Covid-19 News and Discussions

Kevin Nash on the man who got 217 Covid Vaccines​


 

Boots to offer Covid vaccine for first time at nearly £100 a jab​

Boots will offer the single-dose Pfizer jab for £99 across 50 stores to people aged over 12​

Alexander Butler
4 hours ago
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<p>Boots is set to offer the Covid jab for just under £100</p>

Boots is set to offer the Covid jab for just under £100
(PA Wire)
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Covid vaccines will be sold on the high street for the first time for just under £100 to those ineligible for free jabs on the NHS.
Boots is set to become the first major pharmacy to offer the single-dose Pfizer jab for £99 across 50 stores to people aged over 12.

The vaccine is nearly five times more expensive from high street pharmacies than the flu jab. It will be the first to be offered outside the NHS since December 2020.









A Boots spokesperson told The Times: “We are launching a private Covid-19 vaccination service for people who are not eligible for an NHS vaccination but still want the option to protect themselves from the virus.
“Our private service builds on our existing delivery of Covid-19 vaccinations for the NHS, and we are pleased we can now offer Covid-19 vaccinations both on behalf of the NHS and privately, as we have done with flu vaccinations for many years.”

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<p>Boots will offer Covid vaccines for the first time at a price of £99. File photo of Pfizer vaccines.</p>

Boots will offer Covid vaccines for the first time at a price of £99. File photo of Pfizer vaccines.
(REUTERS)
The UK Health Security Agency said last year that it was happy to see Covid jabs for sale privately.

It said: “We have spoken to manufacturers we’re in contract with and made it clear we won’t prevent them initiating a private market for Covid-19 vaccines, rather we’d welcome such an innovation in the UK.”
It comes after Pfizer and Moderna, the two key suppliers of Covid vaccines in Britain, announced last month that they planned to sell jabs privately at pharmacies and private clinics.

Prices will be set by individual pharmacies, with the high price of Boots’ service reflective of the higher cost set by vaccine manufacturers. In comparison, the flu jab is normally sold at high street pharmacies for between £15 and £20.
Dr Gillian Ellsbury, primary care medical director at Pfizer UK, said: “Covid-19 has not gone away and continues to be a threat. As we move from a pandemic to an endemic state, we need to ensure we remain ready to respond to this constantly evolving and unpredictable virus.

“Vaccines remain an important pillar in helping to prevent serious illness or hospitalisation as a result of Covid-19. By enabling the wider availability of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine we are facilitating choice and access for those that are not eligible to receive it through the NHS programme, but want the option of a Covid-19 vaccine.”
 

Health Matters: Yale Public Health researchers recommend annual COVID-19 vaccination​

3 HOURS AGO
Though COVID-19 hasn't established itself as seasonal like the flu, a group of researchers from Yale School of Public Health say an annual vaccination campaign is still the way to go. The team says until COVID-19 demonstrates seasonality, this is the best way to protect against hospitalizations, deaths, and health-care spending each year. Katherine Ward has this story and more in Health Matters for March 26, 2024.
 

Covid Linked To Lower IQ, Poor Memory And Brain Ageing: Study​

In the study, researchers detailed numerous previous studies that highlight what they describe as the "indelible mark" that Covid leaves on the brain and its functioning.​

ScienceEdited by Bhavya SukhejaUpdated: March 26, 2024 5:02 pm IST
Covid Linked To Lower IQ, Poor Memory And Brain Ageing: Study

"COVID-19 poses a serious risk to brain health," researchers said.



A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that being infected with SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19 - profoundly impacts brain health in many ways. From the very early days of the pandemic, brain fog emerged as a significant health condition that many experience after Covid. But now scientists have found abundant evidence which suggests that being infected with SARS-CoV-2 can negatively impact brain health. They studied people with a mild to moderate form of the virus and found significant, prolonged inflammation of the brain and changes that "are commensurate with seven years of brain aging".
In the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers detailed the numerous previous studies that highlight what they describe as the "indelible mark" that Covid leaves on the brain and its functioning. They explained that "large epidemiological analyses" showed that people who were infected with the virus were at an increased risk of cognitive deficits including memory problems. They also cited imaging studies done on people before and after their infections, which showed "shrinkage of brain volume" and "altered brain structure" after the virus.
According to the researchers, people who require hospitalisation or intensive care amid their Covid infection may develop "cognitive deficits and other brain damage that are equivalent to 20 years of aging".



