC has contacted J&J for additional comments on the report and has yet to receive a response.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, said on Wednesday that it had not been informed of any delays from J&J.

Another delay in vaccine supply would exacerbate the already lethargic introduction of vaccines in the EU, which has faced issues due to a slower ordering process than the UK and US, slower deliveries, bureaucracy and hesitant vaccines.

In the US, J&J has signed a contract with the US government to supply 100 million cans by the end of June. On Wednesday, the Biden government announced plans to buy an additional 100 million cans. The announcement came as the White House is working to ramp up production of the vaccine after learning earlier this year that the company had fallen behind in production.

Last week, Biden announced that pharmaceutical company Merck would help manufacture J & J’s Covid vaccine. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will deploy two facilities in the US for J & J’s vaccine. One will make the vaccine and the other will provide “fill-finish” services when the vaccine is put into vials.

– CNBC’s Berkeley Lovelace Jr. contributed to this story.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the correct approval process within the EU.

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Business

Denmark suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine

Denmark suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

Karwai Tang | Getty Images

LONDON – Denmark announced on Thursday that it would temporarily stop using the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

The Danish health authority said it would temporarily suspend the use of the shot in its vaccination program “following reports of severe cases of blood clots in people vaccinated with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine”.

“With this in mind, the European Medicines Agency has launched an investigation into the AstraZeneca vaccine. One report relates to a death in Denmark. It cannot currently be concluded whether the vaccine is related to the blood clots.” Authority said in a statement.

No information was provided about the number of reports of blood clots or where they came from.

The announcement comes after a similar move in Austria earlier this week, where authorities are investigating one person’s death and another person’s illness after receiving doses of the vaccine.

AstraZeneca’s shares in the London market were down 2.4% on Thursday morning. Oxford University would not comment on the announcement when contacted by CNBC.

An AstraZeneca spokesman said the company was aware of a statement by the Danish health authority that it is investigating possible adverse effects of the vaccine.

“Patient safety is a top priority for AstraZeneca. Regulators have clear and strict standards of efficacy and safety for approving new drugs, including the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca. The vaccine’s safety has been thoroughly investigated in Phase III clinical trials. Review data confirms the vaccine is generally well tolerated, “AstraZeneca said in a statement to CNBC.

Søren Brostrøm, director of the National Health Department in Denmark, insisted that the 14-day suspension was a precautionary measure during the investigation.

“It is important to emphasize that we did not decide against the AstraZeneca vaccine, we are deferring it. There is good evidence that the vaccine is both safe and effective. But both we and the Danish Medicines Agency need to respond Reports of possible serious side effects from both Denmark and other European countries, “he said.

Austria concerns

The Austrian health authorities stopped using batch ABV5300 of the AstraZeneca vaccine after a person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis (formation of blood clots in blood vessels) and died 10 days after vaccination. Another person was hospitalized with pulmonary embolism after vaccination.

“The latter is now recovering,” said the European Medicines Agency on Wednesday.

However, the EMA added that “there is currently no evidence that vaccination caused these conditions that are not listed as side effects with this vaccine.”

The EMA found that the same batch of ABV5300 was shipped to 17 EU countries and comprised 1 million doses of the vaccine.

“Some EU countries have also suspended this batch as a precautionary measure while a full investigation is in progress. Although a quality defect is considered unlikely at this point, the batch quality will be investigated,” said the EMA.

It added that its safety committee was reviewing the issue and “investigated the cases reported with the batch, as well as all other cases of thromboembolic events and other blood clot-related conditions post-vaccination.”

“The information available so far shows that the number of thromboembolic events in vaccinated people is no higher than in the general population.”

As of March 9, “22 cases of thromboembolic events have been reported among the 3 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the European Economic Area,” the EMA said.

Trust in the UK and the EU

In late clinical studies, the AstraZeneca-Oxford shot was found to have an average of 70% effectiveness in protecting against the virus. A recent study by Oxford researchers found that the Covid vaccine was 76% effective at preventing symptomatic infection for three months after a single dose and that the effectiveness rate actually increased with a longer interval between the first and second dose.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is widely used in the launch of vaccination in the UK and the European Union.

The UK has so far vaccinated over 22 million people with a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and is currently only using the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

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Entertainment

In Australia, Hollywood Stars Have Discovered an Escape From Covid. Who’s Jealous?

In Australia, Hollywood Stars Have Found an Escape From Covid. Who’s Jealous?

MELBOURNE, Australia – In the photo posted on Instagram, actors Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba and Matt Damon, all wearing 1980s style sweats, hug each other. You are maskless. Touch. Happy even. The headline reads: “A little 80s themed party never hurt!”

