Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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HealthNews RoundUp - 2nd Week of March 2021
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Is The Pandemic Over If You’re Vaccinated?
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/_-Lpy4Z9Nv4
No, but you can socialize more. Here are CDC guidelines as of the 2nd week in March, 2021.
You’re officially vaccinated 2 weeks after a 2nd dose of Moderna or Pfizer and after a single dose of the Johnson-Janssen vaccines.
Gather with another fully vaccinated bubble indoors or outdoors without masks or distancing. Gather with an unvaccinated bubble maskless and close by unless someone is at high risk for severe CoVid.
In public settings and workplaces, you should continue to mask, distance, wash, and avoid crowds. Be particularly careful gathering with unvaccinated from 2 or more bubbles or when meeting those at increased risk for CoVid.
If exposed to CoVid patient: no quarantine or testing unless if in institutional setting (elder group living, detention). If so, obtain test and isolate for 14 days.
What about traveling in US or abroad? Only if necessary and if you do, mask distance, wash.
Open questions: duration of vaccine protection; can the vaccinated carry and spread virus; protection against the variants.
Be sensitive to your body. If you feel ill, get tested, Vaccines are only 65-95% effective.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
#CoVid #vaccine #socialization #variants
CoVid,, vaccine, socialization,, variants
Predicting Who Will Develop Chronic CoVid
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/bxjZCXdSnhs
About 27% of those contracting mild CoVid will develop chronic symptoms two months or later after their infections. A collaborative study from UC Irvine, Indiana University, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Miami studied 1407 non-hospitalized CoVid patients to predict which patients will become CoVid long haulers.
The early symptoms predictive of chronic CoVid are shortness of breath, cough, fever, chest pain, and diarrhea. Persisting CoVid was more common in women than men and more common in Hispanics and whites than in Asians or Blacks. It occurred nearly evenly among all age groups.
We know now the predictive symptoms and the groups most likely to develop chronic CoVid. It remains to later studies to explain why.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.03.21252086v1
#CoVid #longhauler #chronic
CoVid, longhauler, chronic
CoVid Testing Won’t Keep College Teams Disease-free
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/g1TBZw3UakM
Daily CoVid antigen tests without stringent masking, distancing, and disinfection will not prevent CoVid outbreaks within collegiate sports teams. This warning comes from the University of Wisconsin.
Researchers there documented two outbreaks despite daily, comprehensive testing. The first occurred within a single team when a single negative antigen test was found to be a false negative and CoVid spread to 32 other athletes. The second outbreak occurred as the result of spread between two teams after an athletic competition despite each team undergoing daily testing.
Even a robust testing strategy using both antigen and formal PCR viral testing fails unless all participants follow rigorous mitigation efforts including masking, distancing, and disinfection.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.03.21252838v1.full.pdf
#CoVid #college #athletics
CoVid, college, athletics
Should You Go Back To Movie Theaters?
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/dHDXxbq5Tg4
NOT YET even if you’ve been vaccinated. You’ve seen full page ads declaring that your favorite theater subscribes to a national CinemaSafe standard. How protective is it?
Masks, social distancing, personal and theater hygiene are required, but will they be enforced by theater employees. Capacity reduction is fine, but even one infected person, poorly masked, can infect the entire auditorium. Worse yet, mask removal to munch popcorn and slurp drinks is permitted.
Most worrisome are the loose air quality guidelines: all HVAC systems SHOULD not MUST be in working order with increased ventilation WHENEVER POSSIBLE rather than ALWAYS. Air filtration should be upgraded WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
OMG! Don’t chance it.
#theaters #cinemasafe #CoVid #filtration
theaters, cinemasafe, CoVid,, filtration
Moderna & Pfizer Vaccines Work Well For Pregnant Women
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/vnaaAJg3Wag
From Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania comes the welcome news that the mRNA CoVid vaccines induce equivalent antibody responses in pregnant and lactating women as they do in non-pregnant women.
The investigators compared the titers of all classes of anti-CoVid antibodies that developed in 84 pregnant, 31 lactating, and 16 non-pregnant women with the immune responses occurring in 37 pregnant women 4-12 weeks after a CoVid infection. All vaccine recipients enjoyed “strikingly higher” antibody responses compared with CoVid-infected women.
A mother’s CoVid immunity transfers to baby. Maternal anti-CoVid antibodies transfer across the placenta and are found in significant concentrations in breast milk.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.07.21253094v1.full.pdf+html
#CoVid #vaccine #moderna #pfizer #pregnancy #breastmilk
CoVid, vaccine, moderna, pfizer, pregnancy, breastmilk
A Shorter Antibiotic Course For Childhood Pneumonia
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/w-694u3aL8k
In yet another example of less can be more, Canadian researchers now report that half as long a course of antibiotic effectively eradicates cases of pediatric pneumonia. A five day course of high dose amoxicillin cures pneumonia for 86% of kids while 10 days of the same cures an equivalent 84%.
This isn’t news. A 2018 Seattle meta-analysis data-mined the literature and found that shorter compared with longer, standard antibiotic courses produced equivalent resolution of strep tonsillitis, acute ear infections, sinusitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
If your doctor is recommending antibiotics for an infection, ask about a shorter course of the drug would be appropriate.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2776976
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28486675/
#pneumonia #infection #antibiotics #shortcourse
pneumonia, infection, antibiotics, shortcourse
Recall On Masi Evoluzione and Gran Corsa Bicycles
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/T0GtRGC0CiE
The CPSC and Haro Bicycles are recalling Masi Evoluzione and Gran Corsa Bicycles. The steering fork tube may fracture and cause a rider to lose control creating fall injuries. Immediately stop riding these bicycles, contact your local Haro dealer to arrange an inspection, repair, and/or replacement of the fork. Further information is available by calling Haro Bicycles at 1-800-289-4276.
