We are still learning about the sacrifice of the virus to the body

This week, March 13, 2022, we are investigating how scientists understand the victims of COVID-19 infections in the body, and the progress of vaccine drive.

The average number of coronavirus infections has continued to decline recently, but 19% of all COVID-19 beds in the country are now filled. In terms of vaccines, about 57% of the total population of the Philippines is completely vaccinated against the virus.

This week’s viewing on March 13, 2022 is as follows:

COVID-19 and brain

Large-scale new research published in the journal Nature We have discovered that even mild coronavirus infections can cause changes in the brain. This is an important discovery that continues to shed light on the effects of viruses on our bodies. However, it is not yet known if these changes were long-term or irreversible over time.

• British scientists say that mild cases of COVID-19 can cause tissue damage and greater loss of gray matter in odor-related areas of the brain compared to uninfected individuals. discovered. For other brain functions.
• Lead author of the study, Gwenael Duo Oxford University NBC News The loss of brain volume observed on the scan was comparable to the extra years of normal aging.
• The UK study is the first to compare brain scans before and after infection and is important to address one of the key limitations of similar studies until a new study was published.
  • The England Biobank project, which tracks the health of about 500,000 people in about 15 years, enables this type of study with a database of pre-pandemic scans to study the long-term effects of COVID-19. Gave me the opportunity to do it. ..
  • In particular, scientists evaluated images of the brains of about 400 people infected with COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2021 and 384 who did not get sick.
• What they found: People usually lose a small amount of gray matter with age (about 0.2% each year), but the overall brain size of infected participants varies over the three years between scans. The area has shrunk by 0.2-2%.
• The study also investigated whether the virus affected brain function and found the same association.
  • The New York Times Report: “People who had Covid also showed greater decline than uninfected people in cognitive tests related to attention and efficiency in performing complex tasks.”
  • But the experts Times The study emphasized that the test was rudimentary, so “it is very limited to say whether the gray matter loss and tissue damage experienced by Covid patients affected cognitive performance.”
• “We don’t know what that really means for the patient’s quality of life or function.” Times He quoted Dr. Benedict Michael, an associate professor of neuroinfectious diseases at the University of Liverpool.
• While findings are important for a better understanding of the disease, experts warn that it is still “stretching” at this point to conclude that it has long-term effects on the patient.
• More and more scientists are now aiming to figure out exactly what it means to patients, based on the evidence generated. The majority experienced mild COVID-19.
• In the meantime, we will learn more about how COVID-19 affects the body, but such discoveries increase the need to keep infections low and avoid infections.

Fourth dose on the horizon?

Filipino experts have considered the possibility of recommending another boost for the elderly and individuals with moderate to severe immunodeficiency, which may be given approximately 4 months after the first boost. I am. However, it will take some time to reach consensus. It is worth emphasizing that at least 30% of the country’s population has not yet received a single dose.

• Health officials have made recommendations that may result from the reduced antibody found in the increased risk of morbidity (in the study of COVID-19 infection and its (vulnerable group)).
• If approval is given, it may be targeted only to a specific group. “Young, healthy, risk-free people will probably not benefit much from the fourth dose when faced with Omicron,” said the Ministry of Health (DOH).
• National booster uptake is also slow, while millions have not yet been fully vaccinated. Only 10.6 million booster shots (14.7% of the national target) were administered. The DOH said the current priority is to reach unvaccinated and unsupported older people.
• A panel of experts will meet during March to discuss available evidence and data on this issue.

Expanded access

Vaccination has been delayed in recent weeks, so Vaccine Emperor Karito Galves Jr. said the government will launch a “jab in the field” program to bring doses closer to Filipinos.

• The impetus begins in the business process outsourcing industry. The industry is vulnerable to outbreaks and is one of the companies that encourages employees to return to office work.
• On-site vaccination is in addition to similar efforts in pharmacies and private clinics.
• Such efforts are essential to achieve a wide range of vaccination rates in the country and to ensure that doses are not wasted. A Rapper survey Participating in the Philippine Vaccine Drive found that one year after the program, the inability of Filipinos to access injections was the biggest obstacle to high intake rates.

If you miss it: The Food and Drug Administration has granted urgent approval for Pfizer COVID-19 pills, Paxrovid. 89% effective in preventing hospitalization And death in clinical trials.

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– Rappler.com