Your outraged fans peppered the post with comments. What about the pandemic? Social distancing? Masks? We are still suffering from a pandemic that has all but crippled the travel industry and prevented most people from casually flying on vacation to paradise.

However, the Hollywood Brigade was in Australia, a country where coronavirus has been effectively eradicated, allowing officials to relax restrictions on most gatherings, including parties (with dancing and finger food). Due to the near-lack of the virus and generous subsidies from the Australian government, the country’s film industry has been buzzing at an enviable pace for months compared to other regions.

Australia has managed to lure several Hollywood directors and actors into continuing film production. In fact, many celebrities including Natalie Portman, Christian Bale and Melissa McCarthy found freedom from the pandemic there.

One person wrote on Mr. Hemsworth’s Instagram post, “Before you comment, remember that not everyone lives in America.”

Although the accelerated pace of vaccination in the United States has raised hopes of returning to some semblance of normality by summer, the country is still the world leader in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths. The cinemas only reopened in New York City last week. Some fans are cautiously sneaking back while others are still cautious about contracting the virus.

But thousands of kilometers away, many stars who appear on the big screens can frolic or film on location in Australia. (Mr. Hemsworth is a fixture himself – he moved back to Australia in 2017 after several years in Los Angeles.) In the US, where hundreds still die every day, some fans watched jealously.

“These Hollywood stars have been transported to another world where the world’s problems don’t exist,” said Robert Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University in New York. He added that the temporary exodus from the United States revealed another disintegration of the myth that Hollywood was the endgame for celebrities.

Australia has become a “hip place” that “fabulous people want to go,” said Professor Thompson. “If you’re trying to be a star, you have to go to the west coast to make your bones.” When you become “a really big star” you are buying property in an exotic location like Australia, he added.

“It definitely feels like a time machine,” said Ms. Portman, who called from Sydney, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in December. “It’s so different, all animals are different, all trees are different, I even mean the birds, there are multicolored parrots that fly around like pigeons,” she added. “It’s wild.”

A spokeswoman said the government helped 22 international productions bring hundreds of millions into the local economy. Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister of Communications, said: “There is no doubt that this is a very significant increase over previous activity.”

But even as celebrities dress up and pose on social media, some Australians grumble that the country’s strategy to fight the virus has stranded tens of thousands of citizens overseas. The strict border measures have also contributed to a shortage of agricultural labor.

Exceptions have been made for tennis players who participated in the Australian Open last month, as well as for the staff who run the tournament. The presence of Hollywood’s rich and famous has further angered critics who see a clear bend of the rules for those with money and power.

“Everyone knows that there seem to be separate rules for anyone who is a celebrity or has money,” said Daniel Tusia, an Australian who was stuck overseas with his family for several months last year. “There are still a lot of people who couldn’t get home, who don’t fall into that category and who are still stranded,” he added.

In a statement emailed, the Australian Border Force said travel exemptions for film and television productions have been considered “if there is evidence of the economic benefits the production will bring to Australia and support from the relevant government agency . “

A year ago, Hollywood Everyone’s Tom Hanks made the threat of the pandemic all too real when he and wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the coronavirus in Queensland, Australia while filming an unnamed Elvis biopic. Her illness made a personal threat, the seriousness of which was only just beginning to crystallize at this time.

But in May, Australia appeared to be well on its way to quelling the first wave of the virus, and the soap opera “Neighbors” was one of the first scripted TV series in the world to resume production. The federal government has allocated more than $ 400 million to international productions, which, along with existing subsidies, gives film and television producers a discount of up to 30 percent for filming in the country.

More than 20 international productions including Thor: Love and Thunder, a Marvel film with Hemsworth, Damon, Portman, Taika Waititi, Tessa Thompson and Bale; “Three Thousand Years of Longing,” a fantasy romance with Mr. Elba and Tilda Swinton; and Joe Exotic, a spin-off of the podcast that preceded the popular Netflix series Tiger King, which stars Saturday Night Live actress Kate McKinnon as Big Cat enthusiast Carole Baskin all filmed either in production or in preparation next year.

Ron Howard directs Thirteen Lives, a dramatization of the Thai rescue of a football team from a Queensland cave in 2018 (the Australian coast is a good proxy for the tropics). And later that year, Julia Roberts and George Clooney will arrive in the same state to direct Ticket to Paradise, a romantic comedy.

Although a number of American temporary employment stars have landed in the country, some like Ms. McCarthy, who was originally in Australia to work on “Nine Perfect Strangers,” have decided to shoot more projects, according to industry representatives. “Oh the birds!” she raved in a YouTube video. “I love seeing a spider the size of my head.”

Others, like Zac Efron, appear to have settled here permanently.

