Surge of Coronavirus Cases, COVID-19 Vaccine Update

With the global pandemic entering its ninth month, there’s a disturbing upward trend of new infections just as flu season begins. Nationally, new COVID-19 infections began increasing in mid-October, with the country recording several record days of new positive tests. By the end of the month, the U.S. set a record for new infections – 500,000 in one week. From Alaska to Florida, states experienced upticks in new infections with some Midwestern states like Wisconsin, North and South Dakota and Ohio hit hard.

The news isn’t all bad, however. New studies show that the mortality rate for hospitalized patients is falling, and research for vaccines is advancing rapidly. On that last point, while vaccines won’t be available for the general public before the end of 2020, there is progress being made.

Vaccine Update

The makers of two vaccines are currently under development – one domestic and one international — recently announced they have reached testing milestones. Both manufacturers are prepared to begin shipping vaccines as soon as they receive approval. How effective those vaccines will be and who will get the first doses are uncertain, though it is likely to be a mix of first responders, healthcare workers and the elderly. Domestically, Moderna said it was most of the way through the third phase of testing with 30,000 volunteers enrolled. The company announced in October that its vaccine probably won’t be ready until spring. 

BioNTech and Pfizer, which have paired up to produce a vaccine, announced recently that their vaccine has nearly 44,000 people enrolled in its phase three trials and may be ready to submit data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November. 

In all, there are more than 60 vaccine candidates in some stage of human testing.

Treatment Update

At the same time, doctors continue to make strides in treating COVID-19, the condition caused by the novel coronavirus. Mortality rates have dropped even as infections have increased – and while many of the infections are in younger, healthier patients, researchers say that youth alone doesn’t explain the difference in the numbers. In one New York hospital system, for example, COVID infections killed 30 percent of patients in March, but only 3 percent by the end of June. In Britain, 30-day mortality peaked in early April and has declined since.

Treatment has improved as doctors have learned more about the complications caused by the virus. A combination of earlier oxygenation, turning patient prone and some drug therapies that appear to speed up recovery. 

Even so, doctors urge caution. The coronavirus is still 10 more times deadly than the flu and can cause long-term complications.

Pharmaceutical companies continue to work on new treatments and testing medications to determine if there are any benefits for COVID patients. By the time President Trump contracted COVID in early October, physicians had an arsenal of medications and supplements to use – but few have enough data to be approved as treatments. Everything President Trump received, for example, was either not approved for the treatment of COVID-19 or is being used under an Emergency Use Authorization granted by the FDA: 

Dexamethasone — a steroidal drug used to treat asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers. It was prescribed to help control dropping blood oxygen levels and prevent an immune system overreaction.  

Remdesivir — an intravenous drug that helps prevent coronaviruses from replicating. The FDA recently gave full approval of the drug, whose brand name is Veklury. The drug is only modestly more effective at treating severe COVID-19 than placebo, but it is the first drug approved specifically for the treatment of COVID-19. It was tested as a treatment for Ebola. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for hospitalized patients, particularly those with low blood oxygen levels or on ventilators. 

Regeneron's monoclonal antibody — a treatment that helps lower the level of the virus to help COVID patients recover faster. There are other, similar antibody treatments being tested. None have been approved for emergency use in the treatment of COVID-19, although convalescent plasma, a similar approach, has an EUA.

Zinc — a mineral that helps the immune system fight bacterial and viral infections. Keep in mind, there is no scientific evidence supporting that zinc can help prevent or cure a case of COVID-19. 

Vitamin D — a vitamin associated with bone health benefits. There is no evidence that vitamin D can help a protect against or speed the recovery of a COVID case; however, some experts believe vitamin D has anti-inflammatory benefits, which is why physicians gave it to President Trump. 

Famotidine — an over-the-counter medication used to treat ulcers, heartburn, indigestion and reduce stomach acid. (It’s the generic name for Pepcid.) Scientists are not sure how famotidine helps, but it is credited with lowering the risk of needing a ventilator, developing complications and dying.  

Melatonin — a hormone released by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Doctors sometimes prescribe it to control insomnia. Some studies have suggested that it may help COVID patients dealing with diabetes and obesity. 

Aspirin — an over-the-counter pain reliever often used to prevent heart disease in older adults. COVID can trigger blood clots in patients with mild heart disease and the blood-thinning properties of aspirin help prevent these blood clots.  

Risk Update

Scientists have known for years that coronaviruses, like COVID-19, are spread through respiratory droplets, which can be inhaled or fall onto surfaces. This is why it’s so important to wear a mask, follow social distancing guidelines, wash your hands frequently and disinfect commonly used surfaces such as telephones, counter tops, doorknobs and pens. 

Experts now realize that COVID-19 patients had a higher risk for complications if they were older or obese and/or had cardiovascular disease, diabetes or a chronic lung condition. This is why you should work closely with your MDVIP-affiliated physician to help you manage any conditions.

Going out to eat is considered risky. Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 were twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant than were those with negative COVID-19 test results, according to a CDC study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Review (MMWR). In lieu of eating at restaurant, consider curbside pickup or delivery.

Finally, researchers continue to look at blood type as a risk factor, though results are far from conclusive. Studies conducted in Denmark and Canada suggest that having blood type O may lower the risk of contracting and developing serious complications from COVID-19. Moreover, the Canadian study found that COVID-19 patients with blood type A and AB had longer stays in intensive care units compared to patients with blood types B and O.

If you're showing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, talk to your MDVIP-affiliated physician about testing and what steps you should take to protect yourself and your family.