Dr. Ellen Eaton Coronavirus Updates
ID physician & health services researcher doing the best I can to educate the community on COVID.
29/08/2023
Helpful update on boosters here
The U.S. is experiencing a late summer wave of COVID cases While most people aren't getting really sick, hospitalizations are up more than 21% across the country. Elderly people are most at risk.
07/03/2023
Coronavirus Updates: Some parents misled others about kids’ covid status, study says Three states drop mask mandates in health-care settings
23/02/2023
Wastewater study finds masks prevent COVID-19 in schools A study that used wastewater signals to identify cases of COVID-19 found that even a small increase in the proportion of people wearing masks at elementary schools in one California county significantly reduced the chance of a case.
31/01/2023
New UAB Comprehensive Smell and Taste Clinic aims to provide care for patients with smell and taste loss The UAB Health Services Foundation General Endowment Fund awarded Do-Yeon Cho, M.D., associate professor of the Department of Otolaryngology and director of the Smell and Taste Clinic, with funding for his proposal to create state-of-the-art care for smell and taste loss patients.
26/01/2023
Dr. Nathan Erdmann, a UAB professor helping to run the school’s long COVID clinic, which does treatment and research, said creating subcategories for COVID helps doctors give focused treatment. Already UAB is sending people with cardiac symptoms to cardiologists and those with skin or asthma to related specialists, he said.
UAB is one of 15 institutions in a large NIH study focused on better understanding what long COVID is and who gets it. The school is also starting clinical trials this month on whether Paxlovid, an antiviral drug used to treat acute COVID, could be helpful to relieve symptoms for some people with long COVID.
“There appears to be evidence that in at least some of the people who have long COVID, the virus doesn’t fully go away. This study is looking at, does an antiviral help deal with symptoms or resolution of the syndrome?” said Erdmann.
Dr. Harris, the state health officer, said Alabama has a lack of data on long COVID, and there still isn’t a clear picture of how many people are impacted or how.
“With any kind of new disease, there’s probably a lot of frustration among the people who are the first recognized cases of it until the medical community as a whole develops more experience and expertise,” he said.
New study involving Alabama patients sorts long COVID into four types Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer, said Alabamians are at higher risk for long COVID because of preexisting health conditions and low vaccination rates.
05/01/2023
Health officials urge Alabamians with COVID to ask about Paxlovid As COVID-19 case numbers pick up this winter, too few Alabamians are taking advantage of Paxlovid, a medication that can prevent hospitalization and death in almost 90 percent of cases, state health officials say
22/12/2022
https://apple.news/AsYKet3bhRh6A3vFozh5QSg
U.S. life expectancy falls for second straight year as drug overdose and Covid deaths take toll — STAT Deaths from Covid-19 and drug overdoses drove U.S. life expectancy to fall to 76.4 years in 2021, the lowest level since 1996.
15/12/2022
We’re starting to see the predictable rise in COVID that we expect with cold weather and more indoor gatherings.
If you’re like me, your last round of free COVID tests have expired. But testing when you’re unwell or exposed to COVID is an important way to keep our holidays healthy. Testing is an essential part of our COVID prevention tool kit - along with vaccines and staying home when sick.
Thankfully, we can all order more free tests here:
COVID.gov/tests - Free at-home COVID-19 tests Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests.
26/11/2022
Real-world data show updated Covid-19 boosters increase protection against infection The updated Covid-19 boosters increase people’s protection against symptomatic infection from the coronavirus, according to some of the first estimates of how the shot is performing in the real world.
23/11/2022
This Thanksgiving is undoubtedly safer than the last 2 years when it comes to COVID risk. Vaccines are widely available, many effective COVID treatments are approved, and lots of previously-infected people have some degree of natural protection from severe disease. **But it's important to know that hundreds of Americans are still dying daily from COVID.
With that in mind, here's how my family and I will celebrate:
We will have a small indoor gathering with our fully vaccinated family. COVID rates are low in my community, so we won't be testing before we dine with this small group. But that will likely change as we head into December and rates increase. If we spend any time with friends or family who are immune compromised (e.g., on chemotherapy) or unvaccinated, we will test before gathering.
Unlike past years, we have made plans for indoor events and parties! We will pencil those in and be flexible if we need to cancel due to a new virulent COVID strain or high community transmission. For large gatherings like movies and plays, we will wear our masks to protect ourselves and the grandparents with whom we hope to share the holidays.
We have and will continue to wear our masks in airplanes and congested airports.
