`                               U.S.                                                      California

                               CASES               DEATHS                      CASES                     DEATHS       

December 2020    19,111,443            341,149                   2,120,610                    24,241

 

2021   Timeline

January               26,185,362            441,319                   3,310,949                    40,702

February             28,602,101            513,137                   3,563,578                    51,953

March                 30,459,874            552,072                   3,668,277                    59,240

April                   32,225,012            574,280                   3,742 115                    62,078                       

UPDATED WEEKLY - Last updated on 1 May, 2021 7:00 am PST, John Hopkins Corona Virus Dashboard and Worldometer

 

Cases Worldwide

                       John Hopkins                                                    Worldometer

• TOTAL CASES      - 149,158,521                      TOTAL CASES        -   152,133,661

Recovered         -   86,527,565                        Recovered           -   129,439,543

• TOTAL DEATHS    -     3,145,239                     TOTAL DEATHS       -      3,196,536

 

POPULATION - is 332,631,370 as of 1 May, 07:00 am PST, based on Census U.S. and World Population Clock.

 

Cases in the U.S.

• TOTAL CASES      -   32,225,012                    TOTAL CASES         -     33,104,377

Recovered        -                                           Recovered           -     25,710,142

• TOTAL DEATHS   -        574,280                    TOTAL DEATHS      -          590,060

 

Cases in California

• TOTAL CASES       -   3,742, 115                   TOTAL CASES       -        3,742,642

 Recovered         -                                        Recovered         -        1,992,268

• TOTAL DEATHS    -         62,078                   TOTAL DEATHS    -             61,767

 

2021 unemployment numbers are hovering around 8.5%.      

  

05/01/2021             Cases (WHO)                     Deaths (WHO)                Recovered (WHO)

• Texas**         -   2,898,949                              50,463                         2,757,365
• Florida**        -   2,233,518                             35,172                          1,795,692
• New York       -   2,095,597                              52,526                         1,486,644
• Illinois           -   1,335,055                              24,291                         1,211,801
• Pennsylvania  -   1,156,246                               26,333                       1,024,394
• Georgia**      -   1,100,187                              20,190                           910,871
• Ohio              -   1,072,312                              19,284                        1,018,980
• N. Carolina** -      969,752                               12,651                         924,490
• Arizona **     -      862,497                               17,324                         825,827
• Tennessee** -      847,430                                12,197                        822,733

 

*correction

          **reporting information is limited, reduced testing and increased cases

 

 

APRIL BLOG

COVID UPDATE

 

United States progress                                   Updated as of 18 April 2021, 12:15 pm

• 1st dose administered                                    131,247,546                 39.5%
• 2nd dose administered                                     84,263,408                 25.4%
• Total population                                             332,542,637 
• Doses per 100 people                                     44.13

 

State  Progress                                               Updated as of 18 April 2021, 12:15 pm

   .                  1^st dose                 2^nd dose                  Population %

• California                    25,569,748            8,625,826                      21.80
• Pennsylvania               14,168,028            5,488,298                      42.85
• Alaska                            525,000                234,735                      31.83
• Vermont                         425,112                163,960                      26.17
• New York                   13,297,331              4,903,166                     26.09
• Florida                      13,029,551              4,533,076                      21.28
• Texas                       16,419,173               5,796,374                      20.19
• Tennessee                  3,534,023               1,254,938                      18.53
• Georgia                      5,366,914              1,830,303                      17.39

 

NEWS UPDATE

President Biden directs all states to make all adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccine by May 1.  President Biden set a goal of July 4 to "get closer to normal" in reopening the country.  To reach that goal, the president is directing all states to make all American adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1.  "It will make this Independence Day truly special, not only marking independence as a nation but independence from this virus.  To attain this goal, I need every American to do their part," President Biden said. 

 

As people are getting fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control will update its guidance on activities like travel and attending church worship services.   President Biden announced measures Tuesday, March 9^th, aimed at ramping up coronavirus vaccine allocation and distribution, including the purchase of 200 million more vaccine doses and increased distribution to states by millions of doses.   

