May Covid: T-10 days

[NewOrleans]

… until the public health emergency ends.

Meanwhile, in CDC irony

CDC branch chief wrote in an email to staff on Friday and obtained by The Washington Post, adding that at least one person at the division’s recruiting event on Wednesday had tested positive.
Current and former CDC staff also told The Post that moderators at the conference warned staff several times that some attendees had tested positive for the virus.

The CDC’s conference of epidemic intelligence service officers — the disease detectives deployed to identify and fight outbreaks — was held at a hotel in Atlanta between Monday and Thursday; officials said it drew about 2,000 people. Among the presentations were more than a dozen sessions on the lessons from fighting covid, including “How Far We Have Come: A COVID-19 Surveillance System Evaluation,” a session that discussed improvements on tracking the virus.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/04/28/covid-cases-cdc-conference/

[curbsideprophet]

The CDC has lost credibility with many people.

So, has it been confirmed what will happen to to the transmission map when the PHE ends?

I realize the transmission map is not very accurate anymore since it does not include at home tests and it is definitely an undercount. However it is something.

The CDC is a great example of how the Biden admin has done a poor job with Covid. They went to the basically useless community level map and hid the transmission map. I mean great to know that there is room in the hospital (maybe) if I need it, but not really helpful in knowing how much Covid is out there.

They could have been educating the public on the importance of high quality masks, ventilation and filtration of indoor spaces, the risks of long Covid, etc but have not really done that.

They do talk about doing those things when the community level is high, but no idea if anyone is doing that. Waiting until the community level is high is too late. That means the hospitals are full. In theory you would think we would implement some of these things to prevent that from happening, not wait until it happens then try to fix it.

[goldengirlz]

This article has a good rundown of what could change when the PHE ends:

www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/what-happens-when-covid-19-emergency-declarations-end-implications-for-coverage-costs-and-access/#telehealth

Of note are the end of free covid tests and vaccines (and those tests are expensive!) as well as changes to telemedicine rules, including the ones pertaining to being able to see a provider across state lines or having controlled substances prescribed without an in-person visit.

[underwaterrhymes]

They’ve totally lost the plot on this. We will never have a good idea ever again what actual numbers are. I’ve built COVID test and mask buying into our budget because when anyone in our family is even a little sniffly, I make them test and while I don’t wear a mask every single place I go anymore and I have relaxed a bit on what we do, I feel very strongly that we have lost way more people than we know to this and the long term health complications are going to be grim.

[tacokick]

May 1, 2023 22:22:56 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

This article has a good rundown of what could change when the PHE ends:

www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/what-happens-when-covid-19-emergency-declarations-end-implications-for-coverage-costs-and-access/#telehealth

Of note are the end of free covid tests and vaccines (and those tests are expensive!) as well as changes to telemedicine rules, including the ones pertaining to being able to see a provider across state lines or having controlled substances prescribed without an in-person visit.

They also estimate that between 5 million and 14 million people will lose Medicaid coverage during the unwinding of the continuous enrollment provision.

www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/10-things-to-know-about-the-unwinding-of-the-medicaid-continuous-enrollment-provision/

[seeyalater52]

May 2, 2023 7:38:28 GMT -5 tacokick said:

May 1, 2023 22:22:56 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

This article has a good rundown of what could change when the PHE ends:

www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/what-happens-when-covid-19-emergency-declarations-end-implications-for-coverage-costs-and-access/#telehealth

Of note are the end of free covid tests and vaccines (and those tests are expensive!) as well as changes to telemedicine rules, including the ones pertaining to being able to see a provider across state lines or having controlled substances prescribed without an in-person visit.

They also estimate that between 5 million and 14 million people will lose Medicaid coverage during the unwinding of the continuous enrollment provision.

www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/10-things-to-know-about-the-unwinding-of-the-medicaid-continuous-enrollment-provision/

Per Medicaid unwinding, the first month was pretty bad but was only a couple of states… the May 1 cohort has already been a shitshow and terminations just began processing over the weekend for Monday. It is absolutely brutal. The coverage loss estimates keep creeping up too, I think Urban said 17 million in a recent brief. This is taking over my (work) life and it is beyond demoralizing to see the stabilization in health coverage that was achieved during the earlier phase of the pandemic disappear in a matter of weeks and months. Many people losing coverage are still eligible but get lost in translation due to the need to recertify information and notices not getting to the correct people in time etc.