Please note that the above only applies to COVID risk. We know that influenza and RSV are circulating widely and pose a great threat to the very young and very old. Children's Hospitals in some parts of the US have resorted to crisis standards of care due to limited bed capacity and an unprecedented number of acutely ill children.
You can protect your family by ensuring everyone has had recommended influenza & COVID vaccines this fall and only gather when everyone is healthy.
Let's all do our part to make this holiday season safe and healthy!
How infectious disease experts are responding to Covid nearly three years in With Thanksgiving only days away, we asked infectious disease experts whether they are starting to lower their guard against Covid. Some of them are, a little.
17/11/2022
As vaccination rates decline, especially in children, we can expect more vaccine preventable conditions to return. This is bad for kids, hospitals, and public health
Several children hospitalized in growing measles outbreak affecting 7 Ohio daycares The outbreak was also detected in one school, according to the city's public health department.
14/11/2022
Yikes 😳
COVID-Denying Medical Group Implodes Over Founder’s Extravagant Spending Dr. Simone Gold is one of America’s foremost purveyors of bogus COVID cures. She’s used the money on a mansion, private jet trips, and her underwear-model boyfriend.
10/11/2022
Two adults, one child dead from flu as virus surges through Alabama According to ADPH, influenza is especially severe in young children resulting in “a surge of admissions” at Children’s of Alabama.
05/11/2022
Please get your flu shot and make sure your family is up to date on flu and COVID vaccines. We’re getting crushed in the Southeast. And our Children’s Hospitals are full. 🤒
02/11/2022
Helpful update on what to expect this cold/flu season & a reminder to get your kids and family vaccinated 💪🏻
Physicians from UAB and Children's of Alabama comment on Flu, COVID and RSV
23/10/2022
It’s a great day to get your flu vaccine & COVID booster. Flu is widespread in many parts of the US including my neighborhood. And we can expect more 🦠 as temperatures drop & party season begins 🎃 🦃 .
Let’s keep our kids healthy & in the classroom by catching them up on their vaccines too.
18/10/2022
“God, No, Not Another Case.” COVID-Related Stillbirths Didn’t Have to Happen. A lack of testing data and government guidance led many to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, unwittingly increasing their chances of a stillbirth.
10/10/2022
For the pregnant patient I lost to during my fellowship and the others we have lost since.
This is my Why
01/10/2022
Bivalent boosted! 💉 💉 💉 💉
Because I have had very minor symptoms with my prior vaccines, I don’t expect this to be much different. So I am checking this off the list before a full weekend of kiddo parties, fall sports, and other activities 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️
But regardless of mild discomfort, I know this vaccine (and all ACIP recommended vaccines) is worth the low risk in exchange for tremendous benefits like personal and community health. I vaccinate for myself, my kids, my parents, and my patients!
Glad to have this added protection before work conferences and holiday travel.
Here’s to a healthy winter! 🤞🏻 🙏🏻 ❤️🩹
22/09/2022
AL School testing initiative renewed and now with expanded services like HEPA air purifiers and incentives. 👏🏻
COVID-19 asymptomatic testing program for Alabama K-12 schools extended for 2022-2023 school year, new services added Alabama K-12 public and private schools now have the option to receive asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, high-efficiency particulate — or HEPA —air purifiers, over-the-counter test kits, on-site liaisons and more through the UAB School of Public Health program.
18/09/2022
Bivalent Boosters Are Here!
If you are over 50 and have not received a booster or been infected in the last 6 months, I would recommend you get this new bivalent booster now.
If you are immunocompromised, I would also recommend you get the new booster now and check in with your doctor about other treatment and prevention strategies.
For those who are young, healthy, fully vaccinated and boosted, I believe it is safe for you to wait just a few more weeks. Why?
1.Your prior vaccines are still remarkably effective at preventing severe disease
2.COVID rates have declined
3. The current variants circulating are not sending people to the hospital like our prior variants
4. We are not certain how long this booster's protection will last
For these reasons, I plan to get my Bivalent booster in a few weeks. I will wait until later in the fall in order to increase the chances I have protection in the winter. We hope these boosters will last 6 months or longer, but the durability of protection is contingent upon several unknowns, including the emergence of new variants.
I will definitely get my booster before cold/flu season hits and several weeks before any Thanksgiving travel (along with my flu vaccine).
And of course I will continue universal masking in patient care settings.
Hope this is one of my last posts! Stay healthy out there
ADPH to receive first doses of bivalent COVID-19 boosters, shots expected to be available at county health departments next week The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended the first updated COVID-19 boosters which target both the original strain of the virus and two of the Omicron variants (BA.4 and BA.5). People ages 12 and older are eligible to receive Pfizer-...
