Coronavirus Media Briefing Friday 5-7-21

The University of Kansas Health System reports a rise in the number of COVID-19 patients today. 24 people with the active virus are being treated, up from 20 yesterday. Of those patients, 11 are in the ICU, up from seven yesterday. Nine of those patients are on ventilators, up from seven yesterday. Nine other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, the same as yesterday. That’s a total of 33 patients, up from 29 yesterday. HaysMed has two active patients, the same as yesterday.

On today’s Morning Media Update, we answered community questions. Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control was joined by Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer. Joining them was Lance Williamson, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Supervisor.

Doctors began the discussion by talking about the Novavax vaccine, still in clinical trials, which has shown about 50 percent efficacy in South Africa. They also addressed news that Pfizer is going to apply to the FDA next week for full authorization because the safety data is so good. That could still take a couple of months for a decision, but when that happens, they believe we’ll start to see some employers, especially those in healthcare, requiring their employees to get the vaccine. They also think proof of vaccination might be required for admission to large group gatherings like concerts, or sporting events.

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.

(9:20) What are your thoughts on people not masking at Royals games? The CDC says outside is safer, especially if you’re fully vaccinated. When you’re in your pod it’s probably okay, but still need to be very careful when mingling with people you don’t know.
(11:25) I’m not comfortable with fully opening my Johnson County hairstyling business. I prefer social distancing with better rules. What advice do you have? The current regulations in Johnson County allow for individual businesses to still require masks.
(15:20) You mentioned being encouraged by the Novavax vaccine as being 50 percent effective. How is 50 percent encouraging? It seems pretty bad to me. We were spoiled by Pfizer and Moderna, with 90-95 percent efficacy. 50 percent for any vaccine is considered very good.
(16:45) Can you mix the Moderna booster with a Pfizer original vaccination? Right now, there’s a lack of data, but it’s being investigated. The feeling is it will be okay.
(17:30) Several colleges will be requiring vaccines for students this fall. Do you think KU will do so? While we can’t speak specifically about KU, once the vaccines are fully authorized, it’s likely they will require it, as they already require other vaccinations.
(21:05) Atchison Emergency Management texted out the P1 variant had been detected in Atchison County. What concerns are there with this compared to the UK variant? All the variants are a concern, but the UK is more concerning in Kansas right now.
(24:45) Does it look like boosters will just be one shot or two? Most likely one shot a year from your last vaccination.
(26:05) Can a vaccinated person give the virus to another vaccinated person? What are the risks, if any? Anything is possible, but this is really unlikely.
(29:30) How many deaths have you seen in the past few weeks? With the numbers going down I'm wondering how many people are recovering or dying from COVID. Just like the rest of the country, we’re seeing an overall decrease in deaths and hospitalizations. Testing is also down.
(33:30) Can you address concerns that current testing does not detect the new variants as effectively? We are not seeing that.
(34:45) What treatments are promising when it comes to moderate to severe COVID? Are you still promoting every form of oxygen over a vent? There are really no new treatments on the horizon. Remdesivir and dexamethasone are the most common for inpatients and monoclonal antibodies work for outpatients. We’ve also learned it’s best to keep a patient on oxygen and off a ventilator for as long as possible.
(36:45) Is it safe for my husband to go to a restaurant? He's vaccinated BUT he is in stage 5 kidney failure and is currently on the transplant list at KU Health System. Too risky? With a large number of people in a small enclosed area it’s pretty risky, especially when you don’t know who’s been vaccinated. If eating outside on a patio is an option, that’s better.
(39:15) Where are most of the COVID cases in our area coming from when they come from other counties? It’s hard to answer because the virus is still widespread in many Kansas communities.
(40:30) Have you heard of any psychological effects on people from the vaccine? The only psychological effects are good feelings, a sense of freedom knowing you’re protected, but there have been no specific diagnoses of negative psychological effects from the vaccine.
(42:00) How will we know when the pandemic is officially over? Will some government agency make the announcement? Is there some number threshold that must be met? Because it’s a worldwide problem, it won’t end all at once, like a light switch turning on and off. There will be gradual transitions into social and economic normal specific to regions, states, or nations. There is no specific number that defines the end of a pandemic. COVID-19 will probably be with us for a long time and the closer we get to herd immunity through vaccinations the sooner things will start returning to normal.