Additionally, Ziyad Al-Aly, a physician, clinical epidemiologist and the co-author of the study, also cited data from 11 studies that showed that Covid increased the risk of development of new-onset dementia in people older than 60. He even noted that autopsies performed on people who died with COVID revealed "devastating damage" in their brains.
Studies assessing patients hospitalized with COVID who experienced brain fog indicate that the virus can disrupt the blood-brain barrier, "the shield that protects the nervous system, which is the control and command center of our bodies," Ziyad Al-Aly said.
Also Read | Archaeologists Find Microplastic Contamination In Ancient Remains
He also cited another study which assessed cognitive abilities including spatial reasoning, memory and planning in nearly 113,000 people who had previously had Covid. "The researchers found that those who had been infected had significant deficits in memory and executive task performance," he wrote.
The same also found that "those who had mild and resolved COVID-19 showed cognitive decline equivalent to a three-point loss of IQ".

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"Taken together, these studies show that COVID-19 poses a serious risk to brain health, even in mild cases, and the effects are now being revealed at the population level," Ziyad Al-Aly said.
Post a comment"The growing body of research now confirms that COVID-19 should be considered a virus with a significant impact on the brain. The implications are far-reaching, from individuals experiencing cognitive struggles to the potential impact on populations and the economy," he added.
 

Moderna Achieves Positive Interim Results from Phase 3 Trial of Next-Generation COVID-19 Vaccine​

March 26, 2024
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mRNA-1283 induced a more robust immune response compared to Spikevax® COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273.222
Next-generation mRNA vaccine design offers the potential of longer shelf life and storage advantages, and paves the way for combination vaccine against influenza and COVID-19, mRNA-1083

CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2024 / Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) today announced that mRNA-1283, the Company's next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, has successfully met the primary endpoints of its Phase 3 clinical trial, demonstrating a higher immune response against SARS-CoV-2 when compared to mRNA-1273.222, Moderna's licensed COVID-19 vaccine.
"We are excited to announce our fourth infectious disease vaccine program with positive Phase 3 data, further validating our robust mRNA platform," said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. "mRNA-1283 is a critical component of our combination vaccine against flu and COVID-19, mRNA-1083, and this milestone gives us confidence in our ability to bring this much needed vaccine to market."
In the NextCOVE (NCT05815498) Phase 3 pivotal trial, mRNA-1283 was shown to elicit a higher immune response against both the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 and original virus strains of SARS-CoV-2, compared to mRNA-1273.222. Importantly, this benefit was most acutely seen in participants over the age of 65 years, the population that remains at highest risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. The most common solicited local adverse event was injection site pain. The most common solicited systemic adverse events included headache, fatigue, myalgia and chills.
The NEXTCove clinical trial is a randomized, observer-blind, active-controlled study of approximately 11,400 individuals aged 12 years and older in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. mRNA-1283 was found to have a similar safety profile to Moderna's approved COVID-19 vaccines.
The storage, shelf life and pre-filled syringe presentation of mRNA-1283 could alleviate healthcare provider burden and potentially increase access into new settings to serve public health. A detailed analysis of the Phase 3 clinical trial data for mRNA-1283 will be shared at the Company's Vaccines Day event on March 27 and presented at upcoming scientific conferences.
About Moderna
Moderna is a leader in the creation of the field of mRNA medicine. Through the advancement of mRNA technology, Moderna is reimagining how medicines are made and transforming how we treat and prevent disease for everyone. By working at the intersection of science, technology and health for more than a decade, the company has developed medicines at unprecedented speed and efficiency, including one of the earliest and most effective COVID-19 vaccines.
Moderna's mRNA platform has enabled the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases and autoimmune diseases. With a unique culture and a global team driven by the Moderna values and mindsets to responsibly change the future of human health, Moderna strives to deliver the greatest possible impact to people through mRNA medicines. For more information about Moderna, please visit modernatx.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Spikevax® is a registered trademark of Moderna.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding: the potential longer refrigerator shelf life and storage advantages of mRNA-1283 compared to Spikevax; and the ability of mRNA-1283 to maintain effectiveness compared to Spikevax. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Moderna's control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others, those risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in Moderna's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in subsequent filings made by Moderna with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, Moderna disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Moderna's current expectations and speak only as of the date of this press release.
 