There isn’t yet one centralized source of data in unwinding coverage losses and other impacts bc the CMS public reporting will lag (potentially by a lot) but some states are providing numbers through dashboards and other public sources and experts are tracking and compiling.

Slight @ content at link due to unwinding impacts on Medicaid insured populations. One of my wonderful colleagues at Georgetown CCF is tweeting updates:

[wesleycrusher]

May 1, 2023 22:22:56 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

 having controlled substances prescribed without an in-person visit.

This is huge and I am surprised it's not being talked about more. 

I work in behavioral health and we are now scrambling, there is no way to get all our patients seen in the timeframe- and also comes at the cost of bumping patients not on controlled substances, but not doing well, out for patients stable on their controlled meds.

And honestly our patients are lucky that they even have an in-person office available- many patients who are getting controlled meds will be cut off with no option. I know we've talked about the Adderall shortage and part of that is due to increase in being able to access providers online to prescribe and there are no in-person offices. Same with ketamine, testosterone, etc. 

journalistsresource.org/health/rules-for-prescribing-controlled-drugs-via-telemedicine-a-research-roundup-and-explainer/

[gretchenindisguise]

May 2, 2023 10:48:08 GMT -5 wesleycrusher said:

May 1, 2023 22:22:56 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

 having controlled substances prescribed without an in-person visit.

This is huge and I am surprised it's not being talked about more. 

I work in behavioral health and we are now scrambling, there is no way to get all our patients seen in the timeframe- and also comes at the cost of bumping patients not on controlled substances, but not doing well, out for patients stable on their controlled meds.

And honestly our patients are lucky that they even have an in-person office available- many patients who are getting controlled meds will be cut off with no option. I know we've talked about the Adderall shortage and part of that is due to increase in being able to access providers online to prescribe and there are no in-person offices. Same with ketamine, testosterone, etc. 

journalistsresource.org/health/rules-for-prescribing-controlled-drugs-via-telemedicine-a-research-roundup-and-explainer/

I didn't realize this was a thing. That's going to be personally impactful ugh.

[noodleoo]

Is this the post for Covid news? Biden launched a program to spend $5B on improved Covid vaccines and treatments. This is from early April, I'm surprised I didn't hear about it until it was mentioned in YLE newsletter.

wapo.st/3p5HJ9B (gift link)

YLE Newsletter
open.substack.com/pub/yourlocalepidemiologist/p/hype-or-hope-nasal-covid-19-vaccines?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

[fortnightlily]

May 2, 2023 12:15:48 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Is this the post for Covid news? Biden launched a program to spend $5B on improved Covid vaccines and treatments. This is from early April, I'm surprised I didn't hear about it until it was mentioned in YLE newsletter.

wapo.st/3p5HJ9B (gift link)

YLE Newsletter
open.substack.com/pub/yourlocalepidemiologist/p/hype-or-hope-nasal-covid-19-vaccines?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

There's an interesting conversation in the comments of the YLE post about antiviral nasal sprays (not vaccines) that have been approved in other countries but not here.

[NewOrleans]

a mystery. 🙄


British workers took 185.6 million days off work due to sickness or injury in 2022. This was more than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic itself, when fewer sick days were recorded as millions of workers were on furlough and lockdown restrictions reduced exposure to minor illnesses.

Minor illnesses accounted for 29% of days lost, while respiratory conditions accounted for 8% of days lost - up from 4% in 2019 - and 'other' conditions, which include COVID-19, diabetes and a range of others - rose to 24% from 14%.

Sickness absence was most common among workers in the care sector and related personal services roles.

www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-sees-record-sickness-zero-productivity-growth-2022-2023-04-26/

[msmerymac]

May 1, 2023 22:22:56 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

This article has a good rundown of what could change when the PHE ends:

www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/what-happens-when-covid-19-emergency-declarations-end-implications-for-coverage-costs-and-access/#telehealth

Of note are the end of free covid tests and vaccines (and those tests are expensive!) as well as changes to telemedicine rules, including the ones pertaining to being able to see a provider across state lines or having controlled substances prescribed without an in-person visit.

I use Quest for labs and I got an email last week about this. Basically how insurance won't cover it and it will be like another test, so depending on your coverage, who the hell knows what you're going to pay for testing. And you'll need a doctor to send it in or you'll have to purchase the test OOP. 

