The University of Kansas Health System is caring for 165 total COVID patients today, down from 176 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 69 with active virus, 80 yesterday
- 18 in ICU, 20 yesterday
- 6 on ventilators, 7 yesterday
- 96 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, same as yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Kevin Ault, OBGYN and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) member
- Moderna vaccine has moved from Emergency Use Authorization to full FDA approval
- Tens of millions of doses already given show it’s safe and effective
- Novavax, a protein-based vaccine approved in some overseas countries, may be up for approval in the US in a few weeks.
- FDA meets next week to discuss vaccine for kids four and under
- With only 40 % of earth population vaccinated, every new vaccine will help end the pandemic
Dr. Steve Lauer, pediatrician, The University of Kansas Health System
- Only 25% of 5 to 11-year-olds fully vaccinated
- Many parents still express concerns about vaccine safety and whether kids really need it. It is proven safe for kids and they definitely need it.
- Parents need to seek trusted sources such as their pediatrician or web sites such as The American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Seeing long haul COVID symptoms in kids
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control
- “Dangerous” that states are removing mask mandates with cases dropping. The numbers are still higher than any time during the pandemic.
- Behavior changes not responsible for lower numbers. Omicron simply running out of people to infect.
- Unless we just want to wait for the next variant and surge, need to get everyone fully vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
Friday, February 11 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. With Valentine's Day on Monday, love may be in the air and your heart's beating fast. But for some, that love might be exactly what lands them in the hospital. More and more women are suffering from something called "Broken Heart Syndrome." Doctor Travis Love, a cardiologist here at the health system, joins us to explain exactly what that is and why it is affecting so many people.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL ZOOM AND TELEPHONE LINKS FOR THIS CONFERENCE ONLY
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87267028258
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 872 6702 8258
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
