Articles related to Allergy & Immunology

An OBGYN voices frustration — “silently cursing behind my mask” – with the patients who “recite a litany of scientifically illiterate reasons for not taking” the COVID-19 vaccine despite its 99%+ effectiveness in keeping them alive. Do you share this doctor’s sentiments?

Source: BMC Pulmonary MedicineFindings:  IPF patients who switched from one antifibrotic therapy to the alternative — whether from pirfenidone (Esbriet) to nintedanib (Ofev, Vargatef) or the other way around – had improved survival. This observation held true whether the reason for switch was disease progress or tolerance issues.Design: Multi-center retrospective cohort study; 262 patients

The investigational agent – known as REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab) – was previously granted the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19. Now, those who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, have an option.

Is the debate over? The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) discusses this case-control study, which showed that people are twice as likely to get infected again if they are unvaccinated. The debate over vaccinations has been bitter so far, but the results present comforting news for those vaccinated but worried about the fast-spreading Delta variant…while alerting the unvaccinated of their much higher potential to become infected again.

The additional approval expands immunization coverage to the most at-risk group for acquiring shingles – the immunocompromised. It also shortens the time to the second dose in the 2-dose Shingrix schedule.  Decision support based on the Zoster Efficacy Study in Patients Undergoing HSCT (ZOE-HSCT) phase III trial (JAMA).

According to the interim guidance, “remote-learning highlighted inequities in education, was detrimental to the educational attainment of students of all ages, and exacerbated the mental health crisis among children and adolescents.” The AAP continues to recommend that all staff and students who are 2 years or older wear face masks unless medical or developmental conditions prohibit their use, urging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19.