Covid19-Sources

Israelis who had an infection were more protected against the Delta coronavirus variant than those who had an already highly effective COVID-19 vaccine

Billions of shots of China’s CoronaVac and Sinopharm vaccines have been given globally, but studies have questioned the length of protection they offer.

Abstract Background and objectives Patients with undiagnosed CKD are at increased risk of suboptimal dialysis initiation and therefore reduced access to home dialysis and transplantation as well as poor outcomes. Improved understanding of how patients remain undiagnosed is important to determine better intervention strategies. Design, setting, participants, and measurements A retrospective, matched, case-control analysis of 1,535,053 patients was performed to identify factors differentiating 4 patient types: unrecognized late-stage CKD, recognized late-stage CKD, early-stage CKD and a control group without CKD. The sample included patients with commercial insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare fee-for service coverage. Patient demographics, comorbidities, health care utilization, and prescription use were analyzed using random forests to determine the most salient features discriminating the types. Models were built using all four types, as well as pairwise for each type versus the unrecognized late-stage type. Results Area under the curve for the three pairwise models (unrecognized late-stage vs recognized late-stage; unrecognized late-stage vs early-stage; unrecognized late-stage vs no CKD) were 82%, 68% and 82%. Conclusions The lower performance of the unrecognized late-stage vs early-stage model indicates a greater similarity of these two patient groups. The unrecognized late-stage CKD group is not simply avoiding or unable to get care in a manner distinguishable from the early-stage group. New outreach for CKD to undiagnosed or undetected, insured patients should look more closely at patient sets that are like diagnosed early-stage CKD patients. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This research was funded by the National Kidney Foundation and Optum Kidney Services. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The Medicare Fee-for-Service claims files held by OptumLabs, a certified CMS qualified entity, were approved for research re-use by CMS. This study used only de-identified data and obtained an IRB exemption from the New England Institutional Review Board (NEIRB). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes While de-identified data was used, the data use agreements require that researchers apply directly to CMS and Optum Life Sciences for access to the data.

A new study confirms that children can carry high viral loads of SARS-Co-V-2, making them possible spreaders of current and emerging variants.

The new findings, although preliminary, are raising concerns about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19

Background US population-based data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) for the 3 currently FDA-authorized products is limited. Whether declines in VE are due to waning immunity, the Delta variant, or other causes, is debated. Methods We conducted a prospective study of 8,834,604 New York adults, comparing vaccine cohorts defined by product, age, and month of full-vaccination to age-specific unvaccinated cohorts, by linking statewide testing, hospital, and vaccine registry databases. VE was estimated from May 1, 2021 for incident laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases (weekly life-table hazard rates through September 3) and hospitalizations (monthly incidence rates through August 31). Results 155,092 COVID-19 cases and 14,862 hospitalizations occurred. Estimated VE for cases declined contemporaneously across age, products, and time-cohorts, from high levels beginning May 1 (1.8% Delta variant prevalence), to a nadir around July 10 (85.3% Delta), with limited changes thereafter (95% Delta). Decreases were greatest for Pfizer-BioNTech (−24.6%, −19.1%, −14.1% for 18-49, 50-64 years, and ≥65 years, respectively), and similar for Moderna (−18.0%, −11.6%, −9.0%, respectively) and Janssen (−19.2%, −10.8, −10.9%, respectively). VE for hospitalization for adults 18-64 years was 86% across cohorts, without time trend. Among persons ≥65 years, VE declined from May to August for Pfizer-BioNTech (95.0% to 89.2%) and Moderna (97.2% to 94.1%). VE was lower for Janssen, without trend, ranging 85.5%-82.8%. Conclusions Declines in VE for cases may have been primarily driven by factors other than waning. VE for hospitalizations remained high, with modest declines limited to Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna recipients ≥65 years, supporting targeted booster dosing recommendations. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement No external funding was received ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This work was determined to be exempt by the NYS DOH IRB. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes Data in this manuscript are not publicly available.

Vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were already described after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women equivalent to non-pregnant women2, with a correlation of maternal and neonatal antibody level3,4. Non-inferiority of heterologous vaccination, when 86 compared to homologous regimens, was recently reported in non-pregnant5. We detected vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG antibodies after vector-based prime vaccination in pregnancy with an average increase of more than one log10 level after mRNA-based boost. SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was ruled out due to negative nucleocapsid IgG results. The observed immune response in pregnant women showed no significant difference to non-pregnant controls 16 weeks after initial vaccination (Mann-Whitney U test: p = .514). We found similar levels of anti-Spike IgG antibodies with high neutralization capacity in the cord serum, indicating a strong passive humoral immunity in the newborns.