Couple shielding for years still face Covid risks​

1 day ago
Daniel Sexton,Edward Sault
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Gayle and Leslie Howard Gayle and Leslie Howard
Gayle and Leslie Howard
Gayle and Leslie Howard say they still wear masks when they leave the house
A West Sussex couple who are still shielding four years on from the first Covid lockdown said they feel they have been "left behind".

Gayle and Leslie Howard still wear masks when they leave the house to go shopping, saying that everyone else thinks they are a "bit weird".

Mrs Howard had a kidney transplant in 2018 but despite having a Covid vaccine and taking a drug for people with weakened immune systems, she has not got the extra layer of protection she wanted.

She said: "When people see me wearing a mask when I'm out, people walk straight at me like I'm not wearing it but there is a good reason why I am."

Gayle Howard Gayle Howard lying on a hospital bed
Gayle Howard
Gayle Howard said people who are shielding "deserve lives as much as everyone else"

Analysis​

By Mark Norman, BBC South East Health Correspondent

The question is – should people with suppressed immune systems be worried?

The statistics would suggest that yes they should.

In 2022 just under 4% of the population were immunosuppressed.

However they accounted for 22% of COVID-19 hospitalisations and 24% of COVID-19 deaths that year.

One study suggests this group of patients are 16 times more likely to be hospitalised for COVID-19 than immunocompetent individuals.

'Risk with my life'​

The couple used to attend music gigs but that is something they have now had to sacrifice.

Mrs Howard said: "Some people are suggesting that I do take the risk but taking the risk is taking the risk with my life."

"There is over a million people still affected by shielding following the pandemic, but we are suffering. We deserve lives as much as everyone else."

As well as being vaccinated, she takes the Evusheld drug, which contains two antibodies against Covid that boost protection for those whose immune systems do not respond well to vaccines.



Trials are currently underway on a second version of the Evushield, which is hoped it will be more effective.

The Department for Health said: "Throughout the pandemic, the government acted to save lives and livelihoods, preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed and delivered a world leading vaccine rollout, which protected millions.

"We have always said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic, and are committed to learning from the Covid-19 inquiry's findings."
 

X to pay legal bills for doctor warned over COVID tweets​

Company formerly known as Twitter says it's 'proud to defend' Brampton's Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill​

The Canadian Press · Posted: Mar 25, 2024 6:56 AM EDT | Last Updated: March 25
A man with stubble on his face is shown holding a microphone in a closeup photograph.

X, the social media company formerly known as Twitter that's owned by Elon Musk, says it's funding legal bills for a Canadian doctor previously chastised by regulators for her tweets about COVID-19 (Czarek Sokolowski/The Associated Press)

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Elon Musk's X said it's funding legal bills for a Canadian doctor previously chastised by regulators for her tweets about COVID-19.
In a post to the X News account on Sunday morning, the company formerly known as Twitter wrote that it's "proud to defend" Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill against what it calls "government-supported efforts to cancel her speech."
In 2021, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) cautioned the Brampton, Ont.-based pediatrics specialist over her tweets, including one saying vaccination for COVID-19 was unnecessary.
The doctor has an ongoing crowdfunding campaign asking for $300,000 to help pay for legal costs, including a cost order related to a lawsuit she launched against what she called a "malicious online smear campaign."
A woman in a white lab coat and a stethoscope around her neck at a clinic.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario cautioned Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill after complaints about her tweets regarding the coronavirus pandemic. (Kulvinder Kaur Gill/Twitter)
On March 17, Gill tagged Musk in a post asking him for help, saying she owed costs that were due in four days.
"It's $300,000 I don't have, after nearly four years of being entangled in multiple legal battles trying to advocate for my patients," Gill said in the video. "It's now looking quite grim."
Gill then issued another video post on X on Thursday, saying Musk has committed to paying the remainder of her crowdfunding campaign and helping her appeal the College's cautions from 2021 "til the very end."
"May Waheguru always bless you, Elon," she said, using the Sikh term for God.
Publicly available legal filings show that Gill previously launched a lawsuit against 23 defendants. The claim was dismissed, awarding costs to the defendants totalling more than $1.1 million.
LISTEN | Why Elon Musk's X is paying for the legal bills of a Brampton doctor who tweeted against COVID vaccines:

