onthedarkside

From the above cited Science journal article: "By January 2021, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began to hear about such reports and sought to learn more, bringing Brianne Dressen and other affected people to the agency’s headquarters for testing and sometimes treatment. The research was small in scale and drew no conclusions about whether or how vaccines may have caused rare, lasting health problems. The patients had “temporal associations” between vaccination and their faltering health, says Avindra Nath, clinical director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), who has been leading the NIH efforts. But “an etiological association? I don’t know.” In other words, he does not know whether vaccination directly caused the subsequent health problems."

Greatest difference between the genders was found in large central metropolitan areas, new report says Men died of complications from Covid-19 at a higher rate than women in both rural and urban parts of the U.S. during the first year of the pandemic, according to a new federal report. The report, published Tuesday by the National Center for Health Statistics, examined Covid-19 deaths by sex and age groups for 2020, when the virus became the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. and before vaccines against it became widely available. Data revealed death rates were at least 50% higher for males compared with females. The greatest difference between the genders was found in so-called large central metropolitan areas, where Covid-19 death rates were 78% higher for males, according to the report from the NCHS, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ... Researchers have previously noted the higher rate of Covid-19 deaths among men compared with those experienced by women. Scientists say there are many reasons for the disparity, including health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes that men tend to have more often, which could lead to worse Covid-19 outcomes. (more) https://www.wsj.com/articles/men-died-from-covid-19-at-much-higher-rate-than-women-during-the-first-year-of-pandemic-11666662323

(NEXSTAR) — Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have reported dozens of different symptoms, ranging from cold and flu-like symptoms to more unique ones, including “COVID tongue.” But like all viruses, the primary symptoms associated with COVID have changed and can vary based on your vaccination status, according to a new list released last week. The ZOE Health Study — a joint effort by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, King’s College London, Stanford University School of Medicine and the health app ZOE — shared an updated list of the top COVID symptoms currently being reported by its participants [see graphic above]. ... Other symptoms frequently reported seem to have become less prevalent as well, like chills or shivers; COVID toes or fingers; and stomach aches. (more) https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3697247-the-main-covid-symptoms-have-changed-research-shows/

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Omicron-specific booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer weren’t significantly better than the original COVID-19 boosters from both drug companies in two small studies that compared how they fared against the most common variants circulating in the United States. Both the original and latest boosters caused antibodies in the human body to surge to fight off the dominant coronavirus variant, BA.5. The newer shots performed marginally better, but researchers said it probably wouldn’t make a difference. The studies by researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Columbia University, and the University of Michigan are the first to compare the original messenger RNA boosters against the newly authorized “bivalent boosters” in human blood samples. ... Earlier this month, Pfizer said in a press release that the bivalent booster spurred a “substantial increase” in antibodies targeting BA.4/BA.5 one week after vaccination and that the shot “is anticipated to provide better protection” against those viruses than the original one. The firm plans to share additional data in the coming weeks." (more) https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/omicron-boosters-not-much-better-against-variants-than-the-originals-say-two-small-studies/ar-AA13niLZ

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Tou Thao, left, and J. Alexander Kueng, are both former Minneapolis police officers charged in the May 2020 killing of George Floyd. It's been more than a year since former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 ½ years in prison for the May 2020 murder and manslaughter of George Floyd. As a trial was set to begin on Monday for two ex-officers charged with aiding and abetting the manslaughter and murder of Floyd, one of the former officers — J. Alexander Kueng — accepted a plea deal that will require him plead guilty to one charge. And instead of a jury trial, Tou Thao's case will now be decided by a judge. ... On Monday morning, Kueng, 29, accepted a plea deal in which he will plead guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter of Floyd, and the charge of his aiding and abetting Floyd's murder will be dropped. The deal calls for Kueng to be sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison, according to The Associated Press. (more) https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1129993078/george-floyd-tou-thao-j-alexander-kueng-trial

Justice Thomas agrees to halt Graham testimony in Georgia election probe Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday granted Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) request to temporarily shield the South Carolina Republican from testifying in probe of alleged pro-Trump election interference in Georgia. The move comes after Graham on Friday filed an emergency request to Thomas, who handles matters arising from Georgia, and follows a ruling by a lower appeals court declining to halt Graham’s testimony before a Fulton County, Ga., special grand jury. The court this weekend requested a response from Fulton County, which is due on Thursday, so it is likely the Supreme Court will act again in the case soon. Thomas has the option to handle the application himself or refer the matter to the full court. (more) https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3701807-justice-thomas-agrees-to-halt-graham-testimony-in-georgia-election-probe/

