Veterans more likely to lose a limb to chronic disease than battle, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 27, 2021
An analysis of health records from veterans up to age 76 show that peripheral arterial disease and diabetes are prevalent in amputees, while trauma is rarely a cause of amputation.
Drugmakers to test vaccine boosters in cautionary step against new COVID strains
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 27, 2021
Pfizer and Moderna say they are planning to test or develop new booster vaccines in a pre-emptive strike against new coronavirus strains that may make their current COVID-19 vaccines less effective.
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 27
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 27, 2021
Senior living providers express concern as states redirect COVID vaccines elsewhere … Unused nursing home vaccines to be rerouted by some states … Germany denies claim that AstraZeneca vaccine...
COVID hospitalizations in Israel fall by 60 percent three weeks after vaccinations
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2021
In a study involving more than 50,000 patients, COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations appeared to begin falling sharply at about 18 days after a first vaccine dose, and by even more after the second.
CDC: COVID vaccines can be interchanged and doses delayed in supply crunch
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2021
The agency has suggested exceptions to its official vaccine rules for cases when supply shortages interrupt second doses.
FDA limits N95 respirator reuse to four times with PPE decontamination systems
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2021
The agency last week reissued emergency use authorizations to some manufacturers, allowing compatible N95 respirators to be decontaminated a maximum of four times only.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Jan. 26
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2021
HHS: COVID-19 public health emergency may continue throughout 2021 … Electrical pulses suppress Parkinson’s tremor in study … UK scientists show azithromycin, doxycycline ineffective in treating...
Benzodiazepines and dementia: Concern in older adults is warranted, analysts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2021
Uncertainty about a link between benzodiazepine use and the development of dementia merits caution when prescribing the drugs to seniors, as is the lack of data on the drugs’ long-term efficacy in...
First of two COVID-19 vaccination clinics complete at most nursing homes: CDC
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2021
Almost all nursing homes in the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care program have scheduled the first of two COVID-19 vaccination clinics, and 88% had completed the first clinic as of Jan. 21.
New report details allergic reactions to early Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2021
Among 21 patients who experienced anaphylaxis in the first days of the rollout, 18 had onset within 30 minutes. Common signs of allergic reaction were hives (urticaria); rapid edema, or swelling beneath...