His Instagram is flush with Australiana: Here he is in a hammock in the desert of the red earth, seems to be participating in an indigenous ceremony or is wearing the Australian cowboy hat, an Akubra. Last year, Mr. Efron even got what an Adelaide barber called a “mullet,” a vicious hairstyle popular in Australia.

“Home, sweet home,” he captioned a picture of himself in front of a $ 100,000 motor home.

Chances are the stars will keep popping up. They were seen camping under the stars as they went to dinner without a mask and partied (yes, like it was 1989). Mr Damon said in January that Australia was definitely a “happy country”.

But locals in Byron Bay – the seaside town that has gone from hippie to glitter in recent years – have complained that the influx of stars over the past year has changed the city beyond repair.

“The actors and the famous people are the tip of the iceberg,” said James McMillan, a local artist and director of the Byron Bay Surf Festival. He added that the large cohort of production workers from Melbourne and Sydney had priced locals out of real estate.

“It has definitely changed more than it has ever done in the past 12 months,” added McMillan, who has lived in Byron Bay for two decades. “People have stars in their eyes.”

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Business

Texas opens Covid vaccine eligibility to individuals 50 and older because it lifts masks mandate

UK coronavirus variant 'on course to sweep the world,' geneticist says

Ron Votral will receive a vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a drive-through vaccination site in Robstown, Texas on February 9, 2021.

Go Nakamura | Reuters

Texas residents 50 and older can get Covid-19 vaccines starting March 15. This is the most populous US state, which extends the eligibility to the previous age group, the state Department of Health said on Wednesday.

So far, Texas has given frontline health workers, people with underlying health conditions, and those 65 and over the opportunity to get a shot. The state announced last week that it would immediately add school and child carers to its list of vaccination entitlements.

By extending the eligibility to people over 50, the state wants to protect those most at risk of serious illnesses from the virus, the ministry said in a statement. The move will put 5 million more Texans on the state’s priority list, even though more than 1 million of them have already been vaccinated.

“The extension to ages 50-64 will continue the state’s priorities of protecting those at greatest risk of serious consequences and preserving the state’s health system,” said Imelda Garcia, deputy commissioner for the ministry of state Health services for laboratory and infectious diseases made a statement.

More than half of the state’s seniors have received at least one dose of vaccine, and nearly a third are fully vaccinated, according to DSHS.

Wednesday also marked the end of the Lone Star State’s mask mandate, and companies are now 100% allowed to reopen, Governor Greg Abbott announced last week, pointing to the increase in vaccine eligibility, the decrease in new cases and the state’s adequate hospital capacity Argumentation.

Alaska became the first state on Tuesday to allow residents 16 and older to be vaccinated.

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Politics

Home passes $1.9 trillion Covid aid invoice, sends to Biden

House passes $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, sends to Biden

House Democrats passed a $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill on Wednesday, sending one of the largest stimulus plans in U.S. history to President Joe Biden’s desk.

The president hopes to sign the bill on Friday after Congress officially sent it to the White House, which can take days on large bills. Biden will tick off his first major piece of legislation as the US tries to speed up Covid-19 vaccinations and boost the economy.

Here are the most important parts of the proposal:

  • A weekly unemployment benefit allowance of $ 300 and programs that increase millions of people’s unemployment benefits will be granted through September 6th. The plan also provides that the first $ 10,200 in unemployment benefits will be tax-free.
  • The bill sends $ 1,400 direct payments to most Americans and their loved ones. Checks start on an individual income of $ 75,000 and are limited to those earning $ 80,000. The thresholds for shared filers are twice as high. The government will base its eligibility on Americans’ most recent tax returns.
  • It extends the child tax credit by one year. It increases to $ 3,600 for children under 6 and to $ 3,000 for children 6-17 years of age.
  • The plan puts around $ 20 billion in manufacturing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, and around $ 50 billion in testing and contact tracing.
  • It adds $ 25 billion for rental and utility services and approximately $ 10 billion for mortgage assistance.
  • The plan calls for $ 350 billion in state, local, and tribal governments.
  • The proposal earmarks more than $ 120 billion for K-12 schools.
  • It increases the benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by 15% through September.
  • The bill will expand subsidies and other provisions to help Americans get health insurance.
  • It provides nearly $ 30 billion in aid to restaurants.
  • The legislation expands an employee retention tax credit that enables companies to keep employees on payroll.

The bill passed with a margin of 220-211 without a Republican vote as the GOP argues the labor market has recovered enough to warrant little or no new stimulus spending. One Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, was against it. The Democrats also approved the plan alone in the Senate as part of the special budget reconciliation.

