Morning Medical Update Friday 10-8-21

The number of COVID patients The University of Kansas Health System is steady today. 14 with the active virus are being treated, down from 15 yesterday. Only one of those patients is vaccinated. Five patients are in the ICU, the same as yesterday. Four are on ventilators, the same as yesterday. 36 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, the same yesterday. That’s a total of 50 patients, down from 51 yesterday. HaysMed reports 15 total patients, down from 18 yesterday.

On today’s Morning Medical Update, Amanda Cackler, director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, joined Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, to answer community questions.

Here are the media and community questions in the order the panel addressed them, followed by the short answer. The time code for the question is in parentheses. See the video for their full answers and comments.

(1:30) Are we seeing more COVID cases in rural or urban areas right now? Based on the percent of the population, rural areas are high. In the Metro area the rate of transmission is still high.
(3:15) Is there a shortage of rapid COVID test kits as more employers are starting to require that workers either get vaccinated or be tested frequently? There is a shortage of the home rapid-test kits. Hospitals still have plenty of capacity of the nasal, or PCR swab tests.
(5:10) What’s your biggest concern about hospital staffing? The stress of the pandemic is causing many to leave the healthcare field. Also, a small number of healthcare professionals around the country are choosing to leave rather than get the COVID vaccine.
(8:20) Can you talk about the difference between regular face masks and gators, N95's and surgical masks? For the general public, the CDC says they all provide you with protection, but the most important factor is that it fits well, especially around the top and sides.
(9:15) Is there any long term permanent damage from those who get a mild case of COVID and don't require major treatment or hospitalization? Even people with mild cases can still get long haul symptoms of fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath. But data now supports the fact that vaccines help reduce your chances of long haul syndrome.
(10:00) Should pregnant people get monoclonal antibodies? What impact will it have on them or the baby? The treatment is safe for both mother and baby. The bigger problem is the high number of cases of unvaccinated pregnant woman who get COVID, which puts both them and their babies at risk.
(12:15) Doctors say the vaccine does not cross the placenta so how does immunity pass to an unborn baby? We know that the antibodies created from the vaccine do cross the placenta and provide protection to the baby.
(14:00) Is there a way to determine whether antibodies are from the vaccine vs. having had COVID? Such a test has no clinical value and is not used. There is no specific antibody level that will protect you from COVID.
(15:45) Do we know the COVID long haul risks for those who are vaccinated? Or is it the same as the unvaccinated? A study in the Lancet a few weeks ago showed a 50% reduction in the risk of getting long haul syndrome for those who are vaccinated.
(17:10) Do the doctors know the breakthrough infection rate in those 12-18 years of age? The number of cases in which vaccinated people are reinfected and are sick enough to require hospitalization is extremely low.
(18:10) Can I get my COVID, flu and shingles shots all around the same time or should I hold off on shingles? When COVID vaccines first became available the recommendation was to wait two weeks for any other vaccines. Data has since shown it’s safe to get all the vaccines at the same time.
(19:30) I read a recent Kaiser poll that stated only about one third of parents would get their kids 5-11 vaccinated immediately when available. How will this affect our community? It prolongs the current situation in which that age group is not eligible, and will ultimately prolong the pandemic.
(22:05) I read that someone recently died after the J&J vaccine. Do you think it will eventually be pulled from the market? It’s very unlikely the J&J vaccine will be pulled from the market. Unfortunately people get sick and die, even after being vaccinated. But there have not been any deaths linked to the vaccine itself.
(24:55) A recent report from the Colorado Health System said unvaccinated COVID transplant patients will be unable to get a transplant until vaccinated. Do you know what vaccines are required before someone gets a transplant? For decades, the typical required vaccinations have been for pneumonia, hepatitis, shingles, pertussis, and tetanus.
(27:40) What are you hearing about side effects for booster shots now that there is more of that in the population? Only Pfizer has been approved for booster shots, and medical journals report no increase in side effects.
(28:20) How common is it for people who have had COVID to continue to test positive for it? Some patients have continued to test positive for three or four months.
(30:35) Do you recommend booster shots for people who are vaccinated with the J&J vaccine? No.
(31:25) Is there any current research that we know about concerning the role genetics plays in the severity of COVID symptoms? It’s being looked at and there may be a genetic component, but nothing is known for sure.
(32:40) Is there a difference between a Moderna booster and a Moderna third shot. Right now, boosters have not been recommended for Moderna. Some immunocompromised people are receiving a third shot, which is the same as the first two.
(33:50) Can you speak to how participation rates impact the accuracy of pool testing? My daughter’s school is doing weekly pool testing but the participation rate in her classroom seems to be really low. Pool testing is typically done to identify people with COVID who may not have symptoms. A low participation rate can affect the results.
(35:10) Do you think the dosage for 12 to 16-year-olds will be adjusted since they have learned that the lower dose of Pfizer is safe and effective for five to 11-year-olds? No change in dose is anticipated and will likely remain the same as the dose used in the clinical trials.

