COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, December 16th

Mink, Bells Palsy, Moderna, new mutation, Santa and history.

1. A wild mink in Utah has COVID-19. You may recall that Denmark, a country dependent on the mink industry, culled all their mink as a result of finding COVID in the species. The issue here is that the virus can spread back to humans from the mink - and because it is a different species it can mutate in ways that could potentially create issues, specifically for the vaccine. This is not something to panic over, but it is something we need to monitor very closely.

2. A significant mutation was found in the UK that is becoming the primary version of the virus currently spreading in that area. The mutation is currently being studied to see if it makes the virus more deadly, easier to spread, or changes the effectiveness of the vaccine. Currently, it does appear to spread easier but everything is still under investigation and most virologists are saying this is not something to worry about just to be aware of. It does not appear to be a mutation that would impact the vaccine. Remember that mutations among RNA viruses are common and expected.

3. Let's talk about Bells palsy because it is getting a lot of attention and I am seeing lots of information on both sides of the issue. For both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines there have been cases of Bells palsy. The Pfizer report shows four cases among the vaccine group and none among the placebo group. In the Moderna study, there were 3 cases among the vaccine group and one in the placebo group. The FDA has said that these numbers reflect what would be expected in the general population, and there was insufficient evidence of if it was caused by the vaccine (cause is pretty difficult to establish). People who experienced Bells Palsy recovered (one case is still pending). The time from injection to the onset of Bells Palsy varied in each case (from 3 days post-vaccine to 48 days after) and the duration of facial paralysis also varied with each with the longest resolved case lasting 21 days and the shortest resolving in 3 days.

So what do you do with this information? First, we want to keep it in perspective. Four out of 30k or 8 out of 60k if you include both studies. But no matter, if you are one of the 8 it matters. Some people will have adverse reactions to vaccines just as some people have adverse reactions to any given medication. Currently, this is something we are aware of and are looking at. We don't know if the vaccine triggered Bells Palsy or if it was just a coincidence. There is, at this time, no evidence that the vaccine caused it. But if you have a history of Bells Palsy or are at high risk for it, have a significant discussion with your doctor or pharmacist about your risk. This is something that will continue to be monitored and studied. For the majority of us, this is something to be aware of but not worried about.

4. The Moderna vaccine is scheduled for FDA advisory review on Friday. Stay tuned for more.

5. I thought I would round today out with a little history. Edward Jenner was a country doctor who noticed that milkmaids never got smallpox. He learned that they had all had cowpox which made him suspect that getting cowpox made them immune to smallpox, so when he encountered a milkmaid who had an active case of cowpox he withdrew some of the pus from her blisters and injected it in an 8-year-old boy. The boy developed cowpox. When he recovered, Jenner then exposed the boy to smallpox to see if his theory was correct. It was, and the vaccines were born. Smallpox, thanks in part to Edward Jenner, is the only virus in the history of the world to ever be eradicated. (viruses don't just go away - ever) Even with vaccines, we have never managed to eradicate any other virus.

Vaccine history has often involved people taking chances, but this usually happened among populations that were ravaged by infectious diseases so they understood the devastation of the disease. It has been a long time since America was devasted by an infectious disease. This vaccine was developed in record time - that is true and we are well served to acknowledge that. This situation, just like all the rest of this year, calls for you to assess your risk, assess your risk tolerance, and make the best decision for you and your family. The vaccines, thus far, have proven safe and effective. We don't know everything about them yet, but we do know that they are our best hope. But that doesn't mean you have to be at the front of the line. Ask questions, seek out answers, and decide for yourself. Determine your risk, determine your risk tolerance, review the vaccine options, and select the option that is best for you.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Have you ever noticed that the worst part of a long car trip is the last hour? The hour right before you get home - it just seems to take forever. Once we were coming home from a long trip and we were 30 minutes from home when we got stopped on the interstate and we sat there, stationary for 2 hours. It was grueling. I was so ready to be home and we were so close, all the exhaustion settled in and I found my patience waning. We are in that final stretch of COVID and that can make it feel like the longest most grueling part of the whole thing. Patience is waning, tempers are starting to flare and people just want to be done. But sadly we aren't done and we can't quit quite yet. This isn't over. Decisions must be made, precautions must continue and we have to keep going. But we get to choose how we finish this up. We can choose to wait with grace and kindness or to give in to our exasperation. You have done so well and come so far, let's finish strong.

PS: I have had a few people ask so I want to assure everyone that the North Pole is safe and virus free. There are no worries that jolly ole St. Nic will be sick on his big day. The reindeer are all doing well too.