#bicycle #haro #steering #recall
bicycle, haro, steering, recall
Polaris Ranger Off-Highway and ProXD Utility Vehicles On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/LwdHnnpRfkY
The CPSC and Polaris announce the recall of Ranger and ProXD off-road vehicles. These vehicles have sticky throttle pedals creating crash hazards. About 15,800 were sold in the Us and 711 were sold in Canada. If you own one of these vehicles, stop using it and call your nearest Polaris dealer to arrange for a repair. If you require additional information, call Polaris by dialing 1-800-765-2747.
#offroad #polaris #ranger #proxd #throttle #crash
offroad, polaris, ranger, proxd, throttle, crash
Recall On Casa Kids Cabina Bunk Beds
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/PDWarSXVYtM
The CPSC and Casa Kids now recall Casa Kids Cabina Bunk Beds. The bed’s mattress foundation can separate from the bed’s guardrails allowing the mattress foundation to fall and pose a fall risk to children. Don’t permit your child to sleep on this bed until you have inspected to check that screws holding the mattress foundation in place are intact. If you require further help, contact Casa Kids at 1-718-694-0272, and the company can provide you with additional sets of screws.
#bunkbed #Casakids #foundation #fall
bunkbed, Casakids, foundation, fall
Lifetime Products 6-foot Seminar Tables On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/s_EI0u93GaE
The CPSC and Lifetime Products announce the recall of Lifetime Products 6-foot Seminar Tables. The brace arms fail to lock the table legs into place leading to table collapse with possible injuries. More than 43,000 of these tables were sold via Amazon, Sam’s Club, Costco, other websites, and Lifetime stores in Utah and Idaho.. If you have one of them, stop using it. Contact Lifetime Products at 800-292-3865 for free replacement arms.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Lifetime-Products-Recalls-6-Foot-Seminar-Tables-Due-to-Injury-Risk
foldingtable, lifetime, defective, collapse
Recall On Revive Three Wick Soy Candles
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/XiYm7MbPC-8
The CPSC and Melaleuca are recalling Revive Three Wick Soy Candles. These candles may generate intense flames that could ignite the surface of the wax creating posing fire and burn hazards. About 38,000 of these candles have been sold at Melaleuca stores and online. If you bought one of these, stop using it. Cut the wicks down to the wax to prevent its use and contact Melaleuca at 800-742-8094 to arrange for a refund.
#candle #melaleuca #fire
candle, melaleuca, fire
KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycle Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/DaWobFYlCec
The CPSC and KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycles North America recall the KTM SX-E 5 and Husqvarna EE-5 Motorcycles. Water may enter the battery causing a short circuit possibly leading to a crash. About 300 of these units have been sold. Stop riding these cycles and contact an authorized KTM or Husqvarna Motorcycles dealer to schedule a free repair. For additional information, contact KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycles North America toll-free at 888-985-6090.
#motorcycles #ktm #husqvarna #battery #crash
motorcycles, ktm, husqvarna, battery, crash
Sprinkle Products and Cookie Kit Are Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/JfOlOHetA2s
The FDA and Wilton Brands are recalling six sprinkle products and one kit.
The sprinkles in these products contain undeclared milk. Those with a milk allergy may develop a serious allergic reaction. The products involved are Tasty Coffee Shop Cookie Kit, Holiday Home Assorted Treat Toppings, Valentine Chip Crunch Sprinkles, and Rainbow Chip Crunch Sprinkles. If you bought these products, either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. The Wilton Brands Consumer Care Hotline at 1-800-794-5866 has additional information about these products.
#sprinkles #milk #wilton #recall
sprinkles, milk, wilton, recall
Recall On Kareem Chef Tahina Products
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/NSehcTnKaJY
The FDA and Kareem Mart recall Tahina food treats. Tahina is ground sesame paste. This product may be contaminated with salmonella. This bacterium may cause a serious and sometime fatal infection in the very young, elders, and the immunocompromised. If you bought these products, return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If you require additional information, call Kareem Mart at 1-313-651-4600 or chat with company representatives on their website kareemmart.com.
#tahina #kareem #salmonella #recall
tahina, kareem, salmonella, recall
Hu Chocolate Covered Hunks-Sour Goldenberries On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ChoFzdYcZIY
The FDA and Hu Products are recalling Hu Chocolate Covered Hunks-Sour Goldenberries. This product may contain undeclared almonds. Those with almond allergies may develop a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction. If you have this product, don’t consume it. Discard it and contact Hu Products at 1-888-389-2224 to arrange for a refund.
#hu #chocolate #goldenberries #almonds
hu, chocolate, goldenberries, almonds
Turkey Sandwiches On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Mp6qq3zU7pg
The FDA and MG Foods, Inc. now recall MG Foods and Fresh to You Turkey Sandwiches. These products are potentially contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. This germ may cause serious and potentially fatal infections in the very young, elders, and the immunosuppressed. It can trigger miscarriages and stillbirths if ingested by pregnant women. These sandwiches were sold at the Charlotte Douglas Airport ad via vending machines in GA, NC, SC, and WV. If you bought one of these, discard it and contact MG Foods at 1-855-424-8390 for a refund.
#turkeysandwich #mg #freshtoyou #listeria
turkeysandwich, mg, freshtoyou, listeria