Monday, October 11 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. We'll take you live to Missy's Boutique, a special shop at our Westwood Cancer Center, created in the memory of two women who lost their cancer battle. You'll meet the extraordinary woman who keeps their memory alive by inspiring other women to fight on.

NOTE: Journalists should rejoin the Morning Medical Update at 8am as doctors are growing too busy again for individual interview requests. Please bring questions or send to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu until further notice. Thanks for all you do and helping to keep the community safe with your reporting.

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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(1:30) Are we seeing more COVID cases in rural or urban areas right now? Based on the percent of the population, rural areas are high. In the Metro area the rate of transmission is still high.
(3:15) Is there a shortage of rapid COVID test kits as more employers are starting to require that workers either get vaccinated or be tested frequently? There is a shortage of the home rapid-test kits. Hospitals still have plenty of capacity of the nasal, or PCR swab tests.
(5:10) What’s your biggest concern about hospital staffing? The stress of the pandemic is causing many to leave the healthcare field. Also, a small number of healthcare professionals around the country are choosing to leave rather than get the COVID vaccine.
(8:20) Can you talk about the difference between regular face masks and gators, N95's and surgical masks? For the general public, the CDC says they all provide you with protection, but the most important factor is that it fits well, especially around the top and sides.
(9:15) Is there any long term permanent damage from those who get a mild case of COVID and don't require major treatment or hospitalization? Even people with mild cases can still get long haul symptoms of fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath. But data now supports the fact that vaccines help reduce your chances of long haul syndrome.
(10:00) Should pregnant people get monoclonal antibodies? What impact will it have on them or the baby? The treatment is safe for both mother and baby. The bigger problem is the high number of cases of unvaccinated pregnant woman who get COVID, which puts both them and their babies at risk.
(12:15) Doctors say the vaccine does not cross the placenta so how does immunity pass to an unborn baby? We know that the antibodies created from the vaccine do cross the placenta and provide protection to the baby.
(14:00) Is there a way to determine whether antibodies are from the vaccine vs. having had COVID? Such a test has no clinical value and is not used. There is no specific antibody level that will protect you from COVID.
(15:45) Do we know the COVID long haul risks for those who are vaccinated? Or is it the same as the unvaccinated? A study in the Lancet a few weeks ago showed a 50% reduction in the risk of getting long haul syndrome for those who are vaccinated.
(17:10) Do the doctors know the breakthrough infection rate in those 12-18 years of age? The number of cases in which vaccinated people are reinfected and are sick enough to require hospitalization is extremely low.
(18:10) Can I get my COVID, flu and shingles shots all around the same time or should I hold off on shingles? When COVID vaccines first became available the recommendation was to wait two weeks for any other vaccines. Data has since shown it’s safe to get all the vaccines at the same time.
(19:30) I read a recent Kaiser poll that stated only about one third of parents would get their kids 5-11 vaccinated immediately when available. How will this affect our community? It prolongs the current situation in which that age group is not eligible, and will ultimately prolong the pandemic.
(22:05) I read that someone recently died after the J&J vaccine. Do you think it will eventually be pulled from the market? It’s very unlikely the J&J vaccine will be pulled from the market. Unfortunately people get sick and die, even after being vaccinated. But there have not been any deaths linked to the vaccine itself.
(24:55) A recent report from the Colorado Health System said unvaccinated COVID transplant patients will be unable to get a transplant until vaccinated. Do you know what vaccines are required before someone gets a transplant? For decades, the typical required vaccinations have been for pneumonia, hepatitis, shingles, pertussis, and tetanus.
(27:40) What are you hearing about side effects for booster shots now that there is more of that in the population? Only Pfizer has been approved for booster shots, and medical journals report no increase in side effects.
(28:20) How common is it for people who have had COVID to continue to test positive for it? Some patients have continued to test positive for three or four months.
(30:35) Do you recommend booster shots for people who are vaccinated with the J&J vaccine? No.
(31:25) Is there any current research that we know about concerning the role genetics plays in the severity of COVID symptoms? It’s being looked at and there may be a genetic component, but nothing is known for sure.
(32:40) Is there a difference between a Moderna booster and a Moderna third shot. Right now, boosters have not been recommended for Moderna. Some immunocompromised people are receiving a third shot, which is the same as the first two.
(33:50) Can you speak to how participation rates impact the accuracy of pool testing? My daughter’s school is doing weekly pool testing but the participation rate in her classroom seems to be really low. Pool testing is typically done to identify people with COVID who may not have symptoms. A low participation rate can affect the results.
(35:10) Do you think the dosage for 12 to 16-year-olds will be adjusted since they have learned that the lower dose of Pfizer is safe and effective for five to 11-year-olds? No change in dose is anticipated and will likely remain the same as the dose used in the clinical trials.