Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of March 1 to 5, 2021. This […]
Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of March 1 to 5, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Two Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant P.1 Identified in Minnesota
FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Two cases of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant P.1 identified in Minnesota are described in a report published in the March 3 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Shortage of Syringes Reported for COVID-19 Shots
FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Countries worldwide are struggling to find enough syringes to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Ivermectin Does Not Speed Symptom Resolution in Mild COVID-19
FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A five-day course of ivermectin does not improve the time to resolution of symptoms compared with placebo for adults with mild COVID-19, according to a study published online March 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Delayed Local Reactions to mRNA-1273 Vaccination Reported
FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Twelve cases of delayed large local reactions to the mRNA-1273 vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are described in a letter to the editor published online March 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Frequency of Urgent Vitreoretinal Surgery Down During Pandemic
FRIDAY, March 5, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The frequency of urgent or emergent vitreoretinal surgical procedures decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online March 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
California Targets Vulnerable Neighborhoods for COVID-19 Vaccination
THURSDAY, March 4, 2021 (HealthDay News) — About 40 percent of California’s COVID-19 vaccine doses will be set aside for the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the state, officials said Wednesday.
COVID-19 Death Rates 10 Times Higher in Countries Where Most Are Overweight
THURSDAY, March 4, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In a finding that suggests overweight people should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines, a new report released Thursday shows the risk for death from COVID-19 infection is about 10 times higher in countries where most of the population is overweight.
Pediatric Oncology Services Disrupted During Pandemic
THURSDAY, March 4, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disruptive effect on pediatric oncology services, according to a study published online March 3 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
Behavioral Health Issues Remain High as Pandemic Continues
WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Self-reported symptoms of behavioral health issues remain high as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, according to a research letter published online Feb. 19 in JAMA Network Open.
NIH Halts Trial of Convalescent Plasma for Mild COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial evaluating the use of convalescent plasma in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms has been halted because the treatment did not benefit them, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Dysnatremia Tied to Poorer Prognosis in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For patients presenting with COVID-19, abnormal sodium levels are associated with mortality and needing ventilatory support, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Preliminary Data in Israel Show COVID-19 Vaccines Effectively Prevent Severe Disease
TUESDAY, March 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 vaccines seem to have been effective for preventing severe COVID-19 cases in Israel, according to research published in the Feb. 26 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
One-Third of U.S. Adults Continue to Be Hesitant About COVID-19 Vaccines
TUESDAY, March 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — More than one-third of nonelderly U.S. adults report they are unlikely to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report released by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Dramatic Decline Seen in COVID-19 Cases, Deaths at U.S. Nursing Homes
TUESDAY, March 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — New COVID-19 cases in U.S. nursing homes have fallen to their lowest number since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services started keeping track in May 2020, which suggests that vaccines are helping and that it might be possible to loosen some nursing home restrictions, a new report says.
Response to One Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Strong for Previously Infected
TUESDAY, March 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection generate strong responses to one dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine, according to two research letters published online Feb. 25 in The Lancet.
IL-6 Receptor Antagonists Benefit Critically Ill With COVID-19
TUESDAY, March 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with interleukin-6 receptor antagonists tocilizumab and sarilumab improves outcomes among critically ill patients with COVID-19 receiving organ support in the intensive care unit, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Easy to Update in Response to Variants
MONDAY, March 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A COVID-19 vaccine still awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval may prove to be a powerful weapon in fighting the pandemic, according to its developers.
Walmart Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Program
MONDAY, March 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Walmart said it will expand its COVID-19 vaccination program to more than 1,400 pharmacies in 35 states.
J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Granted Emergency Use Authorization
MONDAY, March 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine received the third emergency use authorization for a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Saturday.
Axillary Adenopathy Reported After Recent COVID-19 Vaccination
MONDAY, March 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — In two reports published recently in the American Journal of Roentgenology, radiologists address the clinical features of axillary adenopathy seen on breast imaging after COVID-19 vaccination and provide a detailed approach to manage these findings and avoid confusion among patients and clinicians.
COVID-19 Outcomes No Worse for People With Asthma
MONDAY, March 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 outcomes are similar for people with or without asthma, according to a review published online Feb. 8 in the Journal of Asthma.
High Dose of Vitamin D Does Not Cut COVID-19 Hospital Stay
MONDAY, March 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A single high dose of vitamin D3 does not shorten length of stay or improve other outcomes among patients hospitalized for COVID-19, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Significant Association ID"d Between Hepatitis C, Overactive Bladder .jpg)
Study Looks at Barriers to Initiation of Rotavirus Vaccine 
~16 Percent of COVID Cases Develop Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Tied to Nearly Doubled Risk for Flu, COVID-19 in Childhood 
Adenotonsillectomy Tied to Increase in Respiratory Tract Infections in Children 
Physical Exams May Not Reliably Diagnose Pediatric Pneumonia .jpeg)
Flu Treatment With Oseltamivir Linked to Reduced Risk for Pediatric ICU Admissions, Length of Stay 
AAP Releases Influenza Vaccine Recommendations for All Children 6 Months and Older .jpg)
