Iowa News
16,000 kids aged 5-11 receive first COVID-19 dose
Thousands of COVID-19 shots have been given to children ages 5-11 in the first two weeks of eligibility, with demand for appointments among this age group locally remaining steady. Nationwide, about 2.6 million 5-to-11-year-olds have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in the initial two weeks of distribution. That’s nearly 10% of children in that age group in the United States. (The Gazette)
Hospitals facing challenges with COVID-19 and the holidays
With the holidays fast approaching, there are worries hospitals will not have enough staff to handle another possible surge of COVID-19 cases. In Iowa, 26% of hospital beds are currently filled, but there are less than 200 ICU beds available. We Are Iowa
Where Iowa hospitals stand a year after reaching peak hospitalizations
Iowa hospitals are seeing one-third of patients battling COVID-19 than they were exactly a year ago. On Nov. 17, 2020, Iowa’s coronavirus dashboard showed 1,527 were in hospitals across the state dealing with the coronavirus. As of Tuesday, Nov. 16, numbers show 544 patients with COVID-19 are in hospitals. While it’s a sharp decline and they’re grateful for that, some health care providers say they expected to be in an entirely different place a year later. KCCI
National News
Texas court says hospital can’t be forced to offer ivermectin to COVID-19 patient on ventilator
A Texas appeals court ruled Thursday that a hospital can’t be forced to treat a COVID-19 patient in its care with ivermectin, a drug normally used to eliminate parasitic worms, after the patient’s wife sued the hospital to demand the treatment. Washington Post
COVID-19-fueled hospital strain tied to thousands of excess deaths
A CDC analysis published Thursday, Nov. 18, predicts when the nationwide intensive care unit bed capacity hits or exceeds 75%, thousands more deaths will occur during the following two weeks. As of Nov. 18, about 78% of the nation’s ICU beds were in use, Department of Health and Human Services data shows. In the analysis, researchers cited the data through Oct. 25, which showed nationwide adult ICU capacity had exceeded 75% for at least 12 weeks. Becker’s Hospital Review
AstraZeneca COVID-19 drug 83% effective at preventing symptomatic infection in trials
On Thursday, Nov. 18, AstraZeneca said that a phase 3 trial showed its COVID-19 antibody drug reduced the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 by 83% and the risk of severe COVID-19 or death by 88 percent when given within three days of symptom onset. The drug, called AZD7442, is a combination of the antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab and is given in a one-time dose. Becker’s Hospital Review