[mpm]

May 2, 2023 13:47:16 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

a mystery. 🙄


British workers took 185.6 million days off work due to sickness or injury in 2022. This was more than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic itself, when fewer sick days were recorded as millions of workers were on furlough and lockdown restrictions reduced exposure to minor illnesses.

Minor illnesses accounted for 29% of days lost, while respiratory conditions accounted for 8% of days lost - up from 4% in 2019 - and 'other' conditions, which include COVID-19, diabetes and a range of others - rose to 24% from 14%.

Sickness absence was most common among workers in the care sector and related personal services roles.

www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-sees-record-sickness-zero-productivity-growth-2022-2023-04-26/

Meanwhile, US workers went back to coming to work sick and @@

SPOILER: Click to show

sending their kids to school sick.

😭

[goldengirlz]

The WHO ended the covid global health emergency:

www.nytimes.com/2023/05/05/health/covid-who-emergency-end.html

[mpm]

Walensky out (effective 6/30):

www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/05/statement-from-president-biden-on-dr-rochelle-walensky/

[penguingrrl]

May 2, 2023 15:19:26 GMT -5 mpm said:

May 2, 2023 13:47:16 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

a mystery. 🙄


British workers took 185.6 million days off work due to sickness or injury in 2022. This was more than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic itself, when fewer sick days were recorded as millions of workers were on furlough and lockdown restrictions reduced exposure to minor illnesses.

Minor illnesses accounted for 29% of days lost, while respiratory conditions accounted for 8% of days lost - up from 4% in 2019 - and 'other' conditions, which include COVID-19, diabetes and a range of others - rose to 24% from 14%.

Sickness absence was most common among workers in the care sector and related personal services roles.

www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-sees-record-sickness-zero-productivity-growth-2022-2023-04-26/

Meanwhile, US workers went back to coming to work sick and @@

SPOILER: Click to show

sending their kids to school sick.

😭

I think that’s a profound indictment on US employers and the focus on the bottom line at any and all costs. Folks don’t take sick days for themselves or loved ones because they flat out can’t.

[underwaterrhymes]

I went to the doctor today for a kidney ultrasound and almost no one still had masks on, including the people waiting in line for sick call. 🤯🤬

I mean, I just don’t get it.

[curbsideprophet]

May 5, 2023 12:13:59 GMT -5 mpm said:

Walensky out (effective 6/30):

www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/05/statement-from-president-biden-on-dr-rochelle-walensky/

@@@@@

Good riddance. She has failed in her mission to make the CDC more trusted. I have never had less trust in the CDC. Maybe her kids schools are safe but mine certainly are not. Her entire statement is bullshit. I doubt her replacement will be any better but hard to see how they could be much worse.

WaPo article

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/05/05/cdc-director-walensky-departure/

Walensky also reflected on her tenure in an email to staff on Friday.
“The end of the covid-19 public health emergency marks a tremendous transition for our country, for public health, and in my tenure as CDC Director. I took on this role with the goal of leaving behind the dark days of the pandemic and moving CDC — and public health — forward into a much better and more trusted place,” Walensky wrote, touting the administration of hundreds of millions of vaccines. “In the process, we safely opened schools and businesses, saved and improved lives, and protected the country and the world from the greatest infectious-disease threat we have seen in over 100 years.”

[mrsukyankee]

May 2, 2023 13:47:16 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

a mystery. 🙄


British workers took 185.6 million days off work due to sickness or injury in 2022. This was more than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic itself, when fewer sick days were recorded as millions of workers were on furlough and lockdown restrictions reduced exposure to minor illnesses.

Minor illnesses accounted for 29% of days lost, while respiratory conditions accounted for 8% of days lost - up from 4% in 2019 - and 'other' conditions, which include COVID-19, diabetes and a range of others - rose to 24% from 14%.

Sickness absence was most common among workers in the care sector and related personal services roles.

www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-sees-record-sickness-zero-productivity-growth-2022-2023-04-26/

We're encouraged to work from home or take off if we are even slightly ill now. And students don't tend to come to in-person sessions if they feel unwell. It's a difference than from before Covid. More being thoughtful of others and ourselves. (and yes, more people are getting colds/stomach bugs now)

[seeyalater52]

I am freshly bivalent boosted and it was less drama than I’d feared. Honestly the pharmacist didn’t seem to give a shit who gets what lol.

My insurance on the other hand apparently decided to stop covering rapid tests at the pharmacy even though the state of emergency doesn’t end until next week. I am annoyed as shit. It does not do anything to improve my view of our PBM, which is usually typically bad as it is.