Yes, the vaccines ARE effective against the Delta variant. Yes, you will want both doses for maximum protection. Yes, they’re effective against preventing symptomatic infection, severe disease, AND hospitalization. Several studies have proven this now. Stop the misinformation.

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The durability of immune memory after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination remains unclear. Here, we longitudinally profiled vaccine responses in SARS-CoV-2 naïve and recovered individuals for 6 months after vaccination. Antibodies declined from peak levels but ...

You have probably seen this very popular paper among anti-vaxxers. There are however many problems with this paper that @Nibor_Tolum, Corentin Segalas, @LeyClem and I wrote about. We submitted this letter to the journal: https://t.co/OjlKYsDVpy Quick thread 1/n 🧵 https://t.co/DsB9ka730J

SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 160 million and caused more than 3 million deaths to date. Most individuals (80%) have mild symptoms and recover in the outpatient setting, but detailed studies of immune responses have focused primarily on moderate to severe COVID-19. We deeply profiled the longitudinal immune response in individuals with mild COVID beginning with early time points post-infection (1-15 days) and proceeding through convalescence to 100 days after symptom onset. We correlated data from single cell analyses of peripheral blood cells, serum proteomics, virus-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, and clinical metadata. Acute infection was characterized by vigorous coordinated innate and adaptive activation, including an early cellular and proteomic signature that correlated with the amplitude of virus- specific humoral responses after day 30. We characterized signals associated with recovery and convalescence to define a new signature of inflammatory cytokines, gene expression, and chromatin accessibility that persists in individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

The high prevalence of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) is a significant health concern. In particular, virus-specific immunity in patients who suffer from chronic neurologic symptoms after mild acute COVID remain poorly understood. Here, we report that neuro-PASC patients have a specific signature composed of humoral and cellular immune responses that are biased towards different structural proteins compared to healthy COVID convalescents. Interestingly, the severity of cognitive deficits or quality of life markers in neuro-PASC patients are associated with reduced effector molecule expressionn in memory T cells. 21 Furthermore, we demonstrate that T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are aberrantly elevated in longitudinally sampled neuro-PASC patients compared with healthy COVID convalescents. These data provide a framework for the rational design of diagnostics and predictive biomarkers for long-COVID disease, as well as a blueprint for improved therapeutics.

Chronic COVID-19 is characterized by persistent viral RNA and sustained interferon (IFN) response which is recapitulated and required for pathology in SARS-CoV-2 infected MISTRG6-hACE2 humanized mice. As in the human disease, monocytes, and macrophages in SARS-CoV-2 infected MISTRG6-hACE2 are central to disease pathology. Here, we describe SARS-CoV-2 uptake in tissue resident human macrophages that is enhanced by virus specific antibodies. SARS-CoV-2 replicates in these human macrophages as evidenced by detection of double-stranded RNA, subgenomic viral RNA and expression of a virally encoded fluorescent reporter gene; and it is inhibited by Remdesivir, an inhibitor of viral replication. Although early IFN deficiency leads to enhanced disease, blocking either viral replication with Remdesivir or the downstream IFN stimulated cascade by injecting anti-IFNAR2 in vivo in the chronic stages of disease attenuates many aspects of the overactive immune-inflammatory response, especially the inflammatory macrophage response, and most consequentially, the chronic disease itself. ### Competing Interest Statement RAF is an advisor to Glaxo Smith Kline and Zai labs.

Diese VDMA-Veröffentlichung basiert in wesentlichen Passagen auf den Inhalten des FGK-Status-Report 52 „Anforderungen an Lüftung und Luftreinigung zur Reduktion des Infektionsrisikos über den Luftweg – AHA + Lüftung“ [1] in der Ausgabe vom Januar 2021, herausgegeben vom Fachverband Gebäude-Klima e.V. (FGK). Lüftungsanlagen und Luftreinigungssysteme können einen erheblichen Beitrag zum Infektionsschutz in Innenräumen leisten, weil sie kontinuierlich die Konzentration luftgetragener Keime in der Raumluft von Innenräumen reduzieren. Dies erfolgt durch Zuführung von Außenluft und/oder eine zielführende Luftreinigung. Diese Tatsache gilt grundsätzlich und nicht nur in Bezug auf den seit Anfang 2020 weltweit grassierenden Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

@selise @GilleyBraggcjoy @DecodingTrolls @mugecevik https://t.co/iGhnfmP5d9 https://t.co/vcBjnXh1Vs https://t.co/JvbFx7DLUg meanwhile fools cannot make heads or tails of this and just have a hammer-and-nail understanding of immune memory... https://t.co/9ebZb76v9m

Besorgniserregend: - #SARSCoV2 kann zu einer Dysfunktion bzw. Erschöpfung bestimmter T-Zell-Subsets führen - kann sich in Makrophagen replizieren. - #Delta repliziert sich schnell und ist immunoevasiv genug, um das zelluläre adaptive Immunsystem zu unterlaufen. Dazu kommt, 1/4

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An inexpensive type of portable filter efficiently screened SARS-CoV-2 and other disease-causing organisms from hospital air.

