Dr. Stuart Weiss: COVID-19 Update Wednesday 9-December-2020
Dr. Stuart Weiss, Intelligent Crowd Solutions
Rapid Test Center of New York
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
December 9, 2020
CoViD-19 News and Information you can trust.Welcome new readers from the Rapid Test Center.
Topics: Vaccine meeting tomorrow (Thursday), Hospitalizations hit record high
| FDA Vaccine meeting tomorrow Thursday, beginning at 9AM eastern, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will meet to consider the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covis-19 vaccine for use in people older than 16 years old. You can listen here:https://youtu.be/owveMJBTc2I The FDA commissioner told NPR that he thinks that the FDA will make a decision shortly after the meeting. The United States will have 100 million doses which will fully vaccinate 50 million people. Most of the vaccine will go to healthcare workers and nursing home residents. In documents posted in advance of the meeting, there is some new data from the Phase-3 trials showing that the vaccine gave strong protection to about 82% of the people in the trial after the first of the two shots. This protection dropped in between shots and longer term immunity most likely will require the two shots a month apart. The vaccine gave protection to older people nearly as well as it did in younger people. It also worked in people at risk for severe CoViD disease. As to side effects, new data showed that more than half of people had fatigue and headaches, about 1/3 had chills and muscle pain. There were no serious adverse reactions. Yesterday, the United Kingdom became the first country to begin a mass vaccination program with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine with Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother the first in line. Her message to the world was “Go For It!” to beat the devastating disease. Video footage showed the former jewellery shop assistant wearing a light blue mask, a grey cardigan and a blue T-shirt with a penguin in snow and the message “Merry Christmas”. Today, the National Health Service in the United Kingdom was advised to not give the vaccine to anyone with a history of severe allergic reactions after two health care workers developed severe allergic reactions after receiving the vaccine. Both cases are being investigated. Hospitalizations Hit All Time High in the US According to the CoViD-19 Tracking Project there are 106,688 people currently hospitalized in the US. That is a record high. There were 3,054 reported CoViD-19 related deaths today, a record as well. According to NY Times analysis, more than 1/3 of Americans live in areas running short on ICU beds. We are now entering the time when the effects of family gatherings for Thanksgiving would start to show up. I expect the death rate to continue to rise as well as the death rate lags behind hospitalizations by 3-4 weeks. As expected, this is going to be a rough time in our pandemic journey. I expect to see some areas shutting down to some extent again. I’m not sure that there is the political will to do what is necessary to curb the surging viral outbreaks. For the moment, keep using good public health practices and keep your distance. The person next to you probably isn’t getting vaccinated anytime soon. Stay safe, we will all get through this together. Be well, Dr. Stu Weiss |
| COVID-19 HEADLINES FOR TODAY Coronavirus update for December 9, 2020 World Wide Updates UK could have up to 4 vaccines in use by mid-2021, chief medical officer says Canada approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use Pfizer say it’s supporting investigation into allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccine in UK Men face “almost three times the odds” of ICU admission for Covid-19, new study finds UAE says China’s Sinopharm vaccine has 86% efficacy rate Ukraine reports record daily increase in Covid-19 deaths as government considers lockdown Merkel urges Germans to reduce social contact over Christmas as cases rise Two vaccinated UK health workers suffer allergic reaction, prompting new advice Rich countries are hoarding Covid-19 vaccines and leaving the developing world behind, People’s Vaccine Alliance warns Neanderthal DNA affects human health, including the risk of getting Covid-19 I’ll be first to take the vaccine in Israel, PM Netanyahu says Nearly 1,000 South Korean schools suspend in-person classes as Covid-19 cases surge Japan is sending more medical workers to coronavirus hotspots China resumes cruises to disputed islands after Covid-19 suspension North Korean leader’s sister warns South Korea’s foreign minister could “pay dearly” for Covid-19 remarks UK launches West’s first mass vaccination effort U.S. forces in South Korea apologize for massless dance party amid COVID surge Royal Caribbean ‘cruise to nowhere’ returns to Singapore early after passenger tests positive for COVID-19 Brazil reports highest daily cases since mid-August Spain’s rate of confirmed coronavirus cases reach lowest level August Total Cases Worldwide: 69,138,351Total Deaths Worldwide: 1,573,157Total Recovered: 47,912,347 US Updates US has a “moral responsibility” to help make sure the vaccine is fairly distributed, Fauci says People with “severe allergic reactions” may not be able to get Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Slaoui says Over half of Americans say they would get a first-generation Covid-19 vaccine, new poll finds Pennsylvania governor tests positive for coronavirus More than 278,000 courses of Covid-19 antibody treatments have been sent to medical facilities, HHS head says Senate Democratic leader calls on GOP leader to “join the rest of the Senate” in stimulus negotiations Azar says there will be enough vaccine for any American who wants one next year Coronavirus vaccine supplies to begin shipping out today in the US Mississippi governor plans to host holiday parties despite surge in Covid-19 cases North Carolina records highest number of new Covid-19 cases since pandemic began Alabama governor extends current safer-at-home order for another six weeks Fauci says Covid-19 vaccine allergic reactions are concerning, but are likely “unusual and rare” New York reported 95 more deaths and adds nearly 200 Covid-19 hospitalizations from Covid-19 Pentagon confirms some senior leaders will receive vaccine in earliest phase Delta CEO says nearly 700 people are on the no-fly list over mask policy Three California counties have no ICU capacity, health department says Defense Department to receive almost 44,000 vaccine doses early next week Vaccines will begin moving within 24 hours of authorization, distribution official says Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine study excluded people with a history of severe allergic reactions, data shows California government sends millions of stay-at-home texts to residents US officials aim to have Covid-19 vaccine administered within 96 hours of authorization Germany reports highest daily total of Covid-19 deaths FDA warns against wearing face masks with metal parts during MRIs after patient’s face is burned New York’s electors must meet in person to cast voted for Biden despite COVID pandemic Colorado governors husband released from hospital after COVID treatment Olympic gold medalist Arnie Robinson Jr. dead at 72 after COVID battle California church found in contempt, fined $55K after pastor refused to stop holding in-person services 158 people arrested after Los Angeles police break up ‘massive underground party’ Anti-mask protestors in Idaho overwhelm cops, force cancellation of public health meeting Total US cases: 15,764,539 Total US deaths: 295,627 Total Recovered: 9,183,045Total Tested in US: 207,572,528 Total cases in CA: 1,438,633 Total deaths in CA: 20,322 Total cases in TX: 1,385,343 Total deaths in TX: 23,534 Total cases in FL: 1,083,362 Total deaths in FL: 19,462 Total cases in IL: 812,430 Total deaths in IL: 14,613 Total cases in NY: 771,541 Total deaths in NY: 35,217 Contact us |
| YouTube Channel |
| The Doctor Stu YouTube channel is up and running but we haven’t added new videos in a little while. I’ll get back to that after the New Year. Go to www.DoctorStu.org to submit questions. |
