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 June 21 to 25, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
99 Percent of New U.S. COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Deaths Occurring Among Unvaccinated
FRIDAY, June 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Unvaccinated people now account for nearly all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in the United States, federal government figures show.
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Is the 'Delta Plus' COVID-19 Variant a New Concern?
FRIDAY, June 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- India, already hit hard by the Delta variant of COVID-19, has labeled a closely related new variant -- dubbed "Delta Plus" -- as a "variant of concern." But some epidemiologists in India and abroad say there is not enough data yet to warrant broader cautions about the variant, CBS News reported.
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Second COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Missed by More Than 10 Percent of Americans
FRIDAY, June 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- More than one in 10 Americans have missed their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, a troubling trend as the more infectious Delta variant that first crippled India gains a foothold in this country.
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Hawaii to Ease COVID-19 Rules for Fully Vaccinated Tourists
FRIDAY, June 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Hawaii will drop COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. mainland in two weeks, Gov. David Ige announced Thursday.
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Most COVID-19 Patients Recover Smell at One Year
FRIDAY, June 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Persistent COVID-19-related anosmia has an excellent prognosis with nearly complete recovery at one year, according to a research letter published online June 24 in JAMA Network Open.
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Immunomodulation With IVIG, Glucocorticoids Examined in MIS-C
FRIDAY, June 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The effectiveness of immunomodulation with intravenous immune globulin, glucocorticoids, or both varies in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, according to results from two observational studies published online June 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Hospital Factors Tied to Greater COVID-19 Mortality in Blacks
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Higher mortality among Black patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is associated with the hospitals at which Black patients receive care, according to a study published online June 17 in JAMA Network Open.
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Adverse Mental Health Symptoms Up During Pandemic for Parents, Caregivers
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Parents and caregivers, especially those who are both parents and caregivers, had higher levels of adverse mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published in the June 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Morgan Stanley Makes COVID-19 Vaccination Mandatory for Staff, Clients
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- COVID-19 vaccinations will soon be mandatory for staff, clients, and anyone else entering Morgan Stanley's offices in New York City and suburban Westchester County, the company said.
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U.S. Sends 3 Million J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Brazil
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The United States is sending 3 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson' COVID-19 vaccine to Brazil, as that country struggles with a surge in cases and its death toll climbs above 500,000.
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2018 to 2020 Saw Large Decrease in Life Expectancy in United States
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The decrease in life expectancy seen between 2018 and 2020 was larger in the United States than in other high-income countries, according to a study published online June 24 in The BMJ.
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Cutaneous Reactions Rarely Reported After COVID-19 Vaccine
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Cutaneous reactions are rarely reported after receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, according to a research letter published online June 23 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Risk for VTE Up for IBD Patients Infected With SARS-CoV-2
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who contract severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection may have a markedly increased risk for venous thromboembolism, according to a study published online June 14 in Gastroenterology.
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Heart Issues in Young COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients Rare, Usually Mild, Quickly Resolve
THURSDAY, June 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Following a special meeting of a vaccine advisory panel to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the heads of the CDC and many leading U.S. medical organizations came out in strong support of COVID-19 vaccinations for young Americans.
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COVID-19 Weakly Correlated With Chilblains Incidence
WEDNESDAY, June 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- There is a weak correlation for COVID-19 cases with incidence of chilblains, according to a study published online June 23 in JAMA Dermatology.
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Coronavirus Delta Variant Spreading Rapidly in the United States
WEDNESDAY, June 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The delta variant of the coronavirus that once crippled India now accounts for 20 percent of infections in the United States, Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Tuesday.
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White House Says July 4 Vaccination Goal Will Not Be Met
WEDNESDAY, June 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- As vaccination rates among young Americans lag, the White House acknowledged on Tuesday that it will miss two key benchmarks in its nationwide campaign to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Monoclonal Antibodies for COVID-19 Effective for Transplant Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Monoclonal antibody therapy seems to be beneficial for solid organ transplant recipients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, according to a study published online June 7 in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
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Prophylactic Anticoagulation Aids Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
WEDNESDAY, June 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Prophylactic-dose venous thromboembolism anticoagulation may be optimal therapy for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online June 11 in JAMA Network Open.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage in U.S. Highest Among ≥65-Year-Olds
TUESDAY, June 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- COVID-19 vaccine coverage is 80.0 percent among those aged 65 years and older, while 34.0 percent of those aged 18 to 39 years report having received a COVID-19 vaccine, according to two studies published in the June 21 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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COVID-19 Deaths Drop to New Lows in U.S., While Vaccination Rates Climb
TUESDAY, June 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The United States reached two promising pandemic milestones on Monday: COVID-19 deaths dropped below 300 a day and 150 million Americans are now fully vaccinated.
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Large Increase Seen in U.S. Nursing Home Deaths in 2020
TUESDAY, June 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- There was a 32 percent increase in deaths among Medicare patients in U.S. nursing homes last year, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services.
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Respiratory Virus Detections Decreased During COVID-19
TUESDAY, June 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Respiratory virus detections decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic period, according to a research letter published online June 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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COVID-19 Vaccines Do Not Interfere With Male Fertility
TUESDAY, June 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- There are no significant decreases in any sperm parameters following administration of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, according to a small study of healthy young men published online June 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Untreated Sleep Apnea Tied to COVID-19 Infections, More Severe Cases
TUESDAY, June 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Untreated obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased rates of COVID-19 infection, while positive airway pressure therapy is associated with lower COVID-19 infection rates, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, SLEEP 2021, held virtually from June 10 to 13.
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Underlying Medical Conditions Up Risk for Severe COVID-19 in Children
MONDAY, June 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- A higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness can be found among children with medical complexity and certain underlying conditions, according to a study published online June 7 in JAMA Network Open.
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In 11 States, Seniors' Low Vaccination Rates a 'Powder Keg' for New Cases
MONDAY, June 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health experts warn there is a ticking time bomb in 11 states where 20 percent or more of seniors still have not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Local Fans Now Allowed to Attend Tokyo Olympics
MONDAY, June 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Some local fans will be allowed to attend the Tokyo Olympics, organizing officials said Monday.
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Myocarditis-Like Illness Reported After COVID-19 Vaccination
MONDAY, June 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- In a research letter published online June 16 in Circulation, seven cases are presented of patients hospitalized for acute myocarditis-like illness following COVID-19 vaccination.
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Convalescent Plasma May Cut Deaths in Hematologic Cancer and COVID-19
MONDAY, June 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- For hospitalized patients with hematologic cancers and COVID-19, convalescent plasma therapy is associated with lower 30-day mortality, according to a study published online June 17 in JAMA Oncology.
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