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Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Waning of BNT162b2 Vaccine Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Qatar

Swimming pool water can inactivate the Covid-19 virus in only 30 seconds under the right conditions, reveals a study by Imperial College London

Für die häufigen neurologischen Symptome bei Covid-19 sind mehrere Ursachen denkbar

Comparing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic between countries or across time is difficult because the reported numbers of cases and deaths can be strongly affected by testing capacity and reporting policy. Excess mortality, defined as the increase in ...

The story of ivermectin for Covid-19 continues to get even more worrisome

The timeframe for reinfection is fundamental to numerous aspects of public health decision making. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, reinfection is likely to become increasingly common. Maintaining public health measures that curb transmission—including among individuals who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2—coupled with persistent efforts to accelerate vaccination worldwide is critical to the prevention of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.

Background The infection fatality rate (IFR) of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies widely according to age and residence status. Purpose Estimate the IFR of COVID-19 in community-dwelling elderly populations and other age groups from seroprevalence studies. Study protocol: https://osf.io/47cgb. Data Sources Seroprevalence studies done in 2020 and identified by any of four existing systematic reviews. Study Selection SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies with ≥1000 participants aged ≥70 years that presented seroprevalence in elderly people; aimed to generate samples reflecting the general population; and whose location had available data on cumulative COVID-19 deaths in elderly (primary cutoff ≥70 years; ≥65 or ≥60 also eligible). Data Extraction We extracted the most fully adjusted (if unavailable, unadjusted) seroprevalence estimates and sampling procedure details. We also extracted age- and residence-stratified cumulative COVID-19 deaths (until 1 week after the seroprevalence sampling midpoint) from official reports, and population statistics, to calculate IFRs corrected for unmeasured antibody types. Sample size-weighted IFRs were estimated for countries with multiple estimates. Secondary analyses examined data on younger age strata from the same studies. Data Synthesis Twenty-three seroprevalence surveys representing 14 countries were included. Across all countries, the median IFR in community-dwelling elderly and elderly overall was 2.4% (range 0.3%-7.2%) and 5.5% (range 0.3%-12.1%). IFR was higher with larger proportions of people 85 years. Younger age strata had low IFR values (median 0.0027%, 0.014%, 0.031%, 0.082%, 0.27%, and 0.59%, at 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years). Limitations Biases in seroprevalence and mortality data. Conclusions The IFR of COVID-19 in community-dwelling elderly people is lower than previously reported. Very low IFRs were confirmed in the youngest populations. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement No funding was received specifically for this work. Outside this work, the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (Stanford University) is supported by a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Dr Axfors is supported by postdoctoral grants from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Uppsala University, the Swedish Society of Medicine, the Blanceflor Foundation, and the Sweden-America Foundation. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Not applicable All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes The protocol, data, and code used for this analysis will be made available at the Open Science Framework upon publication. https://osf.io/47cgb

Between Dec 14, 2020, and Aug 8, 2021, of 4 920 549 individuals assessed for eligibility, we included 3 436 957 (median age 45 years [IQR 29–61]; 1 799 395 [52·4%] female and 1 637 394 [47·6%] male). For fully vaccinated individuals, effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infections was 73% (95% CI 72–74) and against COVID-19-related hospital admissions was 90% (89–92). Effectiveness against infections declined from 88% (95% CI 86–89) during the first month after full vaccination to 47% (43–51) after 5 months. Among sequenced infections, vaccine effectiveness against infections of the delta variant was high during the first month after full vaccination (93% [95% CI 85–97]) but declined to 53% [39–65] after 4 months. Effectiveness against other (non-delta) variants the first month after full vaccination was also high at 97% (95% CI 95–99), but waned to 67% (45–80) at 4–5 months. Vaccine effectiveness against hospital admissions for infections with the delta variant for all ages was high overall (93% [95% CI 84–96]) up to 6 months.