MAY BLOG

                                                                                          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

May                    

UPDATED WEEKLY - Last updated on 31 May, 2021 12:15 pm PST, John Hopkins Corona Virus Dashboard and Worldometer Cases Worldwide                                                            John Hopkins                                                                         Worldometer

• TOTAL CASES     -      170,452,064                                                    TOTAL CASES        -   170,633,467
• Recovered        -        86,527,565                                                       Recovered        -   152,603,176
• TOTAL DEATHS   -          3,543,601                                                    TOTAL DEATHS      -      3,548,676

POPULATION - is 332,764,957 as of 31 May, 12:15 pm PST, based on Census U.S. and World Population Clock.

Cases in the U.S.

• TOTAL CASES      -   33,261,284                      TOTAL CASES         -     34,035,318

              Recovered        -                                            Recovered          -     27,818,961

• TOTAL DEATHS   -        594,468                      TOTAL DEATHS        -          609,421

Cases in California

• TOTAL CASES       -   3,789,227                      TOTAL CASES         -        3,789,376

              Recovered        -                                           Recovered            -       2,054,121

• TOTAL DEATHS     -       63,247                       TOTAL DEATHS        -            63,245

2021 unemployment numbers are hovering around 8.5%.          

05/31/2021                                                 Cases (WHO)              Deaths (WHO)                Recovered (WHO)

• Texas**                                               -   2,954,340                        51,727                            2,835,077
• Florida**                                             -   2,320,818                        36,774                           1,943,113
• New York                                           -   2,153,469                        53,581                           1,709,453
• Illinois                                                  -   1,381,665                        25,185                           1,298,580
• Pennsylvania                                     -   1,206,755                        27,322                          1,129,292
• Georgia**                                          -   1,123,604                        20,837                          1,002,852
• Ohio                                                   -   1,101,934                        19,861                          1,063,778
• N. Carolina**                                     -   1,001,154                        13,078                             972,066
• Arizona **                                          -      881,089                        17,628                              846,299
• Tennessee**                                      -      862,401                        12,441                              845,062

*correction         

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

United States progress                                                                          Updated as of 30 May 2021, 11:45 pm

• Doses Distributed                                            366,316,945               
• Doses Administered                                        294,928,850                80%
• 1st dose administered                                    167,733,972                 51%
• 2nd dose administered                                  135,087,319                 41%

            Total population                                             332,764,957 

State  Progress                                                                                      Updated as of 30 May 2021, 11:45 pm    .                                                                                        1st dose               2nd dose           % fully Vaccinated      

• California                                                   22,389,100          17,000,672                      43
• Vermont                                                         438,178               345,799                      55
• Connecticut                                               2,251,353            1,902,655                      53
• New York                                                   10,827,501            9,091,146                      46   
• Pennsylvania                                              7,466,772            5,573,531                       43
• Alaska                                                            337,367               287,531                       39        
• Florida                                                       10,523,659            8,351,416                       38 
• Texas                                                         12,804,890          10,272,326                       35  
• Georgia                                                      4,145,899            3,299,623                       31 
•   Tennessee                                                2,673,199             2,166,173                       31 
• Alabama                                                   1,766,055              1,432,446                      29
• Mississippi**                                                1,010,751                 788,181                      27

MAY BLOG

CORONA UPDATE

CORONA VIRUS AND INDIA.  In 2020, the Serum Institute of India, a manufacturer of immune-biological drugs, appeared ready to play a global role in the production of Covid-19 vaccines.  Few manufacturers can match the scale of the Institute’s facilities.

The Institute was in the forefront of efforts to combat, “vaccine nationalism.”   Wealthy countries, United States, pay to secure massive numbers of doses first, while poorer countries suffer at the back of the line.

A third of the global population, in the world's poorest countries, had their hopes on India to deliver their Covid-19 vaccines. Then the virus overwhelmed India itself.  The outbreak caused widespread misery for the country's population of 1.3 billion. Hospitals are overwhelmed, oxygen is scarce and the death toll is at 200,000 – and reverberating far beyond India's borders.

The country is now prioritizing domestic supply over exports, and no longer sending scheduled doses to low and middle income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.  It has already exacerbated global vaccine inequality, leaving poorer countries waiting even longer which could prolong the pandemic for everyone, with the more infectious virus variants mutating.

Deciding to rely solely not just on one country — but one company in that country — was a ridiculous decision," Achal Prabhala, an Indian vaccine supply expert said.  The U.S. and other rich countries bought up most supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines — both expensive and delicate shots — so poorer countries turned to India.

This week India ended with another global record, daily cases crossed an unprecedented 4 lakh on Friday, while a staggering 6.9 million (69 lakh) new infections were detected in the country during April, the highest tally for any month in any country so far. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Health Center

                                                                 Doses Distributed         Doses Administered

• U.S.                                                  264,499,715                     205,871,913
• California                                         32,618,010                       25,569,749

VACCINE UPDATE

J&J/Janssen, Updated Apr. 23, 2021.  U.S. Lifts Pause In Use Of J&J Vaccine After Vote By Expert Panel.  The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the vaccine is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 and its benefits outweigh the known risks. 

At Friday's meeting, the CDC said it had found a few more cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, of which CVST cases are a subset. It has now identified 13 reported cases among women 18 to 49, and two cases among women 50 and older.  

No cases were found among men.  This means the rate of reported cases is 7 per million shots administered among women 18 to 49.   The rate is 0.9 per million among women 50 and older. The CDC and the FDA decided to restart administering the single-dose vaccine and to recommend that anyone with concerns should consult their health care provider.