Biden celebrated the passage of the law in a statement on Wednesday, saying he plans to include it in law on Friday.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) gives a thumbs up before the final passage in the House of Representatives from US President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus disease (COVID-19) bill in Chamber of the Washington Capitol, March 10, 2021.

Joshua Roberts | Reuters

“This legislation is about giving the backbone of this nation – the essential workers, the working people who built this country, the people who run this country – a chance to fight,” he said.

The party believes that Congress needs to put more money into the economy to both suffer a year of economic restraints and prevent future pain as normal activities slowly resume. House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Pointed out it as “consistent and transformative legislation” after it was passed.

Democrats passed the bill because an improving economy is still cracking. The US created a better-than-expected 379,000 job in February as the unemployment rate fell to 6.2%.

Still, 8.5 million Americans had fewer jobs a month than a year earlier. Black and Hispanic or Latin American women have regained a lower proportion of pre-pandemic jobs than any other group, according to government figures.

More than 18 million people were receiving some form of unemployment benefit in mid-February.

“Aid is on the way,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said repeatedly on Wednesday at an event at which he and Pelosi officially signed the legislation.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California speaks as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and listens on Capitol Hill during an enrollment ceremony accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Washington.

Alex Brandon | AP

Republicans have argued that the increasing pace of vaccination of the most vulnerable Americans, coupled with the gradual or even full reopening of many states, eliminates the need for more stimulus spending. You have accused the Democrats of including priorities unrelated to the health crisis in the bill.

Some economists and GOP lawmakers have warned of the potential of massive spending to increase inflation.

“There is a real risk here that these kind of massive incentives will overheat the economy. … I just find it sad because we could have done it. I think something much more targeted and focused on Covid-19,” said GOP Sen Rob Portman of Ohio told CNBC on Wednesday morning.

According to the February job report, Biden said that passing the stimulus plan would ensure the recovery doesn’t stall.

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Health

Biden Covid staff holds briefing as U.S. plans to purchase extra J&J vaccine doses

Biden Covid team holds briefing as U.S. plans to buy more J&J vaccine doses

[The stream is slated to start at 11 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]

President Joe Biden’s Covid-19 Response Team holds a press conference Wednesday on the coronavirus pandemic that infected more than 29 million Americans and killed at least 527,720 people in just over a year.

Two government sources told NBC News that the U.S. government plans to buy 100 million additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson. Biden will announce the plans on Wednesday during a White House meeting with executives from J&J and Merck.

J&J currently has a contract with the US government to provide 100 million cans by the end of June. The federal government shipped nearly 3.9 million doses of the single vaccine last week and plans to distribute an additional 16 million by the end of this month.

Read CNBC’s live updates for the latest news on the Covid-19 outbreak.

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Health

J&J Covid vaccine distribution in poor, Black communities raises race questions

J&J Covid vaccine distribution in poor, Black communities raises race questions

Johnson & Johnson Covid-19-Impfstoff in einem Impfzentrum, das am 5. März 2021 im Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, eingerichtet wurde.

Kamil Krzaczynski | AFP | Getty Images

Logan Patmon aus Detroit weiß, dass der Covid-19-Impfstoff von Johnson & Johnson einfacher zu verteilen ist als die Schüsse von Moderna und Pfizer.

Der 28-jährige Black-Anwalt sagte, er sehe es als minderwertig an, da Daten aus klinischen Studien gezeigt haben, dass J & J in den USA zu 72% gegen Covid schützt, verglichen mit etwa 95% bei den beiden anderen Impfstoffen.

“Warum für 70 gehen, wenn Sie 95 bekommen können?” er sagte.

Für Beamte ist der Schuss von J & J ein Segen, da er monatelang bei Kühlschranktemperatur gelagert werden kann und nur eine Dosis benötigt – im Gegensatz zu Pfizer und Moderna, für die Gefrierschränke und zwei Runden Stöße im Abstand von etwa einem Monat erforderlich sind. Das macht J & Js Schuss zu einem wichtigen Instrument, um Menschen, die möglicherweise nicht zu einem zweiten Termin zurückkehren können, lebensrettende Impfstoffe zukommen zu lassen. Es ist besonders wertvoll, um die Aufnahmen an schwer erreichbare Orte zu bringen, an denen möglicherweise keine zuverlässige Kühlung vorhanden ist, z. B. in Stammesgebieten, in ärmeren Gegenden sowie in ländlichen und Grenzgemeinden.

“Nur weil es am einfachsten ist, heißt das nicht, dass es das Richtige ist”, sagte Patmon gegenüber CNBC. “Sie möchten nicht, dass es eine Situation gibt, in der getrennte, wohlhabendere Gebiete den besseren Impfstoff erhalten und den armen, mehr Minderheitengebieten gesagt wird: ‘Sei einfach glücklich.'”

