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Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.<\/p>\n
Odds of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Down After Third BNT162b2 Dose<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of a third booster BNT162b2 dose is associated with a reduction in the odds of testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n One in Five Adults May Have Avoided Health Care During the Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — One in five individuals avoided health care during COVID-19 lockdowns, often for potentially urgent symptoms, according to a Dutch study published online Nov. 23 in PLOS Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Omicron Variant May Overcome Prior COVID-19 Infection<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — People who have already had COVID-19 have a higher risk of reinfection with the omicron coronavirus variant than with earlier variants, new research shows. The South African scientists who reported the findings believe that vaccination will have the power to stop severe illness, however.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Most Vaccinated Adults Plan to Get Boosters: Poll<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Most vaccinated American adults have every intention of getting booster shots, a new poll finds.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n New York Reports Five Omicron Cases, U.S. Total Rises to Nine<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Five cases of the omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in New York state, one in Minnesota, and one in Hawaii, officials in those states announced Thursday. That brings the known total in the United States to nine, with California and Colorado previously announcing one case each.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n mRNA-1273 Has High Vaccine Effectiveness After Five Months<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The vaccine effectiveness of two doses of Moderna mRNA-1273 is 87.4 percent against COVID-19 infection and 95.8 and 97.9 percent against COVID-19 hospitalization and hospital death, respectively, according to a study published online Nov. 25 in The Lancet Regional Health: Americas<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n COVID-19 Hospital Admission Up for Children With Uncontrolled Asthma<\/strong><\/p>\n FRIDAY, Dec. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — School-aged children with uncontrolled asthma have increased risk of COVID-19 hospital admission, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Care for Eating Disorders Up During Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Dec. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The number of patients receiving inpatient or outpatient care for eating disorders has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research letter published online Nov. 16 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Second Omicron Case Reported in Man Who Traveled to NYC Anime Convention<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Dec. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Just one day after the first omicron case was reported in the United States, federal officials announced a second case on Thursday, this time in a Minnesota man who had traveled to an Anime convention in New York City in November.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n mRNA-1273, BNT162b2 Vaccines Comparable for Lowering COVID-19 Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Dec. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The 24-week risk for COVID-19 outcomes is slightly lower after vaccination with mRNA-1273 than BNT162b2, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Obstetric Morbidities More Common in Women With COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Dec. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Maternal morbidities are more common among pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 versus pregnant women without COVID-19, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in PLOS Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Biden to Announce Plan to Battle Omicron, Delta Variants This Winter<\/strong><\/p>\n THURSDAY, Dec. 2, 2021 (HealthDay News) — President Joe Biden plans to announce a new round of measures to protect Americans against the spread of coronavirus variants on Thursday.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n First U.S. Omicron Case Reported in California<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Dec. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The first confirmed U.S. case of the omicron variant has been reported in California, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n CDC to Toughen COVID-19 Testing for International Travelers<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Dec. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — As the world struggles with ways to stem the spread of the new omicron variant, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that international travelers to the United States will soon have to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Most Immunosuppressive Meds Not Tied to Worse COVID-19 Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, Dec. 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Overall, people taking immunosuppressive medications do not have a higher risk for dying from COVID-19 or being put on a ventilator compared with nonimmunosuppressed hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to a study published online online Nov. 15 in The Lancet Rheumatology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n FDA Panel Mulls Merck COVID-19 Antiviral Pill<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Nov. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel is meeting Tuesday to weigh both the safety and power of the new Merck antiviral pill in preventing severe COVID-19.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Omicron Variant Spurs New York Officials to Recommend Masking Indoors<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Nov. 30. 2021 (HealthDay News) — Amid growing concerns about the new omicron variant, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi, M.D., have advised all residents to wear masks while indoors.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Pfizer to Seek FDA Approval of Boosters for Teens Ages 16 to 17<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Nov. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Pfizer Inc. is expected to seek approval this week for emergency use of its booster shots among American teens ages 16 to 17 years.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Regeneron Says Its Antibody Cocktail Likely Weakened by Omicron Variant<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Nov. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said Tuesday that its antibody cocktail, which is used widely to treat COVID-19 patients, may be less effective against the omicron variant.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Colchicine No Benefit Over Supportive Care for COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Nov. 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Colchicine does not seem to offer benefit over supportive care for management of patients with COVID-19, according to research published online Nov. 22 in Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Merck’s COVID-19 Pill Appears Effective, but May Pose Pregnancy Risks: FDA<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Nov. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Merck’s experimental COVID-19 antiviral pill appears effective, but may pose risks for pregnant women, including birth defects and toxicity to developing fetuses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Biden Pushes Vaccines, Masks as Best Defense Against Omicron Variant<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Nov. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Vaccines and masks will be the United States’ first line of defense against the new omicron variant, not lockdowns or border closures, President Joe Biden told the nation Monday.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Vaccine Makers Already Testing Their Shots Against Omicron Variant<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Nov. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — As concerns about the new omicron variant grow, vaccine makers say they are already working on ways to protect people against the potential new threat.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Thanksgiving Weekend Brought New COVID-19 Concerns: the Omicron Variant<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Nov. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Hopes for an easing of the pandemic were dealt a major setback over the Thanksgiving weekend, with news that a variant first spotted in southern Africa carries a multiplicity of mutations that might make it resistant to approved vaccines.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n Decline in Infectious Conjunctivitis During COVID-19 Pandemic<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Nov. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — There was a population-wide decrease in the rate of infectious conjunctivitis in association with public health interventions adopted to curb COVID-19, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in JAMA Ophthalmology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n SARS-CoV-2 Infection Up >90 Days Since Second BNT162b2 Dose<\/strong><\/p>\n MONDAY, Nov. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection increases at time intervals >90 days since the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, according to a study published online Nov. 25 in The BMJ<\/em>.<\/p>\n