Western defense chiefs are rejecting Russian claims over the weekend that Ukraine is preparing to detonate a “dirty bomb” on its own territory, warning that Moscow may use the “false” accusation as a pretext to escalate the conflict. The comments came as Russia put forces on alert on Monday to respond to a potential chemical, biological or nuclear weapons attack, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held a flurry of phone calls with his counterparts in the U.S., France, the U.K. and Turkey over the weekend to discuss the allegations, but the Western leaders rejected his claims, officials said. (more) https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/24/russia-dirty-bomb-moscow-wmd-forces-00063115

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, according to a release from the agency. Walensky tested positive Friday night and is experiencing mild symptoms, the CDC said. The director is isolating at her home and will participate in planned meetings virtually in accordance with CDC guidelines. CDC senior staff and Walensky’s close contacts have been informed of her positive test and are taking “appropriate action” to monitor her health, according to the agency. ... COVID-19 cases in the United States have been consistently dropping since August, but experts are concerned about a potential surge in the winter. (more) https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3699599-cdc-director-walensky-tests-positive-for-covid-19/ Also: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s1022-covid-director.html

Children’s hospitals are under strain in the United States as they care for unusually high numbers of kids infected with RSV and other respiratory viruses. It’s the latest example of how the pandemic has upended the usual seasonal patterns of respiratory illnesses, denying a respite for health-care professionals ahead of a potential hectic winter as the coronavirus, influenza and other viruses collide. Respiratory syncytial virus, a common cause of cold-like illness in young children known as RSV, started surging in late summer, months before its typical season from November to early spring. ... Nearly three-quarters of pediatric hospital beds are occupied, according to federal health data. Rhode Island, the District of Columbia and Delaware report more than 94 percent of pediatric beds occupied. Maine, Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Missouri reported between 85 and 90 percent of beds occupied. The data is limited to facilities that report the information. (more) https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/10/21/rsv-children-hospital-capacity/

The estimated price tag is the list price, meaning people with health insurance are likely to pay only a fraction of that cost or nothing at all Pfizer plans to sell the Covid vaccine it developed with BioNTech at $110 to $130 per dose for teens and adults once the U.S. government stops paying for them, the drugmaker said Friday. The estimated price for Pfizer’s shot is in line with other adult vaccinations, such as for hepatitis and shingles, which can range from as little as $13 to more than $200, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The $110 to $130 price tag is the list price, meaning people with Medicare or private health insurance would most likely pay only a fraction of that cost or nothing at all, said Cynthia Cox, vice president and director for the program on the Affordable Care Act for KFF, also known as the Kaiser Family Foundation. ... Cox said that once the federal government stops paying for the shots, people will most likely need to get the shots administered at an in-network pharmacy or clinic; otherwise, they might be on the hook for the full list price. (more) https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pfizer-plans-sell-covid-vaccines-110-130-dose-rcna53382 Also: Pfizer to charge $110-$130 a dose for COVID vaccines Pfizer plans to charge $110 to $130 per dose for its COVID-19 vaccine once government purchases end next year, the drugmaker's U.S. president said on an investor call Thursday. The big picture: Weak demand for the shots and private market pressures were expected to cost manufacturers billions once government purchases end. Price increases, while expected, could lead to higher insurance premiums. The government now pays about $30 a dose to Pfizer and its partner BioNTech. Driving the news: Angela Lukin, Pfizer's global primary care and U.S. president, said on the investor call that the new private market pricing "reflects the value this vaccine has brought to society" and was "well below the thresholds for what would be considered a highly cost effective vaccine." (more) https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/pfizer-hike-cost-covid-shot

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Now, it seems, the MoPH is doing WEEKLY recap public reports on the numbers of COVID hospitalizations (not cases) and deaths. The latest is the following: "Stay on top of weekly COVID-19 cases Between 9 - 15 October 2022 Patients hospitalized (weekly) 2,234 cases : daily average of 319 cases/day Deceased (Weekly) 53 cases : daily average of 7 cases/day" Source link

It's a seasonal virus that typically peaks in the fall, and then drops off during the remainder of the year: ... "Belcher said RSV season traditionally starts in November, but children are getting infected sooner. The spike in RSV cases may be because the virus hasn’t been as common the past two years due to pandemic precautions like hand washing and social distancing, Belcher said. With less COVID-19 restrictions, the virus can spread to more people. “So now you have older kids who have not had the virus yet and then we kind of got rid of those measures that were decreasing the spread of COVID and RSV, at the same time,” Belcher said. “So now you have a big gap of kids who've never seen RSV, and you have older kids catching it at day care and relatives and some kids in school, and they're spreading it to the younger ones, too.” https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/kids-are-at-risk-for-rsv-heres-how-health-experts-say-to-protect-them https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/infographic.html RSV detected cases in the U.S. per the CDC: The chart below first shows the seasonal spike during fall 2021, then followed by the current seasonal spike in 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/nrevss/rsv/natl-trend.html