Beamte stoßen bei der Verteilung der Aufnahmen von J & J auf ein unvorhergesehenes Problem. Obwohl unbeabsichtigt, stellen einige Leute aufgrund ihrer niedrigeren Wirksamkeitsrate die Frage, ob dies nur ein weiteres Beispiel für eine subtil rassistische Behandlung von Minderheiten in Amerika ist. Während der Impfstoff von J & J hochwirksam ist, insbesondere gegen schwere Krankheiten und Todesfälle, sehen Patmon und andere Amerikaner ihn immer noch als minderwertig an. Durch den Versand an ärmere Postleitzahlen in Großstädten und ländlichen Gemeinden riskieren Beamte laut Gesundheitsexperten Vorwürfe der Diskriminierung.

Dies könnte das Vertrauen in die Einführung von Impfstoffen weiter untergraben, insbesondere in Farbgemeinschaften, sagen Experten, da mehr Daten aus Staaten zeigen, dass Schwarze und Hispanics weiterhin einen überproportionalen Anteil an Covid-19-Todesfällen ausmachen, die Impfstoffe jedoch mit deutlich geringeren Raten erhalten als Weiße Menschen.

In New York zum Beispiel machen Schwarze etwa 16% der Bevölkerung des Bundesstaates aus und machen 23% der Todesfälle durch Covid-19 aus, haben aber laut einem Bericht des gemeinnützigen Kaisers vom 3. März bisher nur 8% der Schüsse erhalten Family Foundation, die staatlich gemeldete Daten analysierte. Hispanics machen 19% der Bevölkerung und 23% der Todesfälle in Covid aus, haben aber nur 9% der Schüsse erhalten.

Weiße Menschen machen 63% der Bevölkerung und 40% der Todesfälle aus, aber laut KFF-Analyse haben sie 81% der Impfungen erhalten.

Die Verwendung des Impfstoffs von J & J hauptsächlich in schwer erreichbaren Gebieten kann zu einem “Maß an Misstrauen” und “erhöhtem Zögern” führen, sagte Dr. Sonja Hutchins, eine ehemalige CDC-Beamtin, am 1. März gegenüber dem Beratenden Ausschuss für Immunisierungspraktiken der Agentur sehr vorsichtig zu sein und zu verstehen, was einige der unbeabsichtigten Folgen der Ausrichtung auf Farbgemeinschaften sein könnten, von denen einige glauben, dass sie schwer zu lesen sind, wenn sie erreichbar sind “, sagte Hutchins, der jetzt Professor an der Morehouse School of Medicine ist.

Impfstoffe vergleichen

Der Impfstoff von J & J wurde am 27. Februar für die Verwendung in den USA zugelassen. Der J & J-Schuss zeigte in den USA etwa einen Monat nach der Inokulation eine Wirksamkeit von 72%, 66% in Lateinamerika und 64% in Südafrika, wo das ansteckendere und virulentere B. Die Variante .1.351 breitet sich schnell aus. Insbesondere verhinderte es 100% der virusbedingten Krankenhausaufenthalte und Todesfälle. Die klinischen Phase-3-Studien von Pfizer und Moderna, die im November abgeschlossen wurden, zeigten, dass beide Impfstoffe eine Wirksamkeitsrate von etwa 95% aufwiesen.

Die Berechnung der Wirksamkeit eines Impfstoffs ist schwierig und kann variieren, je nachdem, wo die Studie durchgeführt wird, welche Arten von Varianten in der Region vorherrschen und wie weit die Gemeinschaft verbreitet ist.

Die dritte Phase der Studie von J & J begann ungefähr zwei Monate hinter der von Pfizer und Moderna und wurde weltweit und in Ländern durchgeführt, in denen bereits infektiösere Varianten, die sich den Impfstoffen entziehen können, bereits eingesetzt hatten.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chefarzt des Weißen Hauses, sagte, es sei unmöglich, die drei zu vergleichen, da sie nicht in direkten klinischen Studien bewertet wurden.

“Wir sagen also nicht, dass einer besser oder schlechter ist als der andere, wir sagen, dass alle drei wirklich ziemlich gut sind”, sagte er am Samstag gegenüber MSNBC. “In Bezug auf die Verbreitung in verschiedenen Gruppen hat der Präsident sehr, sehr deutlich gemacht, dass wir Gerechtigkeit haben werden, was bedeutet, dass wir diese gleichmäßig auf die verschiedenen Komponenten verteilen werden, genauso wie wir es mit den anderen beiden getan haben . “

Er sagte, jemand könnte den Impfstoff von J & J bevorzugen, weil nur ein Schuss erforderlich ist, “aber es wird keine absichtliche Versendung an eine demografische Gruppe gegenüber einer anderen geben”, sagte er.

