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Despite anecdotal reports of alternations in menstrual cycle following COVID-19 vaccination, a study looking at the connection found little impact. A research team based at Oregon Health & Science University published their findings this week in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Cases are up in all world regions, especially the Americas and Southeast Asia, leading to the pandemic's highest daily totals.
A study by Italian researchers found only 42% of COVID patients had impaired sense of taste 7 months after infection.
Authors include some members of Biden's COVID-19 transition team, who push for a long-term approach.
The results of a randomized trial in Papua New Guinea suggest three rounds of mass administration of azithromycin led to a greater reduction in the prevalence of yaws than a single round, researchers reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Yesterday a new preprint study out of Israel showed the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine waned in 12- to 17-year-olds in a similar pattern seen in adult recipients. Within 5 month after completing the initial two-dose vaccinations series, protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2 dropped to 58%. The study was published on the preprint server medRxiv.
Hospitalizations are also rising, but not nearly as steeply as cases.
In another study, researchers found that COVID-19 vaccine incentives didn't increase vaccine uptake.
In a breaking development today, the CDC's vaccine advisory group expanded its booster recommendation to kids as young as 12.
A large multistate cohort study of more than 40,000 pregnant women and their nonpregnant peers found no link between COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and preterm or small-for-gestational-age births.
In other global developments, lockdown measures were added for cities in India and China, as Australia's cases and hospitalizations reached new record levels.
The president also promised to ease testing shortages, as kids' illnesses and hospitalizations add to surging case numbers.
Another study found the breast milk of vaccinated mothers may protect infants for 6 months.
Nonhospitalized patients who recovered from asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 can experience small but measurable drops in dynamic lung volume, Danish researchers reported yesterday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. They note that lower lung function, even within the normal ranges, is a risk factor for higher respiratory morbidity and mortality.
The adverse effects findings were similar to what preauthorization trials found for younger kids, and the real-world study in adolescents found substantial protection.
In other developments, countries affected earlier by Omicron reported more record cases, as Israel announced fourth doses for higher risk groups.
In other COVID developments, federal officials cleared two more rapid tests for emergency use as the weekly case average soared higher.
Late last week the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted an outbreak notice about an Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak related to mixed leafy greens.
US flu markers rose again last week, though reporting may be impacted by holiday-related delays, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update, which covers the week ending Dec 25.
Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans
Originally published by CIDRAP News Dec 29