 

With the additional doses, there would be enough vaccine to fully vaccinate 300 million Americans -- nearly the entire US population -- by the end of summer or early fall.

 

Pfizer-BioNTech says Covid vaccine is 100% effective in kids ages 12 to 15

 

• Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine was 100% effective in preventing Covid-19 in children ages 12 to 15.
• Pfizer plans to submit the new vaccine data to the FDA “as soon as possible,” CEO Albert Bourla said.
• Kids in the age group could be eligible for the vaccine before the new school year.

 

Vaccinating children is crucial to ending the pandemic, public health officials and infectious disease experts say.  The vaccine elicited a “robust” antibody response in children, exceeding those in an earlier trial of 16 - 25-year-olds.  Children make up around 20% of the U.S. population.  The nation is unlikely to achieve herd immunity until children can get vaccinated.  70% to 85% of the U.S. population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

 

Pfizer’s study of adolescents ages 12 to 15 is encouraging results that could clear the shots for use in middle school students before school starts this fall.  The trial enrolled 2,260 participants in the United States. There were 18 confirmed Covid-19 infections observed in the placebo group and no confirmed infections in the group that received the vaccine, the company said. That resulted in a vaccine efficacy of 100%, adding that the shot was also well-tolerated, with side effects generally consistent with those seen in adults.

 

Moderna Gives 1st Vaccine Shots To Young Kids As Part Of COVID-19 Study.  Moderna plans to enroll roughly 6,750 children in the U.S. and Canada for the study.  Children received their first doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, as the company studies the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for kid’s ages 6 months to less than 12 years old.

 

In the study, two injections 28 days apart of the Moderna vaccine or a saline placebo, was given to children.  Children receiving the vaccine will receive one of three possible doses, from 25 micrograms to 100 micrograms — the same dose that received an emergency authorization for use in adults from the Food and Drug Administration.

 

VACCINE UPDATE

Novamax

• UPDATE 3-Novavax COVID-19 shot could be cleared for U.S. use by May.  Novavax, Inc.'s

COVID-19 vaccine could be cleared for use in the United States as soon as May.  Preliminary data from its UK trial showed the vaccine to be 96% effective against the original version of the coronavirus and around 86% effective against the now widely circulating variant first discovered in Britain.

 

Novavax, NVX-CoV2373, can manufacture its shots at scale and able to have tens of millions of doses stockpiled and ready to ship in the United States when it receives authorization.  Novavax promised to deliver 110 million doses to the U.S. government by the end of the third quarter or as early as July.  NVX-CoV2373 is administered in liquid form and can be stored, handled and distributed at above-freezing temperatures, 35° to 46°F.  Doses of Novavax can be stored for up to three months at fridge temperature.  A single vaccine dose contains 5 micrograms (mcg) of protein and 50 mcg of adjuvant.

 

• UPDATE 2-Novavax vaccine 96% effective against original coronavirus, 86% vs British variant in UK trial.  There were no cases of severe illness or deaths among those who got the vaccine, a sign that it could stop the worse effects of new variants that have cropped up.

 

In a smaller trial conducted in South Africa, volunteers were primarily exposed to another newer, more contagious variant widely circulating there and spreading around the world.  The Novavax vaccine was 55% effective, based on people without HIV, but still fully prevented severe illness.

 

Novavax Chief Medical Officer, Filip Dubovsky, indicated the performance in South Africa suggests there may be a case for using it in areas where the South African variant is dominant.  Novavax is also developing new formulations of its vaccine to protect against emerging variants and plans to initiate clinical testing in the second quarter of this year.

 

OXFORD-ASTRAZENECA

How does the vaccine work?  The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is a shot designed to prevent the coronavirus in people aged 18 and older. It is made up of an adenovirus that has been modified to contain the gene for making a protein from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

 

The most common side effects of the shot, which does not contain the virus and cannot cause Covid, are typically mild or moderate and improve within a few days of vaccination.  Late-stage clinical trials found the AstraZeneca-Oxford shot to have an average efficacy of 70% in protecting against the virus. 