Die Bundesregierung hat letzte Woche fast 4 Millionen Dosen des Impfstoffs von J & J an Bundesstaaten, Apotheken und kommunale Gesundheitszentren verteilt und plant, bis Ende dieses Monats weitere 16 Millionen zu versenden. Das Unternehmen hat bis Ende Juni einen Vertrag mit der US-Regierung über 100 Millionen Dosen abgeschlossen.

Ein wichtiges Verkaufsargument für den Impfstoff von J & J ist, dass er mindestens 3 Monate bei 36 bis 46 Grad Fahrenheit gelagert werden kann und eine Einzeldosis ist. Im Vergleich dazu handelt es sich bei den Impfstoffen von Pfizer und Moderna um zwei Dosierungen. Pfizers Schuss muss in ultrakalten Gefrierschränken gelagert werden, die zwischen minus 112 und minus 76 Grad Fahrenheit liegen, obwohl die FDA dem Unternehmen kürzlich gestattet hat, ihn zwei Wochen lang bei Temperaturen zu lagern, die üblicherweise in pharmazeutischen Gefriergeräten zu finden sind. Moderna muss mit 13 unter null bis 5 Grad Fahrenheit verschickt werden.

Zuordnung zu Staaten

Jeff Zients, Covid-Zar von Präsident Joe Biden, sagte, dass der Impfstoff von J & J Staaten auf der Grundlage ihrer gesamten erwachsenen Bevölkerung zugeteilt wird – genau wie Pfizer und Moderna. Sobald der Impfstoff eingetroffen ist, können die Staaten die Dosen nach eigenem Ermessen verteilen, obwohl die CDC empfiehlt, die am stärksten gefährdeten Personen zu priorisieren.

In New York City sagte Bürgermeister Bill de Blasio, der J & J-Impfstoff sei für Senioren im Heimatland und andere bestimmt, die nicht einfach zu Vertriebszentren gelangen können. Er räumte ein, dass der Impfstoff aufgrund seiner geringeren Wirksamkeitsrate eine “Kommunikationsherausforderung” für staatliche und lokale Gesundheitsbehörden darstellen könnte.

“Es gibt viele Fehlinformationen, die wir überwinden müssen”, sagte er am 1. März gegenüber Reportern. “Sobald Sie geimpft sind, sind Sie geschützt. Es macht so viel Sinn, sie zu verwenden. Und das macht mir wirklich Sorgen.” Die Leute werden das falsche Verständnis davon bekommen und dann zögern, sich genau dann impfen zu lassen, wenn wir sie am dringendsten brauchen, um geimpft zu werden. “

In Louisville, Kentucky, sagten Gesundheitsbeamte, sie würden den Impfstoff für vorübergehende Menschen einsetzen, die einem hohen Risiko ausgesetzt sind und nicht einfach für einen zweiten Schuss zurückkehren können, wie die Obdachlosen. In Harris County, Texas, wo sich Houston befindet, wird der J & J-Impfstoff an mobilen Impfstellen verabreicht, die jede Woche den Standort wechseln, wenn Anbieter versuchen, unterversorgte Gruppen zu erreichen, die am anfälligsten für Covid sind.

Der Bürgermeister von Detroit, Mike Duggan, lehnte letzte Woche eine erste Zuteilung des Impfstoffs von J & J ab und sagte: “Johnson & Johnson ist ein sehr guter Impfstoff. Moderna und Pfizer sind die besten. Und ich werde alles tun, um sicherzustellen, dass die Bewohner der Stadt von Detroit bekommen das Beste. “

Später ging er diese Kommentare zurück und teilte CNBC in einer Erklärung mit, dass die Stadt bereits über genügend Kapazitäten mit Moderna und Pfizer verfügt, um Tausende von Einwohnern zu impfen. Er sagte, die Stadt werde eine neue Impfstelle für J & J-Aufnahmen eröffnen, wenn die Nachfrage der berechtigten Bewohner das Angebot an Moderna- und Pfizer-Dosen übersteigt.

“Sehr vorsichtig”

Kasisomayajula Viswanath, Professor für Gesundheitskommunikation an der Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, sagte gegenüber CNBC, er sei besorgt darüber, wie Staaten den Impfstoff verteilen würden, auch wenn ihr Plan sinnvoll sei.