06/09/2022
"Using WHO excess mortality (more conservative than findings from IHME and The Economist), we estimate that 10 500 000 children lost parents or caregivers, and 7 500 000 children experienced COVID-19–associated orphanhood through May 1, 2022."
The impact of COVID will be felt for generations. Please make sure all eligible family members are vaccinated; let's break this cycle.
Orphanhood and Caregiver Loss Based on Global Excess COVID-19 Death Estimates This study assesses estimates of new orphanhood based on excess deaths to provide a comprehensive measure of the COVID-19 pandemic’s long-term impact on orphanhood and caregiver loss.
03/09/2022
Great guidance on the who, when and where of bivalent COVID vaccines.
With an updated vaccine, we may avoid the mass chaos of last winter: classroom closures, hospitals on diversion, and lots of staff shortages. 🙏🏻 🏥
What you need to know about fall booster shots of coronavirus vaccine Reformulated coronavirus booster shots are on their way.
01/09/2022
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-we-know-about-long-covid-and-how-long-symptoms-last
What We Know About Long COVID and How Long Symptoms Last Share on PinterestTanja Ivanova/Getty ImagesHealth experts are discovering that there’s a multitude of symptoms that patients can have after their initial diagnosis of COVID-19.Symptoms of long COVID can include fatigue, chest pain, cough, and depression, among other impairments. Researchers are s...
31/08/2022
“The U.S. has authorized its first update to COVID-19 vaccines. The booster doses target today’s most common omicron strain and shots could begin within days.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if, this winter, our hospitals functioned well with adequate space for patients, unlike the last 2 years?
Wouldn’t it be nice if our kids and teachers stayed healthy and in school straight through to the new year?
I’m hopeful that those days will return.
👏🏻 👏🏻
FDA authorizes Pfizer and Moderna's updated Covid-19 boosters The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized updated Covid-19 vaccine booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer. This is the first time updated Covid-19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization in the United States.
30/08/2022
Remember to order your COVID tests now while they are free.
Also, check the expiration date on older home tests before using.
Now is a great time to prepare for "cold and flu" season by catching up on all of your vaccines and ordering home COVID tests.
The government will no longer be sending free COVID-19 tests to Americans The Biden administration is pausing its distribution of free COVID-19 tests this week, but you can still order new ones before the end date.
23/08/2022
Having a vaccine that targets new Omicron subvariants could be a game changer for flu season and winter work and school absences.
But will eligible people actually get the shot?
Moderna Completes Application To U.S. Food And Drug Administration For Emergency Use Authorization Of Omicron-Targeting Bivalent Covid-19 Booster Vaccine, mRNA-1273.222 mRNA-1273.222 Targets BA.4/BA.5 Strains of Omicron Variant Pending Authorization, Moderna Ready to Ship Bivalent Booster mRNA-1273.222 in September Clinical Data Available for Moderna's Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Vaccines Have Met All Primary Endpoints and Support Request for Emergency Use Authorizat...
18/08/2022
Insightful perspective on changing COVID guidance from experts in epidemiology, public health, and ethics.
"Right now, the country has been walking down an interminable plateau of coronavirus cases and deaths—the latter stubbornly hovering just under 500, a number that the country has, by virtue of its behaviors or lack thereof, implicitly decided is just fine. “It’s much lower than we’ve been, but it’s not a trivial number,” Salemi told me.
Held at this rate, the U.S.’s annual COVID death toll could be about 150,000—three times the mortality burden of the worst influenza season of the past decade. And the country has little guarantee that the current mortality average will even hold. Immunity provides a buffer against severe disease. But that protection may be impermanent, especially as the virus continues to shapeshift, abetted by unchecked international spread.
Should the autumn bring with it yet another spike in cases, long COVID, hospitalizations, and deaths, the country will need to be flexible and responsive enough to pivot back to more strictness, which the administration is setting Americans up poorly to do."
The Pandemic’s Soft Closing The CDC’s latest COVID guidelines are the closest the nation’s leaders have come to saying the coronavirus crisis is done.
17/08/2022
School’s back in session.
With fall weather and indoor gatherings, we can expect more COVID spread.
Time to stock up on free tests!
https://www.covid.gov/tests?fbclid=IwAR3IlTuEqLH5QNO1a2aUEaINS8wHf2I8aoqP-UhQD0P_7KkypdbFjB6cYwQ&fs=e&s=cl
COVID.gov/tests - Free at-home COVID-19 tests Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home tests. Order yours today.