The University of Kansas Health System reports a slightly higher number of COVID patients today. 14 with the active virus are being treated, up from 13 yesterday. Only one of those patients is vaccinated. Four patients are in the ICU, up from two yesterday. One is on a ventilator, down from two yesterday. 19 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 24 yesterday. That’s a total of 33 patients, down from 37 yesterday. One patient died in the last 24 hours. HaysMed reports 11 active and six recovering patients.
On today’s Morning Medical Update we administeed some of our first pediatric COVID shots right here on the program. Also, it was follow-up Friday. Nursing Director Adam Meier joined Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control and Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer, to answer media and community questions.
Doctors began the program discussing news from Pfizer that its pill to treat COVID has an 89 percent reduction in severe hospitalization and death if given within three days of symptoms. That’s better than the one being developed by rival drugmaker Merck, which claims 50 percent. The Pfizer trial was stopped early because of these results. Doctors say if true, this pill becomes just like Tamiflu for influenza. Now it’s up to the FDA to analyze the data and decide whether to grant emergency use authorization, which could happen by the end of the year. They also stress it would be the wrong choice to hold off getting the vaccine and wait for this pill because nobody is better off trying to deal with COVID rather than avoiding it in the first place. They also say they are nervous about Kansas City lifting its mask mandate, especially with people going inside to bars, restaurants and holiday gatherings. They noted schools have been safe because of mask wearing. But they say the good news is young children 5 to 11 can now get vaccinated.
To demonstrate that, three children, 10-year-old Cannon, eight-year-old Sunnye and five-year-old Dom all rolled up their sleeves in the studio to get their first Pfizer vaccine. They’ll get the second dose in three weeks. While they waited the required 15 minutes after the shot, Adam Meier explained the difference between the child and adult vaccines. This one is about a third the strength of the adult dose and does not need to be frozen as was the case for early Pfizer vaccines. He said the health system is starting to give them in its pediatric clinics today. Parents who want to make an appointment can call 913-588-1227. He also mentioned that the health system will once again offer vaccinations at the Chiefs game this Sunday between 11 and 3. Anyone 12 and older can get their first, second or booster shot. Bring your vaccine card for updating.
At the end of the show. Dr. Stites and Dr. Hawkinson each got a booster of the Moderna vaccine they got last winter.
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.
- (21:50) How long has it been since the health system has seen COVID patient numbers this low? On June 1 of this year, there were two active patients being treated.
- (28:00) I’m pretty sure this is anti-vaccine rhetoric but I keep hearing that kids don’t need the vaccine, per Pfizer’s own data, and that it will do more harm than help. Is that true? No, it is absolutely not true. The data clearly shows vaccination helps young children and teenagers.
- (29:00) Why isn’t natural immunity being considered as immunity? Immunity from the disease wanes, usually after about six months. It also doesn’t protect from different variants or keep you from getting long haul symptoms. Vaccination gives the best and longest lasting protection.
- (33:50) What are your thoughts of the anti-depressant pill used to treat COVID that we’ve been hearing about? We need more data, but so far there are concerns.
- (35:30) In order to know if I need a booster for the Moderna vaccine should I get an antibody test? No. The FDA says if you’re over 65 or have chronic conditions, it’s OK to get the booster. Everyone else should ask their doctor. Moderna vaccines have shown to last very well at six months.
- (38:50) Is there a projection of how long it will take to vaccinate the 5-11 age group in our area? The state of Kansas has enough doses for every child in that age group. It’s simply a matter of how soon parents can get their children to the doctor’s office to get them vaccinated.
Monday, November 8 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. We'll continue our look at children getting the vaccines when we're joined by members of the Covid Care Force and Heart to Heart International. We'll talk about how they are assisting vulnerable communities and what areas need help.
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.