Study suggests vaccination plays role in making Omicron waves less severe CIDRAP

A new analysis suggests that the Omicron variant has comparable intrinsic severity to the ancestral (Wuhan) SARS-CoV-2 strain, but its effective severity is substantially lower because of vaccination.

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Case-patients with at least one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or CoronaVac vaccine had significantly lower odds of mortality than unvaccinated patients, the authors said, with the lowest odds observed in people who had received three Pfizer doses (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.49).

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New scheme aims to get vaccines to outbreaks faster, Gavi says Three global health bodies are teaming up to investigate stockpiling experimental vaccines for rare infectious diseases so the shots can be tested more quickly when outbreaks happen, a top official from vaccine alliance Gavi told Reuters. Jennifer Rigby Reuters

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The Great Grift: More than $200 billion in COVID-19 aid may have been stolen, federal watchdog says More than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives. That's according to new estimates from a federal watchdog investigating federally funded programs designed to help small businesses survive the worst public health crisis in more than a hundred years. AP News

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Outgoing CDC director says the US is not prepared for the next pandemic because parts of the public health system still use 'old fax machines' Outgoing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky warned about what needs to be done to prepare. Yahoo News

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Do at-home COVID tests still work? New research suggests they are less effective than thought A new study found that at-home antigen tests are only 44 percent accurate, but they are far from useless Yahoo News

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“Unless we develop comprehensive diagnostics and treatment for long COVID, we will never truly recover from the pandemic,” Kluge said, reiterating that older adults, people with underlying medical conditions and others with weakened immune systems should continue getting vaccinated.

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Study links moderate, severe COVID-19 to chronic pain Twenty-six percent of patients with non-mild COVID-19 cases report frequent pain. CIDRAP

A moderate or severe COVID-19 infection may be a risk factor for chronic pain, according to a study published late last week in PLOS One.

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Biden administration releases intelligence on Wuhan lab The 10-page document reveals no proof of either a lab leak or an animal host. POLITICO

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials released an intelligence report Friday that rejected some points raised by those who argue COVID-19 leaked from a Chinese lab, instead reiterating that American spy agencies remain divided over how the pandemic began.

CDC data show 31% COVID-19 vaccine protection against Omicron in nursing home residents Vaccine effectiveness among nursing home residents up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines is 31.2%, study finds. CIDRAP

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) among nursing home residents up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines is 31.2%, according to new research in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Reported levels of global COVID-19 decrease as XBB.1.5 seen across Europe, US CIDRAP

The World Health Organization (WHO) posted its weekly epidemiologic update yesterday on  COVID-19, which shows decreases in new cases across all global regions. All regions, except Africa, also reported decreases in deaths from the virus.

COVID-19 vaccine scheme for poorest has $2.6bn left to spend as pandemic recedes Several billions of dollars left in a scheme to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s poorest could be diverted to prepare for other pandemics or to support vaccine manufacturing in Africa, the scheme's partners said. Jennifer Rigby Reuters

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A Common Diabetes Drug May Prevent Long COVID in Some People The drug metformin cut long COVID risk by 41 percent in both people who were overweight and those with obesity. But treatments remain elusive Lucy Tu Scientific American

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Long COVID link to mental health conditions prompts federal advisory It can be challenging to determine whether mental health illness is the result of long COVID, but "treating symptoms is vital to recovery," said an advisory by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Yahoo News

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