Herd Immunity

Angie SzumlinskiNews

The key to herd immunity is that, even if a person becomes infected, there are too few susceptible hosts around to maintain transmission; those who have been vaccinated or have already had the infection cannot contract and spread the virus. A vaccine’s ability to block transmission doesn’t need to be 100% to make a difference. Even 70% effectiveness would be …

Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Safety of COVID19 Vaccines Results from monitoring efforts are reassuring. Some people have no side effects. Many people have reported only mild side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. What you Need to Know COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines, and these vaccines will undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in …

Delirium Prevention During Isolation

Angie SzumlinskiNews

During the pandemic, delirium emerged as a well-recognized complication of COVID-19, with particular importance due to its high prevalence and mortality, significance as a presenting sign that is easily missed, and preventable nature. Delirium, also referred to as “acute brain failure,” is a common presenting symptom of any severe illness in older adults. Given this, it is not surprising that …

Man wearing surgical mask

Use and Fit of Face Masks

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread to more than 200 countries and regions within the last year, causing a once-in-a-century health crisis with more than 90 million cases and 1.9 million deaths worldwide. The use of face masks has been widely recommended to reduce the risk of infection with the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological …

N95 Respirator Reprocessing Study

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that has a diameter of approximately 0.1 µm. It is transmitted by respiratory droplets and aerosols such that one of the most effective ways to prevent infection is to wear filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). The commonly used FFRs are N95 respirators, devices that by design filter 95% or more of particles larger than 0.3 µm …

Everyone Vaccinated by the End of May

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Vaccine distribution nationwide continues to ramp up, with nearly 2-million shots being given daily. President Biden has now said that every adult could be vaccinated by the end of May. A big promise that brings with it hope, a light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. That said, the question remains; when will COVID vaccination be as simple as …

Vaccine Allergies

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, News

For patients who are allergic to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may be eligible to receive the Johnson & Johns/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, CDC staff said. While the CDC emphasized that the mRNA vaccines are not interchangeable with Johnson & Johnson’s viral vector vaccine, as the safety and efficacy of a mixed product series have yet to be evaluated, patients may receive the …

National Tragedy: COVID-19 in the Nation’s Nursing Homes

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, Featured

At the Senate Finance Committee Hearing held on Wednesday, March 16, 2021, staff members and operators were interviewed regarding how facilities managed the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the interviews were disturbing and indicated that many facilities struggled with staffing, PPE, resident deaths, the spread of infection, etc. None of this is news to those of us who have lived it …

COVID-19 – Kidney Injury

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), reported in 24% to 57% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 61% to 78% of intensive care unit admissions in patients with COVID-19. Compared with patients without COVID-19, those with COVID-19 develop more severe AKI, have greater dialysis requirements, and experience less in-hospital kidney recovery, which may increase …