metro-morning-2023-16x9.jpg

Metro Morning7:39Why Elon Musk's X is paying for the legal bills of a Brampton doctor who tweeted against COVID vaccines
Kerry Bowman is a bioethicist at University of Toronto.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Gill appealed the dismissal, though only regarding her claim against four of the defendants, and sought leave to appeal the related costs orders. The appeal was dismissed, and she was refused leave to appeal the costs orders.
Last August, Musk posted on X promising to fund the legal bills of anyone who was "unfairly treated" by their employers "due to posting or liking something on this platform."
"No limit," he wrote.
University of Toronto bioethicist Kerry Bowman told CBC Radio's Metro Morning that Musk is "pretty selective about what kind of freedom of speech he will fight for."
Gill's case is not just about freedom of speech but about her responsibility as a physician, he said, adding that a physician saying vaccination for COVID-19 was unnecessary can cause "a lot of social harm in a crisis."
"When you have a physician, emphasis on physician, saying this, credibility erodes very, very quickly," Bowman said. "People will say this is controversial because a physician says vaccines don't work."
It's been almost a year and a half since Musk bought Twitter for US$44 billion, taking the formerly publicly traded company private.
He has since renamed the platform X and made sweeping changes, including dismantling its verification system and getting rid of the majority of the workforce including engineers and moderators.
Experts have raised concern about the amount of misinformation being posted and algorithmically promoted on X, including about topics like the Israel-Hamas war.
 

Last updated 2pm 25 March 2024.
This data is updated weekly. All data on this page relates to cases recorded prior to 11:59 pm 24 March 2024.

COVID-19 cases summary​

New case average* RATs uploaded average*
577 ↓ 670 ↑
Cases in hospital as at midnight SundayCases in ICU as at midnight Sunday
162 **
Deaths attributed to COVID*Total deaths attributed COVID
2 ↓ 3,916
* 7 day rolling average
** Not currently available

Current situation​

Summary
In the last weekNew cases reported4042
Reinfections2535
Reinfections (< 90 days)34
Total since first New Zealand caseCases reported2617712
Reinfections352638
Reinfections (< 90 days)26235

Case outcomes since first New Zealand case

COVID-19 casesChange in the last weekTotal
Recovered46532609755
Deceased*143916*
*The Ministry of Health has recently switched its definition of 'deceased' from deaths within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 to deaths attributed to COVID-19. See the definitions section below for further details.

Deaths with COVID-19​

Cause of deathDied within 28 days of positive testDied more than 28 days after positive testTotalChange in the last week
COVID as underlying2339118245710
COVID as contributory135510414594
COVID-attributed total3694222391614
Not COVID17650*17654
Not available2270227-3
Total5686222590815*
*The change in total deaths with COVID may not be equal to the number of new deaths reported today. This is because deaths that occurred more than 28 days after a positive test that are subsequently determined to be unrelated to COVID are removed from the total.
Of the 15 people whose deaths we are reporting today: five were from Auckland region, one was from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, one was from Tairawhiti, one was from Whanganui, one was from Wellington region, three were from Canterbury, two were from Southern.
One was in their 40s, two were in their 50s, one was in their 60s, three were in their 70s, five were in their 80s and three were aged over 90. Of these people, seven were women and eight were men.

Case details​

Number of active cases
Change in the last weekTotal since first NZ case
Confirmed733572573972
Probable-6931543740
Total4042*2617712
*The change in total case numbers may not be equal to the number of new cases reported today due to data updating and reconciliation.