Viswanath, dessen Forschung sich auf die Beseitigung von Ungleichheiten im Gesundheitswesen konzentriert, sagte, dass staatliche und lokale Gesundheitsbehörden mitteilen müssen, warum der Impfstoff von J & J auf eine bestimmte Weise verteilt wird, oder dass sie Vorwürfe von Rassismus und Misstrauen riskieren.

“Wir müssen äußerst vorsichtig sein”, sagte er und fügte hinzu, dass die Impfstoffe von Moderna und Pfizer J & J überlegen seien.

Viswanath empfahl den Staaten, die Hilfe lokaler Organisationen, denen Gemeinschaften vertrauen, wie Kirchen oder Aktivistengruppen, für ihre Kommunikationsbemühungen zu gewinnen.

“Wenn Sie anfangen, diesen Impfstoff an bestimmte Gruppen und bestimmte Stadtteile zu verteilen, ohne zu erklären, warum dies so gemacht wird, besteht wahrscheinlich die Wahrnehmung, dass meine Gruppe, meine Nachbarschaft, meine Stadt diesen Impfstoff mit geringer Wirksamkeit im Vergleich zu erhält diese Gruppe, diese Nachbarschaft oder diese Stadt “, sagte er.

Insbesondere in schwarzen Gemeinden gibt es bereits Bedenken aufgrund der anhaltenden Diskriminierung, die sie “Tag für Tag” vom Gesundheitssystem erfahren, sagte er.

“Die tägliche Diskriminierung, die tägliche Respektlosigkeit, das ist es, was Misstrauen erzeugt”, sagte er.

Umdenken

Dr. Stephen Schrantz, der Teil des Teams war, das eine J & J-Impfstoffstudie an der Medizin der Universität von Chicago leitete, sagte, Kommunikation sei der Schlüssel. Er fügte hinzu, dass Anbieter nicht möchten, dass ihre Patienten glauben, sie würden “einen wirksameren Impfstoff erhalten als eine andere Person”.

Die Wahrnehmung der Menschen kann sich ändern, fügte er hinzu, zumal mehr Daten über die Impfstoffe herauskommen und die Menschen von den Menschen ihre eigenen inneren Kreise hören.

Veronica Takougang, eine schwarze Medizinstudentin im ersten Jahr in Cincinnati, sagte, sie habe von Gleichaltrigen und anderen viele Bedenken über den J & J-Impfstoff gehört und darüber, ob er vorwiegend in Farbgemeinschaften eingesetzt wird.

Sie sagte, dass sie den Menschen sagt, dass der Impfstoff viele Vorteile hat, einschließlich der Tatsache, dass er schwere Krankheiten verhindert und eine Einzeldosis darstellt, so dass etwa einen Monat später kein zweiter Termin vereinbart werden muss.

“Die Leute achten sehr auf die Zahlen”, sagte sie. Sie fügte hinzu, dass ihre Bedenken hinsichtlich des Impfstoffs von J & J “gültig” seien und dass Menschen nicht davon ausgeschlossen werden sollten, die anderen Impfstoffe zu erhalten, nur weil sie möglicherweise nicht in der Lage sind, eine zusätzliche Stunde frei zu nehmen.

Geimpft werden

Das Weiße Haus fordert die Öffentlichkeit auf, den ersten Impfstoff zu nehmen, den Sie bekommen können.

“Wir haben drei hochwirksame Impfstoffe mit einem sehr guten Sicherheitsprofil”, sagte Fauci am Freitag gegenüber Reportern. “Jeder von ihnen ist sehr wirksam bei der Vorbeugung klinisch offensichtlicher Krankheiten. Wichtig ist jedoch, dass alle drei einen sehr wichtigen Effekt haben, da sie außerordentlich wirksam gegen schwere Krankheiten sind und Krankenhausaufenthalte und Todesfälle verhindern.”

“Das Wichtigste ist, sich impfen zu lassen und nicht herauszufinden, ob einer besser ist als der andere”, fügte er hinzu.

Alex Gorsky, CEO von J & J bei CNBC, sprach am 1. März ebenfalls über die niedrigere Wirksamkeitsrate und sagte, der Impfstoff werde ein wichtiges Instrument im Kampf gegen das Virus sein, da er Krankenhausaufenthalte und Todesfälle verhindert.

“Es gibt viele verschiedene Möglichkeiten, Vergleiche anzustellen”, sagte Gorsky in einem Interview mit CNBCs “Squawk Box”. “Aber wenn man sich wirklich ansieht, was hier das Ziel ist, Menschen aus dem Krankenhaus herauszuhalten und Menschen vor dem Sterben zu bewahren, glauben wir, dass dies ein unglaublich wichtiges Instrument ist, das hinzugefügt werden muss – zu Gesundheitssystemen, geschweige denn zu Patienten auf der ganzen Welt.”

