CLEVELAND, Ohio – The coronavirus variant first discovered in South Africa could evade the protection offered by the Pfizer vaccine, while an antibody could reduce the risk of a symptomatic infection.
Cleveland.com summarizes the most striking news about coronavirus making headlines online. Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday 13 April:
A variant discovered in South Africa could break through a Pfizer vaccine, the study says
According to the study done in Israel, the coronavirus variant that was first discovered in South Africa could possibly provide the protection that the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine offers. According to the study, it was eight times more likely to be the cause of infection in someone who has been fully vaccinated than in someone who has not yet been vaccinated.
The researchers noted that the small study involved a combination of 800 vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals, so more data will be needed to say how well the variant can evade the protection of the vaccine.
Pfizer said earlier that internal tests show that the vaccine is ‘slightly’ less effective than the variant, also known as B.1.351. Nine infections associated with the variant have been discovered in Ohio, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Antibody staining can reduce symptomatic COVID-19, the experiment found
The biotechnology company Regeneron is asking the US Food and Drug Administration to approve its antibody label as a preventative treatment for COVID-19. According to Regeneron, a clinical trial showed that the antibody can reduce the risk of a symptomatic infection by 31%.
It can also shorten the duration of the symptoms, reducing the symptomatic infections by 76% after three days.
The antibodies have been approved for use in mild to moderate coronavirus patients.
People who get coronavirus news from TV, social media are less informed, says study
A recording by Current medical research and opinion has found that people who get their news from TV and social media are less informed about COVID-19 than those who get their news from other sources, such as government websites. Those who relied on TV were 15% less likely to give the correct answers to questions about the virus and its risks. Those who trusted Facebook were 10% less likely to respond correctly.
Overall, 43% of respondents said they rely on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government agencies for their coronavirus information. Another 27% rely on TV and 9% rely on communication with health systems.
The risk of dying from COVID-19 decreased later in the pandemic
A study of more than 503,000 patients at 209 U.S. acute care hospitals found that the risk of dying from COVID-19 complications decreased later in the pandemic. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that 10.6% of patients died in March 2020 and 19.7% died in April 2020. The percentage decreased to 9.3% by November.
The risk of death decreased in all age groups, suggesting that the overall decrease was not just linked to a greater number of younger patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, the study says.
Answer your coronavirus vaccine questions:
Are you contagious if you have side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine?
Are you ‘less immune’ to the coronavirus if you do not have the side effects of vaccines?
Can I still get my second dose of coronavirus vaccine if I get the first COVID-19 symptoms?
Can you mix and match two doses of coronavirus vaccine from different manufacturers?
Can you request one coronavirus vaccine if you are concerned about the other?
Information on the coronavirus vaccine abounds on social media: here are the facts to counter six false allegations
How will local pharmacies keep the coronavirus vaccine on site if it has to be cold? How will they avoid wastage?
What does it mean for children if Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations are for people 16 years and older? What about minors with pre-existing conditions?
If the coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, how do you know if you are in the other 5%?
Is it OK to use over-the-counter medication or prescription pain before getting a COVID-19 vaccine?
Should cancer patients get the coronavirus vaccine?
Should you get the coronavirus vaccine if you have had a bad reaction to the flu shot?
Should you get the second vaccine if you contract COVID-19 after your first dose of coronavirus?
If Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are for people 16 years and older, what does that mean for children? What about minors with pre-existing conditions?
If the coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, how do you know if you are in the other 5%?
Is it OK to use over-the-counter medication or prescription pain before getting a COVID-19 vaccine?
Should cancer patients get the coronavirus vaccine?
Should you get the coronavirus vaccine if you have had a bad reaction to the flu shot?
Should you get the second vaccine if you contract COVID-19 after your first dose of coronavirus?