Nursing While Vaccinated; Senate Passes COVID Relief; Scream Testing?
— A daily roundup of news on COVID-19 and the rest of medicine
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Mom’s coronavirus vaccination may protect baby as well, according to a preprint study finding antibodies in breast milk. (medRxiv)
The COVID-19 relief bill — and its healthcare provisions — passed the Senate on Saturday and will be back to the House for final approval this week. (STAT)
As of 8:00 a.m. ET Monday, the unofficial COVID-19 toll in the U.S. stood at 28,999,540 cases and 525,035 deaths. That makes for daily averages of 56,195 and 1,706, respectively, over the past week, continuing the slow downward trend that began in January.
In other good news, data suggest the B.1.1.7 variant isn’t the problem once feared for the U.S. (New York Times)
NIH guidelines now clearly recommend tocilizumab (Actemra) with dexamethasone for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Colchicine appeared to flop for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Britain’s RECOVERY trial, with enrollment stopped after interim analysis found little hope for a mortality benefit. (Endpoints News)
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan walked back his suggestion that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine his city turned down isn’t good enough. (Detroit Free Press)
“Fever cameras” and other thermal imaging systems can be inaccurate, warned the FDA, which sent letters to five firms selling them.
FDA gave emergency use authorization to the Cue COVID-19 Test as the first molecular diagnostic for home use without a prescription, although commercial availability and pricing was not announced.
But what about swapping out a nasal swab for a scream or a song in an airtight booth? It’s in the works. (Reuters)
U.S. legislation blocking export of vials and other key items needed for coronavirus vaccines could create a serious bottleneck globally. (Bloomberg)
Russian intelligence is trying to sow doubt about coronavirus vaccines developed in the West. (Wall Street Journal)
A mask-burning protest in front of Idaho’s state capitol buildings “wins this week’s award for acts of symbolic stupidity.” (The Guardian)
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine works against the Brazilian P.1 variant, according to data from the company’s academic partner. (Reuters)
The WHO report on its investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China, is expected in mid-March. (Reuters)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said his state will begin vaccinating everyone 60 and older — or even 55 — sometime in March. (AP)
In other news:
- The Walmart School of Medicine, coming soon in northwest Arkansas? (Becker’s Hospital Review)
- A three-part series on the deplorable state of mental health facilities in Texas is in the Houston Chronicle.
- Mark Pavelich, of the “Miracle on Ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, has died after reportedly suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. (ESPN)
- Seqirus said its Flucelvax quadrivalent flu shot is now allowed for kids as young as 2.
- A generic budesonide/formoterol inhaler, sold as Symbicort in the branded version, can be marketed as soon as patent litigation is resolved, makers Viatris and Kindeva said.
- Meghan Markle told Oprah Winfrey in an interview on Sunday that the royal family provided no support for her serious mental health issues during her pregnancy. (Buzzfeed)