[chickadee77]

May 6, 2023 15:16:05 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

I am freshly bivalent boosted and it was less drama than I’d feared. Honestly the pharmacist didn’t seem to give a shit who gets what lol.

My insurance on the other hand apparently decided to stop covering rapid tests at the pharmacy even though the state of emergency doesn’t end until next week. I am annoyed as shit. It does not do anything to improve my view of our PBM, which is usually typically bad as it is.

My insurance stopped covering tests months ago 😞 So did you get a second bivalent? I've been wondering if that's something I should try, since I've heard nothing about doing another booster anywhere. ETA I mean, I haven't heard anything about if it is/will be recommended, etc.

[wanderingback]

May 7, 2023 9:44:03 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

May 6, 2023 15:16:05 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

I am freshly bivalent boosted and it was less drama than I’d feared. Honestly the pharmacist didn’t seem to give a shit who gets what lol.

My insurance on the other hand apparently decided to stop covering rapid tests at the pharmacy even though the state of emergency doesn’t end until next week. I am annoyed as shit. It does not do anything to improve my view of our PBM, which is usually typically bad as it is.

My insurance stopped covering tests months ago 😞 So did you get a second bivalent? I've been wondering if that's something I should try, since I've heard nothing about doing another booster anywhere. ETA I mean, I haven't heard anything about if it is/will be recommended, etc.

They just updated saying those immunocompromised and/or over 65 are open to getting another booster. From my reading it’s not like they made a super strong recommendation. There’s def lack of guidance :/

[seeyalater52]

May 7, 2023 9:44:03 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

May 6, 2023 15:16:05 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

I am freshly bivalent boosted and it was less drama than I’d feared. Honestly the pharmacist didn’t seem to give a shit who gets what lol.

My insurance on the other hand apparently decided to stop covering rapid tests at the pharmacy even though the state of emergency doesn’t end until next week. I am annoyed as shit. It does not do anything to improve my view of our PBM, which is usually typically bad as it is.

My insurance stopped covering tests months ago 😞 So did you get a second bivalent? I've been wondering if that's something I should try, since I've heard nothing about doing another booster anywhere. ETA I mean, I haven't heard anything about if it is/will be recommended, etc.

There is def a lack of guidance. I feel confident in my read of the literature to want a second bivalent 6+ months from my last even though it’s not really being recommended officially. It is self attestation to immune compromised status and I got the first bivalent the first couple days it was available in Sept. There will almost certainly be no recommendation from the CDC for additional boosters before next fall.

I also jumped at the chance to have my whole family boosted on the same schedule for the first time instead of being on a relay race of waning protection. Not necessarily recommending it considering where the guidelines are at but this is what worked for me.

[curbsideprophet]

May 7, 2023 10:34:21 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

May 7, 2023 9:44:03 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

My insurance stopped covering tests months ago 😞 So did you get a second bivalent? I've been wondering if that's something I should try, since I've heard nothing about doing another booster anywhere. ETA I mean, I haven't heard anything about if it is/will be recommended, etc.

There is def a lack of guidance. I feel confident in my read of the literature to want a second bivalent 6+ months from my last even though it’s not really being recommended officially. It is self attestation to immune compromised status and I got the first bivalent the first couple days it was available in Sept. There will almost certainly be no recommendation from the CDC for additional boosters before next fall.

I also jumped at the chance to have my whole family boosted on the same schedule for the first time instead of being on a relay race of waning protection. Not necessarily recommending it considering where the guidelines are at but this is what worked for me.

If you don’t mind saying, how many doses have you had so far? I am concerned I am going to go in for a 2nd bivalent and they will say no because of how many shots I have had overall. This would be my 7th shot. I had three as my initial series, then two regular boosters and 1 bivalent booster.

[wanderingback]

May 7, 2023 21:46:20 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

May 7, 2023 10:34:21 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

There is def a lack of guidance. I feel confident in my read of the literature to want a second bivalent 6+ months from my last even though it’s not really being recommended officially. It is self attestation to immune compromised status and I got the first bivalent the first couple days it was available in Sept. There will almost certainly be no recommendation from the CDC for additional boosters before next fall.

I also jumped at the chance to have my whole family boosted on the same schedule for the first time instead of being on a relay race of waning protection. Not necessarily recommending it considering where the guidelines are at but this is what worked for me.

