COVID-19 Update, Wednesday, February 24th, 2021

Johnson and Johnson and long Covid - short and sweet today.

1. J&J was approved for EUA and should be available soon. This is a good option for those who only want to get 1 shot, are nervous about the mRna vaccines, or concerned about the 2nd shot effect. The vaccine has not been proven effective in those over 75 and is less effective than Pfizer and Moderna vaccines but it has proven pretty effective against the SA variant. It is 85% effective against hospitalization but less effective (in the 60% range) from illness in general. Meaning you may still get COVID but it should not be severe. Blood clotting issues occurred in 15 people who got the vaccine in the trial and 10 who did not - so this will be monitored as the vaccine rolls out. There was also a slightly higher report of Tinnitus among the vaccinated group than the placebo group. Side effects include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, and muscle aches with about 30% reporting those effects. J&J does use fetal cell lines so for people concerned about that, Pfizer and Moderna remain a better option. I am working on a comparison document and hope to have that for you by Friday.

2. Some reports are suggesting up to 54% of people who get COVID will experience long-term effects lasting 2 months or longer. Potential effects can include respiratory issues, neurological issues, cardiovascular issues, fatigue, etc.

3. The US is not planning to change to a one-dose recommendation despite recent studies suggesting they are effective. This actually makes sense scientifically - for one thing, major decisions shouldn't be made based on a single study. We have to verify a study's findings can be reproduced. Second, the people in the Israel study did get the second dose - so we don't know just how long that first dose immune response lasted and that is key. They may have seen a big initial response from the first dose but that may have dropped off over time - we don't know - because they got the second dose. Right now, we have insufficient evidence to say that one dose is enough - so if you get Pfizer or Moderna just plan for the two doses.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Why do you think it is the bad news that tends to stick with us? Ever notice how 30 people can say something nice and the one hateful comment is the one you remember? It's the one that sticks with you. The last year has not been great, but it has also not been void of good. We are all tired. Everyone is struggling. Everyone is over it. Everyone is sick of masks and distancing and not being able to go wherever. On top of it, most of us are pretty over winter and snow by now too. I am tired of being cold, slipping on the ice, driving in it, frozen pipes, cold toes, and shoveling snow. I am tired of chapped lips. But winter for us also meant snow ice cream and snow sledding and cozy nights by the fire. It meant snowmen and snowball fights and building igloos. It meant the dog romped and played and returned with a snow beard and little snowballs in his fur. It meant not worrying about my groceries going bad if I made a stop on my way home from the grocery store. There was good. There was lots of good.

Lots of people have lost loved ones over the last year. 500k people is a lot of people. Each of them touched lives and left behind those who mourn. They are not a number, they are a face, a story, a person who had goals and dreams and loved ones and their loss has left a gaping hole that cannot be filled. There is plenty of grief and sadness and frustration. But amid all that grief and sorrow - there was also good. There were acts of kindness and innovation and love. There are memories that drip sweet from our minds, and laughter amid the tears. Today, let's choose to see the good.