The University of Kansas Health System reports a jump in the number of COVID-19 patients today. 17 people with the active virus are being treated, up from 13 yesterday. Of those patients, nine are in the ICU, up from six yesterday. Three of those patients are on ventilators, the same as yesterday. 14 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, up from 12 yesterday. That’s a total of 31 patients, up from 25 yesterday. Doctors report that for the first time in months, they’ve had to open up a second ICU to handle the increasing number of COVID-19 patients. The patients are younger and unvaccinated, a trend other area hospitals are also seeing.
HaysMed has three total patients, up from two yesterday. One has the active virus and two are recovering.
On today’s Morning Media Update, we answered community questions. Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control was joined by David Wild, MD, VP of Quality and Safety, sitting in for Dr. Stites. Joining them was Dr. Kevin Ault, one of our OBGYN physicians who also sits on the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices. He discussed the committee's decision to resume distribution of the J & J vaccine after an FDA pause to examine reports of blood clots.
Dr. Ault began the discussion by describing the work the advisory committee did to examine the J & J vaccine. Their main job is to make clinical recommendations on how vaccines are used. Six people out of the seven million who have received it developed blood clots, all young women. He explained while COVID-19 itself increases your chance of blood clots, the number of blood clots with this vaccine is similar to what would be expected in the general population and discussed why the vaccine now comes with a warning of what possible blood clot symptoms might look like.
Here are the media and community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. Time code for the question is in parentheses. See the video for their full answers and comments.
- (4:50) With COVID-19 cases rising in the area and governments now easing restrictions on gatherings and mask wearing are you concerned? Nobody likes wearing a mask, but the virus doesn’t care. Despite those who say we are getting back to normalcy, the virus hasn’t gotten that memo yet. It’s still there, and even though it’s only recommended in some areas, we need to continue wearing masks indoors, where most disease is transmitted, and get vaccinated.
- (7:45) What does the new J & J warning look like? It advises both patients and physicians to be on the lookout for symptoms such as headaches and abdominal pain or low platelet counts within three weeks of the vaccination.
- (19:45) When will the FDA consider emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine with 12 to 15-year-olds? The EUA was submitted April 9th, so it could come at any time.
- (20:30) If somebody in their 20’s had COVID-19 one to two months ago, how long do they have to wait to get the vaccine? No minimum time. The recommendation is to get the vaccine as soon as possible.
- (21:15) If vaccinated parents are traveling with unvaccinated children, do the children need to be quarantined when they return home? Since the chances are good they will be in contact with people outside their bubble, the recommendation is they be quarantined.
- (22:30) I read where the COVID-19 outbreak in India could impact pharmaceutical production. Are you seeing a disruption in supplies? Do you have a backup plan to critical medications produced there? Supply chain problems of all kinds have been common during the pandemic. For now, we’re simply monitoring the situation and preparing contingency plans.
- (25:15) How are other Metro hospitals doing with COVID-19 admissions? Are patients vaccinated? Others are seeing the same uptick in patients. Almost exclusively the answer is no, they have not been vaccinated.
- (26:30) Fact check: Will interacting with a vaccinated person cause miscarriages and changes in your menstrual cycle? How often do women miscarry on average? No evidence of either happening. 20 percent of pregnant women suffer miscarriage. Another myth is the vaccines cause sterility.
- (30:05) Reports are that for every 10 deaths in women there are 13 deaths in men. Why do more men die of COVID-19 than women? Don’t fully know why, but men with the disease tend to be older with morbid obesity and hypertension.
- (32:10) What about stillbirths linked to pregnant women who caught COVID-19? Is this true? Pregnant women who get COVID-19 have two times the risk of stillbirth.
- (35:05) People with COVID-19 shed virus through coughing, sneezing and talking. Can vaccinated people do the same? If not, then why wear a mask? Studies suggest you have a reduced chance of transmitting the virus to others after being vaccinated, but those unvaccinated, which is still the majority, are still at risk of severe disease, which is why masks are still recommended.
- (37:10) My husband and I are fully vaccinated. My 82-year-old sister is also vaccinated. Is it safe for me to travel to visit her and stay in her home? Yes.
- (38:20) Have you heard of adverse neurological symptoms from the Moderna vaccine? I'm experiencing tingling/prickling/burning sensations in the legs a month after shot number one. We are not seeing any unusual signals of neurological diseases. Please get your second shot.
- (39:30) If someone had COVID-19, how long do they have immunity? How soon might they catch it again, if exposed? It appears your immunity from natural infection is not as good as with the vaccine. You could become reinfected any time after 90 days. Vaccines provide at least six months of immunity, and the expectation is a full year of immunity.
- (41:50) How do we know that unborn and newborns benefit when their moms are vaccinated? Research is beginning to show concrete data that the vaccines protect both mother and baby.
Monday, May 3 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. May is devoted to mental health awareness and we are going to be spending a lot of time on this subject as COVID-19 has been especially tough on mental health. Dr. Moira Mulhern, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Turning Point is going to help us get our happy back by better understanding our happiness set point.
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