If you don’t mind saying, how many doses have you had so far? I am concerned I am going to go in for a 2nd bivalent and they will say no because of how many shots I have had overall. This would be my 7th shot. I had three as my initial series, then two regular boosters and 1 bivalent booster.

How would they know how many shots you’ve had?
I don’t think they’ll care.
If you and/or your doctor think you should get another vaccine I don’t think you’ll have a problem going to a pharmacy to get it.

My friend who is a doctor was telling me about a patient who had gotten all the brands of covid vaccines. Full Pfizer, moderna and J&J :/

[seeyalater52]

May 7, 2023 21:46:20 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

May 7, 2023 10:34:21 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

There is def a lack of guidance. I feel confident in my read of the literature to want a second bivalent 6+ months from my last even though it’s not really being recommended officially. It is self attestation to immune compromised status and I got the first bivalent the first couple days it was available in Sept. There will almost certainly be no recommendation from the CDC for additional boosters before next fall.

I also jumped at the chance to have my whole family boosted on the same schedule for the first time instead of being on a relay race of waning protection. Not necessarily recommending it considering where the guidelines are at but this is what worked for me.

If you don’t mind saying, how many doses have you had so far? I am concerned I am going to go in for a 2nd bivalent and they will say no because of how many shots I have had overall. This would be my 7th shot. I had three as my initial series, then two regular boosters and 1 bivalent booster.

I’ve had the same number as you (bivalent #2 was number 7) and CVS didn’t even look at my vaccine card. They may have pulled up my vaccine record but it is the correct number of total vaccines for (self attested) immune compromised folks and older adults so I don’t think you should have any trouble.

Personally I really don’t have concerns about over vaccinating at this point. That may change in the future as more evidence becomes available but for now it is fine with me and my doctors.

[curbsideprophet]

May 8, 2023 5:36:11 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

May 7, 2023 21:46:20 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

If you don’t mind saying, how many doses have you had so far? I am concerned I am going to go in for a 2nd bivalent and they will say no because of how many shots I have had overall. This would be my 7th shot. I had three as my initial series, then two regular boosters and 1 bivalent booster.

How would they know how many shots you’ve had?
I don’t think they’ll care.
If you and/or your doctor think you should get another vaccine I don’t think you’ll have a problem going to a pharmacy to get it.

My friend who is a doctor was telling me about a patient who had gotten all the brands of covid vaccines. Full Pfizer, moderna and J&J :/

In the past they have asked for my vaccine card. I had issues when trying to get shot #5 at Walgreen's. They gave it to me eventually but they seemed to have no idea that immunocompromised people were on shot 5 at that point. That was really the only one I had issues with.

I really want Novovax, but I am technically not eligible since I have had boosters and it does not seem to be offered anywhere near me. So I have given up on that for now.

Thanks for the info seeyalater52, I have had a decent experience with CVS in the past. I am going to try them for this one.

[janegold]

May 2, 2023 11:04:06 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

May 2, 2023 10:48:08 GMT -5 wesleycrusher said:

This is huge and I am surprised it's not being talked about more. 

I work in behavioral health and we are now scrambling, there is no way to get all our patients seen in the timeframe- and also comes at the cost of bumping patients not on controlled substances, but not doing well, out for patients stable on their controlled meds.

And honestly our patients are lucky that they even have an in-person office available- many patients who are getting controlled meds will be cut off with no option. I know we've talked about the Adderall shortage and part of that is due to increase in being able to access providers online to prescribe and there are no in-person offices. Same with ketamine, testosterone, etc. 

journalistsresource.org/health/rules-for-prescribing-controlled-drugs-via-telemedicine-a-research-roundup-and-explainer/

I didn't realize this was a thing. That's going to be personally impactful ugh.

There's been huge outcry against the proposed end to the COVID flexibility for telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances.  The DEA has temporarily backed down and is extending COVID flexibilities through Nov. 11, 2023 - or Nov. 11, 2024 for telemedicine patient relationships that have already been established.  Hopefully the final rules will retain much more of the flexibility than the proposed rules currently contemplate.

[NewOrleans]

🔥 

Medical assertions of exclusive “ownership” over the science of masks when they are used during a pandemic ignore the fact that they represent a well-understood engineered solution, with decades of widespread and successful use behind them. Demands to reject this evidence reflect a failure to recognize and respect interdisciplinary expertise that has undercut the global pandemic response.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/masks-work-distorting-science-to-dispute-the-evidence-doesnt/