Definitions​

Active case - confirmedConfirmed cases are people who have received a positive PCR test OR someone who has received a positive result on a Rapid Antigen Test. For more details, see the COVID-19 case definition.
Active case - probableA probable case is when someone is diagnosed based on their exposure to other people with COVID-19 and on their symptoms.
ReinfectionsReinfections are cases in an individual who reported a case 29 or more days previously.
RecoveredRecovered cases are people who had the virus, where at least 7 days have passed since their symptoms started and they have not had symptoms for 72 hours, and they have been cleared by the health professional responsible for their monitoring.
DeceasedIncludes all deaths where COVID-19 is determined to have been the underlying cause of death or a contributory cause of death.

Cases reported each day​

Daily confirmed and probable cases​

New COVID-19 cases reported each day

This graph shows the count of all cases of COVID-19 every day (all cases – confirmed and probable) since the first New Zealand case in late February 2020. The graph shows the rapid increase of daily cases from mid-February 2022 to early March 2022, driven by the Omicron variant. From mid-March to mid-April 2022, cases rapidly declined, followed by a period of slower decline until early July. This was followed by a rapid increase in cases, peaking in August before a steady decline in new daily cases. Reported new daily cases hit their lowest since February 2022 in September 2022.
New COVID-19 cases reported each day
This graph shows the count of all cases of COVID-19 every day (all cases – confirmed and probable) since the first New Zealand case in late February 2020. The graph shows the rapid increase of daily cases from mid-February 2022 to early March 2022, driven by the Omicron variant. From mid-March to mid-April 2022, cases rapidly declined, followed by a period of slower decline until early July. This was followed by a rapid increase in cases, peaking in August before a steady decline in new daily cases. Reported new daily cases hit their lowest since February 2022 in September 2022.

COVID-19 by location​

Total cases by location​

Total COVID-19 cases by location graph

This bar graph shows the total cases and their status by health district and those with recent travel history.
The ‘At the border’ data group includes cases detected in managed isolation or quarantine facilities from the period when these were operating, as well as cases with recent travel history from after that time. They are not included in the district totals. Before 17 June, people in managed isolation or quarantine facilities were included in the total of the relevant district.
Total COVID-19 cases by location graph
This graph shows:
  • This bar graph shows the total cases and their status by health district and those with recent travel history.
    The ‘At the border’ data group includes cases detected in managed isolation or quarantine facilities from the period when these were operating, as well as cases with recent travel history from after that time. They are not included in the district totals. Before 17 June, people in managed isolation or quarantine facilities were included in the total of the relevant district.

Total cases by location​

LocationActiveRecoveredDeceasedTotalNew cases in the last week
Auckland305245925264246494304
Bay of Plenty134114878182115194134
Canterbury643345424545346612640
Capital and Coast391184967173185531392
Counties Manukau303292619315293237305
Hawke's Bay76859951678623876
Hutt Valley172904839890753172
Lakes50512921115145350
Mid Central1599632720696692159
Nelson Marlborough1427942015679718142
Northland1238097814381244123
South Canterbury6334635443474263
Southern397191836371192604397
Tairāwhiti3526586432666435
Taranaki88656351286585189
Unknown92252922709
Waikato385208022389208796383
Wairarapa5525519642563855
Waitematā443309457403310303446
West Coast2815774211582328
Whanganui4034439783455740
At the Border*027292627298NA
Total40412609755391626177124042
* Due to retiring the COVID-19 Protection Framework on 12 September 2022, the Ministry of Health no longer separately reports COVID-19 cases who have recently travelled overseas. These cases will be included in the weekly reporting on all COVID-19 community cases, but we will no longer distinguish between border and other cases.
You can also view a detailed breakdown of daily case numbers for each district since the beginning of the pandemic by clicking the ‘download’ button on the right hand side of this page: New Zealand COVID-19 data.

Note: we cannot give detailed information about cases in your district, city or town, as we must protect the privacy of the people concerned.
 

Liko's gone: How COVID is still hurting Hawaii local businesses​


 

A look back at what helped fight the COVID-19 pandemic​


 

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Indiana Attorney General calls COVID-19 data into question​


 

COVID Update: The Emergence of KP.2 and its Offspring / The Evolutionary Trajectory of COVID: Implications for Vaccines and Paxlovid​

What could be causing a significant surge in the wastewater of multiple locations in the North East U.S.?​


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