Iowa news
Pediatrician and Iowa Immunizes chair: Reasons aplenty for kids to get a COVID-19 vaccine
A pediatrician’s passion is helping kids stay safe and healthy. Most of our day is spent answering questions about ways to reduce risk to children — we cover everything from helmets, to poisons, to water safety. Of late, those questions have turned to risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly about COVID vaccines. To me, the answer is clear: COVID-19 vaccines for kids are far safer than the disease. (Des Moines Register)
Federal allocation system for COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment working well in Iowa
Iowa hospitals report they’re having no problems getting enough doses of the injections that prevent people from developing severe illness from COVID-19. About a month ago, federal officials started a new distribution system for the doses, putting states in charge of distributing the monoclonal antibody treatments. Physicians in eastern Iowa have provided the infusions to hundreds of patients and, so far, they’ve seen good results. (The Gazette)
Dr. Merchant: A year later, rankings again show the poverty of Iowa’s COVID-19 policy
A year ago, my essay “Rankings show the poverty of Iowa’s COVID-19 policy” documented how the US, compared with other G-7 countries, had the second highest COVID-19 mortality rate (65.2 per 100,000) compared with the U.K. (86.9), Italy (59.9), France (50.6), Canada (26.1), Germany (11.3) and Japan (1.3). At that time, Iowa was found to have a higher COVID-19 mortality rate (49.5 deaths per 100,000) compared with surrounding farm-economy states — North Dakota (46.2), Minnesota (39.1), Missouri (35.8), South Dakota (31), Nebraska (27.8) and Wisconsin (25). Iowa was then the only state to not require school mask use and to also require students to return to school in person. (Des Moines Register)
National news
US COVID-19 battle turns a corner as borders open to foreign travelers
When US borders open to foreign travelers on Nov. 8, the country will have lifted one of the longest-standing restrictions imposed 19 months ago at the start of the pandemic, signaling a new phase of guarded optimism in the nation’s battle with COVID-19. With the delta variant surge easing and vaccinations opening to more age groups, many places are dropping mask mandates or other restrictions on vaccinated people. The pullback represents a bet that the most recent surge could be the last. (The Wall Street Journal)
COVID-19 reinfection likely for unvaccinated, study suggests
New modeling estimates suggest natural immunity from a COVID-19 infection fades quickly, leaving people susceptible to reinfection, according to a study published in The Lancet Microbe. Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and the University of North Carolina analyzed data on seven types of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They used this data, along with their knowledge of evolutionary principles, to model the risk of COVID-19 reinfection among unvaccinated people. Under endemic conditions, the model projected reinfection would likely occur between three and 63 months after peak antibody response, with the median time being 16 months. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine has strong results in children ages 6-11
Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine generated a strong immune response and was generally well-tolerated in children ages 6-11, citing interim data from a study. The company said it planned to submit the data to U.S., European and other regulators soon. Moderna said the data showed two 50 microgram doses of the vaccine, half the strength of the doses used in the vaccine given to adults, generated virus-neutralizing antibodies in children. (NBC News)