Monday, May 10 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. We will have two scouts from Troop 921 St. Elizabeth Parish in Waldo on with their troop leader. They did a special video project about COVID-19 safety to earn a badge.

ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:

The meeting is available by Zoom, both video and by phone. To join the Zoom Meeting by video, click https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628

Telephone dial-in Participants: For those without Zoom, call 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628.

The feed is also available via TVU grid. The TVU source is UoK_Health and is being made available to all.

Feel free to send questions in advance to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.

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(9:20) What are your thoughts on people not masking at Royals games? The CDC says outside is safer, especially if you’re fully vaccinated. When you’re in your pod it’s probably okay, but still need to be very careful when mingling with people you don’t know.
(11:25) I’m not comfortable with fully opening my Johnson County hairstyling business. I prefer social distancing with better rules. What advice do you have? The current regulations in Johnson County allow for individual businesses to still require masks.
(15:20) You mentioned being encouraged by the Novavax vaccine as being 50 percent effective. How is 50 percent encouraging? It seems pretty bad to me. We were spoiled by Pfizer and Moderna, with 90-95 percent efficacy. 50 percent for any vaccine is considered very good.
(16:45) Can you mix the Moderna booster with a Pfizer original vaccination? Right now, there’s a lack of data, but it’s being investigated. The feeling is it will be okay.
(17:30) Several colleges will be requiring vaccines for students this fall. Do you think KU will do so? While we can’t speak specifically about KU, once the vaccines are fully authorized, it’s likely they will require it, as they already require other vaccinations.
(21:05) Atchison Emergency Management texted out the P1 variant had been detected in Atchison County. What concerns are there with this compared to the UK variant? All the variants are a concern, but the UK is more concerning in Kansas right now.
(24:45) Does it look like boosters will just be one shot or two? Most likely one shot a year from your last vaccination.
(26:05) Can a vaccinated person give the virus to another vaccinated person? What are the risks, if any? Anything is possible, but this is really unlikely.
(29:30) How many deaths have you seen in the past few weeks? With the numbers going down I'm wondering how many people are recovering or dying from COVID. Just like the rest of the country, we’re seeing an overall decrease in deaths and hospitalizations. Testing is also down.
(33:30) Can you address concerns that current testing does not detect the new variants as effectively? We are not seeing that.
(34:45) What treatments are promising when it comes to moderate to severe COVID? Are you still promoting every form of oxygen over a vent? There are really no new treatments on the horizon. Remdesivir and dexamethasone are the most common for inpatients and monoclonal antibodies work for outpatients. We’ve also learned it’s best to keep a patient on oxygen and off a ventilator for as long as possible.
(36:45) Is it safe for my husband to go to a restaurant? He's vaccinated BUT he is in stage 5 kidney failure and is currently on the transplant list at KU Health System. Too risky? With a large number of people in a small enclosed area it’s pretty risky, especially when you don’t know who’s been vaccinated. If eating outside on a patio is an option, that’s better.
(39:15) Where are most of the COVID cases in our area coming from when they come from other counties? It’s hard to answer because the virus is still widespread in many Kansas communities.
(40:30) Have you heard of any psychological effects on people from the vaccine? The only psychological effects are good feelings, a sense of freedom knowing you’re protected, but there have been no specific diagnoses of negative psychological effects from the vaccine.
(42:00) How will we know when the pandemic is officially over? Will some government agency make the announcement? Is there some number threshold that must be met? Because it’s a worldwide problem, it won’t end all at once, like a light switch turning on and off. There will be gradual transitions into social and economic normal specific to regions, states, or nations. There is no specific number that defines the end of a pandemic. COVID-19 will probably be with us for a long time and the closer we get to herd immunity through vaccinations the sooner things will start returning to normal.