The University of Kansas Health System reports a decrease in the numbers of COVID patients over the weekend. 29 with the active virus are being treated, down from 32 Friday. Only four of them are vaccinated. Ten patients are in the ICU, down from 11 on Friday. Seven are on ventilators, down from nine Friday. 37 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 38 Friday. That’s a total of 66 patients, down from 70 on Friday.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, Dr. Marissa Love, an allergist with The University of Kansas Health System, helped us tell the difference between regular fall allergies and COVID.
Many of us dread this time of year because of fall allergies. But with COVID on everyone’s mind, how do you know if your sniffles or scratchy throat are just allergies or Delta? It can be a challenge, says Dr. Love. But the biggest factor is whether the patient also has a fever and knowing if they have been exposed to the virus. She explained this past year has been a challenge for her and other allergists to keep track of all the possible viral infections besides COVID, many of which mimic COVID. Some patients have switched their appointments from in-person to telehealth, which is says is a great option for those unsure if they have allergies or COVID. She says right now we are in peak weed allergen season. Those typical symptoms involve itchy eyes, nose, sneezing and nasal congestion. She says it’s best to get help if the symptoms persist, as those who wait too long can get sinus infections. She explained three main ways of treating allergies. The first is counseling, education, and simple lifestyle measures to keep allergy exposures to a minimum. The second is medication, either over the counter or by prescription, for more persistent symptoms. And third is allergy shots, which are used when medicine doesn’t work. But it’s a big time commitment, usually three to five years. She says most allergies are not hereditary. She adds that while it’s common for some to have an adverse reaction to the COVID vaccine like a sore arm or a brief mild fever, it’s very rare for anyone to have a true life threatening allergic reaction. Her best advice is for everyone 12 and older to get vaccinated and continue to wear masks in schools and indoors in public places.
Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, says there’s no truth to the rumor that the COVID vaccine weakens your immune system for a period of time. He also repeated the latest CDC advice which is it’s OK to get a COVID vaccination and a flu shot, or any vaccination for that matter, at the same time. As for the boosters, he says right now it is for Pfizer only and requires a doctor’s order and that you be six months out from your last shot. But he says the other vaccines should be approved for boosters soon. Regardless, he says you still have great protection from severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID with your original vaccination. He says while we don’t know for sure yet, it’s quite possible we’ll need yearly COVID boosters, just like flu shots. He also thinks when the vaccine is approved for kids, it will be two shots, just like for adults, though the doses will be lower.
Tuesday, September 28 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Dr. Kevin Ault, an OBGYN, joins us ahead of Wednesday’s ACIP committee meeting. He’ll share what he expects to hear during the meeting as too many expectant and postpartum moms are getting seriously ill with COVID-19.
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:
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