Three Things (it's almost) Thursday
Given that we are living through THREE global health emergencies (COVID, polio, and monkeypox), new vaccines are being approved, new outbreaks are occurring, and the reality that being healthy is indeed a radical selfless act of loving others (read: we need to redefine what it means to be healthy), “Three Things Thursday” highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week.
This week it is Three Things Wednesday (which definitely does NOT have a nice ring to it) or Three Things (it’s almost) Thursday because on Thursday this week it is all about giving thanks and spending time with loved ones.
Hoping these posts help to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we each need to take responsibility for creating healthy communities and slowing the spread of infectious diseases, like COVID, flu, and RSV. In order to do this, please —-
Get vaccinated.
Stay home when you are sick.
Wear a mask when necessary (not always).
Practice proper hygiene.
It’s ok to stop reading here! Or you can ask a question —
Or continue. Today’s three things (it’s almost) Thursday —
Sewage Surveillance
Since September 2020, the public health community has been tracking the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater. Wastewater surveillance has served as an early warning system for spikes in COVID cases across the country. Increases in viral particles in wastewater are associated with an increased number of cases. The National Wastewater Surveillance System is now tracking everything from COVID to influenza and monkeypox to opioids in our sewage.
The company behind the National Wastewater Surveillance System is Biobot Analytics. And they can identify current levels of disease and opioid use from 150 ml of aggregate sewage (a sample taken over a 24-hour period). According to Biobot’s president and co-founder, Newsha Ghaeli —
“There’s an incredible amount of intelligence in wasterwater.”
TIME magazine has named Biobot Analytic’s sewage surveillance program the 2022 Invention of the Year! #thisispublichealth
Paxlovid Effective at Preventing Hospitalizations
Paxlovid is an antiviral medication approved for use among adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection who also have an increased risk of severe illness. Paxlovid was authorized for emergency use in December 2021. This week a retrospective analysis of patient records was published. The study investigated the effectiveness of Paxlovid.
The researchers found that taking Paxlovid was associated with protection against hospitalization. In fact, the hospitalization rate for COVID-19 was 51% lower among those who received a prescription for Paxlovid compared to those who did not. It was also found that Paxlovid provides protection for individuals who have had a previous infection or were previously vaccinated.
Paxlovid is administered orally (swallowing pills) and requires just five days of treatment. Given its effectiveness at preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations, eligible adults, regardless of their vaccination status, should seek Paxlovid treatment when they are diagnosed with COVID.
COVID Vaccines to Remain “Free”
Pfizer’s CEO confirmed this week (at a conference in Boston) that the COVID vaccine and booster shots will remain free for all Americans. This is despite the fact that Pfizer plans to increase the price of its COVID vaccine in 2023. According to Pfizer’s CEO, the vaccine will remain free because insurance companies are required to pay the extra cost for preventive medicine.
To date, the federal government has paid for all of the COVID vaccines, which cost about $30 per shot. Starting in 2023, the cost per dose will jump to $110-130 per shot.
Let’s be honest here — the increase in price could (will?!) be passed down to all of us. While we might not be paying $130 out of pocket for a COVID shot, our healthcare premiums will likely go up to cover the increase in price.
As grateful as I am to Pfizer for their quick development and testing of the COVID vaccine, the increase in price is going to hurt all of us. And I’m not the only one frustrated by the comment that the vaccine will remain free…
Here’s the good news… COVID vaccines are safe and effective and will be available in the US for years to come.
Here’s the bad news… an increase in price will not result in free vaccines.
And here’s some more bad news… price increases will reduce access to the vaccine and booster shots in other countries. Global distribution and uptake of the COVID vaccine (and many other vaccines, for that matter) lack equity. Remember —
When some of us can easily access the vaccine and others of us cannot, we all suffer. We can not be healthy in a world where some of us can get a vaccine and others cannot. There is no I in healthy. #noiinhealthy
Maybe, we need to talk about a new healthcare system in 2023. Maybe? YES!
Questions? Thoughts about making changes to our healthcare system?