J&J/Janssen, Updated Apr. 16, 2021.   The CDC and FDA recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.  With 7 million doses administered in the United States, reports of a rare and severe type of blood clot have been reported after receiving the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.  All reports occurred among women between 18 and 48 with symptoms occurring 6 to13 days after vaccination.  As of April 13, 2021, of the 180 million doses administered of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, no reports have been received.

If you received the vaccine:

• more than three weeks ago, the risk of developing a blood clot is very low. 
• within the last three weeks, the risk of developing a blood clot is very low and decreasing over time.

If you received the vaccine, seek medical care urgently if you develop any of the following symptoms:

• severe headache,
• backache,
• new neurologic symptoms,
• severe abdominal pain,
• shortness of breath,
• leg swelling,
• tiny red spots on the skin, petechiae
• new or easy bruising

WHAT DOES PAUSE MEAN?   Although the J&J/Janssen vaccine is still authorized for use, CDC and FDA recommend this vaccine not be given to anyone until we know more.  The pause gives scientists a chance to review the data and decide if recommendations on changes need to occur. 

J&J scientists refute idea that COVID-19 vaccine's design linked to clots.   Johnson & Johnson scientists refuted that the design of their COVID-19 vaccine, which is similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine, that both have been linked to a rare brain blood clot known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, CVST.

Six cases were reported by women in the U.S. experiencing CVST accompanied by a low blood platelet count.  The U.S. reports resemble 169 European cases with the AstraZeneca vaccine, out of 34 million doses administered there.  Both vaccine technologies use a modified version of adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, as vectors to ferry instructions to human cells.  In a Reuter’s interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. infectious disease expert and adviser to the White House indicated “the fact that both are adenovirus vector vaccines is an ‘obvious clue’ the cases could be linked to the vector and raises suspicion.   

Macaya Douoguih, scientist with J&J's Janssen vaccines division, the vectors used in the J&J and  AstraZeneca vaccines are "substantially different."  The J&J vaccine uses a human adenovirus while the AstraZeneca vaccine uses a chimpanzee adenovirus. The vectors are also from different virologic families or species and use different cell receptors to enter cells.  The J&J vaccine shot also includes mutations to stabilize the spike protein portion of the coronavirus that the vaccine uses to produce an immune response, while the AstraZeneca vaccine does not. 

A panel of advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to meet April 23 to determine whether the pause on use of the J&J vaccine can be lifted. 

COVID-19 Vaccines and Kids: What to Know.  While the COVID-19 vaccine is available for adults, the kid version is still in clinical trials!  Do children really need one - in short, yes! A vaccine will lower the chance of serious complications and also help protect older adults around them who are high risk.  Children under 21 are 25% of the U.S. population.  If they receive the vaccine, the chance of herd immunity increases. 

Vaccine Trials for Children.   Authorization for emergency use was granted for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older by the FDA.  The Moderna and Janssen vaccines are for those 18 and older.

Pfizer seeks FDA approval to expand COVID vaccine to ages 12 to 15.  Pfizer and BioNTech requested authorization to expand use of their coronavirus vaccine to children 12 to 15 years of age.   The request comes at a time when cases of coronavirus are rising in teens and adolescents and there is no vaccine authorized for use in those under 16.  Companies indicated the vaccine was well tolerated with side effects generally consistent with those observed in participants 16 to 25 years of age.”

Moderna Gives 1st Vaccine Shots To Young Kids As Part Of COVID-19 Study.   Children have received the first doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, as the company studies the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for kids ages 6 months to less than 12 years old. In the study, two injections 28 days apart of either the Moderna vaccine or a placebo will be administered.  Children will be administered one of three possible doses, from 25 micrograms to 100 micrograms.  The Moderna study will enroll 6,750 children in Canada and the U.S. - from Arizona and California to South Carolina and Texas.

Johnson and Johnson.   Johnson & Johnson plans to start similar trials soon.   Once vaccines final approval for all children, distribution will probably mimic adult distribution, with higher-risk groups first.

Why Vaccines for Children Take Longer.  Children generally are not as vulnerable as adults.  It doesn’t mean children are immune to COVID-19 but simply have a lower chance of serious complications.  Another reason trials focused on adults first was speed.   Scientists need time to research children’s vaccines because their immune systems change fast.   A child’s body might respond differently to a vaccine depending on their age.  

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:

​

1.  2 weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and
2.  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

• https://login.ionos.com/?redirect_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmy.ionos.com%2Fmywebsite-project-details%3Fcontract%3D42047069
• https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/16/977778462/moderna-gives-first-vaccine-shots-to-young-kids-as-part-of-covid-19-study
• https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/04/pfizer-seeks-fda-approval-to-expand-covid-vaccine-to-ages-12-to-15.html
• https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/default.htm
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/JJUpdate.html?s_cid=10935:%2Bjohnson%20%2Bjohnson%20%2Bvaccine:sem.b:p:RG:GM:gen:PTN:FY21
• https://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-j-j-scientists-refute-200809881.html
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-regulator-finds-possible-between-154521123.html
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/promise-coronavirus-vaccine-factory-india-looming-fight-over-it-n1247834
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/covid-19-how-india-s-crisis-inflaming-global-vaccine-inequality-n1265968
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/coronavirus-in-india-covid-19-vaccine-cases-1-may-2021/liveblog/82336784.cms
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/covid-crisis-in-india-very-serious-cases-yet-to-peak-us-official/articleshow/82339287.cms
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/covid-19-india-records-highest-ever-401993-new-cases-3523-deaths/articleshow/82339160.cms
• https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/04/23/990001856/whats-next-for-the-j-j-vaccine-u-s-health-authorities-discuss-resuming-shots

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