 

A more recent study by Oxford researchers found the vaccine was 76% effective at preventing symptomatic infection for three months after a single dose, and that the efficacy rate actually rose with a longer interval between the first and second doses.

 

More countries suspend AstraZeneca vaccinations over blood clot fears:  What we know so far.

 

• Thailand became the first Asian country to halt the use of the vaccine over safety concerns, shortly after Denmark announced a two-week pause to its nationwide rollout after reports of blood clots and one death.

 

• Europe’s drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, EMA, stressed there was no indication the shot was causing blood clots, adding it believes the vaccine’s benefits “continue to outweigh its risks.”

 

• AstraZeneca has said the vaccine has been studied extensively during Phase 3 trials and peer-reviewed data confirms the shot is “generally well tolerated.”

 

• In a setback to Europe’s ailing vaccination campaign, seven other countries have also suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot:  Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

 

• Austria and Italy will stop using certain batches of the vaccine as a precautionary measure.

Approximately, 5 million people in Europe had received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.  Of this, 30 cases of thromboembolic events or blood clots forming in the blood vessels blocking blood flow have been reported. 

 

Why are countries pausing vaccination campaigns?  Thailand’s health ministry announced it would temporarily postpone use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, describing the vaccine as a “good vaccine” but wishes to suspend use for safety investigations.  Thailand’s decision to suspend its planned rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine came after the decision by the Danish Health Authority.

 

Kiattiphum Wongjit, Secretary for the Public Health Ministry, said the country was able to pause vaccinations by bringing a second wave of Covid cases under control through quarantines and border controls.  Of approximately 70 million people, there are 26,600 recorded cases and 85 deaths, according to data by Johns Hopkins University.  There is good evidence that the vaccine is both safe and effective.  

 

The U.K., France, Australia, Canada and Mexico are some of the nations that sought to reassure citizens about the benefits of getting the vaccine and will continue inoculation campaigns.  “An analysis of our safety data of more than 10 million records shows no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or any particular country with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca,” said a spokesperson for AstraZeneca. 

 

Earlier, top German public health officials said the vaccine was safe, adding that the country would continue to deploy it.  With Germany still facing a scarcity of vaccines and a third wave of Covid-19, the government is anxious to ensure that vaccine hesitancy does not undermine the rollout to bring the pandemic under control.

 

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot will come too late for the US.  There are two main reasons the vaccine experts said the shot from AstraZeneca and Oxford University won't be used much in the U.S. if at all.

 

• It's likely to be authorized after most U.S. adults have gotten a vaccine made by another company.

 

• There isn't a good argument that it's at least as good as the three vaccines already in use in the U.S.

 

Dr. Ashish Jha, a top US public-health expert, argued the U.S. should donate its supply of the vaccine to other countries, rather than reserve it for use domestically.  "The time to use AZ in the U.S. would have been in January by May we won't need it."  Dr. Fauci, the nation's top infectious-disease expert, indicated giving doses to other countries is on the table when the U.S. has an excess supply.

 

What do the experts say?  Stephen Evans, Professor of Pharmaco-epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:   “The problem with spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to a vaccine is the enormous difficulty of distinguishing a causal effect from a coincidence.  This is true when we know that Covid-19 disease is strongly associated with blood clotting and there have been hundreds of deaths caused by blood clotting as a result of Covid-19 disease.  The first thing to do is to be absolutely certain that the clots did not have some other cause, including Covid-19,” Evans added.

 

The EMA’s safety committee is reviewing the issue, but said there is currently no evidence the vaccination caused blood clots, noting they are not listed as side effects of this vaccine.   “Reports of blood clots received so far are not greater than the number that would have occurred naturally in the vaccinated population,” said Dr. Phil Bryan, vaccines safety lead at Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory.

 

The World Health Organization has urged countries to continue administering doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, saying there are no indications it is linked to the blood clots that have been reported in recent days.

 

Around 5 million Europeans have already received the AstraZeneca vaccine, whereas the figure is 11 million for Britain.

