Coronavirus News Explained

Why is B.1.1.7 More Transmisible?           Earlier this year, a new coronavirus strain named B.1.1.7 emerged in the United Kingdom and has now made its way across the globe. With B.1.1.7 came concerns about the potentially faster spread of the virus. If the new variant does spread faster, this would mean an increased number of COVID-19 cases and a greater need for an effective vaccine. Multiple studies have found that this new strain is indeed more transmissible than previous strains of SARS-CoV-2. (See A New Coronavirus Strain for more information about B.1.1.7) A recently published article in preprint at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , investigates the reason behind the high transmissibility of the B.1.1.7 variant. In this study, researchers specifically looked into the viral load of infected patients as well as how long the virus lasted in each individual. The details of the study are summarized below. About the Study     The study, conducted at the Harvard T.H. C

 Effective Drug for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients           Although COVID-19 vaccines have recently been all the rage with the distribution of the approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, other non-vaccine, coronavirus treatments have also proved successful including a drug named tocilizumab. How does tocilizumab work? Many people with severe COVID-19 suffer from systemic or widespread inflammation due to the immune system overworking against the virus. Tocilizumab is a drug that reduces this inflammation. Although tocilizumab is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, researchers believe it can also be used to combat the coronavirus as the drug reduces inflammation, which is a common symptom in patients with severe COVID-19.     Multiple studies have been conducted that tested the efficacy of tocilizumab but each study produced varying results and reached different conclusions. One of these studies, published in December 2020 in the New England Journal of Medicine , tested the eff

 What Makes Someone a COVID Superspreader     It is known that the coronavirus is primarily spread from person to person through respiratory droplets which can be released in sneezes and coughs. As a result, many people might suspect that coughing or sneezing by an infected person makes them a 'super spreader' or more likely to transmit the virus to others. However, new research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases  on February 2, 2021 finds that what makes someone a COVID-19 superspreader is not how often one coughs or sneezes but instead dependent upon another factor. This post covers the methods and results of the conducted study and summarizes the overall findings.  About the Study     The study, conducted in Catalonia, Spain, was a randomized trial conducted between March 17 and April 28, 2020.  Researchers conducted this study with the goal of answering the question 'what makes someone with COVID-19 more contagious.' To answer this question, the researchers

 Comparing Vaccines: Pfizer vs. Moderna vs. Johnson and Johnson            As of February 3, 2021, two vaccines, developed by the companies Pfizer and Moderna, have already been approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, other vaccines that have just completed phase 3 clinical trials are seeking Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA; one of the most notable candidates is a vaccine developed by the company Johnson and Johnson . As more vaccines become available to the public, some may be wondering which vaccine they should get and why? Is one type of vaccine more effective than the others? What are the side effects of each of the vaccines? This post does a side-by-side comparison of the current leading vaccines developed by the companies Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Information is taken from peer-reviewed clinical trial results cited in previous posts about these vaccines as well as newer research taken from reliable sources. How