The University of Kansas Health System reports a slight drop in the numbers of COVID patients today after a week of increases. 33 patients with the active virus are being treated, down from 37 yesterday. 12 of those patients are in the ICU, the same as yesterday. Seven patients are on ventilators, up from six yesterday. 23 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, the same as yesterday. That’s a total of 56 patients, down from 60 yesterday. HaysMed has two patients, down from three yesterday.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, the Summer Olympic Games begin in Tokyo without spectators. Two KC area gymnasts are quarantined after exposure to COVID. We talked with two doctors who help train elite and Olympic-bound athletes to find out what it takes to prepare your body to be the best of the best. We also checked in with Dr. Kevin Ault on the latest from the CDC on vaccines.
Before getting to today’s topic, Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, had more to say after revealing yesterday that area chief medical officers are ready to recommend a return to mask mandates to stop the Delta variant of COVID. He says the reason is this variant is much more infectious than the original strain and not nearly enough people are vaccinated. He noted that if you’re vaccinated and with a group that’s all been vaccinated, you’ll be OK. But if you’re around a lot of unvaccinated people, there’s a good chance you’ll get the Delta virus and might transmit it without knowing it. He pointed out that 99 percent of the people who die from this variant are unvaccinated. He urges everyone to get vaccinated and wear a mask to break the curve.
Dr. Kevin Ault is an OBGYN at the health system and sits on the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He had two updates after the group met yesterday. They looked at reports that some people got Guillain Barre Syndrome from the J&J vaccine. The consensus is it’s extremely rare, it’s more likely to happen from COVID than the vaccine and it’s no reason to skip the vaccine. They also looked at whether vaccines are less effective for immunocompromised patients. While agreeing that a third shot for them may be more effective, the committee is not yet able to recommend it as long as the vaccines have only emergency use authorization. That may change when full authorization comes, possibly in the next couple of months.
Two doctors at the health system who have worked with members of the current USA Olympic team joined the panel. Dr. Vince Key, orthopedic surgeon and head team physician for the Kansas City Royals is also associate team physician for the USA Track and Field team. Dr. John Alm is medical director of Sports Rehabilitation at the health system and the team physician for both the USA Swimming and Gymnastics teams. They discussed the challenge faced by the athletes over the past year, especially after the Summer Olympics in Tokyo were postponed until now due to the pandemic. Two gymnastic athletes, both from our area, have been quarantined after one tested positive for the virus. They feel that even with all of the safety protocols in place, it will be impossible to keep everyone at the Olympics free of COVID. They also discussed how competing with no spectators will affect the athletes. Some, they say, are driven by the crowd while others simply have an internal fire that drives them.
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.
- (10:40) Many who don’t want the vaccine call it “experimental” and say they might look at it when it gets full FDA approval. What’s the timeline on that? The vaccines are certainly not experimental. They are proven effective in the tens of millions of Americans who have received them. Full FDA approval could come in the next couple of months.
- (12:30) How realistic is it that mask mandates will be reimposed? Not sure if government leaders are ready to take that action. From a medical standpoint, we are under siege by the Delta variant, and without enough people being vaccinated, masks are the only way to stop it.
- (22:30) How dangerous is the Delta variant? Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said because it is so contagious, it will infect a majority of unvaccinated Americans soon. And, with 50% of the population fully vaccinated and a third having contracted the virus before, he says COVID will soon run its course. Do people still need to get vaccinated then? Yes, they definitely need to be vaccinated. With this strain, you are more likely to infect six other people compared to two or three with the original strain. We definitely don’t want to let COVID run its course with the number of people hospitalized and dying from this strain.
- (26:20) Is it safe to take unvaccinated children around grandparents with immune health issues? Grandparents are vaccinated. Could kids go if they wear a mask? Kids can still transmit the virus. It’s safest if they wear a mask.
- (27:15) Should unvaccinated children be playing outside unmasked with the delta variant around? It depends on where these kids go home to. If they are going to be around vulnerable people, they should wear a mask.
- (28:35) We are a blended family. The household with the 12-year-old doesn't mask, social distance or believe in the vaccine. We are vaccinated, but how do I protect our five-year-old from their step-sibling? The safest thing to do is have the five-year-old wear a mask.
- (29:25) How accurate are rapid tests? Is that what Olympic and pro athletes use? Our kids' camp is using some rapid test. They are not as accurate as the PCR nasal swab test. They’ll do in a pinch, especially at the pro and Olympic level when instant data is sometimes needed, but should always be followed by a PCR test.
- (32:40) It's been six months since I was vaccinated. Do I need a booster shot? Am I at higher risk of hospitalization from the delta variant? Research shows you are still protected after six months. Research on boosters is ongoing.
- (33:40) We are older people and vaccinated. Is it safe for four of us to ride in one car to go out for lunch at each other's houses? If everyone is feeling well, it’s safe.
- (35:10) What are the symptoms of COVID patients hospitalized with the Delta variant? The main symptom is shortness of breath.
- (36:00) It seems like the FDA and the medical community are sending mixed messages regarding full approval of the vaccine. Can you reconcile this? The FDA is required by law to analyze all the data before giving full approval. The fact that they gave emergency use authorization shows they are convinced the vaccines are safe and did so to help stop the pandemic. Waiting would have cost many lives. The medical community agrees they are safe and are also confident that will be backed by the data necessary to give full authorization.
- (41:45) What are the symptoms for positive COVID for younger kids around three? Usually cold symptoms. When in doubt, it’s best to have them tested.
- (42:55) I was feeling good, fully vaccinated and going to restaurants. Now after hearing about the Delta variant, am I still safe? You’re safe. However, you might still be able to spread the Delta variant to someone else.
Monday, July 26 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Dr. Barbara Pahud from Children's Mercy returns to answer your back- to- school questions while Dr. Kenny Southwick, executive director of Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City joins to share some of the struggles districts are facing with infection prevention this fall.
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.
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