 

PREPARATION FOR THE VACCINE

• Considerations for taking medication before getting vaccinated.  For most, it is not recommended to avoid, discontinue or delay medications for underlying medical conditions around the time of your COVID-19 vaccination.  Your healthcare provider should talk to you regarding what is known and not known about the effectiveness of getting a COVID-19 vaccine when taking medications that suppress the immune system.

 

• It is not recommended taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen, before vaccination for the purpose of preventing vaccine-related side effects.  It is not known how these medications may affect how the vaccine works.  If you take medications regularly for other reasons, you should keep taking them before your vaccination.  If you have questions about medications being taken, talk to your doctor or your vaccination provider.  

 

It is not recommended to take antihistamines before getting a COVID-19 vaccine to try to prevent allergic reactions.

 

• You should receive a vaccination card.  It will tell you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date received and where you received it.  Keep your vaccination card for future use.  Learn more about how to find your vaccination record.

 

• You should receive a paper or electronic version of a fact sheet.  It will tell you more about the specific COVID-19 vaccine you are offered.  Each authorized vaccine has its own fact sheet that contains information to help you understand the risks and benefits.  Learn more about different COVID-19 vaccines.

 

• All people who get a COVID-19 vaccine should be monitored on-site. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and rare severe allergic reactions. ​

 

• At your vaccination appointment, ask your vaccination provider about getting started with v-safe.  V-safe is a free, smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.  V-safe also reminds you to get your second dose when needed.  Learn more at about v-safe.

 

• Don’t get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.  Wait at least 14 days before getting any other vaccine, including a flu or shingles vaccine, after you get your COVID-19 vaccine.  If you get any other vaccine first, wait at least 14 days before getting your COVID-19 vaccine.

 

If you get a COVID-19 vaccine within 14 days of another vaccine, you do not need to be revaccinated with either vaccine.  You should still complete both vaccine series on schedule.

 

When there is more data on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines given at the same time as other vaccines, the CDC may update this recommendation.

 

• If you need receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, you will need 2 shots to get the most protection.  You should get your second shot even if you have side effects after the first shot, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor advises you not to get it.   The timing between your first and second shot depends on which vaccine you received.

 

• If you received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, you should get your second shot 3 weeks or 21 days after your first.

 

• If you received the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, you should get your second shot 4 weeks or 28 days after your first.

 

You should get your second shot as close to the recommended 3-week or 4-week interval as possible.  However, your second dose may be given up to 6 weeks or 42 days after the first dose, if necessary.  You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval. ​

 

If you need help scheduling your vaccination appointment for your second shot, contact the location that set up your first appointment for assistance.  This may be your state or local health department, employer, or vaccination provider.​

 

• If you receive the viral vector, Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, you only need 1 shot.

 

What to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine

 

• Learn about common side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine and get helpful tips how to reduce your pain and discomfort.

 

• It takes time for the body to build protection after any vaccination.  Most are considered fully vaccinated:

 

• 2 weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and

 

• 2 weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

 

• After you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you may be able to return to doing some things halted prior to the pandemic.  Learn more about what you can do when you have been fully vaccinated.

 

WHAT CAN WE DO?   Until you are completely vaccinated, you can take basic precautions to reduce your family's risk of getting this and other illnesses by:

 

• The CDC recommends  wearing 2-layer, non-surgical cloth face coverings when in public spaces, such as supermarkets, if it's difficult to maintain social distancing measures.  Face coverings should not be worn by children under 2 years old or anyone not capable of removing them on their own.

 

• Travel increases the chance of getting and/or spreading COVID-19.  Sheltering in place is the best way to protect yourself and others.  The State Department advises U.S. citizens to avoid all nonessential travel.

 

• Getting recommended vaccines on schedule

 

• Avoiding close contact with sick people and staying home when sick

 

• Not touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

 

• Coughing and sneezing into a tissue, and throwing the tissue in the trash

 

Stay safe.  Mask.  Social distance.  Frequent hand washing.  Avoid crowds.

 

ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

 ‘

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• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/covid-vaccine-blood-clots-oxford-astrazeneca-latest-b1816357.html
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