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Business

Alaska is first state to make Covid vaccines accessible to almost all

Alaska is first state to make Covid vaccines available to nearly all

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) speaks at the White House in Washington, DC on July 16, 2020 during a regulation rollback event to all Americans on the South Lawn on July 16, 2020 at the White House Help Washington, DC

Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images

Alaska became the first state on Tuesday to make Covid vaccines available for ages 16 and older to anyone aged 16 or older who work or live in the state.

“This historic move marks another nationwide first for Alaska,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy in a statement, adding that he “couldn’t be more proud” of Alaska’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Alaska’s move comes as other states introduce vaccines for higher-risk populations such as the elderly, frontline workers, and those with underlying illnesses.

The state health department has reported a total of 57,304 residents, 2,461 nonresident cases, and 301 deaths.

Alaska began administering gunshots to health care workers and nursing home residents in December before the rating was gradually expanded.

The state says it has given more than 290,000 doses to date, with at least 119,000 people fully vaccinated. This means that approximately 23.6% of Alaska’s population received at least one dose and 16.4% were fully vaccinated, according to the state vaccine dashboard.

The governor’s office noted that some regions are already reaching 90% vaccination rates among seniors.

“A healthy community means a healthy economy. With vaccinations widely available to all Alaskans who live or work here, we will no doubt see our economy grow and our businesses thrive,” said Dunleavy.

Categories
Health

Subsequent Covid stimulus bundle might slash COBRA premiums for fired employees

Next Covid stimulus package may slash COBRA premiums for fired workers

Ika84 | E + | Getty Images

It could become more affordable for laid-off workers to keep their employer-sponsored health insurance, thanks to a provision in the Covid bill passing through Congress.

Under the $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package, the government would pay for former employees to maintain health insurance from their old workplaces through COBRA or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.

With COBRA, individuals who leave a company of 20 or more employees can typically continue with their workplace insurance plan for 18 months.

However, the option tends to be expensive as individuals now pay the entire cost of the plan without any corporate support.

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The average annual premium for work-related coverage in 2020 was $ 7,470 for individuals and $ 21,342 for family coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Now the government would subsidize these expensive premiums.

How many Americans would benefit is unclear.

According to a census, around 130,000 unemployed adults of working age were insured through COBRA in 2017. But that was of course before the pandemic shot up unemployment. And again, many people don’t choose coverage because of the cost.

With the grant, “potentially dramatically more people will sign up,” said Caitlin Donovan, a spokeswoman for the National Patient Advocate Foundation.

Here’s what you need to know.

Who Would Qualify for the Grant?

You would be eligible if you involuntarily quit a job that offers health insurance and you don’t qualify for another employer plan or Medicare, Donovan said.

“You would even qualify if you turned down COBRA beforehand,” Donovan said. All family members on your plan would also be fully insured.

You should receive written notification of your eligibility, likely from the Department of Labor, she added.

How does the grant change my costs?

The stimulus package passed by parliament in late February said the government would take over 85% of the COBRA premiums. When the Senate approved the bill this month, it increased that grant to 100%. Legislation now goes back to the House, which no major changes are expected from.

Beyond the premiums, you could still be hooked for co-payments and deductibles.

How long would the grant last?

The subsidy is expected to start in early April and last through September. Typically, you can’t be with COBRA for more than 18 months, so some people may be cut off earlier than September.

Once you receive notification of your eligibility for COBRA, you will likely need to register within 60 days.

When does reporting by COBRA make sense?

Typically the main downside to COBRA is the cost of laid-off workers, so the relief calculation can potentially remove this obstacle. One of the greatest advantages is that you can keep your current doctors and health care providers.

Other insurance options for the unemployed include Medicaid and purchasing a plan on the Affordable Care Act market.

Medicaid can be useful if you expect your financial problems to persist and you will not receive monthly rewards either.

Some workers who lost their work-related coverage at the beginning of the pandemic and are already registered with Medicaid or in the marketplace may prefer to stay in that coverage to avoid further transitions in coverage.

Laurel Lucia

Director of Health Programs at UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education

With the COBRA subsidy, you might find that you are paying less to keep your employer coverage than you would with a market plan, Donovan said, “especially if you were higher-income and therefore did not qualify for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.” (However, the Aid Act is also expected to extend market subsidies to more people.)

If you’ve already met your deductible for the year, COBRA could be even cheaper compared to other plans, experts say.

Still, the subsidies could be late for many people, said Laurel Lucia, director of health programs at the University of California’s Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education.

“Some workers who previously lost their professional cover during the pandemic and are already enrolled with Medicaid or in the marketplace may prefer to stay in that cover to avoid further cover transfers,” Lucia said.