Info Magzine: Baby aspirin; AstraZeneca gets OK from Europe regulator

Europe’s prime medicines regulator on Thursday stated the AstraZeneca-Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine is safe, regardless of experiences of surprising blood clots in a number of individuals among the many 18 million who’ve acquired at the very least one dose in European Union international locations and the UK.

“The committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion,” stated Emer Cooke, govt director of the European Medicines Agency. “This is a safe and effective vaccine.”

Researchers with the EMA – the equal of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – stated they cannot completely rule out the likelihood that a number of dozen instances of blood clots and issues out have been triggered by the vaccine. But total the vaccine is secure and ought to be delivered throughout Europe and elsewhere, they stated.

Germany, France, Spain and Italy have been among the many European international locations that paused use of that vaccine pending the EMA’s overview, and their officers stated Thursday they would resume utilizing the shot.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will not be obtainable within the U.S., the place a large-scale research has been completed however not but made public. That information is predicted throughout the subsequent few weeks, adopted by a request for FDA emergency use authorization.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is finalizing efforts to ship a mixed 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico and Canada in its first export of pictures, the White House stated Thursday. Tens of tens of millions of doses have been stockpiled within the U.S. awaiting authorization, sparking a world outcry that they have been being withheld once they might be used elsewhere.

Mexico will obtain 2.5 million doses of the vaccine, which has been authorised by the World Health Organization. Canada will obtain 1.5 million doses as a “loan,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated.

Also within the information:

►Utah is among the many newest states to announce an growth in COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, with residents 16 and older allowed to get the vaccine beginning March 24. Maryland goals to do the identical by April 27, whereas Illinois is aiming for April 12. Nevada can also be making its vaccines obtainable to these 16 and older beginning Monday, however provided that they’ve an underlying well being situation.

►AMC Theatres stated it can have 98% of its U.S. theaters open by Friday, together with greater than 40 areas in California. Movie theaters have been among the many hardest-hit companies by the pandemic.

►Michigan’s COVID-19 case rate is up 50% from the February low, and now stands at 144 instances per million individuals, state well being officers stated, including that the brand new variants is perhaps contributing to the enhance. Michigan has additionally just lately eased restrictions, together with permitting 50% capability at eating places and in-person studying.

►Sniffer canines in Thailand taught to detect COVID-19 in human sweat proved almost 95% correct throughout coaching and might be used to determine coronavirus infections at busy transport hubs, the top of a pilot undertaking told Reuters.

►France is ready to announce new coronavirus restrictions on Thursday, together with a possible lockdown within the Paris area, because the variety of COVID-19 sufferers in intensive care items spikes.

📈 Today’s numbers: The U.S. has over 29.6 million confirmed coronavirus instances and greater than 539,200 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The international totals: 121.6 million instances and a pair of.68 million deaths. More than 151 million vaccine doses have been distributed within the U.S. and 115.7 million have been administered, according to the CDC.

📘 What we’re studying: Could COVID-19 vaccination convey reduction for long-haul victims? Researchers are discovering out. Read the full story.

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Low-dose aspirin could assist keep away from COVID’s worst outcomes

A brand new research is including to the rising physique of proof that low-dose aspirin helps reduce the harsher results of contracting the coronavirus.

The research, carried out by George Washington University researchers and printed in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia, examined the information of 412 sufferers admitted to U.S. hospitals with COVID-19 from March to July of final yr.

Of these, almost 24% had taken aspirin seven days or much less earlier than of hospital admission or inside 24 hours after admission. More than 40% of these sufferers had improved leads to key areas in comparison with sufferers who didn’t take a budget, extensively obtainable drug.

“Aspirin may have lung-protective effects and reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and in-hospital mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients,” the report concluded.

The researchers warned {that a} randomized managed trial could be wanted to determine a causal relationship, however a research carried out across the identical time final yr in Israel additionally found a link between taking so-called baby aspirin and better COVID-19 outcomes.

Study: Pandemic likely began before late-December Chinese market cluster

The coronavirus pandemic probably started in China’s Hubei province a month or two before late December, when a cluster of cases tied to a seafood market was first detected, a new analysis says.

Evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey says the study, published Thursday in the journal Science, is “pointing pretty strongly to that market not being the original source of the virus but the first place where it encountered sort of one of these superspreading events.”

John Kerry fights criticism of maskless photo

White House climate envoy John Kerry was accused of hypocrisy after he was photographed reading with his mask hanging from his left ear on a flight from Boston to Washington, D.C. Kerry’s tray table appeared to up and there were no drinks or food in sight, which would have allowed him to remove his mask per the CDC’s mask order.

“Let’s be clear: If I dropped my masks to 1 ear on a flight, it was momentary,” Kerry fired again in a tweet. “I put on my masks as a result of it saves lives and stops the unfold. It’s what the science tells us to do.”

American Airlines spokesperson Stacy Day told USA TODAY that the cabin crew “didn’t observe Secretary Kerry and not using a masks, they usually weren’t alerted by different clients to a noncompliance subject.” She added that they will continue reviewing the matter.

– Jayme Deerwester, USA TODAY

Immunity from COVID infection ‘robust’ for young, study shows

The natural immunity provided by a first coronavirus infection is “strong” for comparatively younger individuals however not a lot for individuals over 65 – and customarily inferior to vaccination, a new study discovered.

Researchers in Denmark found that 80% or more of the naturally infected population who are younger than 65 were protected against reinfection for at least six months. That’s good, but not as good as some vaccines that appear to provide more than 90% protection for people with no prior infection.

The researchers also found that previous infection provided 47% protection for people 65 years and older. Since that group is also more prone to serious illness, the researchers urged protective measures for the elderly in the form of effective vaccines and enhanced physical distancing and infection control.

Italy marks anniversary of one of its darkest days in pandemic

Italy held a national remembrance for virus victims Thursday, marking one year since the Italian army needed a truck convoy to take coffins away from Bergamo, the city and province hit hardest by the first wave of the coronavirus.

The northern city’s funeral facilities had been unable to cope with the number of dead. Premier Mario Draghi laid a wreath at the cemetery there and inaugurated the ”Wood of Remembrance” at the city’s Martin Lutero alla Trucca park, where a first set of 100 trees was being planted. The anniversary comes as much of Italy is under a new lockdown amid a surge of infections

“We can’t hug one another, however we’re extra united as we speak,” Draghi said. “Never once more will fragile individuals not get satisfactory help.”

Contributing: The Associated Press