COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, November 25th

It's long today.

1. The vaccine is coming. The FDA is scheduled to meet on December 10th to discuss and determine if the Pfizer vaccine should be granted EUA (emergency use authorization) for their COVID vaccine. But it is unlikely you will be in line for a shot on the 11th - there is a limited supply of the vaccine which means difficult decisions have to be made. The CDC recommended distributing based on risk but in a recent press conference, the Operation Warp Speed team has said they are planning to distribute to states based on population in order to keep it simple. Within those states, plans are being made to then distribute based on risk (per the CDC recommendations) so it is a bit of a compromise.

Offical plans for each state (each state made its own vaccination plans and submitted them to the CDC) have not been released publically but the general expectation is that healthcare workers would be vaccinated first, then essential and high-risk workers. Also, remember the Pfizer vaccine has significant storage requirements that not all places can accommodate which may impact distribution. This seems like a good time to remember that patience is a virtue.

2. The world's largest latex glove maker, Top Glove out of Malaysia, will shut down 1/2 its factories due to COVID among the employees.

3. Reports from all around the world indicate violence against women has increased dramatically during the pandemic.

4. A study published in JAMA found that less than 10% of people in the US. have antibodies against SARS-CoV2. The study ran from July - September. This is another nice example of how herd immunity through natural infection really wasn't/isn't a viable option.

5. The CDC is considering shorting the quarantine time for those potentially exposed from 14 days to 10 or even 7 days. Nothing official has happened yet but they hope by making this change people will be more likely to comply with the quarantine. The idea is that after, let's say 10 days, (or whatever time frame they pick) you test negative for COVID you can exit quarantine. This is just for people who were exposed - not for positive cases. Statistically, most people develop symptoms within 5 days (this is an average) so shortening quarantine with a testing requirement to get out early does make sense.

6. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has 91.4% efficacy according to a report released in Science.

7. The mortality rate of hospitalized patients seems to be dropping. In a study out of NY, they found mortality dropped from 26% to 7.6% between March and August. Part of this can be contributed to younger people being hospitalized, and part due to improvements in care.

8. A report out of Kansas looked for trends before masking mandates and after. In the 24 counties that implemented mask mandates, COVID cases dropped, in the 81 counties that didn't, cases increased. You can read more about this in MMWR. Masks work.

FINAL THOUGHTS: COVID-19 has somewhat dominated a pretty crazy year in the world, but tomorrow, in America we will pause and take note of all that we have to be thankful for and the list is long even in the midst of disruption and chaos. Certainly, 2020 is a year we will long remember - no one will have to scratch their heads and say "now what year was it when that happened?" But now is the time to refocus and count our blessings. It is the time to consider all that is right and well and to set aside, for one Turkey filled day, all that is wrong. I wish you a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving. I hope you will turn off all the noise over the next few days and savor all that we have to be thankful for. I will not be posting on Friday due to the holiday but I will see you back here on Monday to finish up another month and prepare for the next one. Happy Thanksgiving, stay safe and healthy.