Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Research Roundup: COVID; Stillbirths; Appendicitis; Universal Flu Vaccine
CIDRAP: Kids Likely Not Driving Household COVID-19 Outbreaks
A study in Clinical Infectious Diseases yesterday shows that children are unlikely to be the source of COVID-19 household outbreaks and are less likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by another household member, with implications for vaccine distribution. The role of children in the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has not been fully defined. While children typically have the highest rates of flu infection and are thought to play a major role in disease spread, scientists are still assessing data on their contribution to COVID-19 transmission. (Kuebelbeck Paulsen, 12/7)
CIDRAP: No Increase Found In Stillbirth, Preterm Birth During Pandemic
Two large JAMA studies yesterday found no increase in pandemic-related stillbirths or preterm births or among UK and US women. A higher risk of infectious diseases has been documented in pregnant women—including respiratory infections and flu—leading to concerns about poorer pandemic-related pregnancy and birth outcomes. There have been confirmed cases of stillbirth deliveries among pregnant women with severe COVID-19, and a smaller previous UK study showed an increased risk. (Kuebelbeck Paulsen, 12/8)
CIDRAP: Pandemic Avoidance Of Medical Care Tied To More Appendix Rupture In Kids
A JAMA Network Open study late last week suggests that a pattern of delayed medical care during the pandemic may be responsible for a greater incidence of a ruptured appendix related to appendicitis in children. Doctors at Inova Children's Hospital in Virginia evaluated pediatric emergency department visits from Mar 16 to Jun 7, when Virginia public schools were closed. Patient volumes in the emergency department fell from 144 patients per day in 2019 to 65 patients per day, representing a 55% decrease. (12/7)
Also —
New England Journal of Medicine: Effect Of Finerenone On Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes In Type 2 Diabetes
Finerenone, a nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, reduced albuminuria in short-term trials involving patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes. However, its long-term effects on kidney and cardiovascular outcomes are unknown. (Bakris et al, 12/3)
CIDRAP: Universal Flu Vaccine Found Safe, Immune-Producing In Phase 1 Trial
Universal flu vaccine candidates created with chimeric hemagglutinin (cHA) produced a broad immune response for 1.5 years, reports a study yesterday in Nature Medicine. Traditional flu vaccines target the virus' head of hemagglutinin (HA), but some researchers hope that creating a vaccine that targets the less-frequently mutating stalk will provide longer and broader protection. The researchers were able to sidestep issues of the virus's immunodominant head by using first H8 then H5 HA viral heads in their vaccination sequence, both with the same H1 HA stalk. Past studies have shown that by using the same stalk but different heads in vaccination regimens, subjects receive rising levels of immunity to the stalk itself. Most adults have already been primed at least once for the H1 stalk through previous exposure. (12/8)
