Things are “holding steady” today in the number of active COVID-19 patients being treated at The University of Kansas Health System. 70 people with the active virus are hospitalized, same as yesterday. 29 patients are in the ICU, up from 28 yesterday. 14 of those ICU patients are on ventilators today, down from 15. 56 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID-19 but are out of the acute infection phase, same as yesterday. That’s a total of 126 patients, same as yesterday. In addition, HaysMed has a total of 19 COVID-19 inpatients, down from 23 yesterday, with 14 of those active patients and 5 in the recovery phase.
Doctors addressed the COVID-19 variant that’s being reported in several parts of the country. They say the concern is it could more easily spread, but they are confident the vaccine will still work to keep it at bay.
On the Morning Media Update today, Dr. Michael Rippee, a sports neurologist, joined the panel. He is starting to see some long hauler patients who are suffering “brain fog” and chronic headaches since catching COVID-19. Dr. Rippee explained what he advises for these patients and let us know how he's feeling after recently receiving his COVID-19 shot.
Dr Rippee usually treats athletes with concussions and has noticed similarities with COVID-19 patients who report the same chronic headaches and “brain fog” symptoms. He describes the fog as not being forgetful but being slow to process things. He’s noted some patients have it for only a few weeks while others have had it for six months after having the virus. If caught early, he says the best thing is observation and possibly help with job or school accommodations. If symptoms continue, he advises speech and cognitive therapy. Right now, there is no medicine for this “brain fog.” He doesn’t think neurological conditions such as epilepsy make a patient a higher risk for COVID-19 effects. Dr. Rippee also had his first vaccination recently and said his only reaction was a sore shoulder for a day, a common side effect.
Dana. Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, says he too felt good after his first shot a couple of weeks ago. A small number of people report reactions such as soreness at the injection site, headache, fever or fatigue. He says there’s no need to wait for post-COVID inflammation to subside before getting a vaccination as long as the active infection period is gone. He also described the Long Haul Clinic at the health system, which is almost ready. With a referral from their primary care doctor, a COVID-19 patient can have coordinated access to a whole group of specialists to help manage their post-COVID symptoms.
Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, said not to be surprised if it takes months to feel better after COVID-19 because it’s how all viruses work. He advised one viewer not to wait for the Pfizer vaccine rather than the Moderna vaccine simply because of an 85 percent effectiveness rate vs. 95 percent. In clinical terms, he calls that almost identical and urges everyone to get a vaccine, no matter which, when it’s their turn. He calls the vaccine one of the most remarkable healthcare achievements in human civilization. He said we’ve been advising everyone to rely on faith and hope and science, and says, “Science is now bringing us to a point where we can bring life back to normal and end this thing. I want to get back to normal.”
Wednesday, January 6 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Media Update. Dr. Marissa Love joins the conversation to answer COVID-19 questions about allergies, vaccines and staying safe. She tells us what she's recommending to patients and their biggest fears living with allergies and/or take immunosuppressant medications.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
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