Boston researchers suggest that finding peak protein in the blood for up to 12 months after covid infections is an indicator of long covid that could help diagnose the disease. Other reports say large pharmaceutical companies are being slower in tackling the long covid than the speed the industry has managed to combat the same covid.
The Boston Globe: Boston researchers may have found a biomarker for long-term COVID Researchers say they have found the SARS-CoV-2 ear protein circulating in the blood of long-term patients with COVID up to 12 months after being diagnosed with COVID -19. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital said the findings suggested that spike protein was a potential biomarker that could be useful in diagnosing and treating long-term patients with COVID. (Finucane, 7/7)
The Wall Street Journal: Long Covid is a Dodging Target for Large Pharmaceuticals The pharmaceutical industry developed vaccines and treatments for Covid-19 at breakneck speed, saving millions of lives in the process. However, treatments for the postviral disease known as long-term Covid, which affects millions of people, are not close to being developed. The lack of urgency surrounding the development of treatments is both a missed opportunity for the healthcare industry and a friction for the economy, as a number of conditions such as dizziness and chest pain are forcing many Americans. to stop working at least temporarily. (Wainer, 7/11)
In other news on the spread of covid –
AP: New York City Health Officials Call for Back to Interior Masking New York City public health officials on Friday urged residents to wear masks inside again, noting how they are seeing high levels of COVID-19 infection. To help curb the spread, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recommended in a tweet that “all New Yorkers should wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, KN95 or KF94 in all public settings. inside and around the crowds outside ”. (7/8)
Bloomberg: New York City Reduces Covid Testing Amid Rising Infections in the United States New York City is reducing Covid-19 test sites despite omicron subvariants that are driving a nationwide increase of new cases and hospitalization rates. The city’s public health system has closed hundreds of test sites as public attention to the virus fades, according to its website. Meanwhile, the rate of positive results in total tests, an indicator of the speed of spread, rose to 15.4% this week, about four times more than in April. (Taylor, 7/9)
CIDRAP: Survey Shows Americans Aggravated by COVID-19 Response Americans Not Satisfied with Country Response to COVID-19 Pandemic, According to New Pew Research Center Survey . The survey of more than 10,000 American adults, conducted in early May, found that 62% believe the response to the country’s COVID-19 has given too little priority to the needs of K-12 students. while important actions say that too little priority has been given to supporting overall quality of life (48%), business and economic activity (46%) and respecting people’s choices (46%). (7/8)
CBS News: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Positive for COVID-19 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has tested positive for COVID-19, confirmed Sunday night his spokesman. Schumer, who is fully vaccinated and double-boosted, is only experiencing “very mild” symptoms, the spokesman said in a statement. The 71-year-old man’s positive test came as part of his usual testing regime, according to the statement. According to CDC instructions, he will be in quarantine and working remotely this week. (Albert, 7/10)
In the vaccine launch news –
San Francisco Chronicle: Absorption of VOCID Vaccine for Infants, Toddlers in the Bay Area Exceeds State and U.S. In late June, when pediatrician Dr. Nelson Branco opened appointments for the VOCID vaccine for his younger patients (babies and children under 5), parents rushed to book some. 250 spaces in the first 48 hours. By the end of last week, nearly 20% of the approximately 1,500 Branco patients in this age group had received their first injection. The doctor, who practices in Larkspur and Novato, predicts that in the coming weeks it will double to 40%. (Ho, 7/10)
The Texas Tribune: Texas Kids get vaccines at a slightly faster rate than national average Caitlin Chmiel was furious and worried when her 2-year-old son tested positive for COVID-19 the week the federal government approved vaccines for younger children in the country in mid-June – when faster action meant their daughter could have been vaccinated and have more protection against the virus. (Harper, 7/11)
AP: Court: Health Workers on Demand Must Reveal Identities Nine health workers who sued Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills for state COVID-19 vaccination warrant have until Monday to reveal their identity. (7/10)
Newsweek: Trump avoids the word “vaccine” at the Alaska rally after pounding in Alabama Former President Donald Trump seemed to avoid saying the word “vaccine” during his rally in Alaska on Saturday after being booed for encouraging his supporters to be vaccinated in the past. meetings. (Stanton, 7/10)
Fortune: Could a universal coronavirus vaccine be the silver bullet that ends this pandemic and the next? First-generation vaccines were not the panacea expected in the early days of COVID-19. Nor did the herd’s immunity come in and save the day. Could a vaccine called “pan-coronavirus” be the long-awaited silver bullet that ends the COVID pandemic, and also the next? Answer: It’s complicated. (Prater, 7/